SEVENTH RACE TAMPA BAY

CHARM may have needed a race, finishing 7th in her return from the layoff, but the fact is she didn’t run badly in that race, making a mid-race move before tiring late; nice work in the interim.

ROYALLY COOL may have been facing much lesser in those two turf sprint wins at Monmouth this summer but she was an easy winner each time, and she merits some respect today given her proven speed and affinity for the surface.

SMILE ALL THE WAY is out of a dam who won six career races, four of them dirt sprints, and she’s produced two minor winners from three starters; has shown a hint of speed in her works and she doesn’t meet an above-average field for the class level. SULTRY SAMURAI drops in half off the Navarro claim, and with his Beyer edge he’s going to be well bet here; clearly the most likely winner, though almost certainly an underlay. FLYING BANKROLL may show more speed in is return from the layoff after rating some when last seen, as he had shown good early zip in his prior tries and that was a sprint with several pacesetters present; will likely look to steal this.

EIGHTH RACE

MATTY’S EXPRESS was a sharp maiden winner two back, and though he was off the board in his first start against winners he had a valid pace excuse; given a better set up he has lots of room to improve in the third start of his form cycle. HIGH HEATER comes out of the same race as the top pick and he, too, was affected by the pace scenario, which greatly favored speeds (note inverted “S” in DRF pp’s); prior figure gives him strong credibility.

IRISH EXPECTATIONS gets Lasix for the first time and figures to improve off that last one, when he gave way after making a bid for the lead; if he in fact bled there’s an easy excuse for him tiring, and he should be expected to take a step forward with medication added.

NINTH RACE

GENERAL was very gam in defeat in that off-theturf race last time out, and though he was off the board in his prior try he had traffic trouble coming off the turn there; draws wide but has enough tactical speed to get position in the opening stages. MIGHTY GHOST is easy to like after finishing a close-up 4th at Gulfstream in his latest, complete with a representative Beyer; no threat over this course two back but that was against much better, and the resulting figure fits nicely with these. SKY KNIGHT has been away since last March but his Beyers are among the best figures in this field, which means he has to be respected; makes his first start for trainer Kathleen O’Connell, who wins at a solid 22% with new faces.