ANALYSIS

FIRST RACE

CROWD FUNDING’s best recent form, or at least his fastest races, have come over turf, but he has posted both of his career wins over the main track, and he ran a couple of figures sprinting early on that suggest that he can handle a field like this one; positional speed a positive for him in race that isn’t exactly lacking for pace. BUCKWELL SPENT turning back out of tired try contesting the pace around two-turns; much better sprinting, and he was caught up in a fast pace that collapsed when out-finished by closing stablemate PLAY THATFUNNY MUSIC two back. PLAY THAT FUNNY MUSIC took advantage to get up for 2 nd in that last one, but he fits this race fine, as well, and he has been in improved form for trainer who made all the right moves on the inner. TOO WILD TO REPENT goes off the Rudy claim with back form, but he never seemed to recover after falling past the wire following second consecutive win last summer, and his two most recent races are uninspiring.

SECOND RACE

SPOTTY ZEALOUS dropping way down with speed after getting dusted by Bobby on Fleek, among others, off the maiden win; has the figures and the pace in this spot. SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN still isn’t all that fast, but last was his best yet as far as speed figures go, and he was strong winning two starts back once bulling his way clear at the top of the stretch. NATIVE GEORGE must find a way to get back to his 2015 form to contend; only got in four starts off the claim last year - none of them any good - and he had nothing late after a little trouble early on last time.

THIRD RACE

Will take GOVERNOR MALIBU off the layoff, mostly due to lack of other appealing options from a wagering perspective; we’ll see if he needs one off the bench, but he was better than these horses last year, and can be expected to improve as a 4yo for good layoff trainer (Clement in one-turn miles on dirt off this kind of layoff (120-to-180 days): 4-for-9, three 2nds, positive ROI). ADULATOR was frequently unlucky while going 2-for-9 as a 3yo, but he ran well in several of those races, and the one-turn mile suits; did no running at all off the layoff, but did make a successful ship up from GP to break his maiden last year. BACK SIDE OF THE MOON a little underrated, and he can do better than that last one where he was one of the few not to last from an up-close position; threat, especially if GOVERNOR MALIBU needs a race.

FOURTH RACE

SARATOGA SIGHT best as a one-run closer, which is a concern, but maybe he gets enough pace with (apparently) overmatched STORM THE SHORE likely to be cutting the pace, and liked his late run last time, even after drifting in and bumping a rival hard late, in a race that wasn’t coming back to him. BIG AL PARKER was good, and even better than it looks considering the poor start, off the layoff, and he was dead game despite just getting outfinished when dropped back to a more appropriate level last time; no argument with him as the favorite. GENERAL BELLAMY has back races to contend, and he can pull a trip in this race that would go a long way toward helping his chances, but he isn’t very good overall and would rather have SARATOGA SIGHT at the morning line odds.

FIFTH RACE

KELSOCAIT tries tough spot in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap, but she has run some good races sprinting, including that last one when just outfinished by a good horse in Kalabaka after being put on a hard chase at Parx; can be the speed of this race, which may be enough of an advantage to pull an upset. HIGHWAY STAR benefits from this turn back in distance after chasing wide over a strong inside track in the Ladies around two-turns; good effort along with a clever ride getting forward on a slow-to-develop pace to win graded Go for Wand two starts back. CARRUMBA the best horse in the field by a clear margin, but she is just starting back after a long layoff, and doing so over