ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, RACHEL’S SMOKIN

FIRST RACE

STARSHIP GUSSIE found $20,000 company too challenging last out on Apr. 11, finishing ninth, but had previously run well a couple of times for $16,000 and now dips to her lowest level for $10,000; tactical speed and capable of running Beyers in the 60s, ranking her as one of the fastest in this lineup. HANNAH CATHERINE is a versatile filly that has shown the ability to handle both turf and dirt. Chances improve in an off-the-turf scenario given the limited accomplishments of her rivals on the main track. MISS MARIU fits on class and form but is a deep closer and such types often need racing luck to be effective, even on turf.

SECOND RACE

This is a tricky race to handicap, being for 2-yearolds and for maiden $12,500 claimers, to boot. Clearly, none of the trainers hold their horses in particularly high regard given the cheap price for which these youngsters can be claimed. The nod goes to first timer ANGELIC KNUGGET, who shows better works than most of her rivals, topped by a half mile recently in 47 3/5 seconds; can be spotted aggressively after selling for just $1,700 at auction last year. AFANDI and CAT CAY, related to a couple of stakes winners, are other debuting runners than merit respect, though their works have been slower, while CHICLE SPARKS seems the best of those that have raced.

THIRD RACE

HEIDI HO catches a suspect group of $12,500 N2L turf claimers and seems ready to improve upon a couple of recent speed-and-fades in April at this class level. A touch fresh after a month and a half off, she shows a couple of seconds in her past performances after layoffs. MOONLIT SEA seems to be rounding into form after being away for almost two years, managing a close fifth and a fourth in a couple of races last month. Her chances improve if this race comes off the race - she is only of only three horses in the race with wins on dirt. LITTLE NICOLE races second time after a long break after rallying wide to be a close sixth May 12. She possesses back class, having broken her maiden at Gulfstream Park West earlier in her career.

FOURTH RACE

BALLY SQUALL and COUNTRY STRONG both have long been stuck in the maiden ranks, losing several times as the favorite apiece, but their foes bring little to the table. With this pair possessing similar records, the edge went to BALLY SQUALL, who may have more upside as a 3-yearold compared to 4-year-old COUNTRY STRONG. The latter, second or third in six straight races, narrowly owns the highest recent Beyers, posting 39 Beyers in her last two starts - a few points or so higher than her leading rivals. KAUFY FUTURES, whose fastest races have come on grass, finished fourth when moved to dirt last out, 2 1/2 lengths behind BALLY SQUALL. Lightly raced with five starts, she has the potential for improvement as she gains experience.

FIFTH RACE

NOTORIOUS NICK, a pricey buy for $225,000 last year, retreated to the rear half of the pack in his first couple races on dirt before elevating his performances in two turf starts. His last race on May 18 was his best to date. After spurted to the lead from the outside post, he came under midrace pressure, spurted clear again and then was tagged nearing to wire to be second, beaten a neck. A halflength behind him that afternoon was TEN CARAT DADDY, who closed from the clouds to be third in just his second start. He has nice bloodlines for a Florida bred, being a son of late Scat Daddy and a half brother to a couple of six-figure earners. UNDAUNTED has come around since an inauspicious debut, running in the second through fourth slots in three straight races, two of which came on the grass. One of those turf races came in the May 18 race when he was fourth, three-quarters of a length behind NOTORIOUS NICK and a neck behind TEN CARAT DADDY.