ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, FREELOAD

FIRST RACE

RAY’SWARRIOR was in against stakes runners in each of his last two starts and he’s an obvious threat in this opener, against $30,000 optional claimers; the one to catch and beat for trainer Jason Servis, who is lethal with turf sprinters. NEW YORK’S FINEST is a winner of five of six career turf sprints; he was off the board in his latest but he prompted the pace in a race that set up well for the closers, and that was also a deep group. KEEP TALKING has only win in 11 career starts on the grass but he has faced some established turf sprinters along the way.

SECOND RACE

ON STRIKE is the first starter out of an unraced dam but what she lacks in pedigree power is made up somewhat by a decent work tab; needn’t be a star to win first out, as this looks to be an average group. SUPER TIGRESS has the best figures of those who have started; those Beyers were earned in sprints but the dam was best going long, posting two of her three career wins in routes. NO TIME TO PLAY flashed speed in sprints and will likely be looking for the lead today as she stretches out; her pedigree suggests she’ll be fine going long, as her lone sibling to start scored in a route and her dam posted her lone career win in a dirt route, and it was a stakes race (OBS Championship).

THIRD RACE

BRICKYARD KITTEN has won four of his last five starts, all at Laurel, and the Beyers he posted in those victories make him the one to beat today; he’ll be looking to come from off the pace but there is enough speed in this field to set him up for a late run. LAYTHATPISTOLDOWN has strong back figures and he’s another who figures to benefit from the expected race flow, that front-running try in an off-the-turf race last time notwithstanding; legit pace excuse two back. PERFORMANCE BONUS rallied some when last seen despite a relative lack of pace in the field; big drop for highpercentage outfit.

FOURTH RACE

MIDNIGHT BOUNTY has tactical speed and the rail, and that should enable her to work out a trip regardless of how this race shapes up; Beyers she has earned in New York this year stack up well with the locals. ROCKAROUNDTHEDOCK is quick from the gate and she’s a threat to steal this if she can avoid a duel with EXPRESSLY, TWOFOUR SIX OH ONE and perhaps others; was sharp this spring. EXPRESSLY, a winner of three of her last four, was sharp in victory in the slop in her latest and she figures prominently from the start once again here.

FIFTH RACE

FREELOAD settled for the place as the 6/5 favorite upon shipping to Monmouth for his latest, and that running line (and Beyer) very much makes him the one to beat here; has speed but can also rate, a trait shared by most successful turf sprinters. THE FORTY FACTOR has never raced this cheaply, and though he was off the board in his most recent but that was no easy trip, dueling for the lead from the start and tiring only late; it was also against much better. NO HONOR NO DEAL switches to the grass for Navarro, who wins at 24% with turf sprinters; both sire and dam were best routing on dirt.

SIXTH RACE

BYE CRAZY EYES comes into this off two straight wins, and while both were routes he hasn’t run badly when sprinting in the past; drop in price off those victories a little suspicious but he is tough to go past with that edge in figures. FIELD ADVANTAGE was an easy winner against a weak field of maidens but the resulting Beyer gives him cred-

ibility; could prove dangerous if loose on the lead.

MONEY MAKER would benefit if FIELD ADVANTAGE and SATURDAYNITEAFFAIR were to match strides early and create a race flow favorable to the closers.

SEVENTH RACE

BREXIT REVENGE is easily forgiven for the dull effort sprinting on the dirt last time out, as that is not her game; back routing on the turf here and her most recent figures under these conditions very much make her a top threat. TANDA’S JOY was game to get up over a step lesser in her most recent, and she also fits well based on that turf Beyer; clearly dangerous today based on that effort and figure. LEMON ZIP was off the board when she last tried grass but that was against better, and she didn’t run badly while posting a 64 Beyer; makes her first start off the claim.

EIGHTH RACE

EDEN RIDGE ships in from Finger Lakes with good form, having hit the board in four of his last five and with Beyers that fit nicely with the locals; he’s a closer, and is thus in need of pace, but there is some speed in this field and he should get a more favorable opening quarter than he did last time. SOCIAL STRANGER didn’t run his best race last time but if you’re willing to forgive that running line his prior efforts and Beyers are right in line with the top contenders; solid works since that last race add to the appeal. QUALITY ASSET was against the race flow in his latest, making that rally for the place better than it may appear on paper; also has the speed to contend early from his inside post.

NINTH RACE

PURE MAGIC was behind a couple of these three back but she didn’t have the easiest of trips, and while she finished 4th in both of her last two at Sartaoga those were races against better; closing style should suit her well here as the presence of several speeds should mean the stretch runners have the advantage. FASTER N BLAZES has been 1st or 2nd in each of her last four starts, in the process showing that she’s versatile enough to lead or rate; first start off the claim for trainer Tony Wilson, who is winning at 27% with such runners. ZENBENNIE outran a couple of speeds to set the pace last time but gave way late in a race which set up well for the closers; the one to catch, and she does fit based on figures, but she has had trouble lasting in general.

TENTH RACE

ROL AGAIN QUESTION was game in his first start off the long layoff, and nd while this drop in class in his 2nd start back can be viewed as a negative he needn’t run his best race to win this nightcap; also may have a pace edge, as he may get first run at CREATE A WINDSTORM. The latter could be the one to catch, and a loose lead against a short, paceless field is always a big advantage; will likely take them as far as he can on the front end. DARK ROAST has solid recent Beyers and he is clearly in good form, hitting the board in each of his last three; win percentage and relatively light price makes him tough to take on top but he’s certainly an exotics threat.