Race 1: EVEN PANDURA ran into a nice horse last time out and the third-place finisher came back to score. Hopefully gets back to a fast track for top connections. A ROZE AND WINE is on a two-race winning streak. Has returned as a four-year-old beast. ELEGANT CRICKET was claimed by Diodoro out of her last race and has gone wire-to-wire in her wins. If she gets an easy lead, which is unlikely, she could get brave.
Race 2: YEAH YEAH drops to the lowest claiming level after showing early speed on the turf in last. Broke his maiden easily on the dirt so we know he can handle switching surfaces. CIMPL MAN stretches out after trying a sprint last race. Cappellucci horses have been extremely live the entire meet. BE GONE DADDY keeps dropping down the claiming ladder. May have found the right level.
Race 3: AMALFI PRINCESS ships into town for Maker, who has had considerable success in the Northern Stars Racing Festival. Has been primarily sprinting but should like the route here. HEART FULL OF SOUL has won three of five but is trying turf and two turns for the first time. SARANYA last raced in a Grade 2 turf race at Keeneland for Cox, the reigning national trainer of the year.
Race 4: HIGH CRIME is the tentative top pick in a wide-open affair. Has been racing against better at Churchill, Keeneland Gulfstream and could be one of the few to close into a very fast pace. DRENA’S STAR is in great form for Diodoro, but the turf is still a question mark. CHESS MASTER the track record last time out. Has three wins since being claimed by Raven.
Race 5: STAR OF THE NORTH faces the boys but she can certainly hold her own. Should be controlling speed from the outside post. WESTA WAVERLY can be really good or really bad. Hopefully the good shows up. JUST CHILLIN freaked in her maiden win, but not sure there was much in that race. Will be tested for class today.
Race 6: URBAN FAIRYTALE is third off the layoff for Wilkes. Has early speed and the switch to Gerouxy. If she can shake loose, she might not stop. EVIL LYN is the probable favorite and will be tough to beat. Since being claimed by Maker, she has posted routinely high speed figures. LADY LAWYER switched from Brown to Stidham. Question if the distance is a good fit.
Race 7: PARLOR makes the second start of the year for Maker, who wins at a 27% clip with such runners. Raced in two Grade 1s last summer, taking second in one. The class of the field. TUT’S REVENGE returns to defend his title. Should see best effort today on his ideal surface/distance. HIERONYMUS probably needs the lead to be most effective but there is plenty of speed in this race.
Race 8: T D DANCE keeps improving with every start, including a 3-length romp in a $100K stakes race on the Preakness undercard. If he improves again, the rest are running for second. KING OF MIAMI is a lightly raced son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Gets good post and Loveberry knows this course. MODERN SCIENCE won his seasonal debut wire-to-wire.
Race 9: ORNAMENTAL IRON cuts back slightly in distance in first start for Cappellucci. Class drops is another positive. BERRY GOOD returns to the dirt after breaking his maiden on the turf. That turf start should translate into a nice prep. JUST A KISS AWAY started career leading start to finish and earning a nice speed figure.
Race 10: RAY’S ANGEL hasn’t raced on a dry dirt track since last July. His dirt form was very solid last summer and should improve off of the one prep race in a sloppy stakes race. CRIME SPREE broke his maiden last September and immediately tried stakes competition so they must have had big plans for him. Gets class relief today. SAMURAI CAUSE will be flying late if the speed duel develops in front of him.
