|
By Brad Free |
|
|
|
BEST BET: Sugary (8th race) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Master Recovery |
2. Fay Dan |
3. Mongolian Legend |
|
|
MASTER RECOVERY is obvious based on his dirt form and a tough-trip fifth last out on turf, against a better field than this. He scratched from another maiden-claiming turf race Friday to go instead in this maiden-50 on dirt. He missed by only a neck two starts back in a similar spot, and should be tough to beat if he reproduces that effort. Minimal wagering value in this five-runner field, however. FAY DAN returns from a seven-month layoff for a winning stable. This is only his third start. MONGOLIAN LEGEND is a 10-start maiden with the field's top figures earned in winter and fall. First-time starter INVICTATUS is attempting a difficult task winning a route race first time out, but this field is not particularly strong. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Mystery Messenger |
2. Blackout |
3. Raul Rosas |
|
|
Lots of contenders in this $32k claiming turf sprint; MYSTERY MESSENGER can win if he reproduces his January-February form while starting for the first time in more than two months. The best race of his career was his only turf sprint on this course, he has speed to be positioned just off the pace, and could get a cozy trip tucked right behind the front-runners. BLACKOUT misfired as the favorite last out after bobbling at the break, but his decisive victory two back at this level, on this course, makes him a logical contender. He was re-claimed last out by Peter Miller. Off more than three months, he will be running late. RAUL ROSAS scratched a week ago from a Cal-bred allowance. He worked a bullet half-mile that morning, and shows up in this claiming race as possibly the speed of the speed. But he will be taking heat from WHATWASITHINKING directly to his outside. TINA'S EXCHANGE will be running late, first start of the year. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Atina |
2. Reds Sacred Appeal |
3. She Cherie |
|
|
Anything goes in this five-runner scramble. ATINA is the tepid choice based on her runner-up finish two starts back on synthetic, a highly rated dirt victory last summer at Del Mar, and the likelihood she can improve first off the claim. Jeff Mullins is 3-for-7 f.o.c. since last summer; the race from which fifth-place ATINA was claimed produced two next-out winners. REDS SACRED APPEAL finished in front of the top choice two back, but she rarely cracks 60 on the Beyer scale, and par for this N3L claiming level is 66. On the other hand, this is not a strong field, on quality or size. SHE CHERIE stretches out for the first time, first start in four months. She probably is quick enough to make the lead over this speed-friendly (routes) dirt track. Five of the first eight dirt miles since racing resumed were won by the pacesetter. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Seven Scents |
2. Morgan S. |
3. Quick Finish |
|
|
This N3L claiming turf sprint offers a chance at a price; SEVEN SCENTS might slip through the cracks. His comeback at Los Alamitos was promising. Making his first start since being gelded, he was blocked full of run through the turn, had to wait until the short stretch before getting outside, and finished willingly to miss by less than a length. The field was modest, but SEVEN SCENTS has run well against good company on the major circuit, including a respectable fifth in a Santa Anita N2X turf sprint in December. A lot must go right for him to rally through traffic and upset, but this course is playing fair to all styles, 'SCENTS might be a better horse since being gelded, and with the right trip he can post a minor surprise. He must catch MORGAN S., who ran super on this course in February. He set a fast pace, and only got collared on the line. Sharp effort against open $32k claiming company. Things did not work out next time in an 870-yarder at Los Al, but he returns to a course he likes and could be the one to catch. QUICK FINISH drops from Calbred N1X; he handles all footing and scored his most recent win in a turf sprint last fall. VIA EGNATIA returns from a layoff with a series of fast work. Expect him to be involved early. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Hot Socks |
2. Mobjack |
3. My Super Mario |
|
|
This Cal-bred maiden-50 is a total scramble. HOT SOCKS showed modest ability last year as a 2-year-old, he has at least a little bit of speed, and trainer Steve Miyadi won with six of his last 15 maiden-claiming comebackers off six months or more. MOBJACK improved second start back, dueling on the lead at Los Al, fighting back late along the inside, and missing by only a length and a quarter. He might be the one to catch. MY SUPER MARIO was a well-bet dud in his debut in March. Gelded since, working well, kept at the same class level, chances are he is better that his debut suggests. KINGOFJESTERS scratched from a Cal-bred maiden turf sprint Saturday to go here instead. He lands the leading rider. First-time starters SCARY FAST SMILE and PACK TWELVE merit consideration. Difficult race to get a handle on. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Rakassah |
2. Into Victory |
3. Win the Game |
|
|
RAKASSAH figures tough in this maiden turf sprint, based on back-to-back seconds. Her U.S. debut was solid, and though she lost at even-money next out she actually ran an improved race. She produced more speed, pressed strong fractions, and finished second. The filly she lost to, Kustom for Karl, was scheduled to start as one of the contenders in an allowance on Friday (race 7). INTO VICTORY is an Into Mischief first-time starter that is a sibling to three winners. Her stable pops with an occasional first-time starter. WIN THE GAME has some interesting works, and is a sibling to graded stakes winner House Rules and G1-placed Win the Space. Upset candidate? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Ce Ce |
2. Hard Not to Love |
3. Horologist |
|
|
If there were any doubts about CE CE following her upset in the Beholder in March at Santa Anita, they were erased in the Apple Blossom in April at Oaklawn Park. CE CE broke from the far outside post, she lost ground much of the trip, and was up late to win her second straight Grade 1. CE CE is legit. She is fast, versatile, and the one to beat in this Grade 2. HARD NOT TO LOVE was no match for the top choice in March, runner-up while finishing more than three lengths back. But HARD NOT TO LOVE ran well. She set a blazing pace, tried to fight back, and finished second while running long for the first time. Although her speed figure declined several points, her runner-up performance was solid. Still uncertain if she really wants two turns, or if she might be best as a closing sprinter, but her quality is clear. The graded winner may still have upside after just seven starts. HOROLOGIST looms the upset candidate. She was buried with nowhere to run the length of the stretch in the Apple Blossom. She finished only five lengths behind the winner, without a fair chance. She gets a new rider, in a race with pace to run at. HOROLOGIST enters with an upset chance. FIGHTING MAD stretches out as a potential pacesetter, while KAYDETRE wheels back one week after winning a N2X. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Sugary |
2. Miss Flawless |
3. Tonahutu |
|
|
SUGARY should win this turf mile if she reproduces her sharp victory two back. A 7-year-old that is lightly raced (14 starts, four wins), she misfired her most recent start in March; perhaps the tempo was too fast, or nine furlongs too far. Regardless of excuse, this $32k claiming mile is her deal. She runs well fresh, shortens to a preferred distance, and is likely to be chasing slower fractions. She can sit, wait and explode late. Her best race is faster than the others; she is four-for-four when favored. MISS FLAWLESS finished a creditable second behind the top choice two back, then ran like a filly that needed a start last out at Golden Gate. She finished last of five while starting for the first time in four months. That was two weeks ago, she wheels back on short notice while returning to preferred turf footing. She probably will be positioned in front of the top choice turning for home. TONAHUTU drops into the claiming ranks for the first time; her figures in winter 2018-19 put her in the mix. SEASIDE DANCER might be ranked too low by this handicapper. She looks like the controlling speed in a race without much heat. |
|
|
