ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, SUB FACTUM

FIRST RACE

Gunnevera makes his return Friday in the fourth race, a high-end optional claiming route that also drew multiple Group 1 winner Leitone. In the opener, siding with MARQUEE MOON off a thirdplace finish against similar. The start was his first against winners and he earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. FUZZY IRISH RASCAL might benefit if his race stays on the green, site of his best Beyers. He has reason to move forward here, in his second start since April. CRIMSON SPADE brings excellent speed to the table.

SECOND RACE

TO DARE closed from farther back than usual last out when second in a race that has become a key one. The third-place finisher came back in his next start to account for a $6,250 claimer at GP with a Beyer of 78, and the sixth-place finisher, King Power, another Gulfstream race at the same level, also with a Beyer of 78. JOSHUA’S COMPRISE has back class appeal as a runner who has placed in seven stakes. MOTOWN MAN picks up a bit more real estate in a move that would seem to suit runner whose last win came at this mile trip at GP.

THIRD RACE

TIME WILL TELL showed good speed last out in his first start in about two months and he would seem to have reason to move forward for the race. He broke from the rail that afternoon and for this trip draws a post that might give Gaffalione options. CATANA’S EDGE faced winners for the first time last out and had a less-than-ideal trip. He can make an impact with a repeat of the Beyer Figure of 75 he earned in his debut two back at Gulfstream. LOVINGRDSIMMAR should be sharp for the six panels after racing with the pace at five and a half.

FOURTH RACE

The return of Breeders’ Cup Classic candidate GUNNEVERA highlights the Friday program. He is coming back from a hoof injury sustained in the Dubai World Cup in March and indicated his readi- ness to return to action last week, with a bullet five-eighths move in 1:00. GUNNEVERA is a multiple stakes winner over the local trip, with both of those wins coming at this mile and a sixteenth distance. He is appealing for his class as a multiple Grade 2 winner of $2.9M, and the fact that he’s been effective following layoffs in the past. A concern is whether he will get the right setup to fuel his late run, although he is a fresh horse with a recent bullet work and there’s a chance ASTERISK could have company on the front end in the form of another fresh horse in LEITONE. ASTERISK has a chance to steal away, using the same wire-to-wire tactics that accounted for a five-length win over first-level allowance foes in his last start June 17 at Gulfstream. He’s a full brother to Dialed In, a past winner of the Florida Derby and the sire of GUNNEVERA. LEITONE won Group 1 races on dirt and turf in his native Chile and for his first start in the U.S. will be first Lasix. He tracked the pace and took the lead on the second turn when winning the El Derby in his last start Feb. 4 and earlier in his career won a Group 1 on the lead, when setting fractions of 23.20 seconds, 46.41 and 1:10.54 en route to winning the about mile race in 1:34.71, according to a video broadcast of the event on YouTube. UNBRIDLED HOLIDAY is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Elusive Lady ($358K) and MILLIONAIRE RUNNER is back on dirt, site of his last win on form.

FIFTH RACE

SUB FACTUM has speed - which should serve him well at this five and a half furlong trip - and he also has recency on some of his chief rivals in this spot. DON FAGER makes the meaningful move to the maiden claiming ranks after facing maiden

allowance foes last out at Gulfstream. CALYPSO

DEEP exits a key race. The winner came back in his next start to account for a $12.5K conditioned claimer at GP with a Beyer of 74 and the runner-up, a $12.5K maiden claimer at GP, with a Beyer of 57.

SIXTH RACE

FLYING QUEEN is appealing for her consistent nature and competitive series of Beyer Figures. PAINTED ON JEANS could be sitting on a peak race here, in her third out since January. PERFECT STATE exits a quick race and is something of a fresh face as this marks her first out since May.

SEVENTH RACE

YAKUT draws a post that might give Gaffalione options one start after showing speed from the rail at this sometimes-demanding trip of six and a half furlongs. DR. COTTON JEN is a winner at this distance and exits a key race. The runner-up came back to account for a $10K claimer at GP with a Beyer of 60 and the fifth-place finisher, Helen Virginia, a $6,250 claimer at GP, with a Beyer of 62. LIZA STAR is making her first start since January and she’s won off the bench in the past.

EIGHTH RACE

FIRST SPRING gets his first shot with statebreds with the move to Florida. He’s shown some versatility in his races, and was a big winner two back when accounting for a maiden allowance at Churchill with a Beyer Figure of 83. FAMOUS FACT is appealing as a three-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals. He’s back in the statebred ranks after lining up with starter foes at Gulfstream. TWO STEP TIME exits a key race. The runner-up came back in his next start to account for a $30K claimer at Gulfstream with a Beyer of 88 and the sixth-place finisher, Beneficiary, an optional $16K claimer at GP, with a Beyer of 81.

NINTH RACE

FIELD TRIP gives up recency to these as he has not raced since December, but tough to get past the bullet half-mile in 46.60 seconds in his final prep Aug. 1. He’s also run well fresh in the past and goes for barn hitting on all cylinders this meet at Gulfstream. GRAN TOGOSHI has been in the zone this summer and like DARWISH has recency on top choice. Another of interest is ROYALTY SALVATORE.

TENTH RACE

GORBACHOV ran a credible fourth in his debut last out and the race came against higher-priced foes. For the effort he earned what ranks as this field’s