Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 2-Shardial (Race #1)
Race #1: 2-Shardial returned off a 11-month hiatus for trainer Peter Miller and flashed good speed before surrendering late and backing up to 5th. The 4-year-old gelding should be much tighter in second start back and he shows two 6-furlong stamina drills since that DMR comeback try. 5-Dadstar is another making 2nd start off the bench and drops to career bottom level for Puype. This 3-year-old goes 2nd time Lasix; has good positional speed and gets in light with 7lb. apprentice. 3-Mongolian Moon trailed throughout on September 1 debut but takes significant class drop in start number two.
Selections: 2-5-3
Race #2: 3-Soul Sweet is 2 for 2 over this course and makes 3rd start off the layoff today for trainer Ricky Agarie. This filly just missed in recent 1,000-yard evening try and looks primed for top effort this afternoon. 4-Ca Dreamer looks like the dominating speed here and has run equally well during the afternoon slated cards. This lucrative jockey/trainer combo already have two wins at this mini meet. 2-Secret Square was trounced in most recent start at DMR but now goes first off the claim for trainer Steve Knapp. This barn’s 6 for 18 (33%) with new acquisitions at Los Al and this mare has a win over the track.
Selections: 3-4-2
Race #3: This $10,000 claiming 5 ½ furlong sprint looks like a mad scramble. 10-Next Revolt has not been seen since Santa Anita claim some 8 months ago but shows up protected today for trainer Mark Glatt and has trained well for return. First time gelding 3-Monologue makes first start for Knapp barn below August 27 claiming purchase price and cuts back to a sprint this afternoon. No recent a.m. drills since that subpar effort, however, is a bit of a concern. 5-Reckoning Day has been freshened for barn that has a win and second from both local starts here thus far and this gelding did break his Maiden over this course way back in 2020.
Selections: 10-3-5
Race #4: 4-Zimba Warrior has never paired up wins in 23 career starts but could do just that after scoring 12/1 upset going this mile trip in most recent start at DMR. The 5-year-old gelding has run well enough here including a victory where he was moved up to 1st via DQ. 3-Disc Jockey makes 2nd start off the claim for trainer Peter Miller and just missed two-back when going his preferred mile trip. An expected rebound effort makes him a big factor against these. 1-Allaboutthemoney should appreciate moving back to dirt while making 2nd start off the Hess claim. The gelding’s 4th place finish two-back where he earned an (88) Beyer is above par for this class level.
Selections: 4-3-1
Race #5: Trainer Lorenzo Ruiz has a pair of juvenile first-time starters lined up in here. We prefer 7-Otro Mas who draws outside and is by multiple G1 winner Dad’s Caps who is only 1 for 22 with his 2-year-old first time starter prodigy– but does have 7 runner-up finishes to go with that lone victory. The colt has trained well for today’s unveiling and attracts go-to pilot. First time gelding 3-Jerry Jeff Walker showed little in grass debut when dismissed at 32/1 but goes turf to dirt and drops from MDSW to Maiden Claimers in 2nd start for trainer Steve Miyadi. He’s eligible to move forward today facing cheaper. 2-He’s a Candy Man attracted decent tote support for DMR September 1 unveiling but finished a non-threatening 6th. He’s also eligible to move forward in career start number two, however, for trainer Jonathan Wong. The gelding is by win-early sire Stanford. Ruiz other firster 6-Hey Batman is by a sire that’s 2 for 5 (40%) with his juvenile offspring.
Selections: 7-3-2
Race #6: 7-Larimar was no match for runaway winner in last but now goes first off the claim for trainer Steve Knapp who is 6 for 18 (33%) with new barn purchases at Los Al. The 5-year-old mare makes her 2nd start off the mini-freshening this afternoon. 6-Wild Arch cuts back to a sprint and was a winner here locally three-back when facing N2 lifetime $16k claimers. 2-Rain Diva has not been out since being claimed 7 months ago but returns for higher price tag for barn with limited starts. The mare removes the blinkers today; has good gate speed but finished far back in lone try at 6 ½ furlongs. She may have distance limitations.
Selections: 7-6-2
Race #7: 8-Tom and Jazzy broke a few steps slowly on September 4 debut but regained his composure and started a steady slow gain at the half mile marker and eventually finished up on even terms with the race winner on the gallop out. Overall, it was a solid 5th place finish for his initial outing. A beaten favorite in both career starts 6-Golf Drama adds blinkers today; makes 2nd start off the bench and is a strong wire-to-wire threat this afternoon for trainer Jeff Bonde. 2-Thirsty Pappa improved substantially in career start number two and can be a factor again in here with another move forward.
Selections: 8-6-2
Race #8: 6-Sugar Sugar gets the complete makeover today for trainer Peter Miller making her 2nd start off the extended layoff. The filly adds blinkers; moves back to dirt; goes 2nd time Lasix and makes 1st start for a tag. 9-Airkita is another dropping from MDSW to Maiden Claimers for the first time for trainer Phil D’Amato and this filly is also making her initial dirt try on the cutback. She gets in light this afternoon. 3-Grandiosely is a 5-year-old Maiden but makes only her third career start today for trainer John Sadler and could improve with move to dirt and class drop.
Selections: 6-9-3
