ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, CAUGHT UP IN YOU FIRST RACE

LUNA AZTECA gets back on the main track, which seems to be her preferred surface, and this Gulfstream shipper has a Beyer edge on the locals; has speed but can also rate. FLASHY PATCH doesn’t win often but she may find the locals more her speed, as she ships down from Woodbine, first start off the claim, and she has tactical speed and the rail. BOBBY’S BDAY GIRL disappointed as the favorite when last seen despite having the race flow in her favor but she may appreciate today’s shorter distance.

SECOND RACE

BEARING SECRETS was against the race flow in several recent losses and she stands to improve today if she gets a better set up; makes her local debut off a long layoff but her best recent figure came when she returned from a break. R SHOWGIRL went down as a prohibitive favorite when last seen, at Gulfstream, but she clearly fits better with these based on her Beyers; another short price looms but she’s certainly capable. BALLIE’S DREAM adds blinkers in her first start off the bench; proven speed, and she meets a seemingly average field for the class level.

THIRD RACE

CALOGERO stretches back out and may fare better at this extended distance, as he was rallying some in that last sprint and he galloped out well past the wire; needs some pace help from the inside runners but he should get it. BIG MAROON is another who figures to benefit from more ground; he went two turns at Remington but was in against better, and he did well to rally last time in a race lacking speed. MYSUREWINWILLIAMS debuts with Lasix; first starter out of an unraced dam needn’t be much to be a threat first time out.

FOURTH RACE

SUNSET BEACH is out of a dam who posted her lone win on the main track but her only other runner to start, D Train, won on the turf, in his own grass debut; this gelding closed well enough in his debut and he looms a stretch threat here given a little help up front. PIONEER MAKER is another making his grass but the class drop should help, as does the fact that he has the tactical speed to get position from his outside post; pedigree on the dam’s side offers few clues as to his likely ability to turf but the sire stats are slightly above average when it comes to grass runners. OVERLORD is out of Gdansking Queen, who three races on the grass, and all three of her starters were multiple winners on the green; barn excels with this type.

FIFTH RACE

METALLIC caught the eye with a late run for the place here two back, an effort that was more visually impressive than it may seem; tried the turf last time, and though he was no threat the barn has positive stats with horses making this surface switch. ATTA BOY HENRY draws inside, which is a rarity for him, and he should be able to use his tactical speed to his best advantage; dangerous if he is in fact able to shake loose in the opening stages. DILETTANTE is another pace candidate, emerging from a shorter race at Indiana Grand; obvious fear if he’s able to run back to that last Beyer.

SIXTH RACE

HUNTERS DREAM hasn’t been out since the maiden score at Gulfstream back in August, when he beat BUNSTER, but he seems to land in a decent spot for his first start back, especially since he figures to be well spotted just off the speed from his inside post; may offer a little value for top-notch jock/trainer combination. ENGLISH LAUGHTER

ships in from Fair Grounds and is the one to beat on the strength of that most recent Beyer; should get more pace help here than he got in that last one, too. SHAFIRO dons blinkers for his first start since November; not a bad effort in his turf bow last time, and the Beyer puts him in the mix.

SEVENTH RACE

CAUGHT UP IN YOU was overmatched in the Sandpiper but she was showing late interest in the back of that field, suggesting that this class drop is just what she needed; decent works in the interim add to the appeal. AUREA AURA gets back on the main track after flashing speed and fading in a turf route, and this surface switch is a good angle for the barn; obviously can be expected to improve today. MUSIC AND LYRICS makes her first start for a tag; posted the best Beyer of her short career when last seen, and she lures Gallardo.

EIGHTH RACE

LEMON PRINCESS is easily forgiven for that subpar effort in her latest, as she simply proved there that she’s a turf horse; the solid close for the place is further evidence of that, and she can make the last run today given an honest tempo up front. TERRABYTE is the one to beat, another who showed in her latest that turf is her game; strong score two back at Belmont makes her easy to like, and her recent works suggest she’ll show more today than she did on the sloppy main track last time. INITIATE makes her seasonal debut for trainer Shug McGaughey; seems best when on the lead but she can also take back and make one run if necessary.

NINTH RACE

GLOBAL NATION was forced to stay close early on in a fairly paceless race last time, the fast early fraction notwithstanding; she seems better suited to taking back off the pace and making one run, and a reversion to those tactics could mean she takes a big step forward today. REGAL IMAGE stretches out and switches to dirt for trainer Mike Stidham, a pair of solid angles for the barn; certainly a threat on that basis alone but she’s also a half to Tizaqueena, a Grade 2 stakes winner on the grass. HARDEST PART faded on the synthetic main track at Turfway last time but she was game in defeat on the green two back.

TENTH RACE

SEVENTYSEVENWILOW should work out a forward trip today and that could be an edge if the pace is controlled, which seems likely given the relative lack of pace in this field; thought he ran deceptively well in that last one, when he made a mid-race, premature bid for the lead. THE SON WIND has the speed to stay relatively close, and that could give him an edge on the stone closers. DANCIN IN THE HEAT was against the race flow in that last one, when he settled for the place as the favorite, but he can rebound with a forward trip today; decent works in the interim.