ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, MAJOR FLIRT FIRST RACE

Don’t like that QUIET IMAGINATION hopped back to her left lead in the waning moments of recent sloppy track effort, but she did so some good things in that race and has a figure advantage over many in this field. She broke well, was rated to track the pace from the four path, advanced outside on the turn and gave the odds-on winner all she could handle in the stretch. Like her turning back to six panels. LADY FOX saved ground to no avail when an even sixth in a field that included next-out 56-Beyer graduate Wonder City. Switches to Capuano barn and this jockey/trainer combination scored with juvenile dirt performers Princess Anne and Tapping the Glass this month. ANY MINUTE NOW ended up in the five path on the backstretch, then advanced three wide in between horses on the turn before flattening out in the final furlong of the slower division of six-furlong waiver maidens on November 3. Can get the jump on the top two picks from tracking range.

SECOND RACE

CALYPSO GHOST received a nice pace setup when running down maidens in first start following the Claudio Gonzalez claim, but that heat came back pretty fast for that class level and it appears the gray filly is rounding into her good form. ALWAYS TALKING is the only multiple-race winner in the field and looms the controlling speed for barn that is 8 for 27 (30%, $2.34 ROI) over the past thirty days. Shook loose through a quick middle fraction last time out and just held sway over favored Whoisprettygirl and next-out 64-Beyer winner Steady Love. The one to catch and beat. SHATTER ME seeks to become the third next-out winner to exit the third race on November 21 (after 53-Beyer winner Whoisprettygirl and 74-Beyer earner Lady George. Cedeno lands here instead of Two for Ten.

THIRD RACE

Not thrilled about the potential of a slow pace in this short field, but want to give MIAMI STEVE a chance stretching out in distance. Seemed a bit uncomfortable with the sloppy footing when outsprinted in the early stages of Penn National graduation, but found his stride on the turn, took advantage of the quick splits ahead of him and ran by the leaders. Dam a half-sister to stakes-winning dirt milers Tanzanite Cat and Hip Four Sixtyfour. SHANGHAISCHOOL chased the two pacesetters around the track in recent big-figure allowance race and is eligible to move forward in his second start following a short layoff. Pedigree mostly tilted toward speed influences, but can be up close stretching out in distance. RUNNINGFORHOME ran up the score when adding blinkers and dropping in for a tag at Parx. Nice to know he’s capable at this distance. THE QUANTICO KID is the lone multiplerace winner in the field, but is another that might need more pace to adequately setup his kick.

FOURTH RACE

MAJOR FLIRT was bumped from both sides at the start, then made an early move three furlongs from home into the teeth of the hot pace while in between horses. He still took them to inside the eighth pole before faltering in a good effort. Projects for a good forward trip tracking stretchout sprinter Higher Purpose and has winning experience at this longer distance. CALADAN was outsprinted badly in the middle portion of recent starter-optional heat, then rallied belatedly between horses for a minor award. Capuano barn has been winning at almost a 30% clip over the past month and their charge should be moving late. LONG GRAY LINE bid four wide on the turn and was floated five wide into the stretch before flattening out in a beaten claimer at Churchill Downs. He finished ahead of next-out 71-Beyer earner Hyndford (second at Turfway) and was taken by a Ness barn that is 10 for 30 with a $2.01 ROI over the past 90 days with newly-claimed runners.

FIFTH RACE

Not sure BRING ME ANSWERS beat much last time out at Penn National, but she looked good doing it. Traveled sweetly while behind a slow early

pace, advanced on the odds-on favorite under a confident ride on the final turn, tucked that one to bed turning for home and was on her way. Has several good races over this track, distance, and at this class level in his hip pocket. It sure looks like Claudio Gonzalez has found a good spot for

FIDUCIARY VALUES following a pair of big wins in front-running fashion. Perhaps Hashtag Selfie keeps her honest in the early portion of this heat.

SWEET HOME DIXIE had a good deal of work to do when under a full-out drive with three furlongs to go in recent seven-furlong appearance, but that hot pace came back to her and she was getting away late. Added distance poses no problem and the runner-up from the last race came back to take an ‘n1x’ allowance with a 75 Beyer. Sharp seeking fourth straight.

SIXTH RACE

Perhaps last time was the time for JOYFUL NOISE as she needed the length of the stretch to just nip favored Jazzy Juder on the line, but she’s been in mostly good form since the spring and can work out another stalking trip here. BRUSHING gets needed class relief after facing some very sharp allowance rivals. She’s never been this cheap, but hasn’t sprinted since maiden win two years ago and might find six furlongs a bit short. SHECOR drops to the level of most recent win and wasn’t embarrassed in most recent restricted allowance heat when hung out four to five wide for most of the backstretch. Capable of a nice pace-tracking, ground-saving trip while in behind the speeds.

SEVENTH RACE

ON THE TURF prompted favored Romanoff through glacial fractions last time out and couldn’t kick with that one in the stretch. Some slight class relief here could find him tracking the pace from the inside draw. Not much went right for ROOKIE SALSA last time out as he bobbled badly shortly after the break and ended up last on the rail on the backstretch. Steadied from in between horses in the stretch, he altered to the inside and finished with belated interest. Listed as a first-time gelding, the stakes-winner can improve in his third start of the form cycle. TOMMY SHELBY is the one to beat after stakesplacing in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity. Broke a beat slow in that race and ended up tracking inside before finishing evenly once in the clear. Has the figs and is the only three-time winner in the field.

EIGHTH RACE

Perhaps all BIG CITY BLUES has shown off the layoff is that he can’t run anymore, but he looms the controlling speed in this race after facing much tougher in his two starts back (Bobby G returned from the 11/23 win to finish third in the Richard Small Stakes with an 85 Beyer). Claimed by Schoenthal, he has back races that suggest he can be tough if allowed an easy lead. DIVINE INTERVENTIO took a step forward on the Beyer scale in first start off the Farrior claim. Late-kicker would appreciate some pace up front. LION LORD has the tactical speed to stay close to the pace, looks to be in career form and was claimed from his last race by a red-hot barn that has sent out two “off-theclaim” winners in the last 30 days.

NINTH RACE

ONE LAST TRIAL’s dam was stakes-placed going five furlongs on turf so the hope is the female family will add some speed to sire Tonalist’s distance ability. Chestnut has been working steadily since late-August at Fair Hill for trainer Kelly Rubley (3 for 8 with a $3.12 ROI over the past year with debut runners on dirt). QUEEN OF

TOMORROW had the misfortune to tackle favored runaway winner Make It a Double in a very fast $25K maiden claiming nd event last month. She finished with some interest along the inside and boasts the best last Beyer Speed Figure. GAUZY hasn’t raced since June 7 and was listed as a vet scratch on December 13, but the well-bred filly faced next-out winner Gifted Heart (62 Beyer against males, now stakes-placed). Lynch barn has sent out five juvenile winners on dirt over the past 90 days.