Generous Portion Stakes

Race-by-Race Analysis

by Michael Hammersly

Third Race

1. Ansede 2. Kvetch 3. Jimini Christmas
ANSEDE was quite unlucky not to win her debut. The daughter of Catienus completely blew the start but she in a strong sustained run that ended up just a nose short. Obviously she's got talent and she's worked since. With any kind of decent break today she can get her diploma. KVETCH debuts for Miller who is having a huge meet (10 for first 47, 21%) and is strong first time out (19%), particularly with maiden claimers (29%). It's most encouraging Bejarano sees fit to ride. Her only sib is sprint winner Fabulous Frances. JIMINI CHRISTMAS, on the AE list, broke a bit slowly from the rail in her Aug. 11 debut, the same race as the top pick, and ran on nicely for 3rd, so she has ability. BOLD REMARK, also on the AE list, finished just behind ANSEDE and JIMINI CHRISTMAS in that Aug. 11 outing and has shown enough ability to make you believe she could turn the tables.

Fourth Race

1. Certified Diamond 2. Don Elias M. 3. Thrice the Vice
CERTIFIED DIAMOND may have found a new home. After spending the first 14 starts of his career at EMD near Seattle he came here July 21 and promptly won a race like this July 21. To show it no fluke he came back to set the pace before finishing a strong 3rd for $10K here Aug. 7. Obviously he likes it here, Sutherland handles him well, he's got versatility to give her options and the slight drop may be just waht the Dr. ordered. DON ELIAS M. ran 2nd but was no match for big winner Lordgivemealift at this level here Aug. 4. Still, he beat today's foe THRICE THE VICE back into 3rd and that runner came right back to win. This guy has been a pro for a long time - hey, you don't win 10 times by accident. THRICE THE VICE continues his improved form. He wasn't far behind DON ELIAS M. when 3rd Aug. 4 and then beat this caliber at 46-1 Aug. 17. No reason he can't be in the thick of things again. PURSE LUVA finished just a neck and a head behind 'VICE in that Aug. 17 race, a sign he may be rounding back to form.

Fifth Race

1. Pick and Pray 2. Subpoena the Dress 3. Cool Haleigh
PICK AND PRAY came from the Midwest and in her first local start led all the way to win at this level July 30. Trouble is, she drifted out and for that she got DQ'd to 2nd. However, she came right back with a 2-level class hike to the $25K level and performed well, finishing 3rd with blinkers for the first time. Obviously she's quite happy in her new surroundings and DeLeon moves her back to the $16K level. SUBPOENA THE DRESS continues her good work. After a couple months off she ran 4th for $25K on the HOL sod, then dropped to the $12,500 level and won on this main track Aug. 14. She was claimed that day and takes the mandatory class hike, which she can surely handle. She's 2 for 4 on this track. COOL HALEIGH left herself too much to do when 5th behind the top pikc in that July 30 race. The 6yo mare was claimed that day by Hess Jr. who is making all the right moves this meet (5 for first 18, 28%).

Sixth Race

1. Linda Lou 2. Catchy Tune 3. West Ruler
LINDA LOU's Aug. 11 start in a spot like this here was a complete throwout. The 6yo mare reared at the start to be completely eliminated as she basically gave the field double-digit lengths worth of a headstart. That was also her first outing in nearly 5 months. She's on the AE list but if she goes she can benefit from the exercise and with a clean break can be awfully tough. She handles turf, it's good to see no layoff or drop after that last debacle, and is Rosario's first call. CATCHY TUNE is another who was basically eliminated at the start of her last race when she stumbled badly. That outing also came routing on the main track. She's must better playing this game (sprinting on turf). Both wins, 1 of her 2 2nds and her lone 3rd all came sprinting on turf. WEST RULER was freshened a couple months and has come back sharp, winning an N1X grass sprint at HOL July 15 and then finishing a close-up 3rd in a race like this here Aug. 12. She's worked well since and is Rosario's 2nd call.

Seventh Race

1. Lookin for Jonesy 2. Backwoods Belle 3. Heleonor Rugby
Tough race as you have a bunch of promising 2yo fillies here. LOOKIN FOR JONESY got away poorly in her debut here July 31 but it didn't matter as she bided her time and powered home to win going away. This is surely tougher as she faces winners and can't afford another poor start but the manner in which she came home says she's got the goods. BACKWOODS BELLE looked super blasting $40K maiden claimers here Aug. 12 by 6+ lengths. Not only did Sadler see fit to claim her (36% off a claim) but then opted to bring her back in a spot like this. She worked a super :46.60 bullet here Aug. 26, too (best of 43 that day). HELEONOR RUGBY is a proven commodity having won the CTBA here July 22 and then rallying for 3rd in the G3 Sorrento here. RIVER KISS set the pace and just held off 'RUGBY for 2nd in the G3 Sorrento so she's scary, as is ROAR BABY ROAR who romped over maidens at HOL June 23 and then ran 3rd behind 'RUGBY and WILLA B AWESOME in the CTBA here July 22 as the even-money favorite.

Eighth Race

1. Navy Seal Six 2. Truco Latino 3. Jersey Joe
NAVY SEAL SIX, on the AE list, rates the call if he goes. The 2yo son of Imperialism was a strong 2nd with blinkers in his July 7 debut at HOL at this level. However, he had blinkers removed and ran poorly (did have trouble) for $40K here Aug. 12. Well, Mulhall goes back to what worked so well in that first outing, moving him back to the $32K level and reapplying blinkers. The colt worked strongly Aug. 22 (:47.80) and he's Quinonez's 1st call. Otherwise this race is a complete mystery. TRUCO LATINO ran well to be 2nd to top 2yo Majestic City in the Willard Proctor at HOL June 12 but was pulled up and then ran poorly in 2 starts since. Both came vs. straight maidens so maybe the drop can help. He has worked well since. JERSEY JOE ran 4th not far behind the top pick at HOL July 7 and then was 2nd, albeit well beaten (5+ lengths) here July 21. He looks to bounce back after failing to threaten when 6th in a spot like this here Aug. 3. MUDVILLE NINE was well backed (5-2) in his July 21 debut here but only ran 5th. He has worked well since and may show why he took so much action at the windows for that first run.