ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, HILLTOP HARMONY

FIRST RACE

DROP A HINT goes first time Pletcher, first time for a tag and first time turf in Friday’s opener. Bred for the going being a half to 4 time grass winners Refer and Advent and five time inner winner Imply. Main obstacle the extreme outside post. R CALLI KIM kin to $101K grass winner Temple City and has shown some grass in the a.m. prepping for bow. Might fit for this tag. SWIRLING CANDY had some trouble during latter stages of career bow when not badly beaten vs. MSW foes at the Spa. Another getting ample class relief to consider major player for a quarter.

SECOND RACE

HILLTOP HARMONY flattened out late behind Vicky Apple who Beyered 77 winning N3L for higher tag on 12/13, not facing that kind dropping back for this tag. MISS ALIPHANT got hung wide, never menaced returning locally last month while well behind preferred choice but willingly to give her a mulligan off that try. Might prove best of rest. MISS HELEN stretches out, might prove one to catch in field lacking any real early pace.

THIRD RACE

JADES GELLY didn’t get the best of trips when a beaten favorite for same tag here last month. Adds blinkers, working well for new connections off the claim. SUMMER SANGRIA takes blinkers off while trying selling company for first time in local bow. Best makes him one to catch. STORMY DERBY DAY has shown some promise over PM turf although is a full to Jasmine’s Gem who is winless in 9 starts on grass.

FOURTH RACE

RISK FOR REWARD a hanging sort and beaten favorite twice in last three starts but finally gets journeyman rider, might make the difference in this relatively soft spot. BLESSD BY THE BEST the preferred one’s former stable mate bled exiting third place finish vs. same kind in GPW finale. Working well at times for new connections off the claim. Looks like one to fear. WAR ACT tries a pair of shades while getting enough class relief to warrant some attention at a price in this spot.

FIFTH RACE

VERDICT IS IN the only multiple winner in this field and back to more suitable spot after being overmatched last time. HE’S SUPER LUCKY scratched vs. cheaper last week off solid maiden score. Must respect in current form. ITSMYLUCKYKNIGHT also exiting fast closing maiden win for lesser tag while showing big improvement with addition of Lasix. Must step forward from a Beyer standpoint but looks capable of springing upset with expected forward move.

SIXTH RACE

Any number of potential options in this extremely wide open and intriguing MSW affair on grass.

HOLY MEISTER ran well off the bench last time in what figures to be much needed outing and working well over PM turf subsequent to that try. switches to more experienced pilot. Shaky call with a trip. STARE DECISIS and stable mate RAKEEZ turned in promising debuts despite being dead on the board when launching their respective careers last fall in N.Y. Both likely to improve from those efforts. Senator certainly bred well enough to score at first asking being kin to G1 turf winner Nekeid and G1 placed Sea Queen. Barn certainly capable of having him ready for best off bench.

SEVENTH RACE

ONE FINE RIDE a distant third from impossible post stretch back to a mile last time now draws inside and taken to stalk, run down leaders with forward move. IL FARAONE defeated preferred one narrowly under similar conditions here out

of mile chute during the summer but as always at the mercy of the pace and traffic issues with his come from behind style. SI ES GOYA logical off most recent showing when run down late by Il Faraone, hard to leave out of the equation for at least a share.

REGAL ROMANCE hung wide both turns, could not quite overcome the ground loss when a beaten favorite vs. this same kind on 12/13. Irad stays. One more chance. CHICLET’S DREAM has a bit of hang to her as well but well spotted on the drop off good showing behind in form winner trying condition claimers for first time in N Y finale. Should handle the added ground. ELITE APPEAL stretches out off useful sprint showing when dropped to this category for first time at GPW. Another who could benefit from all the potential pace in this lineup.

NINTH RACE

SNIPER SHOT and Hidden Scroll obviously huge question marks returning from long layoffs in today’s main event. Former ran monster when last sighted last April, dueling, succumbing late to next out turf SW Pole Setter while easily outlasting subsequent G1 placed Borracho. Shows up a new gelding and with plenty of foundation under his belt in the a.m. VINCERO back in peak form, loves the track and seems to have lured Irad off red hot Vinnie Van Go. Figures to offer some value moving to new barn off the claim. HIDDEN SCROLL needs no introduction locally having been a beaten favorite in three consecutive starts including both the FOY and Fla. Derby last spring. Must respect but perhaps worth siding against off the bench at another short price.

TENTH RACE

Must respect ALGODONAL current form despite the hike to an even tougher spot jumping up with N3L’s for first time in the finale. Beat next out N2L winner Fantastic Kingdome handily in 3yo finale. YAKO logical off that last one when posting big Beyer in first two turn start for this tag. TRIXIE’S TIME looks loose on the lead today after having no such luxury in off the turf even last time. Should take ‘em a long way if able to relax up front.