Analyze returns to dirt, finds success in Winter Melody

Analyze made a successful return to the main track following a failed turf experiment Thursday at Delaware Park and proved much the best en route to her first career stakes win.

Analyze, a 4-year-old daughter of Candy Ride trained by Michael Matz, was unhurried early in the $50,000 Winter Melody, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for fillies and mares. She began to advance on the backstretch from between horses for jockey Alex Cintron and on the far turn moved up outside the leaders while three wide.

Analyze took command of the race entering the stretch and drew off to win by 3 3/4 lengths over In the Navy Now, who lodged a four-wide bid on the far turn and appeared to have dead-aim on the winner in upper stretch.

It was two lengths farther back to favored Moonlight Basin in third. She was fanned four wide into the first turn and then pressed the pace outside 12-1 Saida to the quarter pole before flattening out.

In a competitive field in which six horses went off between 5-2 and 8-1, Analyze paid $9.60 as the third choice. She was timed over a fast track in 1:44.19.

Analyze is now 3 for 11 in her career with earnings of $118,265.

Super Sharp, who finished fourth, was fanned five wide into the first turn.

Saida tired to finish fifth.

Cayman Croc, the 7-2 second choice was fractious in the starting gate, was backed out and reloaded, then showed little and finished last in the eight-horse field.