ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, J C’S PROUD KITTEN

FIRST RACE

BUY TWAY MAY isn’t the flashiest of these maidens in the 12:25 ET opener, and she’s had more chances than any of these others, but her Beyers and overall consistency make her the one to beat; not only does she have top jock Centeno retaining the mount but also has a much-needed race over the local surface. STORM CRY turns back from longer distances in Ky. as young trainer slaps on some blinks; logical contender. QUEEN OF SWAG also adds blinks after switching barns and taking some regrouping; could come firing out early from her rail slot.

SECOND RACE

Sure seems like Dennis Ward has made a timely claim in HIGH HEEL LADY, who salvaged this 2x/6m condition when beaten a zop here 16 days ago; similar effort makes her rather obvious at a low number. SEDUCTIVE was an OK 5th in the same Dec. 6 contested by the top pick; also stands to benefit from the race over the track. EL OF A CAT comes well drawn in the open-air outside box and could be along late to help end the tricks.

THIRD RACE

Tough getting around not only that gaudy 80 Beyer that VINO ROSSO earned in his debut last month at Big A, but also the fact Johnny V. is making the trip over from GP for his lone mount of the day; something on the order of 2-5 seems about right for a pricey Curlin colt who stands to move up the Derby rankings for Repole/Viola with another eyecatcher. MOVES LIKE MOLASSES should trip out from his rail slot to end a tiny exacta, with maybe LEOPOLD having enough to end the tri.

FOURTH RACE

Trainer Efren Loza Jr. recently surpassed the $1 million mark in stable earnings for the first time, and he’s liable to add to that number if J C’S PROUD KITTEN can rebound off the last disappointment at Gulf West; turf-bred filly sure doesn’t seem to face much here, and should find herself in a prime spot with Gallardo pushing the buttons; call it the day’s best. Right alongside, SALSA DELIGHT gets first Lasix and the hedge when liable to improve over her opening-day tightener; rightful share-shot. KURINGAI fared OK in her first route for a barn (Boyce) that tends to do its best with grassers.

FIFTH RACE

Way-wide-open bottom-rung conditioned nickel could get its winner from any of a half-dozen or so, but here’s a guess that MOONSHINER can improve off his Dec. 8 race to be a major threat; will need to overcome an outer post after the speed gets leg-weary; one of numerous possible scenarios. BOURBON HAPPENS was third as the favorite in a similar spot here Dec. 1; comes grinding again. LOVE TREE was overmatched in his last two and now comes more reasonably spotted.

SIXTH RACE

That was a fairly decent run that carried SHE’S A DOWNTOWN GIRL from last into midstretch contention for this same $25k-N3L condition 3 Fridays ago; settled for third that day, but this consistent homebred can move up further this time given another clean inside trip. STASHA MINASHA steps up in class off a game victory over the local course; let’s see that again. DEPUTY DORA put in a decent effort to start out her meet; can grab a minor share again.

SEVENTH RACE

Benny Feliciano won with 2 of his first 3 starters to begin his Tampa meet and could further fuel that hot start with FANCY PINSTRIPES, who jams right back for the N2L bottom tag following a runnerup effort for prior connections; clearly the one to

beat. MIGHTY MINI figures to loom prominently as the outside speed; only a matter of time before the Bennett barn starts to get hot, right? PHOENIX

RISING has run two solid races here since arriving from Jersey.

EIGHTH RACE

Sustained rally from well back was enough to get ENDURING HONOR thru an N3L-$25k condition, and now Derek Ryan makes a reasonable move by dropping him in for an open $16k; fits as well as any in another tough heat. GREAT HARBOUR CAY just missed at this same level in his local debut after leading all but the final yards; one to catch once again. NATURAL ORDER, RIZWAN and BRIDLES HOLIDAY all merit respect among a wellmatched group.

NINTH RACE

Turning back to 6 panels probably not a bad idea at all for PUT THE BOSS BACK, who seems tractable enough to fare much better than in his Gulf West farewell as he now adds Gallardo; capable under right circumstances. RELENTLESS STRIKE adds blinkers on the drop after getting a race over the track; Nations about to end his best-ever year with some $2.3M in stable earnings; typical rep here. GREELY IS BACK is 16-for-29 in the money and goes for a life’s-low tag as yet another legit challenger.

TENTH RACE

Been a career-best year, too, for Kelly Rubley, whose stable has knocked out more than $1.2M, most of it on grass; have to like her placement of BOMBONERO out of those big-field starters in Maryland; perhaps a slight class edge here for a Gunpowder homebred who takes added benefit of Gallardo in the saddle. UNBRIDLED PIPER was no factor in his first two tries for Wright, but this spot seems to represent a measure of welcome class relief; must overcome the tricky post. FAST FLYING FRED rates a share-shot at a price after returning from a layoff with a decent effort vs. lesser just a week ago.