ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, IMPRSSTHEPROFESSOR

FIRST RACE

IMPRSSTHEPROFESSOR dropped to this level last time and broke poorly to wind up outrun last, then couldn’t make an impact in a race that held together up front; her lack of speed is a drawback but she is more lightly-raced than most of her rivals here and her maiden win over a sloppy track last October was solid; chance she catches another wet track here. MAKE OR BREAK was claimed for this tag in December out of a race where he was wide away from a strong rail and got wired by a longshot; hasn’t been competitive in his three starts for these connections vs. better; drops again. GRINGOTTS was also wide throughout when finishing behind MAKE OR BREAK over that rail-biased track in December; rallied late and came up short at this level last time.

SECOND RACE

ONE GLAMOROUS GAL was away from the good rail while chasing favored R Working Girl on a legit pace in her December debut, and she paid the price in the stretch while tiring late; good numbers for Weaver with horses like this - second career start, MSW to MCL drop, dirt, sprint: 4 for his last 10, 40%, $2.40 ROI. HOLLYWOOD GINA debuted sprinting on turf last October at a time when you wanted to be inside, and she raced three wide throughout without showing much; drops and switches to dirt for her return and she will have Lasix on for this. MY DELICIOUS was no threat behind ONE GLAMOROUS GAL two starts back while closer to the inside; has some speed as she drops for the first time.

THIRD RACE

ALWAYSMINING is going to need his very best as he ships in to take on MR. BUFF, but he showed that he can still run last time when carrying all the ground from just off the pace and staying gamely late; has speed to go along with the back races to factor here, and he will be a price. MR. BUFF the clear horse to beat after getting back on track with a powerful win last time over a modest group; hasn’t been at his absolute best since returning from the forced break last summer, but he was raced over his head several times and did account for the Empire Classic, before that facile win last time. LIMONITE has won four of his six starts since returning to dirt toward the end of 2020; handles a wet track and last was his best yet off the claim.

FOURTH RACE

TRI SAINT LORENZO was long overdue when going back to back in his final two starts of 2020, including an easy maiden win over a wet track; faced a much stronger field for the level last time and had to settle for third behind repeat winners Heirloom Kitten and Twelfth Labor, either of whom who would be favored in here. TAPIZEARANCE showed speed off the layoff before tiring and he has run well in both starts since while having to settle for second-best, especially that last one when making a strong, wide run around the turn, only to be turned away by a well-meant runner off the Rudy re-claim; has handled the mile before. NOT THAT BRADY lost his good early form prior to hitting the sidelines at the end of 2019, and he wound up dropping quickly after a pair of non-efforts v. better upon his return; good try two back while contesting the pace in a race that was won last-tofirst and he may get clear this time.

FIFTH RACE

FORGOTTEN MISSION never really got involved when let go at a big price in his debut, where he got bumped at the start to wind up off the pace and then raced greenly in what appeared to be a useful run; half to the speedy sprinter Forgotten Hero can benefit from that experience at a price. DR. BLUTE is by a sire returning excellent early results and is from the female family of Breeders’ Cup Filly/Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold; looked racey breezing 10.1 last June and appears to be training forwardly up to this. OLYMPIQUE has some pedigree to recommend him - half to underrated NY-bred stakes winner Aunt Babe; dam a sister to two solid NY-bred runners - and Mott doesn’t get the respect he deserves with horses like this - past five years, first-time starter, dirt,

sprint: 15%, $2.49 ROI; 24%, $3.77 ROI with such horses three-and-up.

SIXTH RACE

ROYAL SUSPECT has lost two in a row in this condition as the favorite, though he rates the benefit of the doubt for that last one after racing wide on a track that was strongly favoring the rail and getting wired; handles a wet track and cutting back a furlong works for him. JUDICIAL RESTRAINT has been laid up since being claimed for this tag last October; 75 Beyer he earned breaking his maiden in the slop (narrowly) makes him tough if he is ready to sprint off the layoff. JUDGE ALEXANDER ran well to break his maiden two back, though without earning much of a figure, then bombed when trying to stretch out last time; cuts back and drops slightly in class.

SEVENTH RACE

VIKING ZIM is by a sire off to a good early start Mshawish scored with 23% of his 2yo first-time starters last year, and they handled all surfaces - and is out of a dam who was a debut winner sprinting on dirt; looked good breezing 21.1 as a 2yo and debuts for an excellent first-out trainer. OUR MAN MIKE the lone experienced runner in the field and he was twice stakes-placed as a 2yo; lacked speed last year but eligible to improve with the time off and returns with Lasix on. VINCENT has speed on both sides of his pedigree and draws well on the outside for his debut; Handal got a couple of debut winners last year at Saratoga, and had a few others throughout 2020 hit the board at big prices.

EIGHTH RACE

O SHEA CAN U SEE returned at this level from the layoff after having the $12.5k claim voided last August and may have needed that race after getting a rail run from the back and appearing to flatten out late; needs pace but might get some in this big field and he has the races to factor strongly here. DIRECT ORDER is cutting in half off the claim for Atras with plenty of races to be tough in this spot as he cuts back a bit; efforts two and three back were fine without coming all that close, and he handles a wet track should those conditions prevail. SKYLER’S SCRAMJET is what he is at this point and drops again after failing to get there last time vs. slightly better; at his best when he can get to the lead and may be able to do that here.

NINTH RACE

HANDLE THE TRUTH ran better than it looks two back when away last and trying a wide run to contention around the turn, before weakening late, and she just faced better last time to no avail; returns to the NY-bred ranks while cutting back and faces a field full of first-time starters. LAURA’S BELLAMY debuts for top connections from the rail and there is speed on both sides of her pedigree - dam Laura Can Disco won four times in her career, all in sprints while part of the pace, and her first foal broke his maiden in front-running fashion over a wet track. BLAME IT ON MARY another runner with experience in the field and she earned a 68 Beyer when just missing in a Finger Lakes stake race last October; only second-best last time in her first start with Lasix.