ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, OJIISAN

FIRST RACE

OJIISAN has worked nicely since getting drilled on yielding turf in the Oct. 7 Cup and Saucer Stakes, during which he ran greenly before finishing far behind the next-out stakes winners Avie’s Flatter and Bold Script. He should be competitive at a square price in this six-furlong N1X. PEARL HEIST got a fat 80 Beyer in his handy first-out tally going five-eighths three weeks ago. KRACHENWAGEN missed the break before closing for third and then galloped out strongly second-time out in the seven-furlong Frost King Stakes.

SECOND RACE

TRUMP’S KITTEN has worked extensively and good for a trainer who’s fared quite well with first-timers in routes at the meet. Leading sire Kitten’s Joy has gotten 14% debut winners, and the Ramsey homebred’s dam was stakes-placed on turf. FULL EXTREME rallied from fourth to second over a soft turf course that was kind to speed Nov. 4. He was previously competitive on the Tapeta. SHARP BREW is another longtime maiden in fine form who’s switching from turf to the main track.

THIRD RACE

H IS JUST A NUMBER is by a stakes-winning debut winner at 2, who’s sired 10.5% first-out winners, and the homebred is the first foal from a stakesplaced baby. The trainer/jockey combo of Tiller and Ryan has been deadly with debuting babies at the meet. MARY OF SCOTTS made a four-wide bid into contention at the top of the stretch en route to running third in her improved second start for $25K. CANDY MOUNTAIN is descending from $32K to $20K, a spot where her speed might be more effective.

FOURTH RACE

FLECK is dropping from $20K, while picking up journeyman Hernandez. She could put it all together in her second race after a layoff, in her second try for a new barn. CALAIS COVE placed in two straight starts before a flat fourth most recently, in which she showed more speed than usual. Da Silva knows her better now. GEORGIA SWEETS is always a must-use underneath in the exotics, and BELLA NINA is bred to go long.

FIFTH RACE

AUNTIE KATHERINE set soft fractions over an antispeed track en route to an authoritative maiden victory for $12.5K three weeks ago. She’s an excellent fit in this $10K NW2 tilt, with the leading bug Kimura back in the saddle. FROST DELAY had no shot after getting away slowly and racing wide most of the way over an inside-biased track in her latest. GLIB MARYLIN landed on the edges when dropping to this level from $20K most recently. Use her on the bottom of vertical bets, along with NADELEINE, who benefited from the aforementioned bias when second Nov. 9.

SIXTH RACE

SWEET BRYNLIE broke slowly before rushing up to set the pace and got caught late when debuting over an inside-favoring track Nov. 9. She’s adding blinkers in this shorter OS maiden special, and could make all the running. NEVER SOBER hit the board in each of her three excursions, most recently in an open maiden special over seven furlongs. VESPERANZA took the long way home when seventh behind the top pick in her opener. She’s adding the hood, and should be better for the

experience. CARMEN IS MY NAME was a troubled fourth in her debut. SEIZE THE BAY has been mixing it up with the likes of Glencairn, Greenfield, Rocket Plan and Coleyville at this $20K B class. He’s had a little break leading up to this engagement, and might be ready to put it all together. FAMILY KITTEN shook loose up front before getting nailed on the wire when dropping to this level in his second try off the McKnight claim Nov. 2. SPIRIT OF CALEDON saved ground before going outside in the stretch when fourth over an inside-preferred track Nov. 9. Use him underneath in the gimmicks, along with COURTLY MANNER and SELLING OUT.

EIGHTH RACE

IKERRIN ROAD won two of his last three starts from off the pace, most notably the allowance prep for this event. He gave the mighty Pink Lloyd a scare when second in this G2 stakes last year. YORKTON aired two back in the G3 Bold Venture, and was only beaten a neck after his rider lost his whip most recently in the G2 Nearctic on turf. He’s been working up a storm, and should take some catching as the chalk. SINGANDCRYINDUBAI pressed a quick pace before ending up second in the prep. He rarely runs a bad one with his good tactical speed. HEMP HEMP HURRAY was surprisingly on the lead before wilting in the prep.

NINTH RACE

RIKER has run two solid races from off the pace in starter allowance company since returning from a freshening—an easy win and a troubled second over the seven-furlong distance of this optional starter. WORBOTHOR beat RIKER in the latter event, during which he rallied wide from off quick fractions to prevail comfortably with a career high 92 Beyer. MARTEN LAKE has been a model of consistency at this level, and should join the fray.

TENTH RACE

Off a $25K victory, RINCE TAPAIGH seems a little outclassed in this N1X, but it came up light, and the nine-time winner might not be out of her league. KILLAG KATIE burned lots of money while placing in all three of her starts at this level. Perhaps the stretchout to a route will be to her benefit. MYSTIC NILE came wide from left field to end up second behind the classy Hot Cash in an identical spot Nov. 11.

ELEVENTH RACE

TOWN CRUISE earned a solid 76 Beyer in his offthe-pace debut score Oct. 21. He’s going on Lasix in this NW2 tilt, after working a fast half-mile, and probably deserves top billing. GOLD STING rallied wide from mid-pack to topple $40K maidens in his second try off the Ensom claim three weeks ago. ALACRITOUS figures to be a speed threat, and NEVAEH’S DREAM is also in decent form.