2-3-4-6
#2 Prosecco Rita (4-5) broke her first in easy style two starts back with an impressive 87. She took another step forward last in the Smart Halo Stakes, leading most of the way and holding onto second place with an 88. If she wires this field it will boost the stock of Doc’s Miracle, who beat her in the Smart Halo and races later today. #3 Noble status (5-1) overcame a poor start to top the group and finish last from a first-tier field. She is the only one in the field to beat the winners and has by far the best late pace figures, but may prefer more distance. #4 Ginger snap (9-2) took third in the Maryland Million Lassie two starts ago (behind not only Doc’s Miracle but also behind Slewperstitus, who will also be competing later today), and followed that effort with an easy first win last out. She’ll probably drop the pace and hope Prosecco Rita tires out.
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RACE 5: CLAIM $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3 YEARS AND OVER, 1 MILE
9-3-7-2
LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ANALYSIS.
#9 Papa Yankee (3-1) tends to run roughly the same race every time. He is well off the pace and in some cases closes well late. He has completed most of his recent runs at six and seven furlongs, and is now stretching to a mile, a distance at which he won last December. #3 Happy (6-1) has won twice at this distance recently. Finishing last in the middle of the track, he won a non-winner from two claimers, including the heavily favored Keen Surge. He also looks like a serious late threat. #7 Hard work (5-2) was close to the pace and won easily in a mile and 70 meters last in Delaware. Yedsit Hazlewood gets his first call from this Gary Capuano intern. As previously noted in this space, these two are money when they work together.
RACE 6: MARYLAND JUVENILE STAKES, 2 YEARS, MD/VA LIMITED, 7 FUR LONGS
5-7-2-10
#5 Code of silence (7-2) pulled off an impressive rally to break his first fourth-place finish and finish last. He fell far behind at a high pace, but gobbled up ground in the middle of the track to beat a promising girls field limited to Maryland. Runner-up Skillian came back last Friday to break his first-place finish as the overwhelming favorite. This one is in steadily improving form, with his only bad race coming after a terrible start in the Maryland Million Nursery, and looks ready for another big effort. #7 Hell Ofa Hillbilly (6-1) showed what he is capable of with an impressive gate-to-wire win on his debut at the end of September. He led a big race in the Nursery, then traded before the final race, never making it to the front and showing little. If he watches his manners today, he will be a serious threat. #2 Worker Bee (6-1) was a sharp gate-to-wire winner for the Capuano/Hazlewood dream team’s final match. He is one of two here who have already beaten the winners and will look to protect the position from within.
RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3 year olds and up, 1 1/16 MILES
4-7-5-2
#4 Indy advances (5-2) made his local debut with a winning last out, leading all the way and beating a starter-optional claiming group with a career-best 93. He finished second at this distance three times in Kentucky, showing determination in the lead each time. #7 Maclean’s Rock (2-1) last blew the doors off a washed-out field at the first level, winning by 6 3/4 lengths with a career-best 98 in his first start on this surface. This is a stronger group than the one he saw that day, but at least his ceiling is high. #5 Larrys (3-1) was in fantastic form at this track last winter and is making his first dirt start since April after spending most of his summer on grass in New York. He can try to take the lead or just miss it.
RACE 8: MARYLAND JUVENILE FILLY STAKES, 2 YEARS, FILLIES, MD/VA LIMITED, 7 FURLONGS
2-6-4-1
This race will most likely determine the champion of the Maryland-bred two-year-old filly. #2 Doc’s Wonder (3-2) set the pace and just got caught late in the Maryland Million Lassie two starts ago, then recovered to win the Smart Halo Stakes from off the pace. She has continued to improve throughout her busy campaign and appears ready for her next big effort. #6 Just filtered (9-5) was the even-money favorite to capture the Maryland-bred championship in the Smart Halo, but was not spared a blow, settling for third. She won a few stakes races at Colonial Downs this summer, broke her first here in impressive fashion in May and has been working well since the Smart Halo. #4 Slewperstitues (3-1) ran Doc’s Miracle in the Lassie, albeit on a track that favored closers. She scratched out of the Smart Halo, has since made three mediocre works and is now returning. She did some big races this past summer and has a lot of head start; we’ll see how she does first after the second longest break in the field.
RACE 9: GIRL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6 year olds, fillies and mares, 7 furlongs
3-6-5-4
#3 Zen dreams (2-1) closed well after a bad break to take fourth on Keeneland’s final out. She was claimed for that race by Jamie Ness, who is always first on the claim. Martin Chuan has the driving assignment; he and Ness have done really well working together in recent weeks. #6 Beautiful McLean (6-1) goes in for a tag for the first time. She was the last to fight for the lead in a tough first field with special weights and seems to have by far the highest speed. #5 She’s not a boy (5-1) made up ground after a bad break on debut and has room for improvement on the second question.
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