Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
ANALYSIS
BEST BET: RACE 8, DON’T BAGGAGECHECK FIRST RACE
SECRET TRICK received a nice pace setup that might not be available here when winning off the claim against a weak allowance field at Mahoning Valley, but the versatile 11-time winner is very comfortable at the mile distance and showed no quit after rallying five wide into the lane. Perhaps this is the right field to try a stranger. CASE DISMISSED scored for $5K under a lovely Kevin Gomez ride as she saved ground every step of the way until midstretch, then altered course to the outside to get up in time. Barn scored stepping up off the claim at Timonium with Quit Your Moanin. AIKENETTA continues to plunge in class, but looms the mare to beat as she has the early speed to establish valuable position. Need only to return to her spring form to beat these.
SECOND RACE
While there are plenty of turf influences in JUST CHILL OUT’s pedigree, it’s worth noting that he is a half-brother to a dirt winner and the second dam won two stakes races over the old Woodbine dirt strip. Curious to see if he can improve with the surface switch at what should be a decent price. IRISHTOWN a thrice-beaten favorite in his short career, but was outsprinted to the front by a well-bred class dropper last time and now he’s the one taking the big dip in claiming price. Should be right there when they swing into the stretch. WALK AWAY JOE swung six wide turning into the stretch after chasing a competitive pace, finished with some interest and galloped out well. Think both of his dirt races are better than they look on paper. Needs some pace and Cintron lands on Fifty Seven Chevy instead. FOURTEEN CARROT would factor if able to break into the body of the race.
THIRD RACE
WHOISAPRETTYGIRL might have been best in that $12.5K claimer earlier in the month. She was ridden very conservatively in the opening furlong in a race that ended up going to a gate-to-wire winner, took dirt along the inside, had to alter course to split rivals four wide into the lane and just missed. Nice outside attack post should have her in prime position tracking HALFINTHEWRAPPER’s dangerous early speed. That one drops in class after giving favored Hello Beautiful a strong pace battle for a half-mile in the Maryland Million Lassie before tiring badly in the final furlong. The fifth-place finisher of that race returned to run second in a $62.5K optional claimer with a 61 Beyer. MAGICAL LUNA went quick early when securing the early lead against maiden claimers, but not sure if she has Halfinthewrapper’s early zip and could end up in chase mode here.
FOURTH RACE
GALLANOR’s lack of early speed puts her behind the eight ball, but she came with a decent late run last time for $16K after being forced to alter course to the far outside swinging into the stretch. The winner of that race returned to flatter the effort somewhat when finishing second with a 60 Beyer last week. Drops to the $10K level and only needs some pace to factor with a late kick. WORDS OF A FEATHER seems like a nice fit returning to this circuit after racing in a key “beaten” claimer at Monmouth. The winner of that heat came back to win her next two starts at Parx with 71 and 69 Beyers, respectively. The last time SMOKIN PRINCESS ran in Maryland, she won her maiden by almost ten lengths. Has kept good company out of town in her last three starts. BACKCAT’s early foot gives her a chance with some price potential.
FIFTH RACE
ITGOT GRANDMA seemed to be moving sweetly on the far turn of recent mile try, but was jammed up briefly in behind horses before finding a split in upper stretch. Finished evenly along the inside, seems to be racing into shape in his third start following a short layoff and think this cutback in distance might work nicely. GOING TO THE LEAD figures to do just that and he might not have to go as fast as he did in the early stages last time. Ran on in the lane gamely and hasn’t run a bad one on the main track. Note that the seventh-finisher from the last race came back to win at odds-on at this level. MARANATHA looped up outside the top pick at a crucial moment, but flattened out when
stretching out to the mile. Think he has enough tactical speed to stay close. If you don’t fancy that November 2 heat, then perhaps MOTI is for you as he ships in from Parx and attracts McCarthy.
SIXTH RACE
Usually don’t like to play horses off 445-day layoffs, but willing to trust trainer Mark Reid with ALL THE WRONG REASONS, albeit with a small sample size of data to peruse. Over the past three years, Reid is 2 for 3 (67%, $3.20 ROI) with horses returning from layoffs of a year or greater, and both of those winners came in 5 1/2-furlong maiden claimers. Working regularly since midSeptember and has races from a long time ago that would make him tough if ready to rumble. CAST THE LOT looms the horse to beat, but not sure I want to take a short price on a gelding that can be very restless and awkward behind the gate and at the start. Lone dirt outing was a good one after a slow break. Lots of angles with turf to dirt, route to sprint and drop in class for good barn. ENCAUSTIC GEM did no running at 94 to 1 in his debut, but that race was on the turf and it came after he was unfocused and very difficult to handle in the post parade and warm-up. Dam won four times on dirt. TOM TERRIFIC can threaten if able to escape the also-eligible list.
SEVENTH RACE
Think LADY KIM will last the seven furlongs if able to get a soft trip close to the pace under Carrasco. Didn’t break sharply for $10K last time out, was hustled up to track the leaders along the inside and finished evenly in between horses. Drop back to this level should suit for barn that halved My T Talk in claiming price for a $5K victory on Halloween. COME ON CALLIE grabbed the slower division of conditioned claimers on November 9, but it’s worth noting that she ran hard every step in a fastearly, slow-late type of affair. Capable of a good trip from near the leaders. DAH PHILLY hasn’t been good from the gate in her last two races, but she returns to her favorite surface and this pace might heat up for her late kick. Made a prolonged wide bid at Charles Town last time out and just couldn’t get by in the closing strides.
EIGHTH RACE
DON’ T BAGGAGE CHECK took some money for her career debut and was rated back from a tight spot in between horses in the opening two furlongs. She resumed her trip tracking from the outside and finished evenly in the lane. That was a good learning race for the Quality Road filly and she now drops in for a tag for capable second-out barn. RONA has been freshened since most recent try and now returns without blinkers. Think she has some excuses for her races (pressed pace in between debut, wide around two turns at Timonium, poor start last time). GOTTAFLATHAVEHER, beaten at 2 to 1 or less in her last three starts, just went too fast in the early and middle portion of her most recent race. Cutback to six furlongs should help matters.
NINTH RACE
SWIRRLIE SHIRLIE was the beaten favorite last time out, but she went pretty fast the middle portion of the race while free-wheeling on the lead. Turns back in distance, gets some class relief and should be forward once again under Ruiz. FANCY OUTFLANKER rushed up to push the leaders three wide at 58 to 1 odds, took over a clear advantage and ran a gallant second against similar rivals last month. Seems in excellent form.