ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, FOOD AND WINE

FIRST RACE

First post is 12:40 ET. Remember 12% takeout on Pick 5 wagers. KISS MY NOTE looked good in both Penn National starts after barn switch and return to turf. Last time out, he stalked a moderate pace from the outside, swung four wide turning for home and didn’t have many problems with that entrylevel allowance group (the fifth-finisher returned to win on dirt with an 82 Beyer). Should get some pace to attack in this spot. HARD FOUGHT returns to preferred surface after being well-beaten in two starts on the dirt. Think he found the nine furlongs a bit too far when an even fourth three starts back, turns back to his favorite distance here and has the tactical speed to work out a nice trip. LUCKY RAMSEY has hit the board in all five starts since being transferred to Claudio Gonzalez. Received a nice pace setup when downing optional claimers over yielding ground at Penn National and should be running late once more. ATREYU is undefeated from six starts on the turf and should be forgiven his most recent dud on the main track.

SECOND RACE

GLENGAR appeared to have some run in midstretch at Delaware, but seemed reluctant to drive through a tight opening in between horses and had to settle for a minor award. Charging Lion, one of the horses to dead-heat for the win that day, returned to finish second in an $8,000 open claimer with a 72 Beyer. Glengar can be a bit tough to handle behind the starting gate, but appears to be in good form with a versatile running style. INDIAN GHOST received a nice ground-saving ride to win last month over a track that seemed to favor horses that raced near the rail. He’s won two of his last three starts for barn that had an excellent Laurel meet and is another that should be motoring late. LUCID DREAM was no match for favored Always Forgiven three weeks ago, but he’s improved in his last two starts. Patiently-ridden near the back, he split horses and got up for second after hopping to his left lead. CAMPARI swung widest into the lane when behind Lucid Dream and passed some tired foes while failing to swap leads.

THIRD RACE

FOOD AND WINE raced wide into the first turn of recent outing at Ellis Park, then made an early move into the teeth of a solid pace. Flattened out just a bit in the final furlong, but still finished ahead of two next-out winners (fifth- and sixthfinishers returned to graduate with Beyers of 68 and 69, respectively). Seems a nice fit at this level upon return to the circuit and can work out a good forward trip. BALLYHOO PRINCE is another that should be close to the lead after chasing a very sharp pace in turf debut. The winner of that race was an odds-on shipper from New York that had the run of the race from the back of the pack. HARD STING has a lovely pedigree and hasn’t raced on the turf since facing three next-out winners including Structor (returned to grab the Grade 3 Pilgrim with an 83 Beyer before taking the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with a 79). Gained needed fitness from dirt return off long layoff and will likely appreciate switching back to sod. READY REWARD finished behind two next-out winners when an even fourth going two turns in career debut. It appears he was purchased privately after the race and now drops into a claimer while switching back to preferred surface. Boasts some price potential.

FOURTH RACE

TRICKY LION was bumped from both sides at the start of recent Delaware effort, then raced four wide in the six path on the backstretch. He made a strong three-wide move to the front on the turn only to be overhauled late by razor-sharp Twin Valor (returned to win a $10,000 conditioned claimer at Delaware with a 63 Beyer). Respect his good tactical speed and he should be in the thick of things when they turn for home. TALENT SCOUT has hit the board in all four starts for Kieron Magee and was gaining on favored gate-to-wire winner Higher Purpose last time out. Beyers are going the right way. THE FORTY FACTOR double-drops in class with some early speed after facing a good off-the-turf group (the winner returned to take a $16,000 conditioned claimer at Monmouth with a 69 Beyer while the runner-up returned to place at Laurel in another off-the-turf seller with a 73). Might be slightly more effective at 5 1/2 furlongs.