ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, CHILL HAZE

FIRST RACE

ZAP MAMA is a half-sister to 3-time turf winner Zap Daddy, trained by Maker, who broke his maiden when he debuted going 1 1/16 miles on this course in a MSW race for Florida-breds. Déjà vu? MONORAIL is the first foal out of a Grade 1 Mother Goose winner Off the Tracks who won her first four starts. She never ran on turf, though. Monorail is by Into Mischief who is a decent debut sire and is roughly 15% as an overall turf sire. CRYSTAL COAST had a rough trip in her debut and could be dangerous with blinkers going on for a trainer who has strong numbers with second time starters.

SECOND RACE

MORE THAN USUAL looks like the main speed and could be gone if he breaks alertly from his inside post. He was haltered out of his last race by Amador Sanchez who the past couple of years has an 18% strike with claimed horses running back the first time. JANUARY WON again did not run a jump when he tried turf for the second time. Easy to toss the race and focus on his runner-up finish in the same race the top pick exits. SUPERHIGHWAY comes off a dull effort for $6,250 but he had a sharp work Aug. 1 and could improve for Navarro who has strong numbers with newly claimed horses.

THIRD RACE

JUST KIDDING lost as the chalk in five of his last seven starts but he easily owns the best Beyer Speed Figures and may have found the right group to get it done. He was eased off the pace in his latest but given the lack of speed in this field expecting Jaramillo to be more aggressive early. DEXTER ROAD was no match for a runaway winner in his latest but he did finish second and could get a nice trip from a stalking position. The 10-time winner BIG BOY BRUNO went home a pretty dull horse in May but he’s fresh now and is capable of winning this if he shows up with his best stuff.

FOURTH RACE

R MAN JOE has been right there in all four of his races including a runner-up finish in the $75K Texas Glitter. In the field was Another Miracle who received an 81 Beyer when he won a $79K stakes at Monmouth in his next start on July 12. This guy should be a handful if he comes back as good as he left and his strong set of works suggests he will. JOE BENJAMIN has never actually sprinted in his 8-race career, but he has shown decent speed in his last four races and might appreciate the cutback in distance. WEEKEND DREAMER improved dramatically when he moved to turf for his last two and could make a big impact if Panici can get him to settle off what should be a fast pace.

FIFTH RACE

STURGEON wasn’t going to win but he may have been second if he didn’t have to steady in his latest won by Black Jet. He’s been freshened for this and with a sharp work from the gate at Gulstream Park West the 6-time winner at the distance appears primed for a big effort by Delgado who has solid numbers with horses coming back between 31-60 days. PURE LUCK was coming off a steady diet of routes when he just about got there in time in

a $16K claimer in his latest. He could be a little sharper for this and there should be speed coming back to him. BLACK JET took them all the way in STURGEON’S race and is an obvious threat to repeat for a very capable trainer. He drew tough post and will have to deal with other speed, though.

SIXTH RACE

HIGHLAND MOON has been working fast for trainer Gilberto Zerpa who the past five years has a 35% strike rate and $2.97 ROI with first-time starting juveniles. Her dam won her second start and her only sibling also won her second race. RESTOFTHESTORY has also been working like she can run a bit and Pleas can have them ready to roll first time. She is the first foal from Holiday Flare who as a juvenile won her second and third starts on this track after finishing third in her debut on turf at Calder. DAUNTLESS GAL is the first foal to race out of a stakes winner who went 1-2-1 from 4 starts as a baby. Her third-place finish was in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf at the Oak Tree meet at Hollywood Park.

SEVENTH RACE

SIR SEAMUS is going for the hat trick and he dominated his last two races, the latest coming against open $12,500 claimers. If R Mercedes Boy doesn’t handle turf Sir Seamus should have an easy time of it up front. RHYTHMIA is trending in the right direction for Joseph and seems ready to break through following a runner-up finish at this level July 15. He can stalk and could get set up nicely if a duel develops in front of him. That is a big if, though. TIL THE END won at this level and distance two back and did not have the best trip when he finished third in the same race RHYTHMIA exits. R MERCEDES BOY looked good winning his latest but he is trying grass for the first time and his breeding does not scream turf.

EIGHTH RACE

CHILL HAZE took them a long way in his first start for Barboza who the past five years has 38% strike rate and $2.42 ROI with claimed horses making their second start after being haltered. Chill Haze shouldn’t mind the cutback in distance and adding to his appeal is the horse that beat him came back with a decisive win in a $25K claimer for 3-yearolds. EXCALIBUR has been freshened since he was the runner-up as the chalk at this level Jan. 18. His trainer has solid numbers with horses coming back from this kind of break and it is encouraging to see Zayas accept the assignment. TAPI FROST should move forward in his second start back and could pick up the pieces if the top pair get carried away up front. SEMPER FI keeps knocking on the door and eventually will get in. Maybe today if things fall is way. At the least he should be part of any exotics ticket.

NINTH RACE

TOURNESOL looked like she had no chance to run down YESTERDAY ONCE MORE in the $60,000 Portofino Bay, but she put on a huge late move to get up in the last jump. It was an impressive turn of foot and the only time she hasn’t been right there was when she clipped heels. Expecting another strong performance in her second start following a layoff. YESTERDAY ONCE MORE appeared to be home and cooled out but came up a neck short. She won’t mind the slightly shorter distance and she gets a nice break in the weights from the top pick. FUJAIRAH is coming off a couple of strong sprints at Monmouth and she ran well here early in her career going 7 1/2 furlongs. Horse that won her latest received an 87 Beyer for her third-place finish in a $100K sprint stakes on turf at Saratoga July 31.

TENTH RACE

MARKISTAN went pretty wide around the turn before blowing her rivals away in her first start for Joseph. She is facing other winners this time but she came back with a sharp work so expecting more of the same with Zayas keeping the faith.

GIOIELLI is honest, owns the best Beyer Speed Figures and is dropping to a new low. No next-out winners in her last start but the runner-up won a $12.5K N2L with a 66 Beyer two starts later on July 24. The layoff combined with the drop is a concern, but she’s in good hands and D’Angelo has solid numbers with horses coming back in this time period. ABARRIO FOREVER, who finished second at this level and distance after breaking a step slow, should be part of any exotics ticket.

ELEVENTH RACE

GIVEMETWENTY will get tested for class but he is trending in the right direction and being lightly raced he could have more to offer. He also showed he can sit off the speed in his latest win and the ability to stalk will come in handy in a race that figures to unfold at an brisk clip. NATURAL POWER will be rolling late and should move forward following a fourth-place finish in a $100K stakes at Churchill won by Field Pass who repeated in the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland. MONFORTE and GRACEFUL KITTEN bring speed and questions to the fray. MONFORTE is going for his fifth in a row but wonder why he’s been gone since his sharp win in a named $35K starter race on Feb. 17. Ditto for GRACEFUL KITTEN who tore this place up before running a decent race in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf but then went on the shelf after he bolted in the $75K Pulpit over this surface.

TWELFTH RACE

BAHAMIAN PARK broke from the outside post and had to be asked early to get into a good position going into the first turn before he came up a bit empty in the stretch in his latest. It was another good effort and he moves closer to the rail so might be able to fall into a stalking position and have more left for the drive. VINCITORE didn’t lose by much despite getting bumped around going into the first turn and having a wide trip. Prado attracted and the past five years he’s won with four of the last eight horses he’s ridden for Roussel. HERO UP was in the mix early in the same race BAHAMIAN PARK exits and could take them a long way if he clears early.

SCRATCH BOARD

Here are the horses entered today who have been scratched in the last 45 days and have not raced since the scratch. Definitions: Off the turf: Turf race switched to main track. Trainer: Any scratch made by a trainer, including ones for weather, medical issues, a decision not to run in a stakes race, a horse entered back the next racing day, or a conditional entry (i.e., main track only for a turf race). Vet: Injury or illness. Steward: Administrative issues like medication and eligibility.