ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, BLOOD CURDLING

FIRST RACE

Hard to get too gigged about anyone in this lowlevel f & m claimer. BELLA KRISTINA’s most recent start was her first on a fast dirt track and it was pretty encouraging vis a vis this softer spot, especially if, as seems possible, she shakes loose on a clear lead. SPEARETTE threw a dud in July but otherwise has solidly competitive form for a spot like this. Has some tactical versatility and has run well before from inside draws like this. It was a weak race two falls ago but WAR EAGLE’S LOVE does have a route win over the KEE dirt, and just two starts into this form cycle for new barn appears to be on the upswing (possibly).

SECOND RACE

Would say the chief characteristic of this $50K dirt-route claimer on paper is speed, speed, and more speed. HAN SENSE likes to get into it early but also has shown a willingness to rate off the pace. Had a tough go last time from wide post and hooking into pace that was too strong before getting some late interference. Two back was PRM, which doesn’t seem to be his favorite track - unfortunate for an IA-bred. Feels like he’s very well meant for this price second off the bench and trusting the pilot to work out a trip. Speaking of trips, COLOUR GUARD could sit on the rail behind horses for six furlongs and come up the fence for jockey whose calling card is that very move. Been showing some speed but look farther back in form and he might even better suit stalk-and-pounce - provided he’s still willing to rate and finish. DECEMBER SEVEN is the “best” horse in this race and has faced the strongest competition but he’s a lightly raced 6yo with no wins two calendar years, and though he’s coming down in class, there’s probably a steady if slow slide ongoing even now.

THIRD RACE

Twas slop but looking back, PAINT THE CORNERS ran perfectly well in the lone dirt race showing in her form. She’s never even started on dry dirt despite the fact her pedigree suggests she could be fine on it. Connections that claimed her three back for half this tag seem to have come to the

realization she deserves a look on the main track, and the quick recent local training-center works could be related. LUCY’S TOWN won well enough over KEE dirt this past spring at this same 7f trip, but then after getting off to a modest start in her career she began winning all the time - five of last seven, in fact, and in competition similar to this.

C P QUALITY been given plenty of recovery time since running her dirt record for trainer Chris Hartman to two wins from two starts.

FOURTH RACE

REVVED shows a $25K purchase price and debuts at the $30K maiden-claiming class for barn that’s been entering in the right spots this meet. Young sire has been getting plenty of win-early runners, the work pattern here is quite encouraging, and suspect there are designs on having this colt fire without need of a prep. VISUAL ARTIST chased and chased cut back from a route, shifted from turf to dirt, and dropped from MSW to this $30K maiden-claiming level last out, and while he could never catch the leader he beat 10 others there and has come back with a snappy-looking half-mile drill. Shadwell homebred ADHHAR looks solidly prepared for career debut, has works hinting he’s quick enough to spring, and could be a long price on the tote.

FIFTH RACE

PARTY GOER has been at KEE all summer (evidently down in the Rice Road stables since he stayed through the sale) and appears to have breezed encouragingly for Catalano and co. Wests homebred is by good turf sire Giant’s Causeway and has female side littered with grass influences. Barn has done fine things through the years with young fillies and suspect this one might have speed and talent. Sprint-sprint-route for HURRICANE BREEZE, who was coming forward late in both those one-turn starts and surely is bred to get a mile. PASS THE PLATE 113-1 in career debut and didn’t run like it. Passed most of the field on a turf course where that wasn’t easy and comes out of what seems a live race. First Lasix off such a promising start makes one wonder a bit, and not the biggest fan of closing debut sprinters stretching to a route.

SIXTH RACE

BLOOD CURDLING I guess just didn’t stay a route while stepped up to the G2 Pocahontas last time but definitely enjoyed sprinting first out at Colonial. Yes, she beat a bunch of generally suspect quality but won in a job while showing a willingness to rate. Not failing to note the front bandages added last time but not making too much of that, especially considering the lively training center work between starts. MAJESTIC EDGE cuts back to a sprint after running well in a two-turn stakes, likely willing to sit off the pace, and probably will go off at a price not really representing her win chance. JOSIE is exposed now and not all that fast, but that’s what this allowance condition is for in an era when sharp maiden 2yos winners often go straight into stakes.

SEVENTH RACE

Sacred Life already has come out of the Bernard Baruch to win a high-end turf allowance race this KEE meet for trainer Chad Brown, and here another Brown-trained Baruch also-ran, EMARAATY, looks formidable. Kicked home fast enough to win a second-level allowance two back, at least showing he’s got the hang of American style racing - at least to some extent. While it seems fair to put down his 7-length Baruch defeat at least in part to soft turf, since he’d been kept to fasterground courses overseas, but in both NY starts he didn’t settle professionally, and that is going to be a problem if it can’t be corrected. Has gotten in four works since the last race and hoping he goes more smoothly this time. Hard to believe not just watching the race live but even on slower-motion replay that COMBATANT didn’t win last out at Kentucky Downs - shortest nose ever. So far been a cut below the likes of Emaraaty but can stick with anyone else here on their day. Sometimes you just don’t know where the ceiling lies with these recent Maker turf claims and PATRIOT DRIVE, taken two back for $45K, might just have been moved a little early last out at KD. Positive class hike.

EIGHTH RACE

Trainer S. Lyster trying to keep his perfect KEE fall record intact and appears to have a decent enough chance here in STOLEN BEAUTY. Class-dropping speed a powerful factor in maiden-claimers and like the other Lyster winners the last several days this horse shows a fast drill at a local training center, and beyond that, her most recent dirt sprint, if she can get back to it, probably wins this. I’MABARNKAT entered aggressively for $30K making first start in the better part of a year, and if they’re willing to lose her for that price after the long break, there’s a reasonable chance she won’t “need” a race to get to her best: Trainer’s longlayoff comeback record + work pattern hints at as much. TAKECHARGMATRIARCH off since March and unlike Barnkat was competitive enough in rich OP MSWs to make one wonder if she’s diminished returning from the layoff for this price.