ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, GLOBAL AMBITION

FIRST RACE

A 10-race card that starts at 12:35 ET will open with a pretty well-matched lower-end mdn.-claiming sprint for 3yos, one that seems to have its top contenders drawn in outside posts. Looking for CAT GONE QUICK once again to break swiftly from an outer box, but this time, the drop in class might carry him much farther; colt basically being cut in half. To his outside, SEE THE SONG also stands to improve on the drop when going turf-to-dirt; the 2-back runner-up finish at 32-1 makes him viable. MIA’S EXTORTIONIST is a tricky gauge out of those synth races up North; one of several fringe players.

SECOND RACE

Reverting to that terrific first out is highly advisable for BUNDI BUNDI, although it’s always more easily said than done. Hard to say what happened in the 12/29 debacle, other than he was overmatched for the $50k; boomerangs all the way down to the bottom now. On the fence, MAGNOLIA BLVD ships in from across the peninsula for DeeNee, whose $1.15M in stable earnings in ‘19 were his highest in 24 years of training, hurray; well-spotted Ballybrit homebred picks up Saez on the way in. BIP BIP FULL POWER or the other Sano, CONSILIUM, can slog along for a minor share.

THIRD RACE

The 2019 win machine, CUDDLE KITTEN, couldn’t quite extend her streak when 3rd as the favorite in the Claiming Crown, but that was a tough ask, given the 12-week layoff and everything else; figures to have Irad taking all the initiative here when part of a tiny cast. QUEEN NEKIA comes a timely claim for the red-hot Saffie, having drubbed lesser types in her latest; lurks and saves ground a long way under T-Gaff. NIKKI BEACH would probably match up with her best, but the 61-day layoff might prove a bit problematic.

FOURTH RACE

Demanding a lot of DRACARYS FIRE to stretch out to a mile on this requisite class hike in just his 2nd try after opening his career with an OK third for a quarter, but it’s Frank, Saffie, and Irad in a wideopen lineup; if you can do better, go right ahead. DRAW THE LINE gets a second chance after getting sopped behind rugged MSWs on a cold and miserable Ky. day; improvement fully expected. ROMARIO makes his first start under the Navarro banner when also exiting one of those rich CD maidenspecials; another live one for Saez.

FIFTH RACE

BEBEAU just couldn’t keep up in his local return nearly 4 weeks ago, but that race might well be a means to an end in terms of helping him get fit again for KJB; something like that late-September effort over the Belmont grass would do just fine here. DERMOT takes the oft-effective drop from a MSW race into these claiming ranks for

Walsh, who’s really been leveraging his stock wisely; stands to move up in a big way here. LION CHARMER comes well-drawn on the hedge when shipping over from Tampa for RO’C.

SIXTH RACE

Better-than-average $8k claimer drew a number of grizzled vets who are quite familiar with one another, including NORTHERN a 10-for-28 gelding with whom Maker is wasting little time in seeking the proper level; a red squiggly line through that Claiming Crown hiccup makes him an obvious contender here. Right alongside, COLORMEPOMPOM looks for a third straight when trying to avenge the 9/8 decision to the top pick; Zerpa continues to strike at a high rate. MR. KISSES, first or second in 19 of 35, embodies the depth of this one.

SEVENTH RACE

Solid runner-up effort following the 9-week layoff likely has SCATNAP back on her toes as the 7yo mare goes looking again for her first ‘W’ under the Broad Street silks; it’s not like she’s forgotten how to win, but more a matter of all those salty races she’s been running in; seems like Cibelli found her a good spot here. LOOKINLIKEAQUEEN returns to open company seeking a 3rd straight after Crichton took advantage of beaten conditions, then Fla.breds, for her last two; filly’s full of herself now. PUGILIST was favored when finishing behind the top pick in her first start off the Maker claim.

EIGHTH RACE

Seems like the second division of the $8k sprint (with race 6 being the first) is the lighter split, as SWAGGER figures prominently after rebounding to win his latest for $6,250 for Navarro. His 3-back win came for a ‘beaten’ nickel, and that probably wouldn’t cut it vs. the other group; in here, however, he’s as good as any. BLINGS EXPRESS brings a remarkable record to this, with 49 firsts or 2nds from his 82 starts, but it’s been more than 20 months since the gray dude last visited the winner’s circle; aggressive drop might well result in his last (or one of his last) hurrah(s). KAREN’S COVE resurfaces without the blinks for her new trainer, Walder, who shows excellent numbers first off the claim.

NINTH RACE

Spirited runner-up effort by GLOBAL AMBITION in that mid-Nov. allowance in Maryland can carry the day in a 1x mile otherwise mostly populated by locals. The Philly debut was outstanding in itself before being further validated; call this Ghostzapper filly the day’s best. LAVI returns 12 days after giving another respectable account of herself in a 2nd straight stakes; added distance worth trying, although dunno about the quick wheel-back. GOOD TO ME was terrific over the Tapeta for Casse, but this is a brand new ballgame.

TENTH RACE

A fairly conspicuous amount of tote play surged steadily thru the windows when KITTEN BY THE SEA made her debut 2 Thursdays ago, and although she didn’t do all that much running, those were some pretty nice MSWs she caboosed. With that needed effort behind her, she now finds considerably lighter opposition when fitted with a $25k tag; Saez might be in for another big day. TRULY keeps knocking on the door; well-drawn toward the hedge, she’s liable to be right in the mix once more. WEEKEND MADNESS (not the stakeswinning mare campaigned by New Phoenix in the mid-90s) looms an obvious threat when making her first start in 7 months and her first for a tag for turf master Clement.