ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, FLUTE MAKER

FIRST RACE

Only a moderate chance of rain in forecast for today’s card at press time so assuming all races will go as scheduled on turf. WORDMAN drops half his value to this relatively weak spot, should catch enough pace to run down with clean sailing. HAPPY DANZA has the look of a bit of a sleeper plunging to this level for first time on the turf. Figures forwardly placed if away cleanly. MYMAGIC a new face to soft category for barn which has proven itself off the bench. By above average turf sire with lone caveat the lack of a published work in more than a month.

SECOND RACE

SON OF A BEAST doesn’t appear to have done anything real flashy in the a.m. but one knows he’ll be fit and ready for best from this barn. Not facing much it would appear in debut. TIGER is a full to a couple of previous 2yo winners but did miss a bunch of time after returning to farm in late April. Flashed good early foot in recent gate drill. HOT BLOODED has not missed a beat in the a.m. dating back to early April and barn has been red hot of late. Must respect launching career with fellow Fla. breds.

THIRD RACE

DIZZY GILLESPIE hard used on the front end in each of his last two starts, might be able to get away on top a little easier in this spot. Should not look back. CREA’S BKLYN LAW drops below level of recent claim and a former stable mate of preferred choice. Best makes him one to fear. DROP KICK a game winner stretch to a mile albeit over sloppy track with lesser last time. Still looks as good as any of the others in this compact field.

FOURTH RACE

Lots of options in extremely wide open turf test. THE GREEN MO’STER getting a little more class relief while also returning to preferred surface today. Slight edge at his best. MACHIAVELLI missed a neck to class dropping, 9/5 Outshine in latest while earning career best Beyer of his own for the effort. Knocking on door with this kind. SPEED FRANCO another one time classy sort who tries conditioned claimers for first time after wide running fourth vs much better in La. finale. Figures on or with pace throughout here.

FIFTH RACE

Back to turf for MO OF THE WEST who ran well despite rough trip against decent bunch in career bow while not badly beaten by pair of next out winners. Third could be the charm. ART OF LAW never had much chance enjoying rough trip at first asking last summer in Ky. Gets Lasix for new barn, working steadily for return at Palm Meadows. BASELINE DRIVE figures to take plenty of action debuting for this barn. First foal to make races for mare who won 3 of 4 on grass. Cannot ignore for these connections.

SIXTH RACE

PANGO hard used in speed duel, paid price over wet track last time. Drops to weakest level yet. Can get job done with a little more patient handling. BASELINE has three race win streak snapped when switched to grass last time. Back to the main, well spotted for this tag. DESERT GENERAL hard to leave out of the equation but a hanging sort who remains winless since the fall, a streak of 11 consecutive setbacks.

SEVENTH RACE

Another turf head-scratcher with plenty of options and trips likely to decide the outcome. TROPICAT freshened since big effort last time vs. a notch better despite breaking from tough post. HIEROGLYPHICS another who lost best chance after getting hung wide from outside gate in latest.

Must respect connections second time off the claim breaking inside today. COLONIST returns to turf, loses the hood making third start of current form cycle. Once very classy sort might be well spotted to get back on winning track for this tag.

EIGHTH RACE

FLUTE MAKER, the day’s best, adds blinkers and drops another notch in company. Ready to wake up with the equipment change. KORCZAK idle since switching barns early this winter. Speed of speed, very dangerous if clearing off early ala graduation day. THREE DEEP a bit over-matched last time. Looks like better fit dropping in with conditioned claimers for first time.

NINTH RACE

TRUE HEIRESS in good form at the present time. Won key race two back despite early trouble, was not badly beaten by even money Fiber Optic after encountering trouble again in latest. Gets yet another pilot today, can be along with better racing luck. MANDAMUS makes turf bow for high profile barn, could be wake up type but must overcome tough post at the distance. HERA off the layoff for barn on big roll of late. Has posted two of three career wins at this distance.

TENTH RACE

Shooting for some value in finale with IAMBUTTER who gets back to the grass after wanting no part of wet track after early trouble last time. Has worked well for this barn since changing hands earlier this season, might just wake up at big balloons from today’s inside draw. SWEET GIANT the logical choice but stuck in second gear of late and forced to overcome the extreme outside post at yet another short price. MOUNTAIN BREEZE’s lone turf outing a good one in 3yo debut. Hard to ignore with repeat of that try.