ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, WILDCATTIN

FIRST RACE

TAKINGTIMEOFF is the first starter from the dam, who won three races, and though two of them were on the turf she also won on the dirt, albeit in a route; works hint at speed. KIRTAN didn’t break well in her debut but she showed high speed in her latest; this opener lacks an obvious race flow, and her proven early zip may give her an edge. PSYCHIC ABILITY, the second of two firsters in here representing trainer Greg Sacco (MY SECOND CHANCE is the other), is kin to three winners, and her dam posted both of her two career wins in dirt sprints; sports some swift breezes.

SECOND RACE

MASTERIO was no threat in his local debut but he did rally mildly through the lane after racing well off a slow opening half mile; eligible to move way up given a better set up today. BIG PERM prompted the eventual winner on the front end from the start in his grass debut last time, weakening only late; especially tough if able to shake loose this time around. BRICE is the one to beat off the class drop and decent try in his seasonal debut; the fact that he was well off slow splits there makes his rally all the more impressive, and he was flattered when Winning Factor returned to beat winners in his first try outside the maiden ranks.

THIRD RACE

In his first start of 2020, VICTORY CHIMES had traffic trouble on the turn and was forced to steady while awaiting room, then checked again in the lane when lacking room down inside; he galloped out with interest and figures to improve here with a forward trip in his return to dirt, as the lack of speed in this field works to his advantage. FEAR THE TURTLE has some back Beyers that stand out in this field, and he’s the one to fear in the lane on this class drop, even if it is a little dicey as he makes only his third start of 2020; needs to stay close from the start. STRAWBERRY RED ran deceptively well against better in his seasonal Monmouth debut, as he was moving well down inside late; would like him a lot more if there were more speed in this field but he’s capable given at least some help from the pacesetters.

FOURTH RACE

WILDCATTIN lost all chance at the start in his first start of the year, breaking behind the field and then steadying, but he showed some late foot once the issue was decided, indicating she would have contended with an alert beginning; has speed but can also rate, and that should translate to a favorable trip. DOUBLE DOWN DARE has been away since September but lands in a very good spot, as she has a proven stretch kick and there’s a good amount of pace in this field; should be rolling late under Hector Diaz Jr., who has gotten off to a great start at the meet. AWSUM ROAR is obviously a threat after finishing a close third under these conditions last time; she sat a perfect trip off a duel there but could find herself in a similar situation this afternoon.

FIFTH RACE

J P’S GIA had all kinds of trouble in that local debut last time out, getting away a step slowly from the rail and then checking on the turn; now goes two turns and should be well spotted from the start from her inside post. TAKIN IT EASY also stretches out from sprints but she has won at two turns in the past, including a gate-to-wire win at Presque Isle Downs in October; another who should be prominent from the start. BEATUBYACHUBINOSE hasn’t had a lot of luck over this strip but most of those losses came in sprints, and she does seem to prefer routing; Beyers steady, if a little light.

SIXTH RACE

MISS BOB was closing well in that sprint try to kick off his 2020 campaign, a race which may have been intended as a prep for this route; win percentage is lacking but his last win did come in a two-turn race over this course after a sprint, and his most recent turf route was a decent effort. PAINTED IMAGE was racing consistently well before the layoff and if she can run to those most recent figures in her first start in a couple of months she’s a big threat here; tactical speed adds to the appeal. PIONEEROF NEW YORK is another with early zip, and she should be able to use it to her best advantage given the relative lack of speed in here; overmatched vs. allowance company in her latest but she’s a nice fit back in a restricted claimer.