Today has a a series of very competitive races and almost every race has a full field. The effects of the weather are apparent as trainers scramble to find any spot for their under-raced charges.

Race 1      1-4-3

Thug Daddy is rapidly approaching professional maiden status but has the numbers to be in the mix. Roman Magic is a two start maiden, which I like. His last was on a sloppy track, but he ran into a buzz saw that day. I’d like him a lot more if he had better than a 1 for 55 trainer and a 1 for 24 jockey. Robert Noble is dropping in price and was second at this level last out. Tough to come up with three after the scratch of the 2.

Race 2      6-8-1

Shotgun Love ran a bang-up race first time out for Schettino, just missing in a good time. She looks like the best speed and the only question is whether she will be able to hold it all the way home. Stonely Heart just missed in the same race as Shotgun Love and has run well fresh previously. Should be a major contender. Hatta’s Appeal is 20-1 ML but did show some interest against the two above. With some improvement she could be part of the finish.

Race 3      9-3-6

Warm Heart won her maiden at a $25K tag, and drops down to near bottom level claiming today. She seems well suited to the mile distance and likes the inner. Missy Bay drops down for Schettino in search of her second win. She should be running mid pack and if she’s got any steam in the stretch she’s the danger. Raelyn Jane also drops after running with slightly better at FL. Chris Englehart is good with layoff runners, although she’s going to have to show a lot better than she did last season on the inner.

Race 4      4-8-9

Marvino stumbled out of the gate last out and never ran a step. Prior to that he ran a dueling second at GP. He’s got a good style and his numbers compare favorably with the others in here. Astron  was second last out, well ahead of third place finisher Norman’s Hero. Gullo has done well lately and is having a spectacular winter meet. Mizner Park is dropping way down for Contessa and it looks like the right move. Last out a bumping incident at the start caused the jockey to lose the whip and while he pressed the pace for a while, he had no finish at all. He hasn’t flourished on the wet tracks and perhaps a drier surface will help. The switch from Manny Franco to Wilmer Garcia isn’t inspiring but there are a lot of other positives.

Race 5      2-4-7

Colonel Juanita was reclaimed last out by Danny Gargan who is quietly having a successful AQU meet. She’s one of a group that has the numbers to win the race but she may have the best combination of speed and close. Matching Skies should be the front runner here. She hasn’t run a bad one in a while and has shown a definite liking for the AQU inner. Pura Vida Zen was grabbed last  out by Steve Klesaris. She has competitive figures and Klesaris is dynamite first off the claim.

Race 6      2-7-5

Percussion drops slightly in claiming price in search of a  win for Todd Pletcher. He’s shown lots of front running ability. He’s been running with better retricted stakes runners and seems to have a liking for the inner. The down side is that he hasn’t found the winners circle in over a year. If the track isn’t being kind to speed, he’s definitely up against it. Divine Child goes for the hot Jason Servis. Divine Child has won at a 25% clip and he’s looking for two in a row. Lieutenant Seany O drops way down in search of  win. He should be able to press today and is the best closer in the field.

Race 7      4-8-3

S’maverlous has had all his success on the inner. He ran a good second last time in his first out in almost a year. Should handle the stretch out with no problems. Doc Daneka won his maiden by a city block last time and jumps up today. We’ll see if he is as good as his maiden looked. Inca Saint has been consistently in the money but has had trouble cracking the winners circle. His last was his best since being grabbed by Bruce Brown and with some improvement perhaps he finds his way home.

Race 8      10-8-5

Loki’s Vengeance goes for the Mike Hushion barn. Given Hushion’s hospitalization we’ll make him the sentimental favorite He’s been effective in state-bred stakes and should be fine in this allowance condition. He’s been off three months but has been effective fresh before. Frisky Warrior goes for the tag for D’Allessandro. He was off three and a half months and ran an even race against a few of the others in here. At 20-1 I’m giving him a long look. Green Gratto would be a little more interesting to me if David Smith was not training. His last was good in the slop, but he’s been short in his races for a while now. Possible but not a sure thing by any means.

Race 9      3-9-2

Savant was buried by the talented Doc Daneka last out but wasn’t far behind second place finisher Fictionalcharacter. Given he only has three starts improvement is more likely than for the other contenders. Mangold was squeezed at the start and raced greenly in his first out. He was bet a little in that one and Bruce Brown is fair with second time maidens. Worth a look at 12-1. Fictionalcharacter is a ten start maiden who is usually in the vicinity at the finish. Looking for a field that he can finally beat.