Race 1.     5-4

Holy Gold has one race, showed plenty of speed and a little bit improvement and it will be hard to keep her out. Summer Sally goes for Ru Rod who is good with debut horses. Very well bred for the sprint distances.

Race 2.     2-9-6-4

Sakara make a substantial drop in price in this very competitive affair. In his maiden win he established a good tracking position and closed well for the win. He’ll have to be able to do that today. Hotinthehamptons in one of the few that has shown decent speed and has been gelded since his last race. He’s also making a big drop in price. Tree Shaker just won at this price, although it was a NW2. It was  also his first turf race and was by far his best race. May have stumbled on the right formula. Mav just broke his maiden and while he’s eligible for a NW2 his Figues suggest he has a chance.

Race 3.     6-3-1

Erik the Red is a hard trying horse that has one a third of his starts at BEL. Linda Rice is good off the layoff and the horse has done well coming off rests in the past. Drops in half from his last race price. Second City ran better than looked in the Stud Muffin, especially considering he broke in the air and worked hard early to get into a pressing spot. Worth a look at the odds. Rockford is riding a two race win streak including the Kelly Kip. In his last nine races he hasn’t been worse than second. Hard to ignore.

Race 4.     10-5-3

Ditch Em puts the blinkers on for George Weaver. His last race was a big improvement and he’s well bred for this first start on the turf. Could be the one at a decent price. Spa Duchess has been off since last year, but is coming back in a claimer after a steady diet of MSW in 2015. Given how week the field is, he has to be given a serious look. Jennifer’s Legacy didn’t really show much first time out but she was coming out of an outside post and had to race wide. I have a feeling she has more talent than she exposed in that race and she should relish the longer trip.

Race 5.     3-7-5

Unbridled Juan sticks out in this field. He’s at the right price level, and he hasn’t been out of the money in his career. Not a high win type, but still has by far the best figures in the field. Sioux has plenty of speed and switches to the RuRod barn. Seems likeliest to give the favorite a battle in the stretch. Mills should be looking to make a move in the stretch. Fits the price level.

Race 6.     1-2-9-6

Slapstick is one of the runners with good turf experience. Has been off since last year and his two year old numbers look as good as any other horse’s three year old numbers. If he comes back filled out he’s the main contender. Stormin Stephen has run well on the turf and was gelded over the winter. Workout pattern suggests he should be ready. The Undersheriff has shown good speed and turns back to a sprint distance. Should be better suited for  six furlongs. Whatstotalkabout broke lazily in his maiden race on the inner. Figures to improve on the turf.

Race 7.     4-2-10-7

Summer Breezing is 2 of 4 on the BEL turf and has been working well for his return. Englehart is 39% off the long layoff and that is plenty of reason to put him on top. Runaway Posse goes off the long layoff for Mott who just put one over on Sunday. Great turf numbers. Dark Roast struggles to get home first but finishes in the money 70% of the time. Looks solid in the verticals. Asset Inflation should be setting the fractions in this way and may take the field wire to wire. Speed is always dangerous.

Race 8.     9-3-2

At Guard goes first time with winners and he made a big move forward with his maiden win. Should be the main speed and has some nice maintenance works. Economic Model looked promising in the Swale, but was outmatched in the Tampa Bay Derby. Fits much better in this group. Figures say he is competitive. Conquest Harlequin has two nice starts from the far outside posts and gets a much better position today. Another horse on the improve with good chances to beat this field.

Race 9.     4-6-1

Street Shark should benefit from the cutback to a sprint. His winning races suggest at his best he tops this field. The Imposter finished 2015 in good fashion, but seems to have needed his first two 2016 races.  This one is the third off the layoff and he looks ready to run his best. Red Creme ships in from California. Has an excellent win percentage and DJ seems to have gotten him moving in a good direction. Jose Ortiz takes the ride and that should help.