ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, POPPY’S PRIDE

FIRST RACE

A nine-race Friday card will be run once again with the possibility of thundershowers popping up at some point before and/or during the card; nonetheless, all selections here are made for turf racing ON. Gonna forgive MUCHA SUERTE for that poor main-track effort in her latest and give her a solid chance in the noon ET opener; reverting back to the 6/7 speed show would carry her right into this scrambled mix. MEANASASNAKE makes an interesting turn-back out of a Tampa 2-turner in which she was favored; one-time Saffie charge now in the capable hands of Ocala Art. SAUCY TUNE stands to do better this time when in for a first tag after getting one under her belt.

SECOND RACE

No clue if this Arindel homebred TIGER is named to honor that fella who’s had a pretty fair golf career, but nonetheless he seems to have the same sort of drive; gritty effort in his 6/24 debut from the tricky rail slot points him out in a lineup of promising-looking Fla.-bred 2yos. Either of the firsttimers from major barns, SPEARGUN (Nicks) and CANYOUHEARMENOW (Maker), might force Tiger to shoot below par if he wants to be the medalist.

THIRD RACE

Crichton pretty solid (10 for his last 45) with midrange layoff types such as KILLA DEE, who’s been off since mid-May after failing to keep up in the slop in a demanding starter sprint; W.Va.-bred colt got good at the championship meet when exhausting his beaten conditions, and he’s realistically spotted for this open $12.5k tag; highly eligible to fire fresh. Right alongside, CAJUN FIRECRACKER drops in something of a desperate way, but Maker’s not one to dawdle down the ladder; he’s liable to salvage a fraction of that $50k claim price starting today. QUIJOTE still hasn’t won since getting that 103 BSF when beating the ill-fated X Y Jet in the ‘19 Sunshine Millions; another steed on the class plunge.

FOURTH RACE

Not many around as willing and able as NORTHERN, who knocked out his 14th career triumph when in for this same $6,250 open tag three weeks ago, making him 3 for his last 4 and 4 for his last 6; will have to put forth another big effort to up those recent streaks, and note this subtly shorter distance, but it all sure seems doable with Camacho getting a leg up again from Sweezey. DR

HARLAN kicked nicely when third in the 6/27 key race behind the top pick; would seem to need an up-front duel to threaten here. EARLY DELIGH got a feel for the track in his last; better than that effort suggests; price play.

FIFTH RACE

No doubt that Michael Yates has done his best work in recent years with babies like POPPY’S PRIDE, who’ll come unveiled here with a nice series of local works under him; Stonehedge homebred is by a hot young sire (Khozan); lots of guessing in these types of races, but yeah, go ahead and call him the day’s best. AHIMELECH (no relation to the great legend of yore, Bimelech, huh) has been prepped at the farm then at Tampa then at Palm Meadows ahead of a debut that finds him on the rail; might want to see what the tote says. GOSPEL HOUSE comes well-drawn in the outer box for Louie, who must be enjoying his new Fla. digs after starting 8 for 26.

SIXTH RACE

Even after running a creditable 4th as the favorite vs. MSWs in his first local appearance, IMPERIAL MOMENT comes fitted with his first tag while nicely drawn in an inner gate in what amounts to aggressive placement by Louie; sometimes races are won at the entry box. MAVERICK KITTEN shows those sporadic layoff lines but also comes shrewdly spotted by Maker; should contend assuming this stays on grass. LOXODROME figures to be the one to catch when exiting the dirt sprint and going for his first tag for Todd.

SEVENTH RACE

R PREROGATIVE hasn’t gotten much done since winning last fall at Calder, but those failed efforts came in tougher allowances and now she returns from a 10+ week layoff in an N3L for a quarter; Averill filly can take these deep down the lane with all that fresh speed to burn. TALKTHETALK walked the walked two starts back when getting thru her N2L condition in the slop, then was a good 2nd at essentially this same level in her next; one of the logical ones. MISS MIAMI hasn’t gone these 6 furlongs since her debut; surely will be up and at ‘em from the bell when exiting those five-panel dashes.

EIGHTH RACE

Breakthrough year for Carlos David can perpetuate itself here if HEIR BALL runs back to the sharp 6/10 score over starter types; speedy mare should have the rail the whole trip after getting away cleanly; recent Beyers strongly suggest she’s never been better. TRUE HEIRESS, another daughter of Wildcat Heir, tends to her best in the final furlong; will allow the top pick to do her thing before attempting to reel her in. MERSEYSIDE is a 3yo facing older, but she’ll be throwing it down from the get-go for the always dangerous Saffie barn.

NINTH RACE

Fairly tough race for the level could get its winner from a handful; probably an advisable ‘spread’ race for bettors looking to be alive into the final leg of the Rainbow 6. Siding here with JUST KIDDING, who was odds-on when a distant 2nd in this same kind of race in the final leg of the huge Rainbow forceout on 6/13; liable to make amends here when going from Saffie to David. COWBOY CULTURE is an old class horse (nearly $340k in earnings) who’s seen better days; goes turf-to-dirt on yet another drop when favorably drawn in the outer box when trying to be as good once as he ever was. TWO STEP SLEW seems capable with a best effort, as do DIZZY GILLESPIE and DEXTER ROAD.