SIXTH RACE

FINEST WORK overcame trouble to break his maiden first time turf last September, then acquitted himself well while third in his nest two starts going a bit longer; returned from the layoff at this distance and won move convincingly than it may appear while rating and prevailing after racing in tight for much of the trip. PURRAGEOUS DYNA only managed three starts last year, all going shorter, but ran well enough in two of them to suggest that she can still contend at this level; won over this course and distance previously, and also ran well in a similar spot the last time she tried it back in October 2020 when coming wide from last and flattening a bit late. SHOW ME THE HONEY showed potential early on, which led her connections to try three straight stakes following her maiden win; scored over this distance last October with a 76 Beyer; starts back for a hot barn, and is going to be a fair price.

SEVENTH RACE

DIRECT ORDER stepped up a bit off the claim last time while stretching out slightly and failed to fire in a rare disappointing performance; better than that and returns to the level of the claim in a race that might set up well for him. ITS ALL RELEVANT remains tough when he can get his trip on the lead and he is likely going to be ridden aggressively here as he drops back down in class after failing to make the lead last time; still running fast races and like to win. PERUVIAN BOY got in way over his head off the claim last time and never laned a blow on a cutback, despite having a fast pace in front of him; doesn’t win a lot but he is a better fit here as he drops back down off the layoff

EIGHTH RACE

The 49 Beyer assigned to TIMBUKTU for his debut win last summer as a 2yo doesn’t reflect how well he ran that day while continuously improving his position, before coming wide to contention and then fighting off a rallying rival to the wire; started back vs. a couple of these same rivals and got held up a bit in some traffic, before finishing gamely late for third; has distance on the bottom on his pedigree and is a threat to improve again with his return out of the way. RALLY SQUIRREL narrowly prevailed off the Maker claim vs. two-life claimers, then was only second best two back as the favorite when back on turf; earned a third straight Beyer of 77 on this surface last time, though he got held up a bit off the turn in that spot, while the 1-2 finishers got the jump on him; dangerous speed if he can get the distance. MASETA ran well in all three turf starts as a 2yo, including a game third in the Central Park with a competitive figure; has not run as well in two starts so far this year, though he tried a tough spot off the layoff; stretches out looking to take a step forward.

NINTH RACE

MRS. GREEN debuted going six and looked like many firsters from this barn, as she broke slowly and then looked a little green early, before making a game run through the stretch while not appearing to be all in; can improve quickly with that experience out of the way. JANE MAST a firster by the excellent sire Distorted Humor and from a strong Phipps female family that includes excellent turf performer Parading; shows up with solid-looking works for an excellent trainer. AMBLE had her debut rained off the grass and wound up racing evenly behind the talented Lay the Groundwork, who returned to finish an underrated second on turf in her next start; half to Plum Ali gets to turf with Lasix on and pulls Irad.