FOURTH RACE

EVANGELINE ALLONS might be set for best in third start of the year after chasing a very fast pace going a mile earlier in the month. Broke well, was taken in hand to stalk those splits, made an outside bid on the second turn and finished evenly in between foes. Stakes-placed last year, her speed should play well in this spot. POUNDING MUSIC looked good beating maidens in her first start of the year. Pulled hard leaving the gate, then settled nicely into the pocket under Yomar Ortiz. In behind horses in upper stretch, she angled sharply to the four path and ran down favored Hollywood Walk. Never off the board on turf and it appears the winter off did her a world of good. Big class drop for A REAL HERO as she’s offered for sale for the first time after facing two next-out winners in circuit debut (the sixth-finisher returned to win a $25,000 starter with a 78 Beyer). She has the tactical speed to find a good forward position. FOX FORCE FIVE won career debut over this course and rallies late if the pace is hot. Cibelli barn is 3 for the last 6 (50%, $5.06 ROI) with turf routers returning from layoffs of six months or greater. START WITH A BANG switches to turf as a halfsister to stakes-placed grass sprinter Expedited Vision. AMPLIO ESQUEMA, VINTAGE GIRL and NO VALLA should be considered if they scratch into the race.

FIFTH RACE

THE LAST SCIP gave the winner 11 lbs. when finishing a good second on grass last month and now adds blinkers for return to the main track. Chased fast fractions in the most recent dirt effort, made a three-wide bid and finished ahead of two next-out winners. Expecting a speed try from the inside post. BLISS THIS has never been off the board and gave a good try over this distance two back. Set reasonable fractions while pressed by an 11-1 shot (finished last), then gamely battled the winner. Finished ahead of two next-out winners when chasing quicker fractions at seven-eighths last time (the runner-up returned to finish second for $40,000 at Belmont with a 71 Beyer). Expect him to be closer to the pace. It’s understandable that ICANDOTHAT tried turf as he’s a half to stakes-winning grass router Epic Idea out of a four-time turf winner. Sire clicks at a 15% rate with dirt sprinters (13% industry average). Kentucky shipper generally do very well here and DRUM AND BASS was taken by Farrior (three off the claim winners since April 23) after chasing a pace-pressing winner over a speed-friendly Keeneland surface. The fifth-finisher from that race returned to run third for $20,000 at Churchill with a 57 Beyer. Runs on late. STEADY EDDIE returns from lengthy layoff at a reduced level after chasing odds-on runaway Ink (returned to run third in a $25,000 starter with a 70 Beyer). QUINCANNON is a half-brother to stakes-placed dirt sprinter Conjecture. Second dam was multiple stakes-placed over the circuit and won her debut sprinting at Saratoga.

SIXTH RACE

Although EPIC IDEA is best known for finishing first in two editions of the Maryland Million Ladies at nine furlongs, she’s also won several turf sprints. Received an excellent pace-tracking, ground-saving trip behind fast fractions when capturing the 2021 Ladies, and could certainly use pace help in first start following 208-day layoff. ELLANATION won the restricted Jameela here last year and is another returning from fall layoff for seasonal debut. Received a fast pace to attack last time and ran on for a minor award despite failing to change leads. That race produced two next-out winners (sixth-finisher Payntdemblues- away returned to take the Claiming Crown Distaff Dash with a 91 Beyer and is a recent stakeswinner at Tampa Bay). Trombetta sent out two winners following 200+ day layoffs since April 30. GOLDEN CAN might have felt the effects of a long campaign when tiring badly at 5-2 in final start of 2021. Scored off a 182-day layoff in 2020 and that allays fears she’ll be short of fitness following 221-days away. Looks like the main speed. MUCHA MEZQUINA has the advantage of two prior starts in 2022. Draw a line through the last race as she chased sizzling fractions going two turns against stakes foes. Better fit here from a class and distance standpoint. POLISHED GAL contends if able to escape the Also Eligible list.

SEVENTH RACE

CHARDONNAY was in just a bit too tough when facing 1-10 Luna Belle in the Weber City Miss. Set a solid pace before tiring in the stretch. Gets some class relief for barn that has won with 4 of the last 7 (57%, $3.14 ROI) over the Maryland circuit and figures forwardly-placed once again. BLUEBERRY INDYGO was ridden aggressively to make a clear lead on the backstretch, then dug in gamely to last the long stretch over sharp She Is Wisky (next-out second in first-level allowance with 76 Beyer). Disqualified and placed third in that race, she is improving with each start with the tactical speed to get close to the pace. Wouldn’t mind a wet track. CHARMING WAY, listed as a vet scratch on May 1, has never been off the board from four starts and was the one hampered by Blueberry Indygo when attempting to rally up the inside last month. Lots of upside potential and can save valuable ground from rail draw. CONTINENTALCONGRES gradu-ated against males over this distance two back, then was wired by favored Bazinga C in first start against winners. Think she’ll get a stronger pace to run at this time around.

EIGHTH RACE

It’s all about whether late-running MR. D’ANGELO gets the right race flow as he has virtually no speed. The winner of the Maryland Million Turf in 2019, he makes his first start following 306 days away from the races, but usually fires fresh. He received the setup he craves last time as they went a good clip and he rallied nicely for second despite being very late to change leads. That race didn’t come back immediately strong (six next-out runners, none hit the board, 72 top Beyer). Kicks on in the lane, but demand some value. AMENDED returns to best surface after dueling in vain with even-money winner Texas Basin in “off-turf” heat 12 days ago. Sat a good ground-saving trip in most recent turf start at Fair Grounds and finished just behind East Lex, a gelding that returned to win a $15,000 “three-life” there with a 76 Beyer. Trainer Lynn Cash sent out 28-1 dirt-to-turf winner Nathan Detroit here on April 29. After being sold for $50,000 at public auction last summer, GHOST-LIGHTER tried his hooves over the hurdles with varying degrees of success. Makes first start on the flat since chasing odds-on Richiesgotgame on Arlington polytrack on the Fourth of July (the third-finisher from that race returned to win two dirt starts with Beyers of 83 and 89, respectively). Trainer Jack Fisher is 3 for the last 5 (60%, 100% in the money) with flat-turf routers on the Maryland circuit. IMAGE MAKER makes turf debut as a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed turf router Mosalah. Expect good speed. FERMAT deserves respect if able to escape the Also Eligible list.