ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, UNBOUNDED SPIRIT

FIRST RACE

PAXOS was stuck in traffic last out before closing late for third in his improved second trip postward. This $10K maiden claimer should be his for the taking. APATOW raced wide throughout over an inside-favoring track when sixth in his first try at this price Dec. 1. MAJOR KELLY benefited from the aforementioned bias while closing for third.

SECOND RACE

RED SAHARA is returning from a short layoff as a first-time gelding for this his second race, while plunging in value and adding blinkers. LILLZ NOT CRYING just missed after a stalking trip when turning back from a route to three-quarters in his latest. JAIL TIME could hang on for a share after flashing some early foot.

THIRD RACE

FAHRENHEIT has been on the improve of late since hitting a low point when he was eased Sept. 23. He’s experimenting around two turns, and is bred for the task at hand. Longtime maidens SHARP BREW and ARGENTIUM are both logical for the bottom of the exotics. The former is picking up leading rider Da Silva for his second race off the bench.

FOURTH RACE

STREET REVIEW had a wide journey over an inside-favoring track when fifth in a tougher NW2 route Nov. 23. His outside draw is a negative, but the closer could be along in time if he gets some pace to run at. MIRACLE SILVER came up a neck

short after a stalking trip on a speed-friendly track in a longer route three weeks ago. SLAM could hit the ticket, as could THE OTHER BREEZE, who benefited from the bias when fourth Nov. 23.

FIFTH RACE

AWESOME WOK N ROLL is stretching out off a narrow loss, with a blend of speed and stamina in his quality pedigree. Trainer Mark Casse has respectable stats with maiden first-time routers. MAJESTIC MELODY was a prominent second on the portion of the Nov. 25 card that favored speed in the best of three route starts. YZERMAN is bred to go long, and should be a factor off a closing third behind the top choice in his recent debut. SELF INFLICTED is another possibility.

SIXTH RACE

STUDIO B is halving in value off a fringe finish from $40K, from which the third-place finisher exited to win an OS/$40K maiden sprint with a 72 Beyer. The hot bug Kimura takes over for a live barn. POQUITO BANDITO had a wide trip over an inside-preferred track when seventh for $25K in his latest. SILENT BLAZE rode that bias during a flat fifth-place finish Dec. 2. Da Silva will pilot him for the first time here.

SEVENTH RACE

BEAUFILS rallied quite wide from 13 lengths back to lose by a neck in her best race since graduating when going nine furlongs Nov. 24. Wilson knows her better now. BELLA NINA dominated $8K maidens in a slow clocking Dec. 5. Da Silva stays aboard for this $10K NW2 tilt. GLIB MARYLIN has been in a tailspin of late, but one of her better performances would put her in the frame. BOYNE RIVER is another prospect for the exotics.

EIGHTH RACE

UNBOUNDED SPIRIT mounted a wide bid from fifth to end up second over an inside-favoring track when dropping to $20K three weeks ago. He could make some noise at a square price in this tougher NW2 event, in his first try under Hernandez. NEVAEH’S DREAM put away a host of challengers up front last time before weakening to second behind a rival who subsequently beat NW3 stock with a 75 Beyer. Use TIMESKIP and GOLD STING underneath in the gimmicks.

NINTH RACE

SINE METU is a long-distance specialist, who finished second behind a classy opponent in the final leg of the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series Oct. 14. LOOKIN AT BRAVO comes off a daylight score over nine furlongs in a $10K conditioned claimer. His trainer has enjoyed lots of success in marathons, most notably the G3 Valedictory Stakes. STREET LEGAL is questionable going the 1 7/8 miles, but he could take this field a long way if he relaxes up front.

TENTH RACE

HUSHIN’ RUSSIAN galloped out strongly after crushing open maiden special opposition at first asking over six furlongs Oct. 28. The Bill Diamant homebred is a likely repeater in this seven-furlong sprint for NW2 OS/$40K claimers. DESOLATOR landed on the edges after taking the long way home in a similar spot Nov. 24. ANALYZER is shortening up off a maiden victory going long.

ELEVENTH RACE

WET YOUR WHISTLE is coming off a poor performance in a fast N1X on the dirt at Laurel. He worked a quick five-eighths on the Fair Hill Tapeta the other day, for a trainer who’s fared well here with his Maryland shippers. SILENT JIMMIE was a minor player in N1X company, before finishing a close second vs. NW3 types Nov. 23. CHIRICAHUA SIGNAL got away slowly before trying to mount a wide rally over an inside-biased track in a shorter N1X Dec. 1.

TWELFTH RACE

NORTHERN CRUSADER finished third among three next-out winners, including the promising Cordroy Road, when debuting in an open maiden special Oct. 20. He merits top billing in this OS maiden special. BALA FALLS broke awkwardly en route to finishing a clear second in his five-furlong opener Nov. 25. KID FORESTER saved ground before ending up third behind the latter when debuting in that same dash. Use CHEEK TO CHEEK on the bottom of tri and super wagers.

THIRTEENTH RACE

ADMIRALTY PIER, Canada’s reigning champion male 2yo, has worked well for his return from a long layoff. He can fire while fresh, and should make his presence felt against some salty older opposition in this optional claimer. SURGICAL STRIKE was a lapped-on second at this level Nov. 10 behind Melmich, who subsequently finished a bang-up second in the G3 Valedictory. KING AND HIS COURT closed belatedly on the outside over an inside-favoring track in the Sir Barton Stakes. He’s a must-use on the bottom of intra-race bets, along with FREITAG.

FOURTEENTH RACE

A GREAT TIME ran wide over an inside-biased track when second behind a razor-sharp Gold Lace in a six-furlong N1X here Dec. 2. The Maryland invader might love seven-eighths, a distance which she’s yet to compete over. KILLAG KATIE has been knocking on the door at this level for a while. BEAUTIFUL STREET is turning back off an improved placing. SPRINGDETTI could hang on for a slice of the purse.