ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, MONFORTE

FIRST RACE

A nine-race Friday card starts at the “twilight” time of 2:15 ET and with a pretty well-matched field of $20k filly-mare maidens going short on the turf (assuming there’s actually grass racing today ... rain has been in the forecast for much of this week). Looking for the Kantharos filly MISS MIAMI to improve substantially with the needed debut under her belt, not to mention the surface switch (again, if there’s grass) and the subtle class drop for a barn with solid across-the board numbers; well-drawn toward the outside with the hot bugboy up. GILDA F. makes an interesting turn-back while being cut in half by Saffie; wouldn’t be a surprise whatsoever. NY BETH GETSITDONE and RUN TIZ RUN both fit.

SECOND RACE

Look back at his last couple of tries vs. nonwinners and you’ll believe that LENNOX surely is better than his last two; can’t explain his Fourth of July stinker, but you can attribute his most recent to a failed turf experiment; reverting to his better efforts could do here. FIVES WILD actually broke his maiden over dirt and now leaves the turf following a brief regrouping; can load-n-go from his favorable outer box. GEONOSIS drops in for a first tag, which is always worth noting under these kinds of circumstances.

THIRD RACE

No reason to think AWSUM ROAR can’t win right back when staying put for this same $10k tag for Klesaris, who keeps making shrewd moves with his grass sprinters; tough to get past when being sent away from her rail post. Right alongside, RACHEL’S SMOKIN can trip out smartly when conceding the top pick a few early lengths; tends to produce her best results from right off it. MISS LAMBORGHINI has taken some regrouping since being haltered by Delgado, who continues to hit at a remarkable clip with first-time claims; you’ll probably be asked to accept something of a short price with this one.

FOURTH RACE

Seems like a mile will suit LADY FIORELLA, whose honest efforts in three sprints suggest this stretchout is definitely worth a try; higher-end pedigree adds to the allure, as do the going-good connections of Torres and Delgado. RASPBERRY BALLET surely will have some ground to make up when they hit the far turn, but there seems enough opposing speed signed on here; looms the late danger given her two-turn foundation. PERFECT KIMBERLY S, back as a beaten fave over turf, clearly has the look of a contender.

FIFTH RACE

Summer meet has been one of the best yet for Sano, the all-time leading trainer in his native Venezuela; he led the standings through the first 5 weeks of the meet when finding good spots such as what MONFORTE gets here in this turf mile for $50k mdn.-claimers; stretchout with those 3 competitive sprints behind him could find Zayas walking the dog for a long way; call it the day’s best. BUDGET BUSTER has the look of a live firster for the Ramsey/Maker axis, which is only to be expected; pedigree and works to immediately succeed. CHADS CHOICE debuted pretty well with the Imaginary folks going in for him blindly; eligible to pop right off the claim.

SIXTH RACE

INFINITY SKY pretty much led for all 5,280 feet of her last start just 8 days ago before getting nailed on the wire; gotta like the way she wheels right back for Dibona, even at this shorter distance; offtrack form says she’d actually prefer as much rain as the skies are willing to give. HOT FUDGE HONEY is more accustomed to sprinting than the top pick but has shown a reluctance to win, aside from her April breakthrough; this extra furlong can result in her being a forward factor throughout. MAMBO DANCER is an unknown both on dirt and in sprints, but it’s Delgado on a slight drop; must consider.

SEVENTH RACE

Likely that the July 11 race for I’M CARDINAL, just his 2nd in nearly 5 months, did the 9yo a world of good; now comes back in basically the same kind of spot off that runner-up finish; salty dude is like his connections in that he knows how to win. MR. EDGAR hasn’t gotten much done since being taken for $50k at the championship meet, but he has met some pretty rugged crews of older horses, particularly in Ky., so this spot essentially equates to a class drop; Orseno barn always eligible. SLEEPING GIANT takes a hefty raise after leaving a highpercent barn and could be in for a struggle after maintaining an early presence.

EIGHTH RACE

Not particularly crazy about the 1-for-15 record that LIL B QUICK has racked up, but she’s got Torres and the rail in a field full of vulnerable N2L types; Beyers say she’ll match up with any of them; patient rail trip is on order. ON WITH GOD stretches out when going turf-to-dirt in the third race of her form cycle; looking to reprise her nifty score from the championship meet. ARTS AND CRAFTS surely needed her latest off the bench; liable to show substantial improvement.

NINTH RACE

Slim pickins in this twilight finale leads to defaulting in the direction of ARBOLADA, seeing that it’s Barboza trying a few new things with her following that poor debut, i.e., turf, 2 turns, blinkers, and a minor class drop; as weak as her form looks, she’s likely to draw more than her share of tote action in view of the caliber of competition. TAPIZAR GIRL has had chances aplenty while just kinda hanging around; maintained fitness when Jessie to send her postward just 8 days ago; good as any here, really. Very difficult to gauge GREY MANNERS with those 2yo races in Mexico; does get Lasix and the rail for the high-percent Loza.