ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, SALIERI

FIRST RACE

OXESOME checked in second ahead of Vinyasa when returning to action in a lesser seven-furlong sprint. She broke her maiden around two turns, and has the second-time Lasix angle going for her in this $15K NW2 route. CLASSY VISION rallied for third in both of her seven-furlong allowance starts at Fort Erie in June. Her 1 1/16-mile form on Tapeta is mediocre, but this third race off the shelf should be a good one. OUR EYES TOUCHED beat three next-out winners when earning her diploma with the aid of a rail bias Dec. 8.

SECOND RACE

LOKINFORPURSEMONEE stalked the leaders before making a bid into second behind a fitter rival in his comeback vs. $7.5K stock. The classy 6yo should take some beating in this rock bottom $5K contest. OPTIC, a rapid gelding from B.C, has been working fast on dirt and the Tapeta here in preparation for his first start in eight months. His six-furlong record is poor, but note that 6 1/2 furlongs at Hastings was within his range when things went his way. CAT ZAPPER figures to garner some of the scraps in his second start back.

THIRD RACE

SPRING IN THE WIND is questionable on the grass, but the classy 6yo is probably the most talented distaffer in this $25K claimer. She merits billing with Wilson aboard. MIZZONA has a pretty good record over this roomy course, but her hanging tendencies make her a dicey win proposition. Stretch-runner REXDALE is dropping out of a firstlevel allowance. She defeated $25K NW2 opposition after coming from left field over this course last summer.

FOURTH RACE

COURT RETURN was knocking on the door last summer, before tailing off in the fall. The halfsister to G1 turf stakes winners Channel Maker and Johnny Bear has found a field that she can handle in this light OS/$40K event. BIG CHEEKS

and JLOHR JAN are both dropping from open maiden special to where they could both wake up. The latter missed the break before finishing seventh of 14 in her debut on opening day.

FIFTH RACE

DARLIN FOREVER checked in fourth the only time she saw action last summer in an abbreviated dash at Hastings. She’s adding blinkers, and her trainer began the meet on a positive note with his comebackers. MERINO WOOL improved to third when dropping to this level in her second race off the shelf June 18. VICTORIAN MOON is descending to a new low off a prominent second in her seasonal bow, while shedding the blinkers.

SIXTH RACE

SALIERI was softened up in a speed duel when meeting $40K claimers in his season debut. He’s dropping to a spot where his speed could carry him all the way, with leading rider Hernandez taking over. OCCASIONAL VIEW wasn’t up to snuff in a tough starter handicap in his 12yo bow, a race which should set the 18-time winner up nicely for this $25K tilt. CARMENOOTZ also struggled in his comeback against tougher. He’s being reunited with Salles, who was aboard for both of his longshot scores last July.

SEVENTH RACE

RAPID BEAT was a front-running third in two turf sprints last year, including a five-furlong dash on the inner course. The son of Souper Speedy has been working fast at Penn National, and could take some catching in his first start since the fall. GASCONADE came from fifth for second when coming off the sidelines in a five-furlong tilt on the Tapeta. The hanging 7yo is equally adept on either local surface. STATION ROCK closed three-wide from off slow splits for second in his seasonal bow on the main track.

EIGHTH RACE

JERSEY DIAMOND is by the under-rated 14% firstout sire Jersey Town, and the Ky-bred is a fullbrother to two winners, including one who scored at first asking. The gray/roan has worked quickly for a trainer who can have one ready. JACOBS CALL was only an early factor on debut at Hastings in September. The full-brother to the speedy stakes winner Goldstryke Glory could improve significantly in his first try for trainer Terry Jordan. CANADIAN SECRET is plunging from maiden special company to where he could get back on track. Use him underneath in the exotics, along with JOIN THE CLUB.