4-5-8-1
#4 Don’t Fool Me (9-2) made her third start after a ten and a half month layoff, starting first on Mark Shuman’s claim, and finishing last. She came third behind Nancy Mary and Seaside Road, who are much better than anyone else in this field. She has early speed, keeps Martin Chuan on board and may not have run her best race yet. #5 Centsamilla (6-1) has plenty of early speed and is both lightly raced and rapidly improving. This is her first start after six furlongs; We’ll see how long she can keep up her speed. #8 Arise, my love (3-1) finished second in each of her three dirt starts earlier this year and ran in the 70s twice during that stretch. This will be her first start on this surface since June 1, after a plethora of grass starts. She has a fast closing speed and seems well suited for this distance.
RACE 5: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3 year olds and older, fillies and mares, 1 mile
2-9-6-10
#2 Ribbonsinhairhair (5-2) won easily at Delaware two starts ago. Finally, she upped the pace to finish a clear second behind Genieinabridle, a four-time winner of the year, with a season’s best score of 81. This has worked well since, keeping Martin Chuan on board ahead of Jamie Ness and definitely looking like the one to beat. It’s not often you see a horse at 30-1 on the morning line that recently won in very similar condition, but that’s the case with both. #9 Watch your tone (30-1) And #6 dubstep (30-1). The former defeated a similar field two starts ago, including the Loving Cup, which came on the back of back-to-back victories. This one didn’t last after Genieinabridle and Ribbonsinherhair, but has worked three times since and looks ready to bounce back. If you are willing to forgive that last attempt, you will receive a huge prize. The latter doesn’t have as high a ceiling, but won last and has both tactical speed and strong late pace numbers.
RACE 6: GIRL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6 YEARS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)
3-4-6-1
Here’s another case where a chronic girl ends up in a spot they almost have to win. #3 Oxford Union (5-1) is 0-for-16 lifetime, but has run in the 70s in his last five grass starts while battling better rivals than this. He didn’t play a role in the last $25,000 girls, but now he’s stepping up his game and getting Ismerio Villalobos, who has done well with his grass mounts this year, in the saddle for the first time. #4 Renfro’s reception (4-1) made his second career start, and first on grass, finishing last. He put eventual winner Redemption Speight ahead and dropped to sixth place. Still, he improved slightly from his career debut, shooting a 74, and should deliver another improved effort here. #6 Efficacy (8-1) closed well for second with a career-best 75 in his first two-inning start in a while last out. He has woken up in two starts since joining Joanne Shankle’s barn in September, as he continues to rediscover the promise he hinted at early in his career.
RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIM (N/W2X), 3 YEARS AND OLDER, 6 FURLONS
3-5-7-2
#3 Bolt from Aurum (4-1) was well beaten last at Parx, but still ran a decent 85, not a bad mark considering it was his first race in almost a year. Last fall, before heading to the sidelines, he crushed a first-level field by eight lengths with a very impressive 102. He adds blinkers as second off the bench for an increasingly popular Jorge Duarte stable, and looks set to return to his top form. #5 Heard on the street (9-2) won at this level three starts ago at Timonium and completed a third behind the very stylish Rominski and Twisted Ride two races ago. He takes a class drop after finishing the track in the Maryland Million Sprint and has had some good training since (his first timed training in 10 months). #7 Darkness (6-1) has also won against second-tier rivals this year, having done so here in mid-February. He has raced just once since late March, a major achievement at Colonial Downs in September, where he raced at a destructive pace and hovered around fourth place. His last few timed exercises have been very sharp.
RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3 YEARS AND OLDER, MD LIMITED, 1 MILE (GRASS)
13-11-3-2
#13 Dalinar (3-1) has competed primarily in sprints this year, but also wired a mile and 70-meter field in mid-June in Delaware. He has by far the best early pace numbers in this race, and it looks like he can set the fractions he wants and leave them reeling. On the other side of the coin, #11 Nothing but blue sky (10-1) easily has the best late pace numbers in this match, and is one of two who have run in the 80s in each of their last three starts. Last against a better field at the first level, he had a mount but nowhere to run at the top of the stretch, then made a decent late showing once he had more room to run and lost by 2 ¼ lengths. #3 Davyjonz (7-2) has improved with each recent grass start and should provide a good trip close to the early pace.
RACE 9: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3 YEARS AND MORE, 6 FURLONGS
7-6-1-5
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