SIXTH RACE

pedigree; Bustin Stones one of the best debut sires around.

THERISASTORMBREWIN is stepping up in class pretty significantly for this but is doing so following a career-best performance off the claim last time; always traveled on the lead in that race, which came over this track and trip, and he hammered that field in the stretch en route to a new top figure; Rice is solid with last-out winners, and tends to be dangerous when she moves her in-form horses up in class; has speed from the outside and faces a field that consists of several underachievers. TIERGAN was going nowhere while alternating between turf and dirt over the past couple of years and brought a 14-race losing streak into his first start for this trainer, which he promptly won with a new top figure; did spend a lot of time on a strong rail en route to that victory, but he also won easier than the final margin suggests, and he paired up that 85 Beyer last time when gamely secondbest at this level; the horse to beat. DEVIL’S CODE returned from a long layoff last time with a switch to an underrated trainer and easily overran maidens with a wide move and a good finish; has a lot of improving to do but he holds the upside in this field.

SEVENTH RACE

SPITBALL stretched out to a mile last time and wound up on a fast pace for the level, before giving way to finish last; has run poorly in two of his last three starts, but with excuses, and he cuts back for this with a chance to sit a more comfortable trip. THE BIG S was a promising 3yo that never really panned out, and he has now lost all three starts vs. claiming company at short prices, though can’t really say he ran poorly in any of those races; tries again, this time off the claim from a nice outside draw. BLUES CITY is 0-4 in this condition since returning from the long layoff, though he ran a competitive race two back behind wire-to-wire winner; capable from off the pace if things get competitive up front.

EIGHTH RACE

ARK IN THE DARK has held his form since being claimed by these connections at the end of last year and stepped up in class to win two starts back at Parx; consistent and tactical 6yo has won on this circuit in the past and had an excuse the last time they shipped here while catching a speed-favoring track the layoff. THE CARETAKER an infrequent winner but one with several races that make him tough in here, and he is cutting back to a much better distance for this after failing to make a blow going a mile last time; tough with his good race, but there are some questions. POPIZAR got in over his head off the claim last time, and he caught a sloppy track before that when in for twice this price; drops looking to get back to a fast track after finishing a rallying second to front-running, back-classer Happy Farm the last time he was on a dry surface.

NINTH RACE

BIG TONY’S GIRL and TINY MAGOO sport similar profiles on the way in here, as they both have run well enough more than once to have cleared this condition already, and yet both exit disappointing efforts at short prices. BIG TONY’S GIRL draws outside with more speed than she showed last time when getting wired, and the runnerup from that race return to win her next start with a 72 Beyer. TINY MAGOO couldn’t make the early lead and failed to find a finish at 2:5 last time, though that race was won by a closer; will try to rebound off the claim for Atras. STARSHIP KIARA a new face for an underrated trainer and may not have to be much vs. this field; dam could run (won four times in her career and was placed in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks), and she has dropped four winners so far, with the best of those being seven-time winner Adens Dream (95 Beyer top sprinting on dirt).

TRACK INFORMATION

110th St. and Rockaway Blvd. Ozone Park, NY 11417 (718) 641-4700

NYRA Scratch Line: (866) 697-2238

Main track: One and one-eighth miles, oval

Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,155.5 feet Inner turf: Seven Furlongs, 43 feet, oval

Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,174.9 feet Turf course: One mile, oval

TAKEOUT INFORMATION

■ Win, place, and show: 16%

■ Daily Double, Quinella, and Exacta wagering: 18.5%

■ Trifecta, Pick Three, Pick Four, Superfecta and Grand Slam wagering: 24%

■ Pick 5: 15%

■ Pick 6 wagering: 20%