ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 11, SPANISH DUDE

FIRST RACE

LEDECKY gets a slight edge in the opener, having been a consistent performer on the turf and coming off a useful maiden win. DURVEN is another regular check getter, though she has been falling just short of victory since moving into the N2L ranks. CLASSIC ACT, equipped with blinkers for the first time last out, might have been a bit overeager on the lead in that race before fading to second; well drawn on the inside and has the potential to improve if able to settle a bit more this time around.

SECOND RACE

KITTIAN HILL, second in all three starts, regressed Beyerwise in her latest to a 26, though over a sloppy track. Two fast-track races earned figures int he40s. DREAMING OF MERMAIDS is an improvement candidate, making her second start after a debut fourth; better pedigree than most, being by Flat Out. MISS CINDY LOU WHO, in contrast, is by a relative unknown sire in Gary D. A first timer, this filly has worked swiftly toward her unveiling.

THIRD RACE

LOVING VALENTINA gets blinkers back on after a one-race experiment without them - which resulted in a non-threatening third against similar $6,250 claimers. Although winless over her last nine starts, this filly still has an above-average 8-for-37 career mark. Meanwhile, BEAUTYOFADAY enters this race off a victory - though in the conditioned claiming ranks. This open $6,250 race therefore is a more demanding spot. LEXI’S DOLL has taken nearly two months to return to the races after being claimed when fourth on May 26. With just one slow published work showing on her worktab, she seems unlikely to produce her ‘A’ race.

FOURTH RACE

8-1 shot DRINKS ON MAGGIE goes second off the claim for winning connections and might have upside moving from turf to the main track, a 32% statistical angle for the barn. LIGHT SHOW debuted with a third against a bit cheaper maiden claimers after a slow start; capable of improving with a sharper break. Morning-line favorite PRETTY SHEA D is a speedy class dropper but has a history of retreating in the lane and has a 10-pound bug rider up.

FIFTH RACE

Six or seven of the eight in here seem to have a legitimate chance of winning ... therefore going with a price-based selection with JR‘ S HOLIDAY; not enthused about him being winless in 20172018 and just 3 for 24 overall, but he ran respectably to be third in his latest and maybe can elevate his game with blinkers coming off. TIPSY KITTEN was freshened after failing to contend with a troubled trip in an allowance Apr. 29; turned in a trio of fine efforts over this course over the winter here - races that jump out and will likely cause him to go off favored. GIVE TO U. K. CATS just missed against similar when second June 14, though after being able to race freely on the lead; forced to deal with more speed this time around.

SIXTH RACE

BLUEGRASS ENVY hit the brakes in his latest to lose by over 20 lengths, but this horse is an erratic sort that is just as capable of bouncing back with a competitive effort; giving this speedster the benefit of the doubt with a winning trainer/jockey

combo in his corner. DIAMOND SQUARE regularly contends and owns good numbers, but seems to settle for pieces at an all-too-frequent rate (22-27-3 record). LUMINARY FLIGHT has a win, a fifth, and a second in three starts since being claimed in March; just not that fast - no Beyers above a 58 over his last 11 starts.

SEVENTH RACE

TROPICAL COGNAC has a fourth and a third in a pair of starts in turf maiden claimers, and is now cut in half from maiden $40,000 to maiden $20,000; just a narrow edge, however, due to the threat of being hung wide from post 10. BIG CLUE drew even wider outside, post 11, though has more speed and might be able to grab position and tuck in; adds blinkers after falling farther off the pace than usual when third June 6. COOL MOVER ran better than anticipated when third in a six-furlong dirt race June 24 - not bad for a late-running horse that is bred more to go a route on turf.

EIGHTH RACE

ALWAYS VENEZUELA is a first timer that looks spotted for success at the maiden $16,000 level. She is debuted by a winning stable and though her last couple breezes have been a little slow, earlier works in June were quick. BARGAINAIRE ran fifth of 10 at the maiden $25,000 level first out, and logically figures to run even better against cheaper and with the benefit of a start. VALLEY GIRL, like BARGAINAIRE, is trained by Ralph Nicks - though they are uncoupled. Works, on paper at least, are difficult to decipher, though Nicks typically gets them ready first out.

NINTH RACE

8-1 outsider PURE ONE has gone unplaced in a pair of allowances, but appears to have potential and perhaps can respond with an improved race after a month and a half off and a 48 and change half-mile breeze July 15. WILD CHATTER narrowly won a conditioned claimer May 10, her sixth victory from 20 starts on grass. The majority of those wins came in claimers but one was in an allowance such as this one last summer. ONE DIRECTION SONG is a dangerous speed horse that has been first or second in three straight races, including an offthe-turf race June 23, even though her preferred surface is dirt.

TENTH RACE

DELAND, a value-priced alternative to likely favorite CONQUEST BIG E, comes off his best race to date in the mainland - a close runner-up finish over this strip in an allowance - and he also won 10 races in Puerto Rico earlier in this career. Clearly CONQUEST BIG E is the one to beat. During the spring meet he won a Grade 2 at this mile distance, but not having raced since a fifth in the Westchester at Belmont May 5, there is a chance he might not be cranked for his return. MR. JORDAN lacked the speed to keep up in the six-furlong Smile and ran eighth after a slow start; better suited to a longer race such as this mile one.

ELEVENTH RACE

SPANISH DUDE seems a standout in the nightcap, coming off a close third in just his second start and being favorably drawn in post two. This is also a suspect field for the level in which some of his principal foes are inexperienced. MONEY PLAYER is a first timer that finds the right kind of spot in which to debut; steady, encouraging works at Palm Meadows, including some on the lawn. STARSHIP SPARTICUS, another debuting runner, also has worked promisingly for a maiden claimer, doing so over the Gulfstream main track.