FIFTH RACE

ALWAYSMINING cruised to the front while three wide turning into the stretch of the Native Dancer only to be passed in the final sixteenth by the very consistent Someday Jones. Recent bullet workout allays fears of a bounce, the cutback in distance could work to his advantage and he figures to be rounding back into form in third start since summer layoff. BONUS POINTS might prefer a bit more distance to work with, but he is a pretty consistent closer that would benefit if this pace heats up. JOHN JONES stretches back out to favorite distance after chasing hot splits in a live $50,000 optional claimer. The winner of that race returned to finish third in the Say Florida Sandy Stakes with a 94 Beyer while the third-finisher came back to place in an optional claimer at Parx with a 95 Beyer.

SIXTH RACE

DUPREE ran into red-hot Charge to Victory, a horse that’s won four of his last five starts, in most recent effort at Penn National and was taken by barn that’s sent out three winners off the claim over the past six months. He’s going to have to prove himself against these solid stakes horses, but will offer value on the tote and should be forwardly-placed. THREES OVER DEUCES already has ten runner-up efforts in his career and he just couldn’t push past the leader in the late stretch of most recent optional claiming run. Worked out a good trip that day tracking horses while in between on the backstretch before easing three wide for a clear run turning into the lane. TIZ HE THE ONE looked good running down next-out Maryland Million Sprint winner Taco Supream (97 Beyer) and Wonderful Light (came back to run second in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight with a 92 Beyer) in the Challedon and has run well fresh. Dangerous late threat.

SEVENTH RACE

QUIET IMAGINATION bobbled at the start, then made a long four-wide bid into contention in the slower division of waiver maidens on December 26. Despite the ground loss, she was still punching on gamely to finish a solid second and now adds Lasix. Expecting a good stalking trip just off the speeds. BE GOOD is a half to a couple of winners by a sire that is 7 for 33 with debut runners. Quick recent bullet work for barn that is 3 for the last 13 (23%, $2.24 ROI) with debuting dirt sprinters. RACING MY FATHER a $2,700 weanling that was a $27,000 RNA back in June. Sire is 6 for 30 with his first-crop debut runners and this is the family of Maryland Juvenile Championship winner White Mountain Boy. Races without front shoes. QUEEN

OF TOMORROW just missed when returned to this level in the faster division last month and should be forwardly-placed when the real running begins. GROOVE shows a strong recent five-furlong workout in preparation for this.

EIGHTH RACE

ABSOLVED isn’t the most reliable sort with a 1 for 15 lifetime record, but he gave a good account last time out against the extremely promising Let’s Play Nine when four wide around the turn and into the stretch. Certainly a horse you’d like to use on the bottom of exotics as well. BENINTENDI has shown tremendous potential in two starts for Brittany Russell and he finished ahead of the top pick when buried down inside in first start against winners. Good trip coming either on the lead or just off the pace while in the clear and looms the horse to beat at an expected short price. BOBBY G raced on the deeper outside footing when necked by Sparty here thirteen days ago. Nine-time winner enters in excellent form and can’t be discounted although he’ll likely have to rally into a moderate pace.

NINTH RACE

BUCKED TOOTH has some excuses for recent short-priced flop. Don’t think he relished the sloppy going and he couldn’t get as forward as the rider wanted after being bumped at the start. Trainer Kieron Magee has four off-the-claim winners over the past ninety days. ALPHAS TEST looks like a private purchase after setting the fractions in that fast conditioned claimer and now gets blinkers for the first time. He has enough speed to work out a forward trip either on or close to the lead. ALL THE WRONG REASONS finished ahead of the top two picks last time out and was claimed by at barn that is 4 for 12 (33%, $3.23 ROI) off the claim over the past year.