ANALYSIS

FIRST RACE

MONEYBROOK has speed from the rail and her two races since returning from a layoff have both been good enough to make her a contender here, the first when getting out-finished up the inside on a day when the rail was strong, and then last time when giving game chase while four-wide before weakening late; can be tough if she makes the lead this time. IF YOU BELIEVE has a nice draw on the outside and she figures to appreciate this turn back in distance after routing in her first two starts off the claim; has the speed to keep forward, but will have to find a way to get back to her California form to contend. Like the top one, MISS SWISHER was stuck wide throughout that 2/26 run at this level, and she raced on gamely all the way to the end to land a piece; should be running late. OUR WHIM has faced better along the way, and she figures to be a threat if she is ready off for her first start since last April; broke her maiden off a shorter layoff.

SECOND RACE

AFLEET MARTINI turns back after failing to stretch out off the claim, and does so for trainer who is strong route-to-sprint on dirt; overall form sprinting on fast dirt is solid for this level, though there are drop downs looming to his outside. Hard to have a lot of confidence in VICTORY IS SWEET as one time stakes-quality sprinter plunges in class after enduring a pair of long layoffs since he last ran a competitive race, but he will hammer this field if he can still run. BUCKWELLSPENT raced himself into good form for his prior trainer before posting back to back wins, and his two races for this barn, which has done nothing but win races here all winter, have come vs. better horses (save the class droppers he will have to deal with here). METAL MAGIC the other drop down in the field, though he does not have the talent of a horse like VICTORY IS SWEET, and he is returning from an extended layoff here.

THIRD RACE

COOKIE CRISP stretching out right off sprint debut that he appeared to need when off last from the gate, and then looking green all the way before racing on some late; may have timed it right vs. field of more experienced runners who have failed to reach the Beyer par for this kind of race after 29 combined starts. CUMBERLAND RIVER probably should have won three starts back at GP when bothered by the eventual winner, and I suppose that he can have the wet track excuse for non-effort in his return to NY on 12/29; had a good trip overall and did his best behind a blowout winner last time. THIRTYSEVENLIVESON stayed toward the rail all the way and went evenly behind CUMBERLAND RIVER last time, but that was his first start off a long layoff; can do better with that one behind him.

FOURTH RACE

NIGHT MADAM has run her best figures on turf, but has posted all three career wins on the main track, and she is at her best with some distance underneath her, which she will get here after trying to sprint vs. a better field last time; has tactical speed from the inside in race where trips may be paramount. ENIGMA shipping in off win vs. cheap restricted claimers at Laurel, but her race over the inner two back was okay over a muddy track that was favoring speed, and she is three for three routing on fast dirt in her career. LOYAL HEART drops down in class after stepping up into too tough of a spot here 12 days ago; good fit at this level, and her run for 3rd four starts back after missing the break would give her a look here.

FIFTH RACE

NORTH END got bet for debut last month, where she came with a good late run into 2nd behind a sharp winner who held an edge in experience on her; stretches right out with Lasix on for trainer who has had success with this move (past five years, maiden, second start, sprint to route: 30 for 94, 32%, $2.22 ROI, 6 for 17 on the inner). DECORATOR JENN the one to beat off 72 Beyer effort in her route debut last time, where she just failed to see out the trip after holding a lead all

the way down to the stripes; good post on the inside. SCARLETT JO HANSEN got bumped at the start and was outrun in strong race on debut, but she managed to make a run through the stretch in effort that she can easily build upon; well-bred filly can show more speed here if able to get away from the gate cleanly.

SIXTH RACE

WAR CANOE rolled from last to first to win at first asking over this course and distance, then made her second start in a much tougher spot and raced on late in that spot after a troubled start; looks tough on the drop vs. this kind of field. APHRODITE’S QUEST won her dirt debut with a late run over a weak field at Hawthorne in a race scheduled for grass, but still found it interesting that she was purchased by these connections out of that race; first start for her new owners didn’t look so good over at Parx, but she can have one more chance. ICE PALACE has the races in her past to be hard on a field like this one, but her recent form leaves something to be desired, especially the last two where she never looked like winning as the favorite; maybe today’s the day.

SEVENTH RACE

May not be a great sign that MASTIC was laid up off the claim, but think her recent form is dirtied up by circumstance (wet tracks, better horses, on a dead rail three back); has won each of her last two starts on fast dirt vs. claiming company, and she can get the right trip from this post if she is ready off the short layoff. SWEETRAYOFSUNSHINE has faced tougher right along, and come up with a couple of wins, since claimed by Rudy last September; tough with one of her good ones as she drops back down, especially if she gets a wet track. SPUN COPPER got into good form vs. weaker claiming company off the claim, but she came up with another solid effort last time when just out-closed at the end by longshot MISS AMALITA after contesting the pace with favored Julie D all the way; may not be able to make the lead this time, but she has won from off the pace before, and is well posted on the outside.

EIGHTH RACE

Last time might have been the time to try BURN CONTROL, as she was a price while finally turning back to sprint after a series of routes, including a Grade 3 try, and she ran a winning race that day to get the better of next out winner Ultimate Holiday (89 Beyer), only to be closed down late by favored Indulgent; still looks tough if she can run as well in this spot, and she should be forwardly placed in a race is projected to favor runners on or near the lead. SUMMER HOUSE used her speed on the drop, and received a clever ride to stay wide over a track featuring a dead rail, to prove much the best in her first start back from a long layoff; got outrun to the lead when bumped up to this level last time, and was no match for the aforementioned Ultimate Holiday, but there is no one with that kind of speed in this field. DA WILDCAT GIRL up against it from a pace perspective, but she runs every time, and if a good horse to include somewhere, especially when you can get her at a square price.

NINTH RACE

Tough post for MAJESTIC MAC, but hard to argue with this spot for her as she drops down for the first time while adding Lasix and blinkers; effort anything like her debut, which wasn’t bad after a green beginning, would likely be enough. GRANDE BESO landed in a race that featured a fast pace for 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 track: One mile, oval Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,174.9 feet Turf course: Seven Furlongs, 43 feet, oval

TAKEOUT INFORMATION ■ Win, place, and show: 16% ■ Daily Double, Quinella, and Exacta wagering: 18.5% ■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Grand Slam, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 6 wagering (carryover pools): 24% ■ Pick 5 wagering: 15% ■ Pick 6 wagering (non-carryover pools): 15% the level on debut, and then tried way too tough of a spot second time out; was behind a few of these last time, but she was also stuck wide every step of the way, and she can turn the tables this time as she moves to the inside post. PREZIOSA has the advantage of not being one of the four exiting that 2/24 heat, and the 41 Beyer she earned most recently is the top last out number in the field.

BEST BET: RACE 7, MASTIC