ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, DANCING W TH DA FF OD LS

FIRST RACE

SHE’S COOKIN faced a much better field in her career debut, and she was outfinished late after contesting the pace from between horses on dirt two starts back; back to the main track, this time with blinkers on, and the pace scenario may not be as tough in this race. FOREVER RISING battled outside of SHE’S COOKIN in that 11/16 race before settling for second best, and she was left behind as the favorite at this level last time; tries again at another short price. JACQUELINE D managed to grind out 2nd in a race that was falling apart late in her most recent dirt start; 59 Beyer she earned for that effort makes her tough here.

SECOND RACE

GEHRIG had the back form to do well on the switch back to dirt most recently, and he did well there to close into 2nd once working his way out from behind horses in a race that did not feature a big pace. SIDE TRACKS drops after getting in too tough in that last one when chasing the streaking My Boy Tate; game effort to prevail two back, and his career debut was an underrated effort with a trip. MISSLE BOMB didn’t break his maiden until his final start as a 4yo, but that was an improved effort off the claim for an excellent trainer; logically spotted.

THIRD RACE

ZEALOUS SCHOLAR is a fast horse getting back to a better distance after squandering a stretch lead going 6.5 furlongs in that last one; underrated filly should be sending from the outside. LADY BERGEN has used her speed to win back to back races on dirt, most recently while hanging up a new top figure on a class rise; horse to beat, but she faces a more difficult pace scenario here. VICKI’S DANCER is a bit better as a turf sprinter, but she has some dirt races in her past that would make her tough here, and she can race without the early lead.

FOURTH RACE

DANCINGWTHDAFFODLS raced wide after getting outrun early in her career debut, but she was staying on through the stretch to make some ground, and then continued on gamely past the wire; Rice excels with second-time starters. CARD DOLL didn’t do much running in her turf debut, but she adds Lasix for her second career start and all the prior foals from this dam were dirt horses. SIMONA enters with the top two last out Beyers in the field after running into repeat winners in both of those races; showed speed over this distance last time.

FIFTH RACE

ALTAR BOY good on either turf or dirt, but have always preferred him on this surface, and getting back to this shorter trip is okay for him; expect him to hold for Rudy, who excels off the claim with dirt routers. RAAGHEB dropping after trying a pair of tough spots in first two NY starts, most recently over a sloppy track; game win at this level prior to shipping in where he was part of a competitive pace. J S BACH came up short behind a couple of these last time, but trips had at least something to do with that result; tough if getting back to his best races as he goes off the claim here for sharp connections.

SIXTH RACE

CHEYENNE BULL has acquitted himself pretty well on turf recently, but he may be better on dirt, where both of his wins to date have come; class relief switching over. STARSHIP ZEUS has an unenviable overall record, but he consistently runs figures that make him tough here, and this is the right class drop. VILMA off the layoff, but he has speed and races that make him a contender here; last seen getting dueled into defeat on a fast pace.

SEVENTH RACE

BACKYARD HEAVEN got off to a late start, but he has looked good in both starts for Chad and appears to have some potential for better; takes next logical step vs. field that has already had their chances. HAMMERIN AAMER was away awkwardly last time, with his rider briefly coming out of the irons, but he recovered to put in a strong run to contention around the turn before settling

for second best; in good form right now and likes these one-turn routes. CARIBBEAN’s lone dirt start to date came over a sloppy track going longer at Saratoga, but he was much the best in that race, and has since improved; good effort last time while trying to close ground over a turf course that was favoring speed.

EIGHTH RACE

CAN’T WE ALL GET ALONG didn’t look like a horse who appreciated turf in either of his two most recent starts; faced much better horses in his two dirt starts to date. TRINNI JUICE earned top figure in this field for runner-up effort behind a sharp winner last time; drops back down. PEQUENO GRANDE was okay on turf to start his career, and it’s understandable that he started there considering his pedigree, but he is bred well for dirt, also, and this class drop helps.