ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, BIG AWESOME

FIRST RACE

BIG AWESOME went down as the favorite in each of his last two starts but he was in against a very sharp runner in a race that came up much faster than par two back, and he was game in defeat behind a subsequent repeat winner last time; obvious in this spot but tough to go past. KITCHEN POLICE is down in price and in class, and though that last try was sub-par he fits based on the figure he posted against a step lesser three back; should be running late. BURTON needs to stay close in the opening stages; dangerous given some pace help.

SECOND RACE

UNBRIDLED PIPER moves back to that main track and he has back figures that put him in the mix with these; worth a shot against prohibitive favorite GENERAL PADDY. The latter is the one to catch and beat after running 2nd against similar last time, complete with a strong Beyer; clearly tough at a short price, though he may or may not get another loose lead. ROLLIN SMOKE makes his local debut and could prove tough with the locals; has the speed to get position but can also rate and make one run.

THIRD RACE

HEART IN HAND ran a decent race in defeat in his latest following a bumping incident at the start, an improved effort after a dull try in his return; dangerous here with another step forward. TOO STORMY has been away since September but she does have some of the better Beyers in the field; figures tough here if ready. TOTAL TAP is down in price and he merits respect based on the Beyer he posted here two back; have to forgive the regression in his latest, though.

FOURTH RACE

PUBLICIST faded after pressing the pace from the start on the turf but she will be tough at this reduced level back on the dirt, which may well be her best surface; early speed should mean she’s prominent from the start. DESCARADO is more likely to run 2nd than she is to win but she’s a threat in her own right given the right trip and set up; steady Beyers add to the appeal. GINGERMORE has license to move up on the drop in class; moves way up if she catches a wet track.

FIFTH RACE

BLARP could be perfectly spotted behind the likely pacesetters to his inside, and if he can make a better-timed run he can surprise here; expecting an improved effort from him today under those circumstances. REAL ESTATE MOGUL had little chance to close last time in that allowance race, which lacked pace; quicker early splits would obviously move him up. GORGEOUS KITTEN was off the board in his first start off the layoff but he was in against better there, and he stands to improve against this group; should benefit from a lively pace.

SIXTH RACE

CLOUD CHARMER stretches out to two turns for the first time but the dam was best going long and she’s half to Tapa Tapa Tapa, a stakes winner going long; looms the controlling speed in this short field and she can steal it if in fact able to shake loose and set her own splits. LUNA FORTIS, kin to winning router Lemonade Thursday, was a game 2nd in a sprint in her latest, and she’s another who figures to benefit from a forward trip if the pace is controlled; note the barn’s record with stretchouts (33%). CRIMSON STEPPER didn’t get away alertly in her latest but with a clean getaway today she will be prominent from the start.

SEVENTH RACE

CHRISTA’S KITTEN is kin to a couple of turf winners, including No Tunes, who won a pair of horses on the grass; little chance to rally in those off-the-turf race, which were light on pace. AUNT TINSEY is out of a winless dam and her lone starter was blanked in nine starts but this filly does have some decent works showing for her debut; barn solid across the board in pertinent trainer catego-

ries. PENNY ROSE has lots of upside if she gets the pace she failed to get in her latest, as her grass Beyers aren’t bad at all.

EIGHTH RACE

I’M A CATMAN was moving well in the late stages of his latest, and he should get at least some help from the pacesetters as he looks to make the last run; should offer some value. HARLEY BOY has speed and could in fact be among the one to catch with aggressive early handling; latest Beyer was his best yet. WHITE SOCK WOLF wasn’t badly beaten in his most recent, closing with interest to miss by less than two lengths; figures to be more involved today from his rail draw.

NINTH RACE

The pedigree of SARASOTA COUNTY doesn’t offer a lot of clues as to his ability to handle turf — the dam and her first starter were both 0-for-three on the grass — but the barn has good stats with turf sprinters and this colt has proven speeds, two strong indicators when it comes to predicting success under these circumstances; license to steal it if able to get clear. GLOBAL NATION turns back to a sprint and one of his best efforts came in a grass sprint, at Monmouth; could be the main late threat. MR. CHEERFUL didn’t break well in his first start on turf and he was against the race flow in his other attempt; steady Beyers on synthetic at Woodbine.