ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, MIDNIGHT GARDEN

FIRST RACE

ENGAGEMENT RING has gotten an early breather once in his life and it came three back in his maiden breaker where he was also DQ after the fact. His two return tries weren’t much to write home about but he showed his usual speed in both. Now he goes second time this dirt while third off the layoff all while getting in light with the apprentice up. Oh, he should clear off as he goes sprint to route in a race without much pace. NEW YORK PROUD actually ran OK on the green last out even though his turf Tomlinson is a very poor 195. That turf try should have him primed for another two turn affair and he does draw inside where he saves all the early ground. TOSS THE FLAG can get the distance something you can’t say about all of these. Route figs from 2 and 3 back are OK as he tries this dirt for the first time today.

SECOND RACE

BOLD COWBOY is slowly but surely improving especially in his last two with one coming at Churchill versus 10 foes (show dough). That race came back key when 2 of 5 returned to win with figs of 69 and 63. Works are simply fantastic especially for this barn. Class jump makes perfect sense and notice that connections find a spot where they can’t lose this gelding. BOOZYMILKSHAKEBAR ran OK in his debut for Asmussen but was claimed. New barn is 2 for 5 off the claim. This horse has five sibs of which three beat winners. Recent work was nice and easy as if the Rarick barn has this guy right where they want him. BULL

HOLLOW has never run poorly in four starts. Those Indiana foes were solid and this guy was trying two turns for the first time but still managed third. A small knock is that gap in works from December 22nd to January 2nd. McFarlane has two in here and Lopez gets the call here whom he often uses but we still like barn mate more.

THIRD RACE

Who wants this distance? Who can get this distance? AMERICAN CAMP is 3-0-0-0 on a real dirt surface but his last start on said surface has fallen off the page. This guy won’t have a problem

with a flat mile due to multiple turf tries around two turns. What if this guy isn’t best on the green? His turf Tomlinson is only 250. A local work is noted. PAROLEE is bred to like two turns with his 359 distance Tomlinson. That route try at Zia two back wasn’t very good though but he took some time off as if something went awry. His recent sprint race was solid and now he goes second time this dirt all from an inside draw. DAWOOD goes for Evans and for many that is an automatic include. Cross entered in a race on Monday that is tougher than this (stuck outside too). Form cycle hints at better and the blinkers stay on.

FOURTH RACE

MIDNIGHT GARDEN just missed last out and now wheels back in a week and that is a killer move for this barn at 67%. Class jump is even better and notice that this mare can’t be claimed now. Second time with Evans and second time this dirt can only help and we love how this mare puts races together for only the second time which hints at improved health. TIME FOR KISSES was feeling great at the end of the Cby meet. A Beyer top only two back. This mare is a hard trier that has hit the exacta in 9 of 19 starts. Works are perfect for team Davis. LOVE NOT WAR exits a key race where 2 of 4 returned to win with figs of 73 and 63. This mare is the inside speed and goes for Evans. Jockey/ trainer combo on this dirt is 50%. With that said, we like the other Evans runner better.

FIFTH RACE

CLAVICHORD won three back going two turns at Ruidoso and has the best upside. Even running style bodes well for a return to two turns. The rail draw is a plus as is the fact that this gelding has never seen claimers. Local works are fine. THEGLORYISALLMINE returned running off the long layoff and now returns to two turns. This gelding is the speed and notice that sharp work before his most recent when 2nd best of 70. NUMEROLOGIST can fire fresh so there is that. His most recent was poor but he took some time off as if something went awry. A better price than a lot of these and we like how connections get this guy back to routing (6-0-3-1 at a flat mile).

SIXTH RACE

WHO’S THE DIVA NOW ran OK in her most recent and did so as the chalk. She adds a full furlong today and gets in light which should sharpen her early zip that much more. We love this outside post and today’s pace is no picnic but we think this filly might be the speed of the speed nonetheless. New barn doesn’t claim many (0 for 1) but stats are very good across the board. TIZ SIMPLY AWESOME popped and stopped in her return try but that was going long on the turf. If able to relax early then this mare can trip out well from the 2 hole. WRIGHT WINGED has some speed but looks capable from just off the pace. She is a four time winner on this dirt so there is that. Class drop is key and going forward she will be eligible for starter allowance races down the road.

SEVENTH RACE

ALBANY FRONT tried a real dirt surface for only the second time previously and was then stuck between foes while bumped early. He only beat one home but his overall effort wasn’t that bad. The Amescua barn is 20% with new runners. We like this spot and today’s added distance. TOP OF THE ROCK can pass runners and gets good race flow. Return try was solid and Lopez keeps the faith for McFarlane. MINISTERSDON’TLIE has a lot of speed. The speed of the speed? Shmaybe. He broke 7th of 8 in his most recent and then did little after. Plus, he was sent off at 50-1 versus stakes foes going 870. Maybe he just needed a race? New barn and jock are noted. An early tote check is in order.

EIGHTH RACE

This looks like a spot to find a price. Enter DIMERA who is 10-1 on the morning line. This horse is just better since switching barns to Brashears. He can fire fresh and has some tactical speed. There isn’t much zip in this five furlong affair you know. Penchant for less? He won the head bob four back so not so sure about that. Lots and lots of well spaced works. MAGIC JOURNEY does have some upside. We like how he won off the pace two back and the gate to wire in most recent. First time this dirt is the X factor. THIRTY SECONDS OUT was facing better when last seen on this dirt. Canterbury tries were poor but some horses that like it here don’t like it there. Bullet work is noted and we like Stevens up.