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By Marty McGee |
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BEST BET: Congrats That (9th race) |
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1. Storm the Bridge |
2. King of Rock |
3. Gran Old Parr |
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The 4-day race week ends with an 11-race Sunday card that will be run in mid-80s temperatures and amid the possibility of thundershowers (all selections here made for ON turf). Looking for STORM THE BRIDGE to redeem in the 12:45 ET opener as a beaten even-money favorite when switching over to the grass for Crichton; speed needing to be doled out carefully by Juarez. KING OF ROCK takes a major plunge for Gargan after running-off at two turns; the $12.5k tag and the shorter distance clearly can make a difference. GRAN OLD PARR sheds blinkers for new connections after showing big speed in 2 slop tries. |
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1. Royal Approval |
2. Campanelle |
3. Kodiak Mamba |
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The "supercharged" $65k purse for this 2yo turf sprint, predictably, brings out (presumably) a swarm of capable young'ns from heavy-hitting barns (Ward, Casse), and why not. Gotta think the Three Chimneys homebred ROYAL APPROVAL will be sitting on 'go' for Wesley, and the filly comes well drawn in an outer post when facing colts at first asking, a move that's outside-the-box for most trainers (but not WW); expecting some real quicks. A second Ward filly, CAMPANELLE, could loom the main threat; Stonestreet color-bearer has had plenty of turf prep up in Boynton. KODIAK MAMBA reps the Casse barn, which unveiled a rocketship Thursday in Kentucky (Beautiful Memories); part of a promising crop of babies for the HOF-elect trainer. |
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1. Ingreido |
2. Makabim |
3. Federal Case |
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Difficult to get past the back-to-back open-lengths triumphs by INGREIDO in making it to this N3L level, not to mention the valuable experience he's gotten along the way; well-gauged Rajiv ride will help in this toughest assignment yet. To his inside, MAKABIM can pick up some serious late pieces when returning from a nearly 3-month layoff for Danny; would be helped by a quick tempo up ahead. FEDERAL CASE, once promising, is with his 4th trainer (Maker) from his last 7 starts; back-class to work with. |
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1. Kozy Dreams |
2. Chillin Lady |
3. Little Miss Macho |
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Looks like KOZY DREAMS is rounding into form for a barn that haltered her at the championship meet for a slightly higher tag than the $16k that awoke her earlier this month; belated just-miss surge in that May 8 attempt came after some early traffic trouble; all set to graduate. CHILLIN LADY gets a brand new start for an outfit (O'Connell) that's obviously much better than the meet stats suggest; raw speed to be effectively harnessed. LITTLE MISS MACHO clearly hasn't panned out, but there's probably something to salvage from this $170k yearling buy. |
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1. Tapizar King |
2. Mammoth |
3. Maquiavelo |
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Seven-month layoff begs a big question, but if TAPIZAR KING can run back to that first-and-only from last October, clearly he'd be a tough customer vs. these low-level turf-sprinting mdn.-claimers; tote play might provide valuable insight in a race lacking much encouragement elsewhere. MAMMOTH didn't show much when facing some of the same rivals that resurface here from the key May 15 off-the-turf race, i.e., MAQUIAVELO and AWESOME ENOUGH; still, it's Klesaris, who tends to do his best work with turf sprinters, and this guy has yet to do grass yet. Maquiavelo is coming around a bit. |
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1. Tara |
2. Got It Made |
3. Buxom Beast |
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TARA is closing in on it, isn't she, having been beaten a half-length, a head, and then a nose in her last 3 starts? Arindel homebred might be staring yet another runner-up finish in the eye as Chad unveils a well-prepped Uncle Mo firster in the rail-drawn GOT IT MADE, but it's hard to knock the consistency and gameness she's shown to date; tenuous nod in what shapes up as another stern challenge. BUXOM BEAST comes a sleeper from the outer box after taking months of McPeek regrouping. |
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1. Lady Noguez |
2. Kayseri |
3. Miss My Macho |
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That was a pretty solid first try under the Hess banner by LADY NOGUEZ, who now takes a subtle drop within these open ranks for 3yo turf fillies; another persistent stretch run will be required amid this well-matched lineup to finish the job. KAYSERI exits the same May Day race in which the top pick was 2nd behind MISS MY MACHO; early restraint while biding her time along the hedge would seem a sensible tactic. Miss My Macho draws the difficult 12-hole when out to show her $15.60 last-out score was no fluke. |
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1. Belle Tapisserie |
2. Frosted Grace |
3. Where Paradise Lay |
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The oft-claimed BELLE TAPISSERIE surely has a physical issue or two that keeps him from racing more often, but when he does, he often shows his stuff; looking for him to trip out beautifully from his open-air outside box when sharp and eager from Joey O's patient handling. FROSTED GRACE, who has defeated the top pick in a couple of meetings already this year, is the one to overcome; back as the runner-up as the odds-on choice in an identical spot 3 Sundays ago. WHERE PARADISE LAY was a mild upset victor in that Mother's Day summit; now with Downing after being haltered for a second straight start. |
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1. Congrats That |
2. Freddy Soto |
3. Overnight Success |
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CONGRATS THAT fought back along the rail to win this same kind of turf sprint 4 Sundays ago, validating his 2-back effort at 22-1, and now he again gets the outer box, from where he'll load-and-go in taking another fight right to them; make him the day's best. FREDDY SOTO got the better of the top pick in their April 11 clash, but things have changed, haven't they, since then; still, he's proven at this level. OVERNIGHT SUCCESS looks like he'll be tough for the $16k, but thinking Louie's charges might be needing a race or two. |
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1. Whiskey Sunrise |
2. Krammy Boy |
3. He's Smokin Now |
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Superior Beyers and the tactical ability of WHISKEY SUNRISE make him an alluring candidate in this first-level alw. for state-breds; might just be seeing Yates in the winner's circle (via your TV screen) twice in a half-hour. KRAMMY BOY exits the lower-level claiming ranks to take a crack at this $41k purse, and why not; recent starts say he's very much on his game. HE'S SMOKIN NOW stands to benefit from his latest start for Tampa kingpin Bennett. |
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1. Bramble Bay |
2. La Cara Bonita |
3. Private Message |
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Forward effort in the 4/30 comebacker by BRAMBLE BAY should set her up nicely for her 2nd start, assuming (as with all the other prior turf races today) that this stays on the grass; decked was stacked against her in that off-turf race, considering the layoff and the slightly higher tag; DeeNee calls on Jersey Joe to get this done. LA CARA BONITA was sharp in her first try for Hess; early rating here liable to produce a more favorable result. PRIVATE MESSAGE has never been tried on turf, so maybe Pilotti is angling for the race to be transferred to dirt; either way, this filly is OK. |
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