ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, QUIK WAY ROAD

FIRST RACE

FAZZLE DAZZLE made a rare dirt start last out and finished a credible fourth in what was her first start since December. She would seem to have reason to move forward in her second race back. SPERLING exits same race as top choice, a race that came against higher-priced rivals. ELLIE GIRL could be sitting on a peak race in her third start since October. Another of interest is ABBY IN PINK.

SECOND RACE

LOYALIST cleared his N2L condition two starts ago and last out represented himself well against more experienced rivals. He has tactical speed, moves to the distance of his last win, and has seen higher-priced rivals. MAIZE ROAD will add blinkers, which is a high percentage move for Morse. CAPTAIN PAYBACK cuts back to one turn and as such looking for him to make his case through the lane.

THIRD RACE

SHARM split the field last time when closing from next to last and he was cutting back from two turns for the start. He could be sharper here in his second straight sprint start, and he also could be closer to the pace for the move to this level. FOREST MIST hooked a stakes winner last out in City Sage. The race went faster than par and suspect this one could get a nice tracking trip off FIRST THOUGHT and TEE TEE. SLEEPWALKER has seen steeper in Southern California.

FOURTH RACE

WARNING SIGN was an odds-on favorite against steeper last time and was just edged to earn what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. FIRST OFFER draws a post that might give Santana options. TANZANITE exits same race as top choice, finishing third in what was his first start in about two months. He would seem to have reason to move forward.

FIFTH RACE

CASTLETOWN appears to have more natural speed than most of these, and as such has a chance to control the pace in this spot. He also has been plying his trade against steeper rivals. ONLY LIQUOR returns to the claiming ranks after facing starter foes. He owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. MONTEZUMA EXPRESS has been a popular claim, and that makes him appealing. So does the fact that he’s a nine-time winner.

SIXTH RACE

SNICKERBOXER makes a notable class move, after splitting a field of steeper rivals last out at Oaklawn. He also draws a useful post and boasts a 3-for-4 record over the local strip as one of the meet’s winningest horses. NELSON’S EL CAMINO brings good speed to the table, and is something of a fresh horse as this marks his first start since the middle of February. BAD STUDENT has a useful stalking style and owns one of the field’s best lastrace Beyer Speed Figures. He’s also appealing as a 14-time winner, his latest score at this trip last month at Oaklawn.

SEVENTH RACE

VANDELAY cuts back to one turn after showing speed around two, and that can be an effective move with a horse. MO’S MOJO is another going route to sprint and he owns the field’s best lastrace Beyer Speed Figure. LIKEITLIKETHAT has been sprinting and as such could have a tactical advantage on his turnbacking rivals.

EIGHTH RACE

PAGEANT MATERIAL is out to turn the tables on SMELLY CAT and like that this one is moving back

to the distance of his closest finish at the meet.

IMPASSE draws a useful post and might be tough to contain with a repeat of her effort from Feb. 2.

RIBBON OF DARKNESS is an 11-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals. She moves back to a mile and a sixteenth for the first time in a while and she was a winner at the trip last May.

NINTH RACE

QUIK WAY ROAD makes the meaningful move to the maiden claiming ranks for the first time. He has natural speed, and is a threat to wire the field. BAY’S COMMANDER can be closer to the pace than he found himself last out in the Rainbow Stakes for 3-year-olds. He’s back in the maiden ranks, but is facing older rivals. HOT BLOODED SONG has an age edge on top two as he is 4.