ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, TEXAS BASIN

FIRST RACE

THE GREAT DANSKY one of several contenders in this well-matched field of claimers, and being drawn to the outside with tactical speed may be to his advantage as he goes turf to dirt and drops back down in class; 3 for 3 vs. claiming rivals so far in his career and he may wind up a better price than he should be due to the recent claim by a new trainer. RYAN’S CAT dropped to this level last time at Saratoga and went well in that spot while on the lead, only to settle for second best at the end; has not finished 2nd in all three starts on this circuit, while showing good speed each time. DOUBLE SHOT will need to improve to beat this field but his running style fits this race well; races as a new gelding as he reunites with Irad.

SECOND RACE

GHOST GIANT has been consistent on turf throughout his career, be it sprinting or routing, and he exits a no-chance trip last time when trapped inside behind a slow pace all through the stretch; one of several contenders in here, and he is likely to be a fair price. ABIDING STAR has earned 90+ Beyers in his last two turf starts, now will try to bring his speed back into a sprint as he returns to a competitive level; turf sprint starts are well-spaced but he has raced stakes rivals the last three times he was cut back on this surface, and his most recent start going six furlongs at Belmont came over two years ago off a layoff, where he finished 2nd to stakes-quality Sandyz Slew with an 88 Beyer. PAGLIACCI was claimed for this tag when returned from the layoff back in June, and he has faced tougher since; not his biggest fan but he is clearly a contender at this level.

THIRD RACE

PERFORMER was eyeing some big spring/summer races before being forced to miss time, and will now make his belated 4yo debut following over 300 days on the sidelines; may need one off the bench but he still towers over this field with anything close to his good race. EMPTY TOMB failed the turf experiment in his first start for Maker, and he bumped into a talented horse going longer than he might prefer two back at Saratoga when entered MTO; exits a career-best effort over this track last time and he has speed. MUSICAL HEART ran well vs. weaker in his last two starts going longer at Saratoga; steps up off the claim.

FOURTH RACE

SHE SO NAUGHTY sprinted in her turf debut two back and had no chance with the razor-sharp Robin Sparkles, who has won twice more since in dominant fashion, then ran much better than it looks with a tough trip when stretched out last time; tries again. UNICORN SALLY tried MSW rivals in her first two starts following a short layoff this summer, and ran pretty well both times; got caught wide when dropped back down to this level two back, and she just missed 3r after having a little trouble getting out into the clear for the stretch in that last one. SAINTE MERE EGLISE made a somewhat promising debut at Saratoga last summer in what turned out to be her lone start as a 2yo; hasn’t improved so far this year while facing better so takes the drop for the first time on turf.

FIFTH RACE

SHAMROCKED isn’t all that easy to take at a short price but he has been facing better since dropping in class off the layoff, and his early speed should play in this field; one more chance. COLTANDMISSISSIPPI has finished last in his two starts for these connections, one on turf and one on dirt, but he has the back races to be competitive here at a price and, like the top one, has been facing better in his dirt starts since returning from a layoff. DURKIN’S CALL dropped in for $12.5k here six days ago and rallied for 3rd after coming wide into a pace that held together; just about out of chances but he can contend with these horses with the right trip.