SEVENTH RACE

HONIG benefited from an inside bias when beating NW3 OS/$40K rivals after a speed try under Hernandez Nov 9. The son of Giant’s Causeway worked an impressive bullet last weekend, and deserves another chance at the N1X level. MO GEE came close to clearing this condition in November, and should be a player with his tactical speed. WHO’S GOT IT nearly got the job done at this class Oct. 13 in his debut for McKnight, who has solid numbers second-time off a claim. Use CANMORE underneath in the gimmicks.

EIGHTH RACE

PUMPKIN RUMBLE romped in the 13-furlong allowance prep for this G3 stakes, in which he finished fifth last year. The veteran could take some beating under Da Silva, who chose him over the millionaire MELMICH. The latter has a win and two seconds in this marathon. He’s past his prime, but should be in the hunt off a confidence-building score in an optional claimer. SEEKING ALBERT raced wide all the way while closing belatedly for third in the prep, finishing just three-quarters of a length behind ENGLISH ILLUSION. The latter’s only poor recent performance came over giving turf in the G1 Canadian International.

NINTH RACE

MALIBU BONNIE didn’t have much pace to chase last time when closing from fourth to second at this N2X/optional-claiming class. She was previously competitive in a series of stakes, including a half-length loss to the good Moonlit Promise in the Sweet Briar Too. SCOTTY’S MODEL notched her first stakes in the restricted Ballade in May, but then went to the bench after running fourth in the G3 Hendrie. Her trainer has excellent stats with similar comebackers, and this one’s competing with a high tag for the first time since last fall. SPRING IN THE WIND beat N1X opposition going five-eighths in her latest. Consider her for the bottom of intra-race bets, along with BLURRICANE.

TENTH RACE

EVIL WOMAN faded to finish eight lengths back after a stalking trip when going long after a oneyear layoff Nov. 23. She’s meeting much easier in this $6.25K NW2 sprint at seven furlongs, a distance over which she has a decent record. PENNY A POINT pressed a slow pace over an antispeed track when second in her best showing in a while Nov. 18. PERFECT ROAD landed on the edges behind the latter then, and could hit the ticket. FLASHINTHEPANTS is getting some class relief.