ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, BROADWAY BANDIT

FIRST RACE

ORCHID PARTY was on a good run for her prior trainer while moving up in class earlier this year, then bumped into a pair of much better horses in the slop back in May before trying turf a couple of times over the summer; fact that she hasn’t been seen since being claimed a couple of months ago at Saratoga is a concern but she chased a fast pace that day before giving way and her new trainer has been doing a good job off the claim. GYPSY JANIE chased while off a good rail and couldn’t make an impact as the favorite in her first start for these connections back in August; two best figures have come over wet tracks, something she may be encountering again in this spot considering the forecast. RICHIE’SLILWILDCAT contested the pace off that strong rail ahead of GYPSY JANIE two starts back then faced a much tougher field on turf in her first start off the claim; drops back down for a trainer who has been on a good run over the past few months.

SECOND RACE

Y’ALLCOMENOW made her turf debut last time and had to steady at the top of the stretch before racing on behind horses all through the stretch; not sure how much run she actually had but she may be able to do better with a clean trip as she gets a positive rider change. TWO CENT TOOTSIE debuted in the slower division of NY-bred turf sprints at Saratoga but she couldn’t get through on the rail in the stretch and was never clear to be set down in the late stages; can have another chance on this surface after getting rained off last time. MIDDLE OUT had a clean trip over seven furlongs in her debut and raced on through the stretch without making a real impact on the leaders; blinkers on for her second start as she stretches out.

THIRD RACE

OKEAMO facing a turn back here that may add to his level of difficulty but he is taking a big class drop for this race, and he has shown enough in his prior starts to suggest that he may have found the right field here; main concern being that he was scratched by the vet from a similar spot a couple of weeks ago. JOE’S SMOKIN GUN hasn’t improved on turf since returning as a 3yo and finishing 2nd in three straight starts earlier this year; tried cutting back on dirt, where he will be facing maiden claiming for the first time after three starts early in his career vs. better horses. DEVILRY went favored after OKEAMO was scratched from this condition back on October 12th and was run down by a longshot late; his speed plays in races like this but will have to do better if the top one shows up.

FOURTH RACE

SWEET TIMING is entered in the Chelsey Flower as a maiden by a trainer who tends to not overrate his horses and she had enough trouble in her debut when bumped back at the starts and caught in traffic in the stretch to have a chance to step forward in this spot. TAKE TEN was taken back early in her debut last month then came wide and finished gamely to be a gaining 2nd at the end for a trainer who settles a pair in this race off of similar performances in split divisions of maidens on the grass back on September 15. LUCKY LIPS another maiden trying stakes company in her second start and while she sat a nice trip in behind a rated early pace, she finished gamely from behind likely favorite MULTI STRATEGY in that spot to get 2nd at the end; well-bred filly has tactical speed to use from her outside draw.

FIFTH RACE

FIERY OPAL won his first three for this trainer, including paired up 95 Beyer efforts over a six-day span back in June while riding in class; wasn’t as sharp off the layoff at Parx six days ago but he was finishing gamely at the end to just fall short. BLEWITT hasn’t been seen since easily handling a weak field at a short price back in early February but he has run well in all three starts so far, including that second one when keeping after a fast pace and only getting caught late by a perfectly ridden