ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, JACKSON

FIRST RACE

GALLEON MAST had excuses while losing by a head in his last two and could get up in time with Lopez picking up the mount. He has also performed well over this surface which could give him an edge over ARCHER ROAD who edged him last time. ARCHER ROAD was coming off a two-month layoff when he beat the top pick and is eligible to move forward here. He’s versatile and might be a bit closer than he was in his latest. Speed should be provided by CLASS AND CASH and SWAGGER JAGGER who both have good records running over the surface. Either one is capable of winning what appears to be a competitive event to start the day.

SECOND RACE

QUIJOTE won this race last year and after a break he came back with two solid efforts including a blowout win Oct. 7. The versatile 5-year-old can stalk and with a sharp 3-furlong move on Nov. 5 he appears primed for another strong performance. FIELD TRIP is on a roll and the 94 Beyer he received for his third consecutive win is the best last-race figure in the field. He gets tested for class here but with rising Beyers he may not have reached his peak. KROY has plenty of class, but not sure if this is long enough for him. Lopez must think so as he bails on QUIJOTE to ride him.

THIRD RACE

SOUTHERN SIS was making her first start as a 4-year-old when she just missed to Hogans Holiday in a $35K optional claiming race and could take a second start back. Adding to her appeal is that Hogans Holiday won the $75K Cellars Shiraz last Saturday. Her tactical speed could give her an edge over WARRANTY who took a big step forward in her second start following a layoff and could be sitting on a peak performance here. THINKIN COWTOWN was very impressive coming from last to win her latest going away, and the 82 Beyer she received is easily the best last-race figure in the field. The Todd Pletcher-trained Picara is perfect on this surface, and though she will need to improve to contend for the top spot, that isn’t impossible for a 3-year-old filly this time of year.

FOURTH RACE

It is hard to go past MR. JORDAN who is perfect in four starts here, won this race by over 11 lengths last year, and is coming off a solid effort in the $150K Wildcat Heir Stakes across town. The classy 6-year-old is also reunited with Lopez who was aboard for his only graded win in the Grade 3 Pegasus at Monmouth. DELAND has improved greatly in his last two starts and he is probably the one to beat if it comes up sloppy. He also beat Mr. Jordan on a fast track two back, but that was at Gulfstream and Mr. Jordan is a different horse on this surface. NOBLE DRAMA got up in time to win the Wildcat Heir and has worked well in the interim. It is hard to say how he will handle running over this track for the first time, though.

FIFTH RACE

SELECT FRIDAY didn’t fire in her first route attempt in the $400K My Dear Girl, but that was a big effort in the $100K Desert Vixen two back and she will appreciate the move back to a sprint. She also may have tipped her hand when she worked a sharp half-mile on Nov. 3. STARSHIP NALA has improved since she finished behind the top pick in the Desert Vixen and she should be okay with the cutback in distance after finishing second in the My Dear Girl. BUSY SIGNAL got squeezed back to last coming out of the first turn and then finished full of run late when she was the runner-up in a

$75K optional claimer going around two turns in just her third start. She should be heard from late.

SIXTH RACE

JACKSON owns the best Beyer Speed Figure on dirt and Bulletin, the horse he finished second to in his first try on turf in the Hollywood Beach, came back to win the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. HIs bullet half-mile work on Oct. 18 tells us all we need to know about how he is coming up to the race. MADDY’S LAST DANCE goes for the hat trick and it is hard to believe he got up in time to win his latest. He looked like he was going nowhere on the backstretch, was still last turning for home late to split horses at the wire. He has speed to run at here. MAX K. O. was impressive winning his debut and could be dangerous if he can stalk what should be a fast pace.

SEVENTH RACE

BRUNETTE PRINCESS figures to move forward following a strong debut where she looked like the winner when she swept to the lead at the top of the stretch but hung late. Nice interim work Oct. 27 and Delgado has solid stats with second-time starters. WILDWOOD’S BEAUTY is by an excellent debut sire and has been working fast for a trainer who the past five years has an 18% strike rate with juveniles debuting in maiden special weight races. STRONGER KAT, the first foal out of a mare that won three races, finished well in the same race the top pick exits and may have tipped her hand when she worked a bullet 3 furlongs on Nov. 3

EIGHTH RACE

DECORATED ACE beat a decent field in the Sorority at Monmouth and fits better her after not being able to keep up to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner in the Grade 3 Ms. Grillo. JOLIE BAY, who owns the best Beyer, came close to winning on turf at Belmont and should be okay with the surface switch after taking them a long way running on Tapeta in the Grade 3 Mazarine at Woodbine. VOW TO RECOVER improved when she moved to turf for her second start and the way she finished the farther the better. She did receive a great ride by Lopez who stepped on the gas when the rail opened up at the top of the stretch. BOX OF GOLD could be dangerous making her first start for Gonzalez who has strong numbers with claimed horse running back the first time.

NINTH RACE

HEIRESSALL gets tested for class here but she has been impressive in her last three wins and the way she finished in her last two suggest she won’t have any trouble handling this longer sprint. SHANGHAI STARLET was a game winner of the washed off Panama City and won’t mind the move back to dirt after an even effort against open company in the $75K Miss Gracie. STARSHIP BONITA has yet to run a bad race and after having to wait for running room most of the way around the turn in the Panama City she mowed them down in the $100K Sheer Drama going this distance. She could win this with the right kind of trip and at the very least should be part of any exotics ticket.

TENTH RACE

LUCKY MIKE is one of many possibilities in a wideopen race. He got shut off leaving the starting gate when he debuted here Oct. 27, and after trailing the field he made a strong move while going wide around the stretch turn. He could take a big step forward with the experience behind him. STIRLING DRIVE finished third against open company in the $75K Armed Forces and had a rough trip when he came back in a $75K optional claimer Oct. 25. He could be dangerous from a stalking position. MEGA BUCKS is trending in the right direction and after saving ground the whole way he finished full nd of run to win the same race LUCKY MIKE exits. HE’LL DO improved dramatically when he moved to turf for his second start.

ELEVENTH RACE

FRANK ALONE has a solid set of works, attracts Lopez, and comes out of a barn that has strong numbers with first-time starters. His sire, 2 for 15 with first-time starting juveniles, won his debut and five stakes as a 2-year-old. MERCUSIO ran a big race over a wet track when he debuted at Delaware and should be right there if he can produce the same effort on what should be a fast track. COLD WARRIOR is by an excellent debut sire and all seven of his siblings are winners including 2-yearold stakes winner Brothersofthetime who also won his initial start. FOLLOWHISFOOTSTEPS is eligible to improve following an encouraging debut.