ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, WEATHER GIRL

FIRST RACE

MT. KATAHDIN has been posting steady Beyers since returning from the layoff, including after he graduated from the maiden ranks three back; big threat if he’s able to run to those figures. LORD ANTHONY benefited from a forward trip in a paceless race to top maiden in his latest but a similar scenario could well unfold here; picks up Gallardo. D. SHIFFLETT stretches out and should be a factor from the start, which could be a plus if the pace is in fact controlled.

SECOND RACE

IN R DEFENCE could be the main speed, as this sprint is light on pace and he has some early zip; presence of the always-aggressive Chuck Lopez adds credence to the theory that he’ll be the one they have to catch. MORE THAN SHIRL makes his first start off the claim, and his Beyers make him the one to beat; has enough early zip to stay close, and that makes him all the more dangerous given the expected race flow. WHOLE showed more speed in his latest, and a similar trip would go a long way today if the pace is controlled.

THIRD RACE

FLAMINGO CHICK turned in a decent breeze in that most recent work and the sire clicks at a good 15% with his firsters; pedigree otherwise offers few clues, with the dam and her lone starter a combined 0-for-13, but this is a seemingly subpar group. KAU was a solid 2nd four back, and though she failed to run to that race in two subsequent starts she was in against better; of course, her latest has to be overlooked... CANDY BLU has speed and an inside post; Gulfstream shipper lands in a soft spot and looms the filly to beat at a relatively short price.

FOURTH RACE

SLEIGHBELLE is kin to a pair of winners and she sports a couple of decent works for her first start; worth a shot in a race where the favorites could have some holes. TRAP GIRL is another intrigu- ing firster who figures to offer some value; first starter from the dam, who won three races, two of them dirt sprints. PRIMA GOLD drops in price for her third start off the short rest; removes the blinkers and cuts back to an abbreviate sprint. LA CHICA RIPOOL is down in class off the layoff; easy to like at this level, though it also can be viewed as a suspicious drop.

FIFTH RACE

KITTEN A GETTIN has lost of three starts but he had pace excuses in both of those defeats, including his latest, when he was beaten by two of these same runners by just a little over a length; that was a solid effort given the fact that speeds held the edge in that paceless race, as he was moving well late. SILENT CITIZEN comes out of the same race, and he was also a victim of the pace scenario; using him in equal strength with the top pick, though he will be a shorter price. MEILLEUR took full advantage of an otherwise paceless field to score in that last one, and he’s once again the one to catch.

SIXTH RACE

ROCHESTER has been working well toward his return from the layoff, and he ran well last year when he came back from a break that was similar in length; tactical speed should mean he works out a trip regardless of how the race sets up. GLENFIDDICH SMOOTH usually turfs but he makes his first start off a short rest in a dirt race, and he lands in a seemingly average spot; should be prominent from the start with a clean getaway. OVERCAME has been in search of that elusive 2nd win for some time but he’s the one to beat on the strength of his figures.

SEVENTH RACE

WEATHER GIRL makes her first start off the claim for a barn which wins at a high rate, and she seems

to fit the race flow nicely, as the presence of several speed should set things up for the closers; she seems best of that group, and she can make the last run back on her preferred surface. MUSIC

BABE is the main threat, as she’s another who figures to benefit from the expected pace scenario; up in class for this but she could be good enough given the right set up. TEARLESS will be with the pace from the start but she could be a late threat if she can take back off the pace and make one run.

EIGHTH RACE

PIKI PIKI GIRL finally gets back to 5 1/2 furlongs and this does seem to be her best distance, as she has run her best races in abbreviated sprints; may be able to run down pacesetter CATALODGE, who stopped on a loose lead in her latest. The latter is the one to catch and beat; she held the place after easily establishing the lead last time in an otherwise paceless race but she can certainly steal this with another step forward. MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME gets back on the dirt and this is her preferred surface; can pick up a late share.

NINTH RACE

ATHENA’S REVENGE stretches out from a sprint back to a turf route and she could be the main speed in this finale, which is a little light on speed; big threat if in fact able to get clear without much pressure. LOS ARCOS rallied for the place in her latest after she was against the race flow in her prior two tries; quick enough to stay closer to the pace than she did in her most recent. DR. LLENADO has a solid late kick, and she didn’t run badly at all in her first two tries on the green, in her last two starts.