ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, MAYOR COBB

FIRST RACE

ODESSA probably ran the best race of any of the experienced fillies running today. She ran evenly at this level and has worked steadily since then. Five of six siblings are winners. Sire not good with firsters but is a decent sire. Barn 0-for-4 with second-timers, but shows profit with runners off similar layoffs. OYSTER SHOOTER makes her debut here. She’s by a decent win-early sire, and her dam was stakes-placed as a 2 YO. Has a nice work tap for barn that does well with first-timers. And she’s not meeting the toughest of fields. EARLY MORN tales off blinkers for her third start. She has had excuses in both starts, but condition could be a question with no listed works since her last start five weeks ago.

SECOND RACE

CORONADO COOL draws the rail and should be a factor all the way as drops to the bargain-basement level. She chased a fast, sharp runner and faded late last time. She’s winless here but has been the runner-up in three of her six starts. PRETTY

SURPRISE is a decent sprinter at the bottom levels. She, too, is a stalker but not as quick as the top pick. She’s earned a $111 K bankroll and has been a consistent check earner at double-digit odds of late. PANSHIR runs at the bargain-basement level for the first time. She went winless last year, but this drops makes her a reasonable contender to look at.

THIRD RACE

MOMMY ROSE hit the board in starter company in her first start in six weeks. She has hit the board in her three starts for this tag or starter race at this level. She’s hit the board in six of seven starts on the main track, never missing a paycheck. HOLY DIVER was given a big drop last time when looking for a confidence-building win. It didn’t work, but her recent form, despite a 1-for-33 career record is good enough to merit a look at what should be a big price. SOCIAL ETIQUETTE graduated at the bottom level in her debut here two back and then ran third at this level after sticking her head in

front in the stretch. She has a sizzling half-mile bullet since that race.

FOURTH RACE

PEPPER CROWN bids for a repeat as he guns for his third win in four starts. He is a past classer who is going in good form. He likes this track and has a rider who seems to get the best out of him. SIERRA STEEL stalked nicely and was inching away from rivals to win at this level to get off to a great start in 2019. He’ll be in good position throughout which gives him a tactical advantage in this contentious heat. MACHO GABACHO scored a game win in his last start at this level, hanging on with tenacity. He’s met better and hit the board in his past two starts and has never missed a check since coming north.

FIFTH RACE

SHARI steps up a notch after winding up 2018 with a victory. She’s never lived up to the potential she showed as a 2 YO. She’s had nearly seven weeks on the sidelines, but she’s run all right fresh and has wound up preparations with a strong fivefurlong work after a good six-furlong move. WARM ENDOWMENT went to the sidelines after a disappointing turf try. She’s been off 2 1/2 months but is running at the lowest level of her career. She’s another who showed good potential as a younger runner. STAINTONDALE LASS ran second when favored with a drop to this level. It was a good try on the turf, and she’s equally adept on the main track.

SIXTH RACE

JUST KATHY continues to descend the class ladder as she plunges to the bargain-basement level. She’s hit the board in both starts here and could be the one to catch as she adds blinkers. She’s a half to a graded stakes winner. HERE’SLOOKINATYA ran twice here, turning in an even effort in a turf sprint while never being a factor on the main track against straight maidens. She’s run for a tag in her past pair down south and gets a big drop for this. . TIZ ALWAYS MUSIC sat out all of 2018 and comes back at this level in her first race for a tag. She didn’t run that badly as a 2 YO and could, arguably, be too good for these.

SEVENTH RACE

MAYOR COBB was favored at this level and came flying late after running four wide but lost a head bob. He’s hit the board in all three starts at this distance on the main track and graduated at this distance on the turf. He couldn’t quite catch ANGELO’S PRIDE, who got first run on him. He moved even wider than the top pick and had a clean trip. He was making his first start since breaking his maiden at the distance nine weeks earlier. Will he improve or bounce after his $68 upset? NOLONGERAHOBBY stretches out for the first time. He’s met better than all but the top pick, who ran third in a stakes, and qualified for this while running in a first-level allowance race with a $40K claiming tag which he ran for.