ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, STRONG HEADED

FIRST RACE

CHESS’S DREAM debuts for a live turf barn and is a half to Casa Creed who won the Grade 2 Hall of Fame on the Saratoga turf course last year. It is also encouraging to see Zayas riding. ANDRES EDUARDO ran okay in his debut and being a half to a Grade 1 winning 2-year-old filly plus a horse that won going long on turf he could take a big step forward in this spot. BOURRE’ TRICK could also improve in his second start for a trainer that wins a lot of races with 2-year-olds. The added distance should work for him as he is half to three route winners, most notably Conquest Eclipse who was the runner-up in the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita.

SECOND RACE

MONMOUTH DR will appreciate being back on solid ground after a couple of dull efforts on turf. He has some tactical speed and should get a nice trip sitting just off what figures to be a modest pace. SCAR jumped up and ran a big race when he moved back to dirt last time.That makes two strong races in two starts on the main track so maybe this is what he really wants to do. RED FOG is 2 for 27, but he is an improved horse of late and he should be in the mix right from the start.

THIRD RACE

STRONG HEADED had a brutal trip when favored in his latest at this level and could make amends if he runs back to his race two back. He was acting up in the gate, got bounced around soon after leaving the start, and It didn’t get any better from there. SEVEN CHANNELS is trending in the right direction and being lightly raced should have some upside. He could get up in time if things fall his way. KRAMDEN is by a decent debut and turf sire and is a half to Flashy Ways who won her first two starts as a juvenile, the second win coming in the $100K Surfer Girl on the Del Mar turf course. He comes out of a live barn and attracts the leading rider. CHAMPERS should be okay with the move back to turf and could fire a big shot in his second start back.

FOURTH RACE

HONEST MONEY debuts for Pletcher who the past five years has a 29% strike rate and $1.79 ROI with juveniles debuting in MSW races at Gulfstream. Honor Code below 10% with first-time starting 2-yearold but Money is out of a mare who used her good speed to win seven races. From two sibs to race one winner with both of his wins coming in dirt sprints. SPEARGUN showed good speed in his debut but he got forced out on the turn and after getting bumped he shied away from horses inside of him. Blinkers go on and expecting a big performance in his second start for Nicks if he gets to go. TIGER got bumped around at the start but recovered quickly when he finished second as the heavy chalk in the same race SPEARGUN exits. JOE PHILLIPS has been working nicely and could come out running for a trainer who can have then ready to roll at a price.

FIFTH RACE

JUST A BIT SASSY won her debut on turf so she should be okay with the surface switch following her blowout win over easier. She was haltered by a trainer who has strong numbers with claimed horses running back the first time and he has enough speed to take advantage of her inside post. TOO MUCH WAR won her debut so the three-month layoff isn’t a huge concern and she has been working well for her return. Her front-running victory in a key race two back would put her right there and she is versatile so Zayas has more than one option. CATNIP KITTEN, from the same barn as Too Much War, is also coming off a layoff but she ran a big race coming off the bench two back and the shape of the race could work for her. She got off to a poor start when she flopped as the chalk at this level in her latest and could make amends with a clean trip.