Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
ANALYSIS
FIRST RACE
AIKEN PREP doesn’t win often, and that’s the biggest knock, but this does seem to be an ideal spot for him to get that elusive fifth career win, as he has a decent late kick and there is enough speed in this field to set him up; seems to be on the upswing right now for trainer Glenn Thompson. JUDGE CARR didn’t break well when last seen and that cost him, as his positional speed is a big reason he’s been able to win 22 races; should be prominent from the start. NOLINSKI was a remote third in that last one but he at least proved he can take back off the pace and make a stretch run, and that’s something that could come in handy today if a quick, contested pace were to develop.
SECOND RACE
FASHION BREAK might be the controlling speed in this route, which is otherwise light on pace; she made a premature bid before weakening late when last seen but if able to make the lead today, as expected, she may be able to shake loose and back down the early splits. BANANA ANNA also made a backstretch bid in her latest before she flattened out in the late stages; last couple of Beyers give her credibility against this field. QUEEN OF THE PARTY has been on the improve of late, culminating with a win in her latest; up in price but capable here with another move forward.
THIRD RACE
NICK THE CARDSHARK cuts back to a sprint on the main track for the first time in three starts and this does seem to be his best game; the Beyers he’s posted under these circumstances clearly fit well and his new trainer wins at a high rate with horses making their first starts off the claim (27%). MAGNIFIER has high speed and could prove to be the one to catch; dangerous if allowed to get loose and set his own pace. STORMY HIGHWAY might have something to say about that, despite his wide post; has license to run a big race here if the pace isn’t too quick, and as he makes his third start off the layoff.
FOURTH RACE
MAGICAL JAIME is a three-time beaten favorite but she was certainly game in defeat in that last one, when only a head in front of WALLERCITO; that was clearly his best effort and if he can take another slight step forward he may finally be able to make amends to his backers. WALLERCITO was also game in that last one, and he does have the advantage of an inside draw vs. his main rival; hasn’t shown he’s wild about passing horses late, so he can be expected to be on or near the lead once again. SCOOP THE CASH is another with early zip, though he did prove himself to be tractable in that last sprint; may find himself ideally spotted behind the top pair in the opening stages.
FIFTH RACE
BOW TOWN CAT was a gritty third in her latest, engaging in a race-long duel from the start and yielding only late, and she looms the main speed this time around; makes her first start off the claim for top trainer Jorge Navarro, which naturally stamps her as a contender by default. FLAT CALM returns from a layoff of over eight months and seems to land in a good spot, as she should be able to use her early foot to her best advantage in this relatively paceless field; best Beyers fit, too. MO TOWN KAT’s last race was too bad to be believed; willing to give her another shot as she makes her second start off the claim for Team Farro.
SIXTH RACE
FIRST DEGREE is kin to two previous winners from the dam, including Jamaica Bay (six wins, $78K in earnings); this colt sports some quick breezes for
his debut and he lures the meet’s top jockey, Nik Juarez, to ride. MAKOTO debuts for trainer Jorge Duarte Jr., who has won at a decent rate with his firsters; dam was best going long but was a multiple graded stakes winner, and she produced six winners, including The Truth Or Else, who earned over $640 K. RON I THE LIMO DRIVER is from trainer Jason Servis, which makes him a threat by default, and unlikely to be short for this debut; kin to seven winners, including Meadow Breeze, a Grade 1 winner.
SEVENTH RACE
IRISH FIX was a close third in her most recent, a game effort, and one that makes her a clear and present danger against this group of claimers; Beyers are steady and she figures to run to them with a clean break from the hedge, as she has the speed to get position. BURNING QUESTION is the main threat to the top pick, and perhaps the one to beat; Arlington shipper was hurt by a slow start in her most recent. ANIMAUXSELLE takes a short step up after scoring in her latest with a nice late run; that Beyer, and her best recent turf figures, put her on the short list of contenders for this sprint.
EIGHTH RACE
PHAT MAN was second to a solid runner in Cordmaker last time, which marked his first start since April; he improved last year in his 2nd start off the layoff and he went on to more than hold his own in stakes races at Fair Grounds, running lines that make him the class of the field in this Good Magic Mile. GUNS OF STEEL steps it up in his first start off the claim but he merits respect off those last two lines; he’s the main speed in this race, which is tough to plot in terms of pace, and he has license to steal it if he’s able to get away with uncontested fractions. NO DOZING goes two turns for the first time since 2017 and he’s likely to be a pace factor despite his wide post; looms a late threat if he can sit off GUNS OF STEEL and make a run in the lane.
NINTH RACE
I’M A COOL MAN was beaten at a short price under similar conditions last time out but he hardly ran a poor race, winning the pace battle but losing the war to the perfect-trip winner; he was flattered when that runner returned to score again, at Parx, albeit through disqualification, and the show horse also won his next start. KRAKOV was behind the top pick in that race but a slow start didn’t help his cause; Beyers suggest he has the best shot at upsetting the likely favorite. LEM ME TEL YA gets back on the main track and drops in class, and either of those two angles gives him license to take a step forward for trainer Bruce Levine.
TENTH RACE
CALEB THE BOSS was beaten only a little over a length in a similar spot last time and the Beyers he’s been posting at this meet seem to be good enough to make him the one to beat in this finale; he was on the lead in that last run but he may revert to stalking tactics here, with more speed in this field. KILL SWITCH gets the rail and comes off a decent figure at Delaware, posted in his main track debut; should be prominent from the start with a clean getaway. SEVEN WAYS has some issues, as he makes only his fifth start since 2017, but he has faced better on occasion and his best career Beyer gives him credibility.