ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, R PREROGATIVE

FIRST RACE

At press time, turf racing looked in some jeopardy with lots of rain in forecast for early in the week around the area. With that in mind we’ll give CHESS’S DREAM top billing in opener for turf only returning to what appears his favorite surface after being over-matched in the In Reality. Takes off blinkers, showed good speed in recent a.m. trial on main. Upset by Heat of the Night in latest on sod, the latter coming back off effort to finish decent 5th in Summer Stakes at Woodbine. DEMON much better than that debut would indicate against killer bunch and is kin to a couple of turf winners. Showed promise at Spa this summer. CONRAD THE RED brought $140K at the sales and looking good in recent grass breeze at PM when readily drawing away from over-matched mate.

SECOND RACE

SHINY EMPIRE did not break alertly, took run at winner, faltered, drifted late at first asking when bet hard off the bench. Should benefit from the try while coming back with another bullet work in the interim. Could be long gone on the lead if away running the second time around. MISS MIKAELA the only one in here with experience at the distance, ran afoul of even money Maystart last time while clearly best of others. TOO BLESSED broke slow from rail, was never a factor in a rapidly run state bred MSW in only previous start. Wheels right back vs. lesser. Expecting much improvement.

THIRD RACE

FRENCHMEN STREET plunges to weakest level yet off the claim and lures Zayas right back. Capable on turf or dirt should this one move to the main. MARCELINO strictly grass as his most recent effort would attest. Beat same kind crosstown in early August. KYLE held own with much better last time, a key race that has since produced pair of next out winners. Previous outing points him out main contender here and another capable on either surface.

FOURTH RACE

SPEARGUN gets some class relief while also going turf to dirt and coming off two turn try that should have him legged up for best effort yet. THINKABOUTIT one of several new faces to sort out in this mix. Kin to G2 placed Brothers of the time and out of a dam who has thrown many a winner over the years. Noting near bullet half on 9/29. LITTLE DUDE looks like the quickest of the bunch. No match for runaway winner in latest.

FIFTH RACE

SEA TRIDENT has changed barns since latest when losing best chance of taking up early on. Worked sharp bullet half from GPW gate for this. I KICKN turned in even try despite early trouble of own in lone outing during heither of winer meet across town. Lured top jock today. ZAMIT should be fit off the bench coming in off pair of five furlong drills. Tabbing board for clues with the many new faces in this lineup.

SIXTH RACE

R PREROGATIVE, the day’s best, looks to be nicely spotted should this one move to the main. Came off three month hiatuys to just miss with same kind two weeks earlier. HEIR BALL hard to fault in her present form. Dueled, held for second straight again similar across town but will have to prove mettle both over new course and if pushed hard from outset by speedy Swirling Candy. CATCH A THRILL logical off string of near misses with same kind. Could not get to wire to wire winner Katieleigh last time while continuing to post strong and consistent numbers from a Beyer standpoint. Sitting on win with this kind.

SEVENTH RACE

TRAPPEZOID stays put off the claim and near miss with same caliber last month and proven at the distance as well as around two turns. Lots to like for new connections. TIP SHEET back with a bunch softer after trying open company last time. Has enough speed to race forwardly placed with this group. Could prove upset threat if top one not

much to his best. LONG GRAY LINE missed a neck with same kind two back. Tossing last vs. a bit tougher in the slop.

EIGHTH RACE

SOLDOLLIE getting ample class relief in finale following series of unlucky trips vs. better. Can handle turf, might be even tougher if this one switches to the main. KILLA DEE re-claimed by Crichton barn in August, been freshened, well spotted for main track only if this one comes off the grass. BLACK JET strictly turf, may be just a matter of whether he can shake loose early from invader Solitary Jack. Very dangerous if allowed to clear off from the outset.