Litfin's preview: Plenty of turf action

Plenty of turf action

The main track is fast, but it will be in used for only three races (1, 3 and 7) on Sunday.

Six races are on the turf courses, which are still labeled good, topped by the $100,000 Wait a While for 3-year-old fillies.

The seven-furlong Wait a While will be run on the Widener turf, which has been swallowing up early speed throughout the meet. It did so again Saturday, when Chart Topper raced on a clear lead through the opening half-mile, but faded to third at 4-5 in the Paradise Creek Stakes.

The prevailing course profile works against Richies Party Girl, who led throughout three wins last year for Wesley Ward, including the Juvenile Turf Sprint against the boys on Breeders’ Cup Saturday.

The conditions favor Sweet Acclaim, who was purchased and sent to Chad Brown after a third in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket last fall. The two fillies that beat her, Miss France and Lightning Thunder, returned two weeks ago to run one-two again in the Group 1 1000 Guineas.

Three dropdown spot play for dirt

Race 1 – No one’s been hotter than Bruce Brown recently, and My Won Love looks like the right one as she goes turf to dirt and drops in with maiden claimers for the first time.

Race 3 – Tizmas has already won himself out for his current connections, and gets some class relief after chasing two fast paces since his Jan. 17 win over starter allowance types.

Race 7 – Deadicated Deal hasn’t run for a tag since his maiden win at Saratoga last year, and has been consistently faster than most of today’s opponents. He is a logical key for intra-race exotics with Acigarisjustacigar, Kid Blast, and Sense of Peace. Sense of Peace is a first-time gelding, but also wears a bar shoe first out since needing a ride home last July.