ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, PIONEER MAN

FIRST RACE

BLESSED TWO was along for second in a much improved race, his first as a gelding, in an identical spot in his season opener. Kimura replaces the injured Boulanger on the once-promising 4yo. HARDY CANDY wasn’t far behind the top pick in third after mounting a mild wide bid in his second start off the bench. MAJESTIC MELODY is turning back off a pretty good third going long, during which he went way too fast up front before tiring.

SECOND RACE

PURPLE SCOOTER brings solid Tapeta form to her first turf start in this $15K NW2 tilt. The daughter of 15% grass sire Goldencents is the first foal from a turf stakes winner. TWICK overcame a tardy start and some traffic problems to land her $7.5K debut on the main track. BIG MAMBA is changing surfaces off back-to-back in-the-money placings at this level. Note that she graduated on the lawn.

THIRD RACE

COPLEY is by Air Force Blue, a G1-winning 2yo in England who has a debut winner from two starters in his first crop. Trainer Wesley Ward is deadly with 2yo firsters on the grass, and this one is the first foal from a turf expert. MASTER SPY is by the good turf/debut sire Silent Name. His dam dropped Fury Stakes winner Wild Catomine and Prince of Wales victor Cool Catomine. READY TO REPEAT, the lone entrant with racing experience, got a 70 Beyer for his lapped-on second in his debut on the Tapeta, and is adding blinkers.

FOURTH RACE

BOKERMIN is switching from turf to the Tapeta off a good comeback effort, and may finally have found a field that he can handle. The Beyers he earned in his last two starts in 2019 on the Tapeta are the highest in the field. SEVENTH WONDER probably wasn’t cranked up for his five-furlong comeback, which he almost won. Six and a half furlongs is a little far for him, but he could hang on for a share after making a bid. YZERMAN is a first-time gelding who should move forward in his second start back from a long break.

FIFTH RACE

SECOND GRACE closed nicely to finish a lappedon third when going from turf to the Tapeta in her debut at the meet June 14. The stretchout from seven-eighths to 1 1/16 miles should suit her to a T. RIVER OF PEARLS is going long for the first time with ample stamina in her pedigree. She could crack the top three at a square price. SPORT’N FORTY brings improving form at major tracks south of the border to this event. Use her underneath in the exotics, along with BALLROOMS OF MARS.

SIXTH RACE

MONEY MATTERS put up a big 69 Beyer when beating $10K maidens in his comeback, but he regressed for new interests in a much tougher race most recently. He could rebound on the drop to $15K NW2 company here for the trainer who sent out Desdemona to win on Thursday. SPANISH MAJOR had a three-wide trip after a slow beginning when seventh in his comeback on the inner turf. WILEY O’RIELLY has acquitted himself adequately when fresh in the past.

SEVENTH RACE

CURLIN’S TIGER pulled off a 15-1 upset at first asking in a seven-furlong sprint, and the daughter of Conquest Curlinate is bred to run on. PREFERRED GUEST needed a few starts to help shake off the rust last year. She should improve on the stretchout from a sprint to a route. NOVEMBER FOG was stakes-placed twice on the Tapeta in the fall, and has a tightener on turf under her girth.

EIGHTH RACE

PRICELESS WILL just missed in his debut at 2 before another second-place finish, and then missed the board in the Frost King Stakes before another second on the stretchout to a route most recently Dec. 6. He’s been working fast, and should be ready to roll here with Kimura taking over. IMPRESSIVE SPEED is dropping back down to OS/$40K company off a flat fifth in an open maiden special. LAST SENSATION had an encouraging debut on the grass, and RED HIERARCHY has a 20% first-out trainer and sire.

NINTH RACE

PIONEER MAN ran well on the Tapeta in the fall before ending up four lengths back in sixth in a stakes on the Aqueduct grass Nov. 29. The 4yo has been working up a storm for a trainer who excelled with comebackers in routes here last year. MAGIC TAPIT checked in second behind a classy closer after vying for the lead when returning to the local scene in a long sprint June 14. THEREGOESJOJO had an incredible second half of 2019, capping his season with a third in the G3 Valedictory going 1 3/4 miles.

TENTH RACE

HASTALAVISTABABY seemed poised to become one of the leading 3yo fillies on the grounds in 2019, but she missed the second half of the year after coming up empty in the Woodbine Oaks. She was an explosive maiden breaker the only time she competed on the grass on the main course at 2. TAPPITTY TAPPITTY is another Casse comebacker who could have a say in the outcome. NIIGON’S SPIN may take some catching, and SOEXOTIC ran too good to be true when romping in her $25K seasonal bow on the Tapeta.

ELEVENTH RACE

LINDA LOVES LACE chased a sharp Silent Causeway to the top of the stretch before that rival pulled away June 14, when she salvaged third as the favorite. That should serve as a good tightener for this longer sprint. SOCIETY’S STORY placed in both of her June starts going five-eighths, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her lead the way in this 6 1/2-furlong tilt. QUEEN’S SPEED didn’t have the smoothest trips in her two outings at this stand. Use her underneath in the gimmicks, along with ARAMON.