ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, AVIE’S SAMURAI

FIRST RACE

CALAIS CAT is plunging from OS/$40K maiden company to the lower maiden ranks off a surprisingly dull performance. She was a prominent third two back over this nine-furlong distance on the main turf. This jockey/trainer combo won the featured stakes last Wednesday night. ONE FOR NICKI is adding blinkers off a clear second in a one-mile turf route for $15K maidens, and should be a major player. MAMITA’S CHICA is descending to a new low from $25K for her third appearance of the year, with “Longshot Leo” Salles picking up the mount.

SECOND RACE

AVIE’S SAMURAI gave the favored Western Taffy a run for her money when a front-running second at first asking in a five-furlong maiden special. She’s adding Lasix for this slightly longer dash, and figures to take some catching. BOSSALINA has worked well since a flat fourth-place in her six-furlong opener, and should be prominent this time. COMPENSATE worked a quick five-eighths the other day. Her freshman sire, Liam’s Map, is 0 for 12 with first-timers.

THIRD RACE

DESERT POEM was blocked in the stretch before coming up a half-length short in her first attempt at this $25K NW3 class Aug. 2. WINDJAMMER edged out the top pick for second then after a good stalking trip when Salles rode her for the first time. AIRY FAIRY took the long way home from seventh to finish a distant third behind a sharp winner last time in her improved third race off the shelf.

FOURTH RACE

SANDRETTI is halving in value to the lowest NW2 class off an improved run. He may have found a field that he can handle in his third race off the sidelines. MC CULLEY led the way in the fourpath before getting caught in deep stretch when a chalky second for the second straight time July 6. Stein is 2 for 10 at the meet for this barn. HARPER P M pops up with a competitive performance every now and then. Use him underneath in the exotics, along with the first-time gelding BET ALPHA.

FIFTH RACE

YEAR OF THE DRAGON showed nothing during a wide trip in an OS/$40K tilt that contained six next-out winners when debuting June 9. The fullbrother to stakes winner Dragon’s Cry has worked fast on the training track leading up to this $25K maiden sprint, and Salles is 1 for 3 at the meet for this trainer. SPANISH MAJOR made the board in both of his starts at this level, most recently after going three-wide on the turn. DYNAMIC FORCE is dropping back down to the price for which he was claimed while turning back off an 11-length loss going long.

SIXTH RACE

RECONFIGURE came wide from mid-pack to finish third over a speed-favoring main turf last time in a second-level optional claimer, when the rail was in lane 4, in his debut off the $25K claim by Tiller. He’s meeting easier in the finals of the Woodbine Turf Sprint Series, a glorified $25K starter allowance. PERFECT FORESTER won the middle leg of the series by a nose over the opening-leg winner, Stormy Rush, who drew poorly here on the outside. WESTERN TROUBLE had a troubled trip last time before closing to finish a lapped-on fourth behind three of his current rivals.

SEVENTH RACE

BELLA FIGURA failed to stay 1 1/16 miles in a $20K turf route three weeks ago. She was previously in decent Tapeta form, and should be dangerous as the controlling speed in this $25K sprint on the main track. MADISON WAY ran evenly along the inside in a stalking position to end up third behind the unstoppable Gwendoline H and Ishiyaya in a recent optional starter. Contreras replaces Hernandez, who’s sticking with the dicey dropper Red Explosion. SUBZERO PLUS is descending from N1X company to where she could get back on track. Da Silva was aboard for her last triumph.

EIGHTH RACE

DULCIBELLE rallied for second in a slow-paced sprint in her last Tapeta outing July 24, from which