Edison Hatter — Twitter: @Edison_1999_
Most Likely Winner: Race 3- (3) LADY VALENTINA
Race 1: (4) GAB’S LIL LEAGUER has proven success at this distance in the past and should appreciate the stretch out and handle this level of competition nicely. (5) LADY MAIDSON is coming off of a very strong effort at this distance two starts ago, but this is a tougher field tonight and she will need to take a step forward to contend here. (1) SHE FIGURES has put forth respectable efforts as of late and has a big class edge over this field, but this distance doesn’t necessary look to be her favorite.
Picks: 4-5-1
Race 2: (6) THAT’S FOR SURE takes a drop in class and has done the least wrong so far in this field of serious underachievers, so while that makes him the top choice here, it is not one made with a significant amount of confidence. (2) ANOTHER MOVE likely has the best gate speed of this bunch and may well hold on for a spot in the exacta as most in this field just don’t seem to like passing other horses. (4) CRYPTOBLUE has done the least wrong in this field being as this is his first career start. He may be worth using at a price in exotics.
Picks: 6-2-4
Race 3: (3) LADY VALENTINA comes off of a strong allowance win and should be the early controlling pace here. She should have every chance to get the job done here and make it 2-for-2 with Cristian Hiraldo in the irons. (4) GOLD AND STRIKE has been putting in some strong efforts recently and she figures to be close to the early pace as well on the stretch out. (2) LADY MACHO has lost significant ground in her last few, but has still hit the board. In with a chance with a better trip here.
Picks: 3-4-2
Race 4: (7) JESS’S RESERVE put forward a career-best effort last time out over this trip; a repeat of that effort might just be enough to get the win against this bunch. (6) FIRST CLASS FLIRT should be respected on the class drop, plus he will hopefully get the chance to go over a fast track in his second career start. (1) RUNAWAY CROWN faced tougher in the career debut at Laurel and now enters the Anthony Farrior barn, which is hitting at 26% with first-timers for the stable. However, he didn’t show a whole lot in the debut, so be weary taking him at too short of a price here.
Picks: 7-6-1
Race 5: Big win streaks are on the line here as (4) TO THE FRONT looks for his fourth win in a row and (5) PRIMAL DESTINY looks for an incredible sixth win in a row. Slight edge given to the former as the latter is likely to get tangled up in a serious pace battle early, which could weaken him up late. (6) STRONG LIKE BULL has some strong class and is best of the rest, but is still a significant cut below the top two choices.
Picks: 4-5-6
Race 6: (9) DON’T DARE ME comes out of some tough races at Laurel and should good early speed last time out that should benefit his chances here. (8) GRAND WILDROCKY won against MSW foes in January, but was disqualified from purse money. As the only “winner” in this field of maidens, he warrants a serious look. (1) AKTHAM is very speedy early and should relish the distance today per his pedigree.
Picks: 9-8-1
Race 7: (3) TIZ EVAN’S HONEY was a strong maiden winner who clearly didn’t care for the stretch out last time in her first try against winners. She returns to a more favorable distance here tonight. (9) SHESAUPTOWNGIRL faces much tougher tonight, but she was such an authoritative maiden winner last time out that she must be respected here. (5) CHARITABLE ANY has put forth some good races in her last two and has a bit of an experience edge at this level over many of her rivals here.
Picks: 3-9-5
Race 8: (4) BABY MELISSSA is the one to beat here as ships in from Laurel and was facing much tougher maiden foes there. (6) CHROMATIC also seems to be starting to put it all together and is one to keep an eye on here. (8) CHOSEN MISS is an absolute bomb that may be worth an include in exotics. The angle is this: he was clearly unprepared for the debut and then broke through the gate prior to the start last time out. Ignoring both of those efforts, he deserves a clean slate tonight and at a likely 80 or 90-1 price, he could complete a trifecta or superfecta.
Picks: 4-6-8
