ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, EXCEED THE GOAL

FIRST RACE

STARSHIP REINA is easy to like on the drop in class and the fact that she comes from the barn of the meet’s top trainer but she may also have a pace advantage, as the main speed in a race that’s light on speed; will be tough to reel in if able to shake loose and back down the fractions. ORNERY ANGEL has won two of her last three, and though she’s up in class for this she should be close-up from the start, an edge if the fractions are controlled; may get first run at the top pick. NOWITNA RIVER eyes his fourth straight win and looms the main threat in the lane; could be at a pace disadvantage if too far back but perhaps capable of making the last run in her current form.

SECOND RACE

EXCEED THE GOAL shortens up from a slightly longer distance but she remains the one to fear in the lane here, and there is plenty of speed in this field to set her up; comes off an easy win at a short price against a step lesser but she can certainly win this if she runs back to that last effort. NOTHINS FREE was very game in defeat in her first start at this level last time out, dueling for the lead and holding the show in a race which set up well for the closers; will be a factor from the start. HOLY DIVER cuts back from routes and his most recent win, at this same level, came in an elongated sprint.

THIRD RACE

PURE FASHION faded despite good position in her first try on the turf last time out but that was against better, at Gulfstream, and she figures to improve against the local maiden claimers; note trainer Tom Albertrani has a couple of recent wins with horses making this class drop. V K STAR is the one to catch and perhaps the one to beat on the strength of his most recent Beyers; went down as the favorite in each of his last two but she ran well in defeat each time, weakening late after making a mid-race run. FAST FASHION has the rail and enough tactical speed to sit a nice stalking trip; could perhaps get first run at V K STAR.

FOURTH RACE

ALPERES is 0-for-26 but 25 of those losses came on the turf, and he was a very good third in his only main track try, two back, under conditions very similar to today’s; if he runs back to that 54 Beyer he has to be considered a threat and he should be a square price. ROGUE RAGE is the main danger, having hit the board in each of his last three starts; of course, that’s also what makes him a little dicey on the win end, but he’d certainly be no surprise at another short price. ELUSIVE ROAD ran a big race in his first start around two turns on the dirt last time, especially considering the slow start; that effort could well mean this is his best game.

FIFTH RACE

ANTALYA is clearly going to be a handful in this starter allowance race, coming off three straight wins and Beyers that mark him as the one to beat; he shortens up but he’s won at a mile, and though he’ll be looking to make the last run there does seem to be plenty of pace to set him up for a late run. CATSOUTOFTHEBAG has competitive figures and he comes off a race where he lost his best chance due to traffic issues, and was forced to take up as a result; may be best when close to the lead when sent long but if he can sit off the speeds and make one run he’s capable of winning this. LUCY’S TOWN was moving well through the lane in his latest and figures to be rolling late once again, as he’s another who stands to benefit from a lively tempo up front.

SIXTH RACE

BETTER BOAT was well off the board as the favorite in her latest but a slow start cost her any chance, as she was never able to threaten in that pace-filled sprint; with a clean break she can be expected to run to her prior try, which is good enough to make her a top contender in here. SMOOTH AS GLASS was off the board when last seen but that was a decent field for the class level

and she meets a step lesser here; working well toward her first start since January. BILLYSBIRTHDAYGIRL is widest but she has proven speed; has to be respected based on her best figures.

SEVENTH RACE

PRINCESS JAVONCIA will need some help getting into the race but if she is able to scratch in off the AE list she looms tough, as she not only fits well in terms of Beyers but she also has speed in a race lacking same; comes off a very sharp effort in only her second start on the grass. BEAUTY GENIUS drops in class again and could be the one to beat on the strength of those last two Beyers; tactical speed and inside post figure to mean she’s well spotted from the start. RUBY LEE was off the board in her first and only start on the green but she didn’t break well there, and now she takes the blinkers off; barn has a couple of recent wins with that equipment change.

EIGHTH RACE

NAVAL WAVE was off the board as the favorite when last seen but she did make a nice mid-race run there before she flattened out late; may not have loved the extra distance there, as she was trying seven furlongs for the first time, and she should appreciate this cut back to 5 1/2 furlongs.

THATS JUST HEARSAY is only the second starter out of a dam who posted her lone career win on the grass but this filly does land in a soft spot for her debut, and she does have a couple of decent works showing. TRULY A DREAM weakened after dueling for the lead once again in her latest, when in against better; may face pressure on the lead once again but this shorter distance figures to work to her advantage.

NINTH RACE

HE’S ROYALTY was 2nd in his only turf/sprint try to date, and it was a good effort, as he stalked a quick pace and did well to finish well clear of the show horse; may find himself on the lead in this one. AWESOME ENOUGH broke his maiden on this surface and at this distance, and trainer Darien Rodriguez does well under these conditions; dangerous if ready for his first start of 2021. SOUPER SHENANIGAN has some of the better grass figures in the field and his tactical speed should mean a favorable trip.