Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
ANALYSIS
FIRST RACE
Gulfstream presents an interesting Friday card for this final day of July 2020, when 10 races will be run amid the possibility of thundershowers and with temperatures nearing 90 (all selections here made for turf racing staying ON). Looking for a better break and a return to turf to get CHILLIN LADY back in the game; hasn’t shown much in 3 main-track starts for Kathleen, but the Darsan homebred hinted last year at 2 that she might be OK on the grass; ought to know early on if she’s a threat or no. Right alongside, PLATINUMCENTS also should appreciate a return to the lawn; replicating the two-back try from June 10 would work her into the mix. MIRANDA SOFIA closed well enough in her grass debut earlier this month to loom a late threat here.
SECOND RACE
Maybe loading-and-going from the outer post will get MONDAY’S WITH MIKE into the hunt at once as the Stonehedge homebred makes his third career start following a not-too-bad outing three Fridays ago. He’ll be looking to reel in the decisive favorite, FIRST NAVY ADMIRAL, who’s taking a subtle drop in price as a twice-beaten favorite; speed makes him an obvious threat. MIGHTY THOMAS and the other Sano, TURPIAL, loom on the fringes.
THIRD RACE
Seems plausible that the additions of Maries Melody and Foxy Lady into this 3yo-filly turf-miler category can set the table for a ground-saving MIDNIGHT GEM, most recently fifth in the key July 10 race behind Lone-F winner KAYSERI; looking for Reyes to maintain a catbird’s seat while they move along at a more honest clip here. WICKED SOLUTION, fourth in the same key race, also stands to fare better with more pace.
FOURTH RACE
Outstanding spring-summer meet continues unabated for Carlos David, who sent out the $15k weanling purchase CON LIMA to a promising runner-up finish in the soup 20 days ago and now has her all set to graduate with that Saturday tightener beneath her; call it the day’s best. HAPPY CONSTITUTION was a decent 4th when also debuting in the key July 11 race; comes favorably drawn here in the open-air outer box. WEST SIDE GIRL got beat half a pole when 2nd going long on the grass; interesting cut-back and surface switch here.
FIFTH RACE
First try off the Catanese regrouping by TRACEABILITY on June 21 sure was a heady performance, as he bid into the fray at 44-1 before incurring a tough beat; regressed a bit when risked back for $50k two Fridays ago, but now he’s back in for $32k as one of a handful of viables here; best effort can do. MAVERICK KITTEN has been 2nd in 3 of 6 when posting steady-as-he-goes BSFs; Ramsey homebred sitting on a W. FAKE MUSE couldn’t cut it in the MSW ranks but should fit for this middling tag.
SIXTH RACE
All kinds of impressive numbers apply to COMBINATION, the 4yo hard knocker who shows up in the running lines of quite a few of his opponents here: claimed out of 6 of his last 7; winner of his last 4; 8-for-19 overall. Likely this relentless dude will be adding to those totals when in his 2nd tour of duty for leading trainer Saffie. TAKE CHARGE DUDE and TRAVY BOY, familiar rivals unto themselves, will make the top pick work hard when going all-out from their inside posts.
SEVENTH RACE
Ever since those tote-exploders at the championship meet, LA RUSIA has gone on to validate those efforts (a 44-1 mdn.-breaker and a 52-1 just-miss
in a stake). In all, she’s been 2nd in 5 of her last 8 when bopping in and out of these higher-end claimers for 3yo turf fillies; honest chestnut looking for an overdue score. YOLANDA’S PRIDE has been in a little over her head vs. older state-bred alw. types; tag and 3yo-only spot makes her a serious consideration here. AFFICIONADO ran pretty well as the favored runner-up behind another filly taking a token class hike here, A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
EIGHTH RACE
Hard to overstate what a great move it’s been for Louie Roussel, forsaking his longtime summer base in Chicago to hunker down instead in SoFla; stakes win here Saturday with Sailing Solo among his latest tales of success. Thinking KUNAL can add another to the win column after having benefit of that sharp July 8 outing over the local course; needing A-Rod to push the right buttons when rematched with some of the same foes from that key race. LURE HIM IN is something of a question over the grass, but no doubt he’s in fine form for Ralph. UNCORK THE BOTTLE deserves a very close look when essentially dropping in class for the meet’s leading outfit.
NINTH RACE
Well aware that it’s been 5+ months since I’LL TAKE THE CAKE last raced under silks, and yet her steady Palm Meadows breeze schedule since she won the 2/17 Lady Bird in her Saffie debut suggests she’ll be sharp and sufficiently fit for this assignment; not a whole lot of other speed in here, with the obvious exception of VIOLENT TRICK, so she’ll likely be lurking to the outside of that rival as they go ding-donging to the quarter-pole and on down the lane. BELLA CIAO goes for the optional tag out of 3 ungraded stakes when looking to capitalize on the top two getting nasty with each other.
TENTH RACE
Always tough to improve off Mike Maker, yet YOUNG RAYMOND wheeling back here for the same $12.5k taking price following the Sano claim doesn’t seem to ask too much; was jamming in for a life’s-low tag in that off-turf score July 5; outer box can help Lebron secure a clean stalking trip. FORT KING will announce his presence at once when leaving quickly from an outer box; come-catch-me is his game. YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY surely is at a disadvantage at this 5- panel distance, but his big Beyers seem to make him a from-the-clouds possibility.