Horse of the day for 3/27

Race 9 - Sunland Park
6 Furlongs
Maiden Special Weight
3-year-olds
Purse $22,200.

Pace makes the race, and HOLY IS THE LORD may gain a huge tactical advantage by shaking clear from this field in the opening quarter. A son of stakes-placed Sassabrass, Holy Is the Lord flopped first-out at Santa Anita, but showed much-improved speed in his local debut, and should be tighter on Tuesday as he makes the second start of the form cycle. The addition of blinkers may heighten his potent speed, and they may allow him to focus better on the task at hand. Holy Is the Lord finished ahead of a next-out winner in his most recent start, and should appreciate turning back in distance. He should be prominent when the field turns for home.
HIGH ON CHAMPANGE ran a pair of solid races at two, and was floated very wide into the stretch at Zia Park last time out. He will have to deal with a long layoff, but shows a bullet workout in preparation for this, and should be running hard in the lane. GRAN TENOR has yet to run to his pedigree as his dam won the Grade 3 Next Move Handicap going long, but he was hung outside in his local debut, and should improve with that race tucked under his belt. He shows a nice workout leading up to this race, and has the tactical speed to attempt first run on the top pick on the turn. Trainer Sal Gonzalez is only 3 for his last 69 going second off the layoff, however. MAJOR BUCKS is another that may improve in his second start of the year. His best races came against Oklahoma-breds at Remington Park, however, and he has yet to gain ground from the stretch call to the wire in his career.

The selection: Holy Is the Lord to win (5-2 odds or more)

YTD record based on starts, wins, top pick in the money, and profit/loss of that day's selection: 26-4-9 +($40.80)