ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 11, VINYASA

FIRST RACE

First-timer GOOD ALTERNATIVE has worked extensively on the Tapeta at Fair Hill in Maryland for a trainer who’s had lots of success here in recent years. She’s out of a stakes-placed sprinter who’s produced a stakes-placed sprinter. YES TO MISCHIEF earned the highest Beyer in the field by a large margin when a front-running fifth in a recent maiden special weight sprint on the Belmont sod. BUNCHKINS placed in each of her last four outings.

SECOND RACE

CANOLA WORLD finished third at first asking in a key race at this class and distance Sept. 6, after which the 4yo son of Silent Name galloped out in front. PRICELESS WILL wound up second that day before losing another OS/$40K sprint by disqualification with a 74 Beyer. FIRST DESIRE got away slowly before closing mildly for fifth in his recent debut.

THIRD RACE

STRIKE ME DOWN came up a half-length short after hitting the front in the lane in his improved second race off the bench going a mile Sept. 12. His trainer began the week by sending out Pipestone for a longshot score on Thursday. MAGIC TAPIT was a front-running fourth two back going 1 1/4 miles on the lawn behind Woodbridge and the future stakes winner Count Again. OSAGE MOON, who landed on the edges after a stalking trip in the latter event, could be more effective in this shorter route.

FOURTH RACE

TORPEDO MAX put up a solid 70 Beyer last time when a pace-pressing second to the favored Yzerman in a lower NW2 tilt. The Beyer par for this level is 70, so he should be prominent again with Civaci retaining the mount for Drexler. CRYPTIC GRIP has run hot and cold throughout the meet, and this could be his day to shine as he drops back down to $15K. GOOGLE IT brings improving form to this event.

FIFTH RACE

COUNT AGAIN raced wide throughout while closing from sixth to win the G3 Singspiel traveling 1 1/4 miles a month ago. The Sam-Son homebred has found his calling in longer turf routes, and could strike again in this inflated G1. ADMIRALTY PIER is shedding the blinkers off a front-running sixth in the G1 Woodbine Mile. He could make most or all of the running in his first start beyond 1 1/16 miles. The consistent Maryland invader NAKAMURA is a must-use underneath in the exotics, along with WOODBRIDGE.

SIXTH RACE

HIATUS was a prominent/close third when switching from Tapeta to a two-turn tilt on the inner turf at second asking three weeks ago. The son of leading sire Silent Name and the G1-winning grasser Honey Ryder could put it all together in this onemile maiden special for Ontario-bred graduates of any sale. CORRELATE is dropping off a fade job in an open maiden special, while adding blinkers for his second trip postward. DERZKII is stretching out with a blend of speed and stamina in his pedigree. VERRAZANO BRIDGE ran wide over an inside-biased track in his opener.

SEVENTH RACE

THEODORA B. blossomed in her last two outings while winning the G2 Dance Smartly here and a rich stakes at Kentucky Downs, both in front-running

style. The Maryland-based 5yo has never been better, and she deserves top billing in this prestigious G1 with Stein aboard. RIDEFORTHECAUSE outran the G1-winning comebacker Cambier Parc when notching her first stakes over about nine furlongs in the G2 Canadian Sept. 12. A mile and a quarter should be right up her alley. ETOILE was favored when second to the top pick after saving ground in the 1 1/4-mile Dance Smartly. SECRET MESSAGE was beaten 6 1/2 lengths in a much tougher edition of this event last year.

EIGHTH RACE

RED HIERARCHY lost his unbeaten status two weeks ago when he was caught wide in a speed duel over an inside-biased track en route to a neck loss. Cutting back from seven to six furlongs should enable him to get back on the winning track in this light N1X. CRAWL FROM THE BAR ran two solid races in September after McKnight reclaimed him for a bargain $10K in July. JACOBS CALL had a troubled trip in his first N1X attempt on the grass.

NINTH RACE

CITY BOY won this G2 over yielding ground after a good stalking trip at 24-1 last year. His frontrunning second in a five-furlong OS stakes two weeks ago should set him up nicely for what could be another square-priced score. OLYMPIC RUNNER was competitive against much tougher in his last few, most recently when fourth in the G1 Woodbine Mile. Good turf rider Wilson takes over and should have him closing for another high placing. KANTHAKA has run two solid races in graded stakes south of the border since joining Motion’s barn. RECONFIGURE lost a nail-biter to the top pick in this event last year, and had a wide trip over an inside-biased Tapeta surface in his latest.

TENTH RACE

MACLEAN’S POSSE stalked three-wide early before drawing off for a decisive debut victory going 5 1/2 furlongs Aug. 29. The son of red-hot Maclean’s Music has worked regularly in the interim, and should do some damage in this seven-furlong stakes. HELIUM earned the highest Beyer in the field (76) when landing his seven-furlong opener Sept. 27. KNIGHT KINGDOM took the long way home while closing to break his maiden around two turns on the inner turf three weeks ago.

ELEVENTH RACE

VINYASA was competitive against more difficult opposition in her last few, most recently when third in a $25K NW2 route on the inner turf. Stein takes over for the abrupt drop to $10K. CHEEKY

PINT graduated from off the pace on this course in July, and may have been too close to the early pace most recently when a fading fifth on the main course. STORMY VISION also possesses some positive inner turf experience.