ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, PRINCESS LA QUINTA

FIRST RACE

HOLIDAY LAUGHTER disappointed as the favorite when last seen but she did close some ground late, and she should get a favorable set up in this opener; thinking she can make the last run here, albeit at a relatively short price. MISS HIGH TIDE has speed and an inside post, and she has done her best work going long, and over this strip; needs to avoid a race-long duel. CHIEF INCA hasn’t been close of late but perhaps she turns things around on the stretch-out to two turns and the move to an inside post after several wide trips.

SECOND RACE

WATEREE certainly benefited from the race flow when 2nd last time but that was a solid try nonetheless, especially considering it was her route debut; previous try, when well off the winner, wasn’t as bad as the line appears, as she showed some life from the back of the pack. BRIDGE OF SIGHS is the one to fear off that last effort, when she closed for 2nd in a race lacking pace; obviously capable, though a short price looms despite a proven ability to handle two turns on the dirt. JOKERS QUEEN also stretches out after running 2nd in a sprint in her latest; dangerous given a lively pace up front.

THIRD RACE

UNION BLOCKADE was up the track in his lone sprint try to date but a slow start from the rail cost him there; he had been working well toward his return, on the turf, and this drop in class and surface switch may be what he’s looking for, considering trainer Kate DeMasi’s stats. CLIFDEN comes of consecutive races where he was against the race flow, trying to close in races which were light on pace; looms the late danger once again. FUZZY IRISH RASCAL hasn’t run badly in two starts since switching to the main track; another who could prove a threat in the lane, likely at a nice price.

FOURTH RACE

THORNTON had a solid campaign over this course last year, and though he’s been away he seem to fit this race nicely as a closer, given the presence of several speeds in this field; may be able to make the last run if ready in his first start since Independence Day. MEMORY BANK is clearly a threat in his current form, though he certainly does like to run 2nd, and he’ll be a short price here; no doubt an exacta key but perhaps an underlay in the win pool. GAIN GROUND was a nose behind MEMORY BANK in their last meeting and he figures to be rolling again in the lane under Centeno.

FIFTH RACE

GLAMOROUS THUNDER was moving well through the lane in her local debut last time, and that was despite racing well off the pace in a sprint where the speeds held the edge, thanks to a lack of pace in the field (note bold “S” in DRF pp’s); may be able to make the last run with a better set-up. REIGNING GAL sports some nice works for this debut, and she fails from a barn which is exceptional with firsters; she’s the first starter from the dam, who won seven races, all sprints on the main track. THE WEEF has proven speed and will likely try to take them as far as she can on the front end.

SIXTH RACE

STORMY ENGAGEMENT ran a decent race for the show in his turf debut when last seen, and now he stretches out for the first time on the green; kin to House of Usher, who won 20 (!) routes, though only one was on the turf. MALIGATOR has some decent works for this debut run, and he’s kin to Prado’s Sweet Ride, a multiple stakes winner on

the grass who won seven races and earned over $378K; also related to With a Twist, who won 10 races on the turf. BETTER THAN NEVER is out of a dam who won four races on the lawn, including her own debut, and she was stakes placed on the surface; produced a grass winner in Whiskey N Gambling.

SEVENTH RACE

CUBE is out of an unraced dam who has produced four prior starters, and three of them were winners, with debut winner Our Amazing Rose (three victories, $104K in earnings) the best of the lot; breezes suggest this one has some early foot. JUSTAHOLIC ran a very big race in his career bow, dueling for the lead from the start and yielding only to the winner while clear for the place, and earning a strong figure; short price lone knock. NOMARGINFORERROR ran a decent race in his debut, weakening only late after making a premature bid for the lead; improvement likely.

EIGHTH RACE

PRINCESS LA QUINTA was facing stakes foes prior to the layoff, and while she wasn’t close at Keeneland in her most recent try she held her own in two prior attempts; she fit well vs. optional claimers at Arlington this summer and the Beyers she posted in those races make her a solid contender with the locals today. SKRADIN ships in from California with some representative figures of her own; new trainer Arnaud Delacour is of course tough with all types but his stats with new faces and with horses returning off this type of break make this mare a threat by default. VIVA VEGAS was a sharp winner against a step lesser over this course last time, and she showed a new dimension there by rating off the pace and making a late run; she’s a factor if she can run back to that one.

NINTH RACE

RING OF HEAT comes in from Woodbine and figures to be a threat here despite the short break, as he has some decent works showing and his Beyers put him squarely in the middle of this; main concern is his apparent inability to rate, as he may be forced to try to steal it, but he could well be fast enough to do just that. EL COJO PAA posted his lone career win on the green but he has run well enough in defeat in his recent dirt races to make him a top contender today; race-long duel cost him last time. LITTLE LEO is a stone closer reliant on pace but he should get at least some help from the frontrunners here.

TENTH RACE

THE RAGIN SEMINOLE was well off the board in his first start on the turf last time but he seemed to have some run late, though he wasn’t pushed hard once it was clear he was beaten; lots of upside off that experience, and he should be a very nice price. GO HIPPO GO could be the main speed in this finale, which may be a little light on pace; best turf Beyers put her on the short list of contenders. MAJESTIC VOYAGE took some money in his debut but a troubled trip cost him his best chance; expect him to move forward given a clean trip, though he will have to deal with the rail today.

SCRATCH BOARD

Here are the horses entered today who have been scratched in the last 45 days and have not raced since the scratch. Definitions: Off the turf: Turf race switched to main track. Trainer: Any scratch made by a trainer, including ones for weather, medical issues, a decision not to run in a stakes race, a horse entered back the next racing day, or a conditional entry (i.e., main track only for a turf race). Vet: Injury or illness. Steward: Administrative issues like medication and eligibility.