Another competitive day. I haven’t yet found a horse to load up on, but eventually the form will settle and we’ll find some big winners. Meanwhile, here’s today’s picks.

Race 2      1-4-6

Harlans Belle has been dropping steadily in 2015. She has plenty of tactical speed and Cox has been good with this sort of dropper. The reluctant choice in a field that is pretty untalented overall. Backwater just broke her maiden and drops to a level where she has a chance to double up. Pushme Pullyou broke her maiden on the dirt, ran a couple of clunkers on the turf and is back on the dirt today. At 12-1 she’s a good angle play.

Race 3      3-1-7

These two year old state-bred races are usually wide open affairs. Fish Trappe Road has a good start at CD and is probably dropping in class. Calhoun is a respectable 23% with second time maidens and about the same with two year olds. Giggy Smooth has a nice workout pattern for Chris Englehart. The trainer/jock combo has been effective in the last two years. I had to choose between the two Pletcher entrants and decided to go with the longer odds. They both look good but Sudden Surprise gets number one jock with Johnny V.

Race 4      4-1-7

Palace is a successful Grade 1 winner and drops into a state-bred stakes. If he is right he overwhelms this field. Weekend Hideaway jumped his shadow last out but prior to that was competitive in restricted stakes. Castellano was the winning jock last time he won. Moonlight Song has won sprinting at SAR and should be the first to the front.

Race 5      5-9-10

Kentucky Road goes for Pletcher/Castellano. She’s very well bred for the turf sprint and she has some nice workouts at SAR. I’m a little hesitant to go to the outside in a short turf sprint, but I liked the connections and the workout patterns. Country Muse has a pattern I especially like – a fast 3 furlong work followed by a comfortable series of four furlong works. Mike Maker is good with first timers and two year olds. Catch a Glimpse has been working very well for top trainer Mark Casse and is another well bred for the turf sprint.

Race 6      1-5-8

Right On Kitten has obviously been over her head in stakes races. She’s at home on the turf and should get good position coming out of the one post. Wealth Creation goes for the talented Chad Brown barn and gets a new rider in Irad Ortiz. She only has four races so there is much room for improvement and she fits this level. Although Rock Me Again is coming from outside, she has enough speed to establish position early. She’s another who fits well in this group.

Race 7      8-11-7

Justlookatmenow has been racing in shorter sprints and should be able to clear the field if she chooses. She was over her head in the ALW/Stakes races but should have no trouble being competitive with this field. On A Star has one excellent race at this distance and may benefit from the cutback.

Race 8      5-2-8

Il Mulino goes for the white-hot Mott/Lezcano combination. He should be in the early battle and has shown decent heart when challenged. Regia Marina has a solid closing kick and should relish the distance. Say Cin Cin looked good in her last and is another that should relish the distance. Bond looks like he has gotten the horse acclimated to SAR and should have her ready to roll.

Race 9      7-3-10

Lady of Gold has been having trouble winning but does like the SAR surface. She’s coming out of a graded event and should be strong at the distance. Regardez has been so-so in her two North American starts, but was graded stakes placed in England. Chad Brown is usually reliable about placing his horses correctly and I’m looking for improvement today. Chocolatier should be contesting the early pace and she should be able to get good position even coming out of the ten. At 10-1 she looks interesting.

Race 10   3-6-9

Shotgun Love looked close to breaking through at the MSW level. She failed on the turf, and goes back to the dirt dropping down to a lower MCL level. Hard to pick against her. Devil’s Silent just finished second at this level. Cuts back half a furlong and should enjoy the shorter trip. She’s All Even has come close in her last two but will have to show more heart to get the win. Still, she’s worth looking at in the exotics.