ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, COMBAT CONTROLLER

FIRST RACE

LAMECH broke slowly in each of his first two starts, effectively costing him any chance, especially in that last one, as there was no speed in the field to set him up; lots of upside and the price should be square. DISCREET RANSOM adds blinkers after flashing speed and tiring in his debut; drop in class makes him an obvious threat. I AM IRON MAN debuts with Lasix for a high percentage barn; first starter out of the dam, who won 13 races, including her own career bow.

SECOND RACE

HERO TIGER moves up in class and stretches back out but he ran well enough in a route two back and his Beyers aren’t that far off the top contenders; seems to be the right value play in wide-open race. CURLAWAY adds blinkers after a slow start in his route bow last time; improvement likely. JOURNEYMAN stretches out for his first start since mid January, and his pedigree suggests the extra ground will be welcome (multiple stakes-winning dam was best going long, albeit on turf).

THIRD RACE

VENETIAN PRINCESS is out of a dam who scored going long, including in a win on the grass, and her lone starter to date (One Thirty One) won a couple of dirt routes; works suggest this filly has some speed. STAMP was off the board in both of her two starts thus far but she earned decent Beyers in the process; away since August but working very well. TRADE AGREEMENT switches to turf and makes her 2nd career starts, two solid angles for trainer Mike Stidham; dam was a stakes winner on turf.

FOURTH RACE

COMBAT CONTROLLER comes off a sprint, her first start off a long layoff, and he should now be set to stretch out to two turns, which does seem to be his best game; could be the controlling speed from the rail, as this race is a little light on speed. LORD BARNA also comes off a sprint, and if he can stay close from the start he will have an edge on the stone closers; wide post doesn’t help in that regard but he may be quick enough to get position easily enough. CHICORY BLUE figures to improve off his latest, as the barn does well with horses making their 2nd starts off intermediate layoffs.

FIFTH RACE

REPATRIATED GEM debuts going long for Stidham, and this is a strong angle for the barn, which clicks at 21% with firsters routing, with a $2.56 ROI; dam was best sprinting on the dirt but she produced Street Bullet, a dirt router. LET’S GO NOW is easy to like after running 2nd in her debut, at 76-1; that kind of value won’t be there but she does seem to be the top contender amongst those with experience on the strength of that running line. INDIGO GIN has some interesting works showing for this debut, breezes that hint at some ability; first starter from the dam also could be overlooked in the wagering.

SIXTH RACE

PROPOSITION is kin to a pair of eight-time winners in Street Invader and Awesome Singer, and she