BreezeFigs Quick-Pix, Saturday, May 31st

This is our sore thumb weekendtwo races where first-timers simply stick out like sore thumbs on their respective BreezeFigs profiles. The good news is that one race is for 3-year-olds and one for 2-year-olds, so theres action bubbling all over the place. The bad news is that the 3-year-old is debuting in a turf race at Monmouth where there is rain expected, so it might come off the grass and she might not go. Still, were sticking with them, see below.

Remember, theres a new look to our sheetsthere are two sheets for each day, one for 3-yos (sales of 2007) and one for 2-yos (sales of 2008). The reason for this is that we have added a new category for the 2008 salesSURFACEwhich tells you whether the horse breezed on a dirt (D) or synthetic (S) track. There are four S sales this yearOBSFEB, OBSMAR, OBSAPR and KEEAPR; and three D salesFTFFEB, BARMAR and EASMAY. Just to add some more insight to your handicapping. NOTE: If the 2-yo sheet comes up with no entries, that usually means there are no 2-yo races that day.

Remember, our rules still hold about BreezeFigs "qualified" runners: You can get a good idea of what qualified BreezeFigs horses are by clicking on BreezeFigs Information underneath the two BreezeFigs links in the DRF-PLUS box in the right hand column on the DRF.com home page and downloading files there. Remember, keep stride length (SL) in mind when handicapping from the BreezeFigs sheet and take advantage of all the tips that we provide on those sheets as well.

Also, refer to a study we did which shows that using BreezeFigs for 3-year-old maiden races in just as viable as using them for 2-year-old maiden races. .

If you'd like to learn a little more about how we come up with BreezeFigs, take a look at our new website, .

Now for the sore thumbs. Good luck!

Monmouth Park, , Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)

On all-around performance, Valkim was one of the highest rated fillies at last years EASMAY saleseven-over-Par Group 1 BreezeFig, SL almost two feet longer than average for the fillies who breezed 1/8 that day. That it took so long for her to get to the races probably means shes a big gal and took a while to grow into herself; that she debuts on the grass is a no-brainer considering that her sire, Pulpit, is a very good turf sire. However, if it rains and comes off the turf, she might be scratched, but if not, shes still worth a bet any which way you can (the EASMAY breeze was on the dirt).

Calder Race Course, , Maiden Special Weight, 5 furlongs (Dirt)

Cumana came out of the OBSMAR sale with two terrific performances at both 1/8 and ¼ mileand she posted the co-fastest breeze of the sale for fillies in that ¼ mile effort, motoring in :20 4/5 with a 24.48 SL, almost 1½ feet above average for fillies at that distance that day. She looked like a star with a seven-over-Par Group 1 BreezeFig, but only brought 70k, so she might have had a bump or two, but, hey, here she is ready to run. She might get some noise from East to Eden, who threw in a very respectable even-Par Group 2 BreezeFig at 1/8 mile at the same sale, sporting a spiffy 24.34 foot SL, which was actually longer than that of Cumana at the same distance. These two are pretty solid gimmick plays and the board will tell you which one to single. Keep Running, who has already started in a ¼ mile test here, had a solid one-under-Par Group 3 profile at the same sale but a much shorter 22.59 foot SL, and was RNAd for 47k, just over half her price as a yearling. Shes a suck-up gimmick play at best.