Race 1

• 2 Player to Be Named – Jimmy Soul looks very strong in this field, but the 2 has shown a lot of speed and if the track plays well to front runners she’s got a chance here. At 10-1 she represents the value in the race, especially since she is a filly running against the boys. She has been racing with slightly better and the drop down in price should help.
• 5 Jimmy Soul – despite being seen as a world beater, he was an eight start maiden when the switch to Rudy Rodriguez and a sloppy track woke him up. He does have an impressive number and perhaps will win for fun, but they don’t run races on paper.
• 4 Brother Ralphie – has two races on the inner dirt, one on a fast track one in the mud, and two races on the turf. He won the race on the fast dirt and although he’s been off a while he’s got some useful works and Linda Rice is fair with layoff horses.

Race 2

• 4 Mallory Street – two seconds and a third in three lifetime races. She had been off over a year, returned at BEL and ran a clear second to True Romance. She’s had a work since then and looks good to break her maiden in this race.
• 2 Hijaab – three spaced races indicates some physical issues, but she has shown good early foot and has a couple of nice works since her last.
• 6 Blooper – One race where she broke from the far outside and stayed wide throughout but still managed to find her way to fourth. Michelle Nevin trains and she’s been having a good AQU meet with limited starters.
• 3 Full of Sugar – Hennig has been fair with layoff horses and this one has been off since the spring at GP. Irad takes the ride and that is a plus. If she improves from her previous races she’s a contender.

Race 3    (off the turf)

• 5 Senso – the Jacobson trainee, has some experience on the dirt. Concern is her ability to stay the distance, but this is a very weak field.
• 4 Lil’ Zilla – has some speed. Only has one race on the dirt, and that was on a sloppy BEL track. She made a big move mid-race in that one and flattened in the stretch. Another with a shot.
• 9 Bi Light of Day – six starts on the dirt and three in the money finishes. Is a 17 start maiden, and normally that is a red flag, but given the ambiguity of the race, you can’t discount any horse that has shown some ability on the dirt.

Race 4

• 4 Socialsaul – has three in a row and no reason he won’t make it four. Has a nice pressing running style and Cornelio stays aboard. May not be dominant but looks best.
• 1 Holy Invader – had been off eight months and came out to run a nice third to favorite Socialsaul.  No reason to expect the tables to turn today, but looks second best.
• 8 Chrisandlorisposse – ten starts this year, mostly against better competition. Could pick up some of the pieces.

Race 5

• 7 Saint Finian – won on the BEL mud last out and jumps up slightly in price. Irad stays for the ride. Definitely will depend on how the track is playing. If it is kind to the wider closers, his chances increase.
• 2 Midnight Taboo – was racing well late last year and early this year. Took a vacation and has shown very little in two starts. Takes a big drop today and given he has good tactical speed, may have found a field easy enough to beat.
• 3 Sir Bond – ran a good third last out and Chris Englehart puts the blinkers on today. 2 for 28 record not inspiring, but could get a piece.
• 5 Run for Logistics – should set the early fractions and is in with much cheaper than he’s ever seen. Has the figures to be a factor here.

Race 6

• 10 Inaflash – has been competitive all year. Has two thirds on the AQU dirt and competitive figures.
• 7 Mama Zee – has good tactical speed, although she didn’t look too good in her last when she got taken back by Rudy Rodriguez. It was only a few short months ago she was running in a minor stakes. Might be able to prosper with the price drop.
• 1 Blue Ballerina – although the 1a looked to be the stronger of the two Barrera runners, the 1 has the best speed. She does seem to have developed chronic seconditis – in 30 starts she has three wins and ten seconds. Still, should be competitive in this group.
• 2 Hoopskirt – another suffering from seconditis. Took a year off, came back and never got into her last race. May improve enough to catch a piece.

Race 7

• 5 Freudie Anne – in the battle of the Anne’s, I’ll go with the 5. She broke her maiden in fine style at BEL on the turf, returned in a state-bred stakes and never got into the race. She drops to a claiming race and should have much better prospects today.
• 8 Building Permit – Chad Brown trainee stays for the dirt race after  clobbering a field at BEL in the mud. Can’t argue with Brown’s success and go to guy Castellano gets the ride.
• 1a In Spite of Mama – MTO makes it in. Was beaten soundly by Building Permit and then came out to do the same to a MSW field. Should improve with a drier track.
• 10 Brockolini – Comes of a debut win. Has the number to be first to the wire.

Race 8

• 5 Irish Whisper – Was running well in the spring, took six months off and came back in the Iroquois where he showed a little speed but backed up badly. Obviously needed the race. Have to expect improvement today.
• 9 Storm Swept – Jerkens trainee is making the crucial third start of a layoff and has gotten better. Topped last year’s best number in her last out, and that is a really positive sign.
• 4 Sun and Moon – Good tactical speed but a tendency to hang. Did finally break her maiden two back and didn’t run badly in her first with winners. Perhaps now that’s she’s found what it is like to finish in front she’ll repeat the feat.
• 2 Irish Sweepstakes – hasn’t been with nearly this good, but does have 3 wins in 9 starts lifetime. Rosario takes the mount and that is a positive.

Race 9

• 15 Net Gain – second time starter for Mott and everyone knows his horses improve with experience. Has a great number but will have to find a way to get into the race from the far outside.
• 6 Battle Red – has shown a lot of speed on the turf but has one good race on the dirt. Pletcher trains and Johnny V rides, and that usually leads to paydirt.
• 12 Manchurian – debuted on the dirt at a mile and a sixteenth, a tough job for any firster. He ran a decent third in that one, and should be a factor today.
• 2 High Noon Rider – gets Lasix today for George Weaver. Hasn’t run that badly and if he takes to the dirt and improves he has a big shot.