ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, CANNON’S ROAR FIRST RACE

BRUSHING saved ground near the back of the pack in a $16K claimer, swung widest turning into the stretch and finished evenly despite the jock dropping the stick in the lane. Took advantage of a fast pace somewhat that day, but drew well for the rematch with JUMPSTARTMYHEART, will offer some value for new low-profile barn and might stay closer to the pace. JUMPSTARTMYHEART has come back firing as a 5-year-old with two consecutive wins for red-hot Dale Capuano. Got the jump on Brushing last time out and wore down favored next-out 79-Beyer winner Fed Up Fired Up. Drew a very tough outside post position. SMOKIN CARAQUENA received one of the great rides of the meet when pulling off a 12 to 1 upset last time. Never wider than the two path despite breaking from post ten, she shot up the rail to win in nice fashion. Perhaps another good trip coming from the inside here.

SECOND RACE

OURNATIONONPARADE was cranked and ready for his career debut as he showed big speed to take the field to the three-sixteenths pole. Collared at that point by well-meant firster Double Crown, he fought hard all the way to the wire and galloped out with some gusto. Expect another front-running gambit as he tackles winners here. TOMMY SHELBY was no match for odds-on winner Golden Candy in the First State Dash at Delaware, but drew away at will over this surface two starts back. LIke that he is a proven commodity from off the pace. LADDIE LIAM looked like he was being outpaced on the turn of his recent maiden win, but stayed on gamely along the inside to win going away. Bullet work in 59 and change leading up to this.

THIRD RACE

When last seen back in June, SHE’S ACHANCE TOO controlled a moderate pace en route to a runaway victory against a weak field of ‘n2x’ optional claimers. While the 112-day layoff is a bit of a concern, it’s worth noting that new trainer Mark Reid is 7 for his last 22 (32%) with a $3.72 ROI over the past year with horses returning from 61 to 120 day layoffs and that the mare shows several bullet workouts leading up to her comeback. Has won fresh in the past. Curious to see how LIMITED VIEW performs without Lasix in her return from a lengthy layoff. Has some back speed and class. CEE BEE GEE BEE, second in this race in 2016, exits a key race at Monmouth that was taken by next-out 83-Beyer winner Blank Paige. ANNA’S BANDIT wheels back in a week seeking her fifth straight victory. She is one of the more reliable horses on the circuit and absolutely adores this seven-furlong distance. MAJESTIC REASON, ZORALLY, VENTE TO GO and VICTORY RALLY would all rate strong chances if able to get in from the also-eligible list.

FOURTH RACE

Taking a stab with DASHING LOU, a gelding that is stepping way up in class after working out a nice trip prompting the pace at Delaware in a race where the favorite dumped the jock at the start. He’s run well in both form cycle outings, however, and can work out a good nd midpack trip while saving valuable ground going into the first turn. MARTINI KID looms the horse to beat as he just missed in this race last year and received a nice prep run here last month. Down inside turning into the stretch, he was in behind horses and had to bull his way out through traffic. Once straightened, he came with his usual good late run. There should be enough speed to setup his potent kick. SON OF APONI broke poorly in his turf debut, then fell far, far behind going twelve furlongs. That pace was hot, though, and he made up ground with a five wide bid on the far turn. Flattened out late, should appreciate cutting back in distance and is another that would benefit from a solid pace.

FIFTH RACE

WORTH HIS SALT prompted outside in recent upset victory around two turns, made an early bid to take over the lead on the far turn and gamely held off the odds-on favorite’s late rail rally. Don’t mind him turning back in distance as he should get some pace to track. EASY RIVER was third in the Maryland Million Sprint back in 2016 and it’s good to see Lake reclaim him after recent score at Parx. Tracked in between rivals, attacked three wide under a hard ride and held sway to the finish. Obviously has the back class to win a race like this. ROL AGAIN QUESTION seeks tenth lifetime victory after chasing Saratoga dropdown Puttingtheglassdown at Monmouth. Has speed to get right into the race and has an affinity for this distance.

SIXTH RACE

GHOUL’S NIGHT OUT didn’t have much pace to run at when wired by Notapradaprice in recent listed stakes race and seems like a very solid fit at this class level. Has the nice tactical speed to work out a good trip while close to the pace, but must prove her mettle at the nine-furlong distance. MY SISTERSLEDGE has no such issues as she is a perfect 3-for-3 at 1 1/8-miles including a win in this race the last two years. Didn’t have the greatest trip in the All Along and defeated the top pick two back in the All Brandy Stakes. The one to beat. I LOVE YOU looked like a new filly on turf while taking advantage of a hot pace to pull off the 21 to 1 upset. Seems like a big ask stretching all the way out from 5 1/2 furlongs. ZONDA deserves consideration if able to break into the body of the race.

SEVENTH RACE

GIFTED HEART tasted defeat for the first time at Charles Town, but that was a two-turn race contested over a muddy track and she might have made a bit of a premature move into a hot pace. Won her first two starts over this oval, including one against males and should be forward cutting back to six furlongs with a recent bullet workout on display. HELLO BEAUTIFUL attempts to repeat the turf to dirt move that resulted in very impressive gate-to-wire maiden score. Certainly not disgraced in near-miss on turf and looms the horse to beat if able to repeat that 73 Beyer from two back. STICKINGTOGETHER didn’t break well when finishing behind the top pick at Charles Town, then might not have cared for racing down inside. Adds Lasix for sharp barn and has also shown an affinity for this track.

EIGHTH RACE

CANNON’S ROAR couldn’t find cover after breaking from the far outside post and pulled hard while very wide on the first turn to obtain a forward position. Relaxed a bit on the backstretch, re-bid three wide on the far turn to make the lead in the stretch only to be run down by the odds-on favorite. Hoping he can settle in behind horses before making one run late. NO BULL ADDICTION wisely sensed the slow pace up front and rushed up to grab the lead after a half-mile last time out, but was no match for odds-on favorite Tusk, a gelding that came back to win with an 85 Beyer. Might attempt to control the pace here from the outset. TAXABLE GOODS gets some class relief after chasing salty ten-time winner Pumpkin Rumble at Parx. Taken off the rail early, he made a three-wide bid into contention, but flattened out while swapping leads a few times in the stretch. Tough outside post position.