Poured yesterday, so the track will be muddy today. The form is still settling and the turf horses that decided to stay for the inner dirt are adjusting. The biggest issue with racing on the inner is that horses can unexpectedly pop up and run big, and it isn’t always obvious on form. Speed did not do well yesterday, although the track seemed fair from the rail to the middle.
Race 1 5-6-4
Home to Carrowkeel has two good learning races on the turf, and is dropping substantially for Michelle Nevin. The works are nothing special, but she is deadly with horses off the layoff. Hot on Ice should be the speed here. Crystal Rocket has been off a year and returned for Contessa on a sloppy track. Race wasn’t much, but surely she needs one or two to get back in the swing.
Race 2 2-3-7
Frosty Bay is another turfer looking to hang out on the inner for a while. She has a win on a wet track, is dropping in price for Schettino, has a win in three tries on the inner. Sidisinforthree has a good lifetime win percentage and jumps up a little for high percentage trainer Michael Pino. Ocean Boulevard just won for Violette, comes back with a decent maintenance work. Has a couple of thirds on the wet track.
Race 3 6-5
Silver Silence drops back to his winning level today. Has a win and a second on the wet track. Andromeda’s Rish should be the favorite but is about the same on paper with the 6.
Race 4 6-3-1
Bert Stone ran greenly last out but with the race under his belt and the trainer change to Gullo he looks to improve all the way today. Bensational was claimed last out by Quartarolo and he jumps him up today. His race in the mud first out was not bad considering he was off a beat slow. Better break puts him in the race. Mark My Style takes the blinkers off after showing a front running preference. Contessa is 13% with that move.
Race 5 5-7-2
Sweets Galore has a good wet track record and is good at the distance. Has the top number going into this one. Hoopskirt is 8 of 9 on the inner and has a high wet track rating. Taylor Jagger was claimed last out by Nick Esler. She is 2 of 4 on the inner and while she hasn’t won on the wet, she’s 4 of 5 in the money.
Race 6 7-1-6
Read the Mirage is 10-1 ML had some big numbers on the inner last year and was taken in a turf race by Thomas Morely. He came back on a good AQU track and ran toward the front early, weakening toward the end. Jose Ortiz stays aboard and if he shows the same interest on the inner as he did last year he looks best. Boss Daddy just missed in the slop in October and came back to finish within a neck of winning at AQU. Perfect American has 10 starts but has a second and third on the wet track and a third in two tries on the inner. Seems more likely to make the exotics than win the race though.
Race 7 2-9-7
Brother Ralphie broke his maiden on the inner and ran a nice third coming off a five month layoff for Linda Rice. She is 25% with second off the layoff. Sun Storm has been showing speed but no ability to stay strong in the stretch, but he drops to his lowest level and that may give him enough of an edge to stay in front. Blue Chips only is dropping way down for this and Englehart is 36% with the turf to dirt move.
Race 8 5-7-8
Lunar Rover has a win and a second on the wet track, including a nice muddy run last out. Led in the Ontario Derby into the stretch and is not facing nearly that competition today. Casiguapo was competitive in the Amsterdam then tailed off slightly. Came back at Parx to run a nice second in a NW1X. 2 of 4 on the wet track. Sassicaia broke his maiden on a sloppy track last out and will be one of those battling up front today. Having Chad Brown on your side counts for something.
Race 9 8-4-6
Socialasul looks far the best for Jacobson who is having a mediocre inner meet by his standards so far. Still, not so much to beat here. Lubango has a win over the inner and is 3 of 4 in the money on the wet track. Irad Ortiz replaces Izzy Rodriguez and that is a major bump up. Star of New York looks good enough to fill out an exotic ticket.