It was a great day of racing yesterday capped by the impressive win by Tonalist in the JCGC. Today features the two year old turf races that will define the main BC contenders.

Race 1

• 7 Delta Outlaw – puts the blinkers on for Weaver and gets a rider switch to Franco. Ran evenly around the track last time at MTH and improvement can be expected.
• 3 Prima Storm – Clement trainee has a nice series of works for this one and gets the services of Rosario. Clement always dangerous with first time turfers.
• 2 Battle Red – has shown a lot of speed and has the highest figures of any of the starters, but you have to question his heart in the stretch. No surprise if he wins, but no odds either.
• 8 A Lot – Second time starter for Mott and we all know Mott is ineffective with first timers. Didn’t break well in his last, showed mild interest while wide of horses and was ridden out. Could be any kind at this point.

Race 2

• 5 Alexa’s Spirit – First start was in a state bred stakes at FL. Ran evenly in that one after breaking poorly. Very  nice gate work at KEE a week ago. Looks much speedier than the first race would suggest and should revel in the one turn mile.
• 3 Persuasive Devil – caught two sloppy tracks in his starts at SAR and although he is bred well for a wet track couldn’t find the winners circle. The added distance today should help.
• 2 Interior Secretary – Monster work nine days ago, although Mineshaft’s are not noted for precociousness. Could be the one to catch.

Race 3

• 5 Buy Or Steal – First out in February at GP was a good one. Drops to a lower claiming price and gets top turf rider Ortiz today.
• 4 Acrostic – Six starts already but the last was the best. Low profile trainer has had success this meet at BEL
• 6 Veronica Bay – Eleven time starter seems a low probability to crack the win column but could be part of the exotics.

Race 4 

• 3 Awakino Cat – Hard-knocking nine year old always gives a good effort. Runs well at BEL and does have a close second at the 7F distance. In a race where it looks wide open, we’ll try to get some odds.
• 7 Mish Mosh – has never been the 7F trip and shows no BEL races, but has good tactical speed and gets a big boost from the claim by Jacobson last out.
• 4 Tigah – was racing with better at DMR and takes the blinkers off today. Last race was over at the start and he gets another chance today
• 2 Thomas Hill – 0 for 9 this year and only one win in the last two years. But he was claimed by Bruce Brown last out and we’ll give him some of the benefit of the doubt and look for him in the back holes.

Race 5

• 1 Abilio – In what I thought was an odd move Jacobson scratched the 1a Le Deluge but left Abilio in. Abilio looks more like a turf horse, although he does have a win on the dirt. Jacobson is 28% with that turf to dirt move. Will go off greater than the 2-1 ML.
• 6 Summit County – Ran a poor race after getting re-claimed by Englehart for $15K two back. Maragh will be off al his mounts today and is replaced here by the always unpredictable Louis Saez. Has a shot at some odds, but certainly not a horse (or race) to empty your pockets.
• 8 Stephan A – threw in the towel in his last at SAR but before that was running competitively for a slightly higher price at BEL. You don’t see Zito too often at this level. He may be looking for a win and the loss of the horse.

Race 6

• 3 Broadway Bay – broke his maiden for Bruce Brown in the SAR mud and came back at BEL 18 days ago with a decent after after having to go wide coming out of the turn. Castellano stays and that is a good sign
• 2 Jesses Giant Dunk – Trained by Abigail Adsit after being claimed for $16K two back. Last race was at this level and was respectable. Has some nice workouts since then. Gets a good switch from Taylor Rice to Johnny V. Adsit 5 for 8 in the money at BEL this fall
• 7 Gridley Here – ran poorly on the turf last out but the race prior gave the winner all he could handle at 1 1/8 on the dirt. McPeek decided to give him another chance to get it done.
• 9 Futurazo – eight year old gelding having a good year in 2014 with 3 wins in 8 starts. Has won at BEL previously

Race 7    Miss Grillo     Grade 3    2-1-10-3

• 1 Tammy the Torpedo – best last race pace figure. Beat nice field after having to swing wide in the stretch. Chad Brown is the king of the 2 year old turf. Rosario stays up.
• 2 Ancient Goddess – third in the P G Johnson, the main SAR prep for this race. Almost certainly shipped from Europe to acclimate and prep for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf. I’m looking for a big jump up in her second race stateside.
• 1a Greywalls – takes the blinkers off and looks to crack the winner’s ranks. Ran well last out and with her stablemate makes a formidable coupling.
• 3 Skinner Box – comes out of the Natalma at WO. This is always a powerful prep for the BC. In that race she broke in and bumped with rivals but still finished with good run. Ran much better on the firm turf and gets that back today. Ortiz jumps back aboard for Violette.
• 4 Lady Bling – beat a nice group of state-bred fillies last out but looks perhaps overmatched today.
• 5 Titanium Jo – hasn’t been on the turf yet but is bred well-enough for it. Would be a surprise for me.
• 6 Nicky’s Brown Miss – won a stakes at KD and ran well in the Colleen at MTH. Not completely hopeless.
• 7 Margaret Reay – another looking for her maiden win. Obviously liked the turf better than the dirt. Another that doesn’t figure on top but could improve.
• 8 Amazing Anne – raced a good one on the turf at SAR although the pace looks a bit slow. Probably up against it here.
• 9 Lady Eli – Chad Brown runner was the narrowest of winners at SAR. You can’t eliminate any Chad Brown runner, but you can’t bet every horse.
• 10 Partisan Politics – winner of the P G Johnson at SAR and that makes her one of the top contenders.
• 11 My Cara Mia – Sprint winner opening week at BEL. Looks up against it from the far outside post, but is not without possibilities.

Race 8

• 10 Quick Money – 7 year old gelding still getting it done. Last race was in over his head, but drops to the proper level today.
• 3 Effinex – place finisher in the Albany. Jimmy Jerkens picked up the horse from low profile trainer and is looking to crack the winner’s circle at BEL for the fall.
• 4 Onecats Chance – has been nothing but steady since June although he seems to prefer finishing second. Solid in the money play.
• 7 Petrocelli and 9 Goodtolook look like they will hook up in a speed dual and I’m not sure either of them lasts the mile.

Race 9    Pilgrim     Grade 3     2-5-8

• 1 Vision Perfect – Donk runner in a lot tougher than his maiden win, but like all of these is eligible to improve by leaps each start.
• 2 Startup Nation – looked very powerful winning the With Anticipation at SAR
• 3 Face the Music – Another that is not without chances but has been beaten by Strong Coffee already
• 4 Imperia – second in his maiden race to Face the Music. Probably an also ran today.
• 5 Offering Plan – another Chad Brown runner, and a lot of them look exactly like this horse. Track early and explode in the stretch. Definite contender.
• 6 All I Karabout – ships in from lesser circuit. You have to give the trainer credit for taking a chance but this doesn’t look like the spot where he’ll thrive
• 7 Nutty Futty – third in the With Anticipation but no match for the winner. Not likely to turn that around today.
• 8 Strong Coffee – gets Lasix today and that may be the ticket.
• 9 Artie’s Flight – looks like the longest shot in the race.

Race 10

• 9 Freudex – ran a good one at AQU in Apr, but then took a pause for what was either an injury or an “equipment change.” Englehart has been training him regularly for his return.
• 10 Readyheartandsoul – five start maiden not really getting better but not getting worse either. Has the figures to compete with this field
• 5 Wildniteattheopera – Ran well in the mud at SAR. Cuts back half a furlong. Should be competitive.
• 6 McQauid – first timer for Violette has been working well and the Violette/Franco combo is hitting at 21%