ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, SOEXOTIC

FIRST RACE

SOEXOTIC was in solid form prior to a flat fifth in a recent optional starter going long on the inner turf. She won both of her Tapeta starts at the meet going short with Beyers in the 70s, and figures to rebound here for $20K off the claim. WESTLODGE INTRIGUE weakened to third after setting slow fractions last time on the grass. Her tactical speed could come in handy in this spot with Hernandez riding for McKnight, who won four races last Friday. CANADIAN MAGIC is adding blinkers for the turnback and class drop.

SECOND RACE

COMBATIVE stalked three-wide before making a bid en route to a close fourth behind the good Mnemba Island last time out on the Tapeta. He broke his maiden on the inner turf last summer, and was a decent fifth in a second-level optional claimer three starts back on that tight course. LUCAS N’ LORI also possesses some positive inner turf experience. The closer has ample speed to chase, a pace scenario which could also favor the steady sprinter KEEN ARTIE.

THIRD RACE

BEST AND FINAL is by the 17% 2yo debut sire Kentucky Bear, and the homebred is a half-brother to the stakes-placed sprinter Brookies Bear. He’s worked quickly on occasion and goes with blinkers and Lasix. LAST ENDEAVOR should be favored off a close second and a distant third in his two outings at this $25K level. Patrick Husbands takes over for Rycroft. MUSIC TRIBUTE held on for third behind the latter after getting softened up in a speed duel at second asking Aug. 22.

FOURTH RACE

SYSTEMIC RISK posted mixed results against N1X opposition in her four starts at the meet, including a prominent third in a five-furlong inner turf dash. She could be the dominant speed in this NW3 OS/$40K tilt on the inner course. GELATO AMORE tracked a rapid pace en route to beating $25K NW2 rivals by daylight over this course and

distance Aug. 13. AUNT TILLIE is eligible to bring her “A” game in the second start of her form cycle with Fukumoto retaining the mount. Use KA GEE GEE in the gimmicks.

FIFTH RACE

SLIP KID is halving in value to the bottom $5K class off a third-place finish where he put away the other speed before weakening. The 16-time winner has a decided edge on his rivals Beyer-wise, and leading rider Stein was aboard for his last triumph. AMNESTY is taking a two-race win streak in a pair of conditioned claimers into this event, with Kimura taking over from Stein. GROUNDHOG DAY seems ripe for the picking in his third race off a long layoff. Use him in the lower rungs of the exotics, along with RAVEN’S CRY.

SIXTH RACE

SANSA’S VOW has been idle since graduating with a sweeping wide run traveling 1 1/16 miles on the main turf June 21, in a maiden special that’s yet to yield a next-out winner. The lightly-raced daughter of Broken Vow can fire when fresh and is sent out by a very capable layoff trainer. TAPPITTY TAPPITTY comes off back-to-back lapped-on seconds going long at this N1X class under Husbands, most recently on the inner course. This third start off a long layoff could be a peak one. ETERNAL PEACE is moving back to her preferred surface off a fading fourth on the Tapeta. The winner of her penultimate start at Churchill subsequently finished fifth in a stakes at Indiana.

SEVENTH RACE

MYSTIC NILE prevailed in an off-the-turf tilt by three lengths at this class and distance with just a 66 Beyer Aug. 27. She could easily double up in this inflated $40K contest, regardless of which surface it’s contested over. CRUMLIN QUEEN has improved with each subsequent appearance at the meet, ending up second going about nine furlongs on the lawn in her latest for $25K. ALICE’S WAR closed mildly along the inside for third behind the latter Aug. 22. Use the win-shy mare underneath in vertical wagers, along with DESERT POEM.

EIGHTH RACE

L’AMOUR TOUJOURS struggled in both of her maiden special races at the meet, but she could wake up here for $25K with blinkers off. Her trainer was an impressive 5 for 10 with droppers to maiden-claiming company over the past five years ($8.90 ROI). STARLIGHT RIDGE has worked quickly for her return from an extended break, the type of layoff which Casse has excelled with here in recent years. SHANGHAI BOUND was outfinished for the win after closing from off a lively pace in a route Aug. 20. CEDAR VALLEY is moving out a furlong off a head loss going three-quarters.