ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 10, GANGSTER OF LOVE

FIRST RACE

Terrific 13-race Saturday card featuring the opening legs to the annual Fla. Sire Stakes series starts at 12:15 ET and with the hope that turf racing is a ‘go’ today despite sporadic rainstorms in preceding days. Looking for GREAT KAHUNA to capitalize on his inner post when returning fresh for Dibona, who continues to produce with his specialty (turfers); four July works suggest he’ll be ready to take them deep. JUSTCALLMENORMAN, like ‘Kahuna a former Casse trainee, ran creditably in his July 5 comeback for Saffie; can threaten late. Hard to discern just what that whopping 92 BSF in the lastout mdn. win means for SPANNED, but yep, there it is.

SECOND RACE

After a bunch of turf miles, Kurtinecz elected to call a timeout on behalf of WHEELER FORTY FIVE and have him undergo ‘the unkindest cut’; following a regrouping (see all those a.m. works) and now a class drop and distance/surface switch, perhaps this guy will awaken; being given every chance to make something of his stalled career. CASH ON HAND has been 2nd or 3rd in his last 3, all while drawing major play; something similar here, quite possibly. JUST FOR CHUCKLES, a 6-year-old (!!), acquitted himself fairly well at the championship meet.

THIRD RACE

Looks like the July 11 race won by Mr Dewey is a key race toward this bottom-level (for turf) N2L route, so we’ll give BODIE CODY a shot to turn the tables on MR STARK after they were the respective 3rd- and 2nd-place finishers in that one; this race carries the look of what could result in a mad scramble once they spin for home. SOURCE CONTROL, well drawn on the hedge, has been 2nd or 3rd a remarkable 12 times (with just 1 win) in 28 starts; must-use ‘under’ play.

FOURTH RACE

The Schickedanz color-bearer HIGH ROLLING DUDE was nipped in a photo for this same bottom-level (for dirt) N2L claimer before being DQ’d to 4th; seems like this guy might finally be back to where he was when Belsoeur claimed him from McPeek at the championship meet; ready to roll through this condition vs. what looks like soft opposition. W W HANDSOME finally broke loose with something good; can put that confidence-booster to his advantage when scooting away from the rail.

MYSTERIO matches up Beyer-wise but is 1-for-19 with a handful of 2nds and 3rds.

FIFTH RACE

Difficult to get past that 92 BSF earned by CHANCE IT in his mdn. romp on Summit of Speed Day for Saffie; rail draw can put Zayas in the driver’s seat for the stretch run after they all take their early shots; lots of hope for this Shooting Star youngster. On the other end of the gate, LIAM’S LUCKY CHARM looks to capitalize on a promising mdn. score; Ralph says he’s trained forwardly in the interim; outer post can afford a nice stalk-and-see trip. ABSOLUTE GRIT and MAN WITH A PLAN, both out of a stakes won by the Ralph-trained Positively Awesome, stand to make their presence felt.

SIXTH RACE

An inordinately deep group of nicely bred 2yo fillies makes this one of the best races on the entire card. Going with the rail-drawn GOGO SHOES for Stonestreet and Fawkes; pedigree and the lengthy list of works point out her potential. GOLDEN NOLE boasts a 34-and-change mid-week work as Sano put the finishing touches on her; she, too, is by a promising young sire. PERTINENT hails from a barn (Plesa) that’s known to have them right-andready when being led over for the first time.

SEVENTH RACE

With 19 wins (plus 15 more in-money finishes), it’s rather obvious that CHISELED knows the racing game; perhaps more importantly, this 8yo stalwart is 2-for-2 for Napoli, who’s suddenly emerged as a dominant owner; plenty of opposing speed to facilitate his relentless off-pace move. MCMANAMAN is the unknown of the group, having been gelded since his latest when haltered for the third straight race; new trainer D’Angelo been quite aggressive in his tactics since emerging on the scene. ONE FINE RIDE is liable to be a race-long factor from the outer when stretching back out to these 7 panels.

EIGHTH RACE

The Ocala-prepped PARTY DRESS could’ve found a more difficult spot when being unveiled by the Fernungs and Kathleen; these foes clearly will require her to have at least a spot of talent, but they’re all in here for a tag for a reason; tote could yield the most important clues as to her chances. DONDER ‘N BLITZEN probably isn’t as swift as a reindeer, but she’s a homebred Cal-bred who might well prove shrewdly spotted; barn is a danger despite what the oh-fer ‘19 stats say. BARCELONA showed signs of life in her last 2 for Saffie and stands a chance.

NINTH RACE

Rohan Crichton holds a solid hand in this wideopen 1x turf route for state-bred fillies and mares, as PILLANGO looks to move forward off her justmiss June 20 try at this level; 9 wins/2nds over the local lawn do encourage. OUR CLOSURE seems a timely claim by Klesaris, who seems to do his best work with the grassers; another proven entity over the course. AQUEMINI merits a close look as a coveted hedge-drawn fringe player. LOOKINLIKEAQUEEN, ‘the other Crichton,’ also merits consideration.

TENTH RACE

Another deep group of 2yos gunning for a “supercharged” $70k purse makes for another terrific maiden race that’s a key link in all the late multi’s. Gonna project GANGSTER OF LOVE to benefit from his debut 3 Saturdays ago and take this field farther down the lane; always like to see the kind of speed he flashed in that first one. Similarly, DREAM D’ORO showed some ability at first asking; contends again, given expected improvement. NINE POINT FIVE, so named because of his $9,500 purchase price, steps forth with a ton of a.m. works for Sano.

ELEVENTH RACE

Rather jumbled $10k turf 2-turner could get its winner from almost anywhere, but we’ll lean toward DISCREET HEAT tripping out cleanly from his inner post after having come to peak form since Arriagada claimed him in late May; the hot bugboy Torres seals the deal. COMPLETELY BONKERS, already a 4-time winner this year, is looking to transfer that Tampa success to GP; getting closer all the time. ALIEN INVASION might well have to alter his usual front-running tactics given the presence of stretchout types SUM OVERTURE and GIANT’S VOICE in here.

TWELFTH RACE

Here’s Kathleen with another highly promising young Fla.-bred in LENZI’S LUCKY LADY, whose romp in the Golden Isles makes her the obvious filly to beat in this renewal of the Desert Vixen; outer post can afford Rendon the flexibility that’ll probably be needed in a lineup seemingly packed with speed. MS BIG SPRING, fresh from that eyeopener on closing day of the spring meet, gets the best post, from where Jaramillo can stalk stalk stalk; be very interesting to see how she stacks up against this kind. RAVEN and BAHAMIAN GIRL are looking to turn tables after being soundly defeated by the top pick last out.

THIRTEENTH RACE

Unwieldy finale further adds to some wickedly tough end-of-card multi’s, as this mdn.-claiming turf 2-turner will elicit plenty of wild guesses. Thinking Vasquez will have YEI YEI out front off his runner-up finish in that Independence Day sprint; Vegso homebred might have more foundation under him than you’d think. DISC JOCKEY comes unveiled by the turf-pro Maker off a lengthy set of works; one of a handful of firsters in here to make this a great unknown. TRANSLATE SLOWLY, ISLAND COMMISH, COLETTA, and VENEZUELAN HEART .... none would qualify as a major surprise to end an eventful day.