The third time could be the charm for Best Behavior, who has been favored in her last two starts. Best Behavior looks like the favorite again on Friday at Gulfstream in an optional $62,500 claiming race for fillies and mares at a mile.
Lilly's Goldie (#7, ML 5-1) makes her first start for trainer Nicholas Gonzalez in Wednesday's sixth race at Woodbine, a seven-furlong maiden special weight race. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Gonzalez is winning at a 31 percent clip when saddling a horse making its first start with him, for a return on investment of $4.86. Check out the Positive ROI report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Baruta, the 6-year-old Brazilian-bred mare, has thrived on turf since her first start in this country in February 2014. She faces a test in a $78,000 allowance race at Del Mar on Friday to see if that form can translate to a dirt track.
Sebastian K, the fastest trotter in harness racing history, is currently on the sidelines, according to Tristan Sjoberg, who with his brother Michael Knutsson makes up Knutsson Trotting Inc., the owners of the 9-year-old stallion.
Academy Bay (#2, ML 5-2) returns in Wednesday's ninth race at Indiana Grand, the one-mile Snack Stakes on turf. It will be his first start since finishing first by 3/4 lengths in an optional claimer May 12 at Indiana Grand. The second- and third-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts. Get the Key Race report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Two to Tango seems poised to win her third race in the featured second-level optional claimer at Woodbine Friday, when she will line up against just four other fillies and mares traveling 1 1/16 miles on the grass.
Jockey Natasha Fritz will ride for the first time in 2015 on Friday at Hazel Park after breaking her tibia in a March training accident.
Bernier: Del Mar pick three play for Thursday, July 16
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The Grade 1, $750,000 Delaware Handicap drew a field of seven when entries were taken Tuesday. The Saturday race is for fillies and mares and will be run at 1 1/4 miles. Favoritism will likely go to Sheer Drama, Frivolous, or Rosalind.
Derick Giwner's analysis of the Thursday 7/16 card at Yonkers Raceway.
