ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, BIG LEAGUE

FIRST RACE

BIG LEAGUE began slowly last time before checking in third on the main turf. His tactical speed should make him dangerous in this optional starter on the Tapeta, at perhaps his favorite distance of 5 1/2 furlongs. DRINK IN MY HAND is dropping back down to an appropriate level off a wide fourth in an N1X. DIDDLEY would be tough on a repeat of his impressive comeback score against easier, but a bounce is certainly possible.

SECOND RACE

GOOD TO ME is moving out to approx. the distance of her maiden triumph following a pair of fringe finishes going 6 1/2 furlongs. Leading rider Stein takes over for this her third start off the bench. SAYSO dominated NW2 opposition last time in a route taken off the turf, and is a good fit Beyerwise. OUR EYES TOUCHED looks next best while being reunited with Hernandez.

THIRD RACE

FAST NEGOTIATIONS returned from an 11-month absence to finish a respectable second behind a rapid rival in a $25K seller July 2. He’s returning from a much shorter layoff here at a higher level, and could do some damage at a square price with Contreras aboard. CARMENOOTZ gave way late to the classy Gigantic Breeze after carving out slow fractions most recently in a route at this level on the Tapeta. Turf is arguably his preferred surface. BRASS COMPASS is worth a look off the reclaim by Drexler.

FOURTH RACE

SUITEDCONNECTED rallied from off slow splits to finish a lapped-on second last time going seveneighths. He’s since switched trainers and could break through on the stretchout to a route. ICE BLUE is continuing his slide down the value ladder off a third where he benefited from an inside bias. MAJESTIC MELODY raced wide against the aforementioned bias when a fading fifth Aug. 21. Use him underneath in the gimmicks, along with LUCKY STREET.

FIFTH RACE

CALL ME WALLY is halving in value off a wide/closing second for $40K, and looks to be the one to fear most in his fourth try off the sidelines. The fly in the ointment is that this barn has been on a cold streak after a hot start to the meet. BEN LOMOND looks next best off a victory in an optional starter around two turns on the inner turf. He was a troubled fifth the time before on the main course. BAY OF RUM is debuting off a $15K claim and a closing second in a fast-paced optional starter.

SIXTH RACE

STRIKING MOON was bumped at the break before ending up third when boosted up to this N1X class Aug. 20. He’s going long for the first time, and the son of Palace Malice is bred for the task at hand. CHAMPIT is another who’s experimenting around two turns with the pedigree of a router. His last race contained two next-out winners, including the future Plate Trial victor Clayton, and the winner came back to run second in the G3 Marine. LEAD

DIRECTOR rallied four-wide to capture a sevenfurlong maiden special at second asking Aug. 16. He’s bred to go short on top and long on the bottom of his pedigree.

SEVENTH RACE

TIO MAGICO worked nicely from the gate Aug. 23. The son of the exceptional 15% 2yo debut sire Uncle Mo is out of a G3 stakes winner who’s been a poor producer. EXCELLORATOR was in tight early in the stretch and bobbled before closing for third in his debut, in which he just missed second to the more experienced THREEFIFTYSEVEN. The winner of that contest returned to double up in the restricted Simcoe Stakes with a 64 Beyer.

EIGHTH RACE

SHOWBIZ LADY was squeezed at the start before dueling up front en route to a second-place finish in a key $7.5K NW2 tilt when exiting a one-year layoff July 16. CHEEKYLICIOUS stalked in second

behind the eventual winner, who got away with murder on the front end, in her improved Aug. 13 outing in a similar spot. DONT GET SMART was a chalky second in the slower split of the aforementioned Aug. 13 race under Moran, who broke her maiden.

NINTH RACE

MAKE IT RAIN missed the break and was sandwiched between rivals early in the stretch before tiring in a $15K turf sprint second-time out. He’s bred to run on, and could be a factor at a square price in this $10K route on the main turf. MYCRAZYLIFE prevailed in a three-way front-end battle before fading to fourth when trying the grass for the first time in a recent mile race on the inner course. VIRGIL CAINE was competitive for the first time when experimenting on the grass in his latest. Use NEW DEAL in the tri and super.