ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, BIG POSSIBLE

FIRST RACE

LITTLE CHRISTINA has faced better over her career, running in allowances, starters, and optional claimers, and should prove the class of this $16,000 claiming N3L turf sprint. She turned in her best performance since last spring in running second (with the help of a DQ) in an optional claimer/starter Dec. 30. She also did so despite a troubled trip. JO JO’S CANDY has been an all or nothing type to this point in her sixrace career, winning two sprints on the lead and retreating to the rear half of the field in her four other starts. Two of those losses came on dirt, however. Speedy and logical on the rise from a N2L into a N3L. MAJESTIC MAIARA seems to fit for this price when sprinting on the grass, though not having as much speed as others has resulted in her going just two for 27 over her career.

SECOND RACE

SMALL FORTUNE is three for five since rising into the starter ranks and 12 for 39 overall. Though his last two victories came at Tampa, he is also a twotime winner at Gulfstream from seven local dirt starts. He is one of numerous frontrunners in this speed-laden field, but has shown the ability to sit just off the pace and win, which could prove key in here. HARRYHEE, on the other hand, is more of a one-dimensional speedster. He is quite effective when he puts it all together, such as when he won a starter stake wire to wire here last month. I IDOLIZE YOU starts for Jason Servis, whose horses are winning at an astounding 46-percent rate this meet. This one rattled off three in a row, admittedly vs. easier, before a third in his first starter, a finish that came after a tardy break.

THIRD RACE

ROMPIN REID and NILEATOR raced in an open $16,000 claimer Feb. 2, running third and ninth, respectively, and should appreciate today’s restrictive race condition, which limits this field to horses that have not won on the turf since Sept. 30. ‘REID has the sharper form and therefore rates on top. In addition to his recent third, he was fourth in another $16,000 race a start earlier. NILEATOR, meanwhile, adds blinkers after not firing and acting up in the gate over his last few races. Perhaps the equipment change can result in improved focus. TIPSY KITTEN drops in claiming price from $30,000, though that race had a condition, limited to N3L runners or those winless since Aug. 31. He possesses tactical speed in race that seems short of pace, which should lead to a favorable trip.

FOURTH RACE

CONQUEST WINDYCITY is aggressively spotted for $35,000 claiming by a winning barn after running sixth of 10 in an optional $62,500 claimer Jan. 27. A slow start may have compromised him a bit that day. Fond of long one-turn races such as this mile contest. MR ATILA was an encouraging second in his first start of the meet in December when well beaten behind the classy Breaking Lucky in an optional claimer, but has not been as sharp since. He ran fifth in January and sixth last month, though he led for over six furlongs while setting a lively pace. MUCHO PROSPECT changes barns and comes off a brief freshening after a couple lackluster efforts late last year. A five-time winner from 14 starts, he has the potential to challenge if he returns to form.

FIFTH RACE

BIG POSSIBLE goes second off the claim for a

winning stable, and as a horse with back class, has appeal in this $16,000 N2L turf sprint. He had to chase the pacesetter last time out when third but will likely play more of a stalking role here.

TEAK is blessed with blazing speed, an asset in a five-furlong grass race at Gulfstream, but has yielded in his last two after having commanding leads at the eighth pole. His most-recent defeat, a second-place finish, came in an off-the-turf race, and he seems to be a horse that prefers the lawn.

BARBAROSSA outperformed the top choice when second Jan. 25, but after being able to control the pace. He seems unlikely to make the front with TEAK in this lineup. Changes barns via a claim for the second straight race.

SIXTH RACE

MAD SLAM ran well at first asking by rallying to be third on synthetic at Woodbine, only to falter in a subsequent start in losing by nearly 35 lengths there. Her connections regrouped after that loss, and she has worked steadily at Palm Meadows in recent weeks, building up to a few five-furlong breezes. Bounce back candidate on the drop into maiden $35,000 company, though unproven on dirt. CHARETTE is another that has been tested against tougher, racing three times in the straight maiden ranks and another time for $50,000. She rallied to be fourth in the latter race after stumbling at the start. Yet to show speed in any of her three sprints, however. Morning-line favorite LONG STORY SHORT has been managed like a grass horse over her first three races, though she did run second in an off-the-turf race going seven furlongs in December. That came going longer and in a depleted six-horse field. Adds blinkers for the cutback to a route to race six furlongs.

SEVENTH RACE

JULIA’S KITTY is the class of this $10,000 N2L group, never having previously raced for a tag. She won first out at Indiana Grand in a straight maiden race and managed a few thirds in allowances at Churchill, Keeneland, and Indiana. Less enthusiastically, she has not raced since October and shows just one published breeze on Jan. 12 at press time. Willing to give her the benefit of the doubt since she is proven fresh and running for the winning Midwest Thoroughbred team. Blinkers on. GLOTONASA took 11 starts to break her maiden, but has since remained competitive in three starts against N2L company with a fourth, third and second. All of those races came vs. cheaper, though this does not seem all that much better of a field, aside from ‘KITTY, who has a sketchy worktab. BEFORE could not keep pace with five-furlong turf sprints for $16,000, going unplaced in two starts vs. winners, but broke her maiden on dirt at Gulfstream Park West and is better suited to today’s company.

EIGHTH RACE

MOUNT OLYMPUS, second in his debut for maiden $35,000 on dirt, does not have a pedigree that immediately points to him being a grass horse, but dig into the produce record of his dam, and he is related to a turf winner. He also starts for trainer Mike Maker, the second-leading turf trainer in earnings behind Chad Brown in 2018. Narrow edge in a wide-open race. ALL IN STEW OUI seems an overlay if he sticks anywhere near his 15-1 morning line. He has twice managed fourths against straight maidens and now is in with easier maiden $50,000 stock. Fellow maiden special weight dropper NOBLE NEBRASKAN twice ran third to begin his career before going to Del Mar and running sixth a couple times there. He races as a first-time gelding and adds Lasix.

NINTH RACE

GOT STORMY was disadvantaged by conditions in her last couple starts, catching soft turf at Belmont Oct. 13 when seventh in the Pebbles and then running fifth on dirt in the off-the-turf Winter Memories Nov. 22. Today she races her best trip of a mile on grass, over which she is four for seven, though accomplished in restricted 3-year-old company to date. After rear-half finishes in three straight graded races, BONNIE ARCH received needed class relief in this allowance. A minor stakes winner at Ellis Park last year, she seems to be prefer racing over firm ground - conditions she didn’t catch in two of her recent graded losses. SHE’S PRETTY LUCKY ran evenly to be sixth in the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa last out, failing to contend for the top awards but only losing by 4 1/2 lengths. Four starts in allowances in 20182019 resulted in two wins, a third, and a second. PRINCESA COQUETA is the wild card, a Group 1 winner in Chile, but a filly out of action since 2017.

TENTH RACE

WILDWOOD’S BEAUTY won first out vs. Florida breds before responding with a pair of runnerup finishes vs. open first-level allowance horses. Her latest on Feb. 10 earned her just a 56 Beyer, but she did run faster in her preceding race with a 65. Slight edge. WHAT A BEAUT is likely the most talented of these, but is an unknown under today’s conditions - sprinting six furlongs on dirt. All three of her races have come going two turns on grass. That noted, trainer Mark Casse is skilled with the turf-to-dirt move, hitting at a 20% clip. GRAY OWL rolled vs. state-bred maidens Jan. 20 after showing speed and fading in two prior starts at Hawthorne. First Lasix for her first race vs. winners.

ELEVENTH RACE

WISELY and TRUMP’S KITTEN appear the most likely winners of the nightcap, with WISELY slightly preferred after running a troubled second over this course in his lone start this winter. He also managed a third at Saratoga vs. classier maiden claimers there last summer. TRUMP’S KITTEN ran fifth as the favorite for this maiden $20,000 tag last out but after stumbling at the start. That contributed to him being ninth early - in contrast to his debut when he showed speed before fading to fourth on the synthetic at Woodbine. BAD BOY E. J. was a non-factor last out but in an off-thegrass contest run on a fast main track. His form is much better on turf, as are his Beyer Speed Figures on that surface.