Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 6-Assuredly (Race 5)
Race #1: 5-Storm d’Oro adds blinkers on the class drop and could be the controlling speed in the Sunday opener for trainer Hector Palma. 4-Parco drops in class on the turnback and has had some previous minor success over this strip. 2-Roman Empress is only 2 for 20 lifetime but is another class dropper in here this afternoon and could slug up for a part of this.
Selections: 5-4-2
Race #2: 2-Mango Moon was a sharp gate-to-wire winner in well-backed June 4 debut. She’ll be tough right back if she can replicate that performance over this oval. 4-Modera makes 3rd start of the form cycle this afternoon and Beyer earned two-back fits well with this group. The filly finished 3rd in lone try over this strip at this class level last December. 5-Soul of a Warrior broke through in career start number eight with a nose victory at nearly 12/1 when switched back to the main track.
Selections: 2-4-5
Race #3: Beaten favorite 2-American Cat adds blinkers today on the class drop and comes off a good 2nd on the evening program card on June 10. A strong wire-to-wire threat against this inferior group at short odds. The consistent 3-Hot Memories finished 3rd to top choice in after mentioned June 10 event when taking first crack against winners. 5-Worth Looking was a 16/1 upset winner on May 7 debut despite a tardy beginning.
Selections: 2-3-5
Race #4: 4-Tiger’s Wish hasn’t been out since 2nd place finish on the evening program card back on January 29 but has flashed enough positional speed to perhaps establish a clear lead this afternoon. 5-California Bling makes second start on the main track and at this reduced $20k Maiden Claiming level. A contender versus this weak group despite lackluster recent form. 6-Lady Hussar didn’t show much on June 3 unveiling when a well-beaten sixth, but barn usually improves with their second time starters.
Selections: 4-5-6
Race #5: 6-Assuredly flashed speed and faded to finish 3rd in SA debut try on May 14 when attracting her fair share of tote support. This filly gets off the rail today; drops from $50k to $20,000 claimers and should be a handful with any normal second-out improvement. 2-Warren’s Show Bizz makes career start number 14 this afternoon but just missed by a nose over this strip three-back with a (59) Beyer and has been freshened for this by conditioner Craig Lewis. 3-Princess Magic has been well-beaten in all 4 career starts but takes a sizable class drop while making second start off the bench for Sadler.
Selections: 6-2-3
Race #6: 1-Missed Call finished 4th in lone try over this afternoon strip last December but that was against much stiffer competition. The 5-year-old gelding goes turf to dirt this afternoon making second start off the claim and can improve here. 5-Jam Session goes turf to dirt on the substantial class plunge today for trainer Michael McCarthy and continues to work well in a.m. training sessions. 8-Stormy Samurai has two seconds and a third-place finish in last three 1,000-yard evening tries and figures to be well-placed early on with outside draw.
Selections: 1-5-8
Race #7: 7-Wickline debuts for team Baffert off barn’s typical snappy works and lures Hernandez for today’s unveiling. This colt is by Twirling Candy who gets 17% with his debut runners and appears well-meant at first asking. His stablemate 8-Stavros was a disappointing beaten favorite 6th in debut effort on May 5 but is likely to improve in second start for barn that sports a 13 for 27 (48%) record with this angle at Los Al. The race he exits from has produced a pair of next-out winners. Trainer Phil D’Amato sends out firster 1-Will Power (by multiple G1 winner Will Take Charge) and this barn has a substantially better record at Los Al with their debut runners. This jockey/trainer combo has a first and second when teamed up on FTS over this strip.
Selections: 7-8-1
Race #8: 7-Finneus lands in a pace-less field and should show more positional speed this afternoon for trainer Peter Miller. This 2 for 21 colt has a lot more underneath finishes than wins but should trip out nicely today in the Sunday nightcap. 5-Redline moves back to the main track where he’s run equally well for Knapp and sports an eye-catching “best of 46” 4-furlong drill on June 16 in preparation for this. 2-Tidal Forces goes turf to dirt on the class drop for D’Amato and is eligible to wake up in this softer spot.
Selections: 7-5-2
