ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, TEARLESS FIRST RACE

DESCARADO was overmatched in her latest but she’s a snug fit in this $5,000 claimer, restricted to non-winners of two races in six months; inside post and tactical speed add to her appeal in this meet opener. FOR MY MOM usually turfs but she has won on the main track, albeit over Arlington’s synthetic track; has a decent late kick, which should come in handy if the pace is contested. R WAY TO ESCAPE is way down in class for only her 2nd start since August and she had the race flow in her favor when she posted her latest score, two back; may be worth trying to beat her if she is overbet.

SECOND RACE

COUNTRY LINEDANCER makes her first start against winners and her first start outside Maryland and she seems to be in a good spot in terms of her best Beyers; she’ll be looking to close but she has enough tactical speed to stay close early on. NORTHERN WIND has the best figures in the field and is thus the one to beat; she weakened after sitting a good trip in her latest but that seemed to only prove she is at her best when on the lead, and she should be expected to try to steal this. RATTLESNAKEROSE has some early zip of her own and she is another who figures to be prominent from the start.

THIRD RACE

THE KID ROCKS is the first starter out of the dam, who was winless in six starts on the turf and posted her lone career win in a dirt route, but trainer Gerald Bennett wins at a strong 30% with debuting maiden claimers; also sports a couple of decent works. DOLLAR BLUE is in for a tag for the first time, a 20% angle for the barn, and this is an outfit which excels with maiden claimers overall (32%); note trouble in last. FORT DESOTO was caught behind slow splits in his lone start on the turf to date, and he did well to get the show; faster splits would certainly help the cause.

FOURTH RACE

BIG AWESOME should be well spotted behind a lively pace here as he drops back in for a tag following a dull try against better at Delaware; top connections likely ensure a light price but he does figure tough here given the expected set up. CRACKIN JON has speed but can also rate, and that should mean that he, too, benefits from the likely pace scenario, with speedsters MACHO ALPHA and SHE READ MY TEXTS presumably setting the table for the closers. The latter is the 9/5 Morning Line favorite on the strength of that last effort, a game try where she outran other speeds to shake loose; also against the flow two back.

FIFTH RACE

TEARLESS looks very dangerous on the stretch out back to two turns for Derek Ryan, as she appears to be the main speed in a race that’s otherwise short on same; doesn’t necessarily need the lead, and that versatility should mean she works out a favorable trip regardless of how the race flow shapes up. SHE’S RIGHT AGAIN lost her best chance at the start in her latest, yet she recovered to finish within three lengths of the winner despite that tumultuous start; expecting her to be close up from the start given a clean getaway. TAKIN IT EASY comes out of sprints and should be able to use her speed to her best advantage given the expected race flow.

SIXTH RACE

MY BERNIE got squeezed just enough at the start last time and that cost him position — and, by default, the race, as he is at his best when he’s involved from the start; there’s not a great deal of

speed in here and he can benefit greatly from an alert break. JIFFY JOSH drops in price as he ships back to the scene of his lone career win; steady Beyers and high-percentage barn make him easy to like here. PIRATE’S PLUNDER was a game winner at a big price in his bow, and given a similar trip/set up he may be capable of making an impact in his first start vs. winners.

SEVENTH RACE

ASTUTE WARRIOR hasn’t raced since early August but he has been working very well toward his return, which suggests he’ll come back running in his seasonal bow at Tampa, just as he did at the start of last year’s meet; needs pace but he should get at least some help. FRANKLIN TOWERS is the one to catch and beat for trainer Jane Cibelli and jockey Antonio Gallardo; sharp at Monmouth prior to the freshening. OUSBY has a strong late kick and he should be taken very seriously based on his best recent Beyers; very much capable of making the last run given a clean trip from the hedge.

EIGHTH RACE

ROL AGAIN QUESTION comes out of a couple of races which featured a good amount of pace, and she was further hurt by a slow start in her latest; he could be the main speed in this sprint, and if able to shake loose he could get brave on the lead at a big price. FIVE STAR CREEK is back sprinting after pressing the pace in a route at Indiana last time and this does seem to be a favorable spot for him; should be a factor from the bell. EL GRANDE ROJO loves this strip and always seems to run his race here; inside post and tactical speed should mean he’s in good position from the start.

NINTH RACE

BEAUTIFUL REMINDER gets on the turf for the first time but her dam, Lizzielizzie, won two of her three starts on the surface, including her turf debut; this filly has positional speed and she had pace excuses in two of her recent losses. LEMON PRINCESS doesn’t have much speed, so she is at the mercy of the race flow, but given honest fractions she figures to make a late impact; Beyers put her in the thick of this. SCANDALEUSE finally gets on the turf after a couple of rainouts and this does figure to be her best surface, as she is out of a dam who was a Grade 1 stakes winner (Spinster Stakes) on the green.

TENTH RACE

ELUSIVE BAE weakened after prompting the pace going long in her latest but she should benefit from the turnback to a sprint, as trainer Ben Colebrook wins at 20% with that angle; the one to beat off that last line. CHASITY has been turfing but her lone start on dirt wasn’t bad; this is her first start sprinting on dirt, and this could be her best game.

MISS CINDY LOU WHO was hurt by duels in each of her first two starts but she has license to improve if finally able to establish a loose lead.

SCRATCH BOARD

Here are the horses entered today who have been scratched in the last 45 days and have not raced since the scratch. Definitions: Off the turf: Turf race switched to main track. Trainer: Any scratch made by a trainer, including ones for weather, medical issues, a decision not to run in a stakes race, a horse entered back the next racing day, or a conditional entry (i.e., main track only for a turf race). Vet: Injury or illness. Steward: Administrative issues like medication and eligibility.