ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, ROCK SOLID GOLFER

FIRST RACE

MAYRHOFEN was rallying nicely in the late stages of that sprint try last time, which may have set him up nicely for this stretch-out; may be able to make the last run given a contested pace up front. DAWN PATROL is another who could be set up by a quick tempo up front; back to his preferred surface. JIFFY JOSH posted a Beyer well above par in that sprint win against non-winners of two; merits respect off that effort but he may not get another loose lead in today’s opener.

SECOND RACE

THORNTON rushed up to contend on the first turn in his return from the short layoff and that move seemed to cost him, as he weakened late and the race set up well for the closers; switches jockeys today and lands in a field where his Beyers fit nicely. BOSCO BOB’S BABY makes his first start since March but he did run some decent races here at the last meet, and his Beyers put him in the mix; needs pace but should get at least help from the speeds. HALF TON OF FUN has speed and the rail and will take them as far as he can on the front end; game 2nd in his latest.

THIRD RACE

HOLIDAY STORM was a sharp 2nd in her most recent try on the green, back in March at Fair Grounds; willing to take a shot that she’s ok after pulling up in her latest, especially as she moves to turf, which could well be her best surface. MY LITTLE STORMY is in for a tag upon shipping over from Kentucky, and her Beyers make her the one to beat; figures to make her presence felt late. SOUTHERN SUNDAY might be the one to catch from her inside post; another in for a tag for the first time.

FOURTH RACE

PHYLLIS DRILLER was clearly no match for the runaway winner in her local debut but that race came up very fast, and she was against the race flow in that sprint; goes longer today but she didn’t run badly at all in two route tries at Presque Isle Downs. WITH ME WITHOUT ME is back down in price for hot trainer Kathleen O’Connell, and she picks up Gallardo; this combination is always tough here, and in fact yields a flat-bet profit. O’HI MARIE adds blinkers, stretches out and gets the rail; very likely to be prominent from the start.

FIFTH RACE

LOS ARCOS was behind a few of these in her first start off the layoff but she was moving well through the lane, and she may be able to turn the tables today at a price if she can move forward off that effort; note the barn’s record 2nd time off a freshening. CAPE LAA DI DA makes her first start off the Dini claim following a decent try in her first try since the summer; dangerous given a clean trip and some pace help. BATTLE BACK CURLY will be overlooked in the wagering but she has some upside, as she had little chance in her lone try on the turf given the race flow, which favored speeds (note inverted “S” symbol in DRF PP’s); price will be right.

SIXTH RACE

BEST OFFER rushed up after a stumbling start as the favorite and though the splits were on the slow side that cost her; he was off the board but he wasn’t pushed hard late buy Gallardo, who is back aboard today as she takes a drop in class which makes her very tough. BELTWAY is best when he’s on or near the lead, and he can be expected to be a presence from the start on the stretch-out from a sprint; another

who should benefit from class relief. HAPPY’S

CAUSEWAY merits respect on the strength of his best figures; has speed but he also has proven he can also rate effectively.

SEVENTH RACE

ROCK SOLID GOLFER got a great setup but a rotten trip in his seasonal bow, checking in the opening stages and then lacking room in the lane; he has the tactical speed to get position, and with a clean trip he figures to get first run on the closers. IMPOSING WILL was off the board in his latest but the slow splits provide a convenient excuse, as does the yielding course; expecting an improved effort for him in his Tampa debut. FOX ROX scored over this course in April, and the resulting Beyer gives him credibility in this post; may offer some value despite gaudy stats for the barn in several pertinent trainer categories.

EIGHTH RACE

In her latest, RATTLESNAKEROSE spotted position to the pacesetter in a race lacking speed and that runner was too tough to catch; this filly did well to rally for the place, however, and she was flattered when Northern Wind returned to score again in her next start. VALID INTEREST is way down in class for her first start since April, surely a red flag, but this may simply be her proper level, and she doesn’t meet an above-average field; could awaken at a square price. CONCERTOS APPEAL is back to dirt, and it is over this course that she posted her lone career win; promising last try, in that she should an ability to take off the pace and make one run.

NINTH RACE

OKLAHOMA CRUDE looms a very big price but he’s a proven turf sprinter and he comes off a couple of such races where he met specialists in the field; has a decent late kick when right and he should get at least a little bit of assistance in the form of one-dimensional speeds, who could create a quick early tempo. VITSAL has some early speed and he’s faced some decent fields of late; EPIC DRAMA is very quick from the gate and he’s proven on the grass; solid work for this last week.