Race 1 Formulator PPs Closer Looks >> Race 2 Formulator PPs SANDCASTLE (#3, 6-1) has had a tough time getting that elusive second career win but several of those attempts came on the turf, and her dirt tries aren't bad; might be the right value play. -Kenny Peck Closer Looks >> Race 3 Formulator PPs Spot Play GHOSTLY WONDER (#2, 8-1) has been away since his maiden win at Arlington back in June but he's been working very well toward this return try; dangerous if he doesn't get too much pressure from AUGUSTA ROAD. -Kenny Peck   Closer Looks >> Race 4 Formulator PPs Spot Play   Closer Looks >> Race 5 Formulator PPs Closer Looks >> Race 6 Formulator PPs Spot Play GALTON (#4, 9-2) been freshened for 10 weeks after chasing the pace in two turn key race event; lone try here last year in debut was solid and been working very well locally. - Chuck Kuehhas   Closer Looks >> Race 7 Formulator PPs Closer Looks >> Race 8 Formulator PPs Shakertown Stakes by Kenny Peck From a gambling perspective, the Grade 3, $100,000 Shakertown is usually one of America's best turf sprints of the year. The 2014 edition, however, doesn't seem to be all that deep. That, unfortunately, seems to mean that the top contenders hold the advantage. SOMETHING EXTRA (#2) is one such runner. He was just a nose behind HAVELOCK (#6) in last year's Shakertown, and neither would be a surprise here. The former has been away since July but he runs well fresh, and the barn does well with absentees; the latter is a professional turf sprinter who is always tough under these circumstances. HAVELOCK has been on the shelf since November but he won the 2013 Shakertown off a nearly identical layoff. GANTRY (#13) is always tough, turf or dirt, and he comes off a win under similar conditions at Fair Grounds. There are some concerns, however, beginning with the fact that he's marooned out in post 13 after breaking from the rail last time. Also, he benefited from a great trip in that race, perfectly spotted behind a quick pace. Finally, this looks like a better field than what he faced there. He's capable, of course, and he's worth using in exotics, but the 5-1 ML price is about the bare minimum I'd accept. HOGY (#9), who comes into the Shakertown off a narrow loss against optional claimers on the dirt, is my top pick. He loves sprinting on the turf, and his best figures in such races are solid. He was no threat in this race last year after a dirt prep at Hawthorne but he was probably too far off the pace there. He has the speed to stay close, and he should be expected to be near the front-runners this time around, and that would help his chances. I'm playing HOGY to win, and in exactas with SOMETHING EXTRA, HAVELOCK and GANTRY.   Spot Play HOGY (#9, 5-1) is in good form, and he's a proven turf sprinter; capable of winning the Shakertown if he runs back to his best grass figures. -Kenny Peck   Closer Looks >> Race 9 Formulator PPs Madison Stakes by Marty McGee Little doubt that Judy the Beauty (#4) will prove tough as the 8-5 M/L favorite, not only because she’s been first or second in all but one of her 14 career starts, but also because the Poly and 7-furlong distance clearly play in her favor. She and Johnny V. will be sitting off some of the other lesser speed in here before making their presence felt in a big way. Still, isn’t there a way to get a little more value out of the race? Seems like Apropos (#2) is a filly sitting on a huge effort, while Better Lucky (#6) is a two-time Grade 1 winner who figures very dangerous on the turn-back and surface switch while fresh from a layoff. Neither would be a big surprise, while Byrama (#7) also could be a late screamer for part of the purse. The play: Tri and super part-wheels keying Judy the Beauty in the second and third holes, like this: 2/6 with 4 with 2/6/7; and 2/6 with 2/6/7 with 4. And you could always toss in some of the other fringe players, i.e., #8 and #9, in some of the super part-wheel using basically this same framework.   Live Longshot EDEN PRAIRIE (#9, 10-1) well drawn in outside post after setting pace in two turn turf affair; both tries on poly have been excellent, including one here, and barn had pair of double digit winners here Thursday. Chuck Kuehhas   Closer Looks >> Race 10 Formulator PPs Jenny Wiley Stakes by Marty McGee Great race, great betting race. You’ve got STEPHANIE’S KITTEN making her first start away from trainer Wayne Catalano, who had handled her from the start of her racing career as a 2-year-old in Chicago. She and CENTRE COURT, who won the 2013 Jenny Wiley, are the established elite here, but there are several 4-year-olds here with a chance to ascend to that position, particularly KITTEN’S POINT. I think there’s a decent chance Kitten’s Point goes postward higher than her 5-1 morning line, but she is at least moderately appealing even at that price. Whatever knocked the filly out of action following her third in the Ashland about a year ago has not compromised KITTEN’S POINT’s performance – not at all. She closed furiously to definitively outclass 10 N2X allowance foes in her Feb. 8 comeback, and was hard on the heels of Centre Court at the finish of the Honey Fox. Kitten’s Point was drawn in post 8 both those starts, and I love the rail draw for her here. There’s not a lot of pace, and with an alert break there’s no reason she can’t tuck in just behind the leaders while saving ground. She likes the KEE course, as evidenced by a good second at age 2, and if she still is coming into herself, as appears to be the case, this might be the most attractive price we see for awhile. I thought CENTRE COURT could evolve into the top female middle-distance horse in N. America last year, and her form totally went the other direction, but she returned from a long absence to win the Honey Fox looking just as good as the previous season, and she attempts to win the Wiley for the second year in a row while on the same pattern as 2013. I think there’s a good chance she produces a representative effort, but the widest draw and a somewhat short price opens might make it worth leaning elsewhere for a top pick. I want to see one from STEPHANIE’S KITTEN, who was sidelined at Saratoga and should be rustier than several capable foes. Smallest sample size possible beyond null, but her lone Keeneland run did not show the mare at her best. Next time? DISCREET MARQ, the primary pace, is playable. There was no shame in losing to Egg Drop to finish her 3-year-old campaign, and she had the feel of a horse who was just hitting her stride the last couple months of her 3-year-old season. Her speed has been entirely rate-able, and if she opens up at the three-sixteenths after a slow pace, look out. EMOTIONAL KITTEN ranked one notch below Discreet Marq last year, but could sneak into the bottom of exotics. FITFUL SKIES is a high-level performer but with no record of success at a distance this short, and may be prepping for something longer. The rest are up against it.   Closer Looks >> Race 11 Formulator PPs Blue Grass Stakes by Marty McGee Wow, what a betting race. Starting right off with an “against” mentality vis-à-vis Bobby’s Kitten (#5), as this race shape probably doesn’t suit his head-strong style, and there’s no way of knowing how he’ll handle the synthetic (and no reason to try to find out if he’s the favorite, as he most likely will be, in this kind of wide-open event). With him dismissed, there’s value galore to be had, and thinking that a couple of returnees from the Spiral could very well run lights-out here, those being Asserting Bear (#1) and Coastline (#11). Two others on the outside, Medal Count (#13) and Gala Award (#14), also figure well with their best efforts. Clearly this is a scramble that will call for crafty wagering to make a score, so without getting too specific, we’ll be assembling horizontal and vertical tickets using those four as key plays and wouldn’t object to any sprinkles that also use #3, #8, and #12. This race really could be a toteboard-rocker, so take your shots.   Vulnerable Favorite Willing to take a stand against BOBBY'S KITTEN (#5, 3-1), who makes his first-ever start on the main track in the Toyota Blue Grass; key to the race may be whether COLTIMUS PRIME pressures the favorite on the lead, as that would make his task that much more difficult. -Kenny Peck   Spot Play ASSERTING BEAR (#11, 15-1) was moving well in the late stages of the Spiral, and he ran a decent race in the Sam F. Davis two back, where he weakened late after making a run at the leader and eventual winner; tactical speed and inside post should ensure a good trip. -Kenny Peck Closer Looks >> Race 12 Formulator PPs Closer Looks >>