BEST BET: RACE 1, CHASINDAMONEY

FIRST RACE

CHASINDAMONEY ran well off the layoff when making a solid pace and getting outfinished late by a strong winner, then missed more time and had his return rained off the turf; looks tough with his speed in this spot. CONSTANT KNIGHT cutting back after racing evenly over yielding ground going longer last time; game try two back when in behind and racing on in a race that was dominated up front. CAUSFORCELEBRATION has failed in all five starts vs. maiden claiming company this year but he tends to show up and is likely to be running late as he moves back up in class.

SECOND RACE

MAHABODHI TREE returned from a long layoff and wired a field of two-life claimers two starts back, then moved up and caught a sloppy track vs. some much better horses last time; returns to the claiming ranks with the back races to be hard on this field and she is perfectly drawn outside. ELIZABETH NICOLE contested the pace and gave way off the long layoff then rode a good rail to victory to pull off a big upset in her next start; caught contesting the pace last time in a race that went to closers. GIA MICHAEL spent most of the summer racing on turf then missed the break when forced to the main track two starts back, and caught a sloppy track last time; had run some dirt races early in her career to suggest she may be better on this surface.

THIRD RACE

HAVE ANOTHER returned from a short break in a race that was dominated on the lead by a talented rival and made a strong run from last before settling for second-best in an effort that is going to make him tough here, assuming he can repeat it; underrated sprinter lands in an easier spot for the level here. AJNADEEN has the speed that the top one does not, which gives him the tactical edge in a field without a ton of pace; lightly-raced 4yo could still be improving. SHARPE AND READY in tough off the layoff but he took the step forward off his needed debut to show more speed and win clear over maidens when last seen; new gelding appears to be training forwardly into his return.

FOURTH RACE

TESTY KITTEN endured a tough wide trip first time out and couldn’t overcome it in a race that was dominated up front, then got caught in some traffic over yielding ground in his next start and failed to fire in the stretch; gets one more chance on the drop. SHAMROCK KID also dropping in class after failing to get involved over that yielding turf course last time; earned a competitive figure in his turf debut and has good tactical speed. LOCAL EDITION was up close all the way and was outfinished late in a race that fell apart at the end two starts back, then moved up in class last time to no avail; drops back down in a race without a tom of speed signed on.

FIFTH RACE

STRONG ONE may not be able to run at all but won’t judge him too harshly off his debut where he failed to break sharply from the rail and was forced in at the back, before failing to factor in a race that came back fast (91 Beyer for the winner); drops for his second start but has the inside again. SNIDELY went to Laurel for his debut and was outrun right from the start while failing to make an impact; was protected from being claimed in that spot, and ships in to NY for an excellent trainer. NEW STONES by a sire who imparts speed and who has a solid record with juveniles as he makes his debut for top connections; so far the ones with experience have not shown too much.

SIXTH RACE

HANGMAN dropping off an easy win at Monmouth but doing so late in the year after failing to contend vs. 1x rivals in NY two starts back; has run well in all of his turf sprint starts to date and figures

tough vs. this field. TERRIBLE DAY was in good form on dirt in Kentucky earlier this year but also ran well in his only turf start in that span; gave way when shipped to Saratoga last time but has a chance to rebound off the Maker claim, assuming he can handle the cutback. MOHICAN has been in good form since claimed by Diodoro and has carried that form over to dirt in his last two starts after getting rained off; needs a trip from off the pace.

SEVENTH RACE

THEODOSIA was one of several to be wrangled back off the pace last time in a race that was basically conceded to front-running Keota on a slow pace, but she raced on well for 2nd at the end and she also ran well in her prior turf start when bumped and steadied back at the start; one more chance for filly who is in better form than it may appear. BRAMBLE QUEEN taking a big class drop after facing much better in her recent starts, including her two starts in NY for an underrated trainer; turn back to this distance should be no problem for filly who has some speed. TERRABYTE parlayed a perfect trip into an upset win on debut and then went directly into tougher races and failed to factor; repeat of that first one makes her tough as she gets some needed class relief.

EIGHTH RACE

HEAVY MEDDLE went evenly in a race that set up well for him last time while catching the kind of sloppy track that he doesn’t appear to like; thought he ran well two back when making a premature move to the lead and he lands in a spot here where he may have some pace to run at. STONEY BENNETT has returned from a layoff back in form to win two of three right on the front end, and he ran well on a fast pace last time before getting closed down late; dangerous in current form though there appears to be more speed in this matchup. SUDDEN SURPRISE moving back up off the claim after dropping and dominating $25k claimers on the front last time, but he is a prolific winner and has the back races to contend at this level, which he has already won at twice; has speed but doesn’t need the lead to be effective.

NINTH RACE

BOLD THUNDER appears to have lost a couple of steps since returning as an 8yo, though he has been facing some much tougher horses in those races and he lost all chance at the start last time; taking a big drop for this and he has big speed to put into play if he can still run. FIELD OF COURAGE dropping and cutting back after trying the Grade 3 Red Bank last time; better sprinting and handles give in the ground. MAJOR FORCE a closing sprinter looking for some pace to develop as he steps up off the claim; new trainer has done well with his new acquisitions, mostly on dirt.