Annisquam (#7, ML 6-1) returns in Thursday’s second race at Los Alamitos Race Course, a six-furlong starter allowance. It will be her first start since finishing first by 2 3/4-lengths in a maiden race June 7 at Santa Anita. The fourth- and fifth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.
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Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Thursday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
DRF Bets GamePlan
Closer looks for Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park, and Los Alamitos Race Course, and spot plays and live longshots for Belterra Park, Canterbury Park, Los Alamitos Race Course, and Penn National. Picks are chronologically listed, so you can build and plan your wagering day.
Trainer Stephen Dunn saddles Smart Kit (#2, ML 7-2) in Wednesday's seventh race at Indiana Grand, a six-furlong allowance optional claimer. Since Jan., 1, 2014, Dunn is winning at a 32 percent clip in allowances, for a return on investment of $3.62.
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CONQUEST STRATE UP
Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: July 1, 5th
Finish: 1st by 3 1/4
Beyer: 76
After missing the break, she rallied stoutly from eighth to win her debut going away in a turf sprint. The 3-year-old daughter of Queen’s Plate winner Not Bourbon could have a productive future in the Ontario-sired ranks.
ALERT BAY
Trainer: Blaine Wright
Last race: July 2, 7th
Finish: 4th by 4
Beyer: 84
An outside post, wide trip and speed-friendly race flow compromised this Cal-bred stakes runner. His effort was better than looked; can rebound July 26 in stakes at Del Mar.
SENTIERO ITALIA
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Last race: July 4, 10th
Finish: 4th by 3 1/2
Beyer: 92
No match for the unbeaten Lady Eli (who is?) but rallied four wide on the turn and finished willingly to be beaten less than a length for the runner-up spot in a swiftly run Belmont Oaks; Beyer Speed Figures continue to improve.
COMMENT: Owner and trainer Derek Ryan is quite high on Irish Jasper, saying he thinks she's the best 3-year-old filly in the country. That may seem a bit hyperbolic, but his filly didn't hurt his claim as she was an impressive winner here.
A very nice card on United Nations Day at Monmouth, with the better races on the back end. Here's a look at the late pick four.
Race 9
CASUAL SMILE impressed in that local maiden score, and she can repeat in her first start against winners if she's able to run back to that figure. EMPRESS MAKER ships in with a declining Beyer pattern, but she figures to improve against these as this is not an especially deep N1X turf race (2).
A's: 2, 4
B's: NONE
C's: NONE
