ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, BRADDOCK

FIRST RACE

Two weeks after an ordinary third in a similar lowlevel N2L claiming sprint, MR. HALE is back at it. This time, he is the one to beat. This small field came up short on pace, he figures for a cozy trip positioned second behind the speed. If and when the front-runner fades, MR. HALE would get first run. That assumes the pacesetter fades. That is front-runner MYSTICAL IMAGE, who drops in class after setting/chasing fast fractions his last two starts. This time, he figures to make the lead on his own, while switching riders to the streaking apprentice Evin Roman. The speed of the field, ‘IMAGE could be gone. LOOKS GOOD N A TUX raced wide and merely ran around the track to finish a disappointing fourth in the same race the top choice exits. Perhaps he will improve second time over the track. Emerald Downs invader BULLET EXPRESS will roll late.

SECOND RACE

The fourth-place sprint finish by SLIM FIT on opening day was better than it looks, and sets up the Tiznow filly as the one to beat stretching to a route with two sprints under her belt. In her first local start July 19, she raced greenly and was climbing, made a little move through the turn, and then went evenly in a good prep for longer. SLIM FIT was sired by Tiznow, produced by an allowance-caliber route mare, and should relish two turns. LIFE OF ILLUSION stretched out and ran the best race of her brief career last out, runner-up in a similar maiden route. Each start is better than the one before, she figures as a contender. She is one of only two starters in this field with a route race under her belt. DANUSKA’S MY GIRL is the other. She finished third behind ‘ILLUSION, while taken off the pace for the first. She is gradually learning the game. UNLUCKY HILLARY showed late run and actually finished in front of the top choice last out. She is improving, and might be ranked too low by this handicapper as she runs long for the first time.

THIRD RACE

WEST COAST BIAS is the default selection in a turf route for maiden fillies and mares that came up weak. ‘BIAS finished in the money all four starts in Maryland and Louisiana, missing by a neck last out at Laurel. The third-place finisher behind her returned to win last week at Presque Isle Downs, but was all-out to win by a nose. Just an okay race, nothing more. WEST COAST BIAS, runner-up three straight, meets an average field of local fillies and mares. She worked well since arriving in California, has tactical speed, but does not require the lead. The one to beat, but uncertain as a low-odds wagering proposition. MAG THE MIGHTY broke slowly in her sprint debut, and then split the field. She stretches out with only one short race under her belt, which is a challenge, but this field came up modest. CHO HAS ZIP looms the knockout. She stretches to a route for the first time, is likely to make the lead, and will take this field as far as she can. Eight-start maiden ONZAWAY and five-start maiden BEE SWEET will rally from behind.

FOURTH RACE

BRADDOCK is the most probable winner on the card, first start against winners and first since being claimed by Jerry Hollendorfer. The colt’s maiden-30 win last out was better than it looks. He dueled through a strong pace, shook off his first pace rival, got hooked again and headed in the lane, then re-rallied and inched clear. The runner-up returned to finish second in a statebred special-weight; fourth-place finisher Wilbon returned to crush a maiden-claiming route at Sacramento with a big number. The point is, BRADDOCK defeated a good field of maidens. He looks to be the speed of this claiming field, and can be long gone. BURN ME TWICE returns from a freshening of more than three months for a top stable. The gelding has enough tactical speed to be positioned second behind the top choice. If the leader fades, BURN ME TWICE would probably get first run. INFORMALITY returns to the claiming ranks, and makes his first start since he was gelded. He will be outrun early, and fly late.

FIFTH RACE

This maiden-32 sprint for 2yos is wide open. ISEE IT IN HISEYES showed speed and tired in his debut; second time out he might be the one to catch. Trainer Steve Miyadi posted two recent upsets with second-start 2yos ($21.40 Get Em

Scout, July 27 DMR; $21.80 Walk on Water, June 18, GG). BOLD DETERMINATION adds blinkers, drops one more class level and switches riders again. He actually faced good company his first two starts - special-weight rivals in his debut, and beaten favorite second time out in a race won in a romp by a colt that earned the then-highest figure of the year by a 2yo male (Texas Wedge, 86 Beyer).

UNOBTAINABLE was a well-bet disappointment in his debut, but is eligible to improve. MINISTERTOMYHEART is a Miyadi-trained second-time starter that broke slowly in his midpack debut. Easier foes this time, it appears.

SIXTH RACE

A turf sprint scramble for Cal-bred allowance fillies and mares could go a number of ways. MERRILY MERRILY finished a closing second last out in a fast race on dirt; her two starts on turf were okay. If she can take back off the pace, which she did last time, she can rally for the win. Maybe. READY TO HULA LULA might be the speed of the speed. She set/pressed a fast pace last time, and weakened in midstretch. That was her first start in more than five months, she can improve with a race. The challenge is that she faces a host of other speed. LA PREMIERE ETOILE has run races that put her in the hunt, but firing fresh following a long layoff would be something new. This is her first start of the season. WINEMEMOW will roll late; she does have a history of firing fresh. Only eight can run, but this race is wide open.

SEVENTH RACE

At age 6, having lost all six tries at the second allowance condition, KRISTO is being realistically placed in this $32K claiming route. The one-mile race is his start for a tag, he should get a good trip right behind the speed. KRISTI’S COPILOT misfired last time in a sprint, finishing fourth as the 2-1 second favorite. But that race has turned out to be live. The first-, third- and fifth-place finishers returned to win. ‘COPILOT was claimed off the effort, he stretches out to a distance (two turns) that he might prefer. JONNY’S CHOICE is a 9-for-44 veteran claimed last out by the top first-off-the-claim trainer Bill Spawr. Not sure if this veteran gelding might be reaching too high class-wise in this open claiming race, but you cannot secondguess Spawr. Expect an improved effort, and a realistic chance up front if he can somehow avoid a duel with fellow front-runner GENERAL IKE.

EIGHTH RACE

A difficult Cal-bred maiden turf route ends the card; first-time gelding THERMOPOLIS gets the nod. His best effort was his only try around two turns (third behind a pair of next-out winners two starts back). Stretching out, rider change, stab in a raffle. Six-start maiden INSUBORDINATION did not show his expected speed last time, but he did show some late run to finish a creditable fourth in his first route of the season. Expect him to be more forwardly placed. MAJESTIC JOURNEY was claimed off his comeback, he switches to turf and is eligible to improve. CAPTAIN CALL finished third in a Cal-bred maiden-50 two months ago. That makes him a contender.