Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 6-Proud Racer (Race 6)
Race #1: Selections: 3-1-5
It took 16 tries, but 3-Fight Back finally broke through on April 26 for conditioner Vladimir Cerin when he moved to dirt and kicked away to a five-length romp. The (74) main track Beyer tops this field’s best last-out speed figure, and a repeat is certainly within reach. Hernandez sticks, who just notched his 3,000-career win last Sunday. The 1-for-18 1-Hondo Crouch battled determinedly on the lead before surrendering late to finish third (beaten a half-length) when stretched out, and facing a pair of returning rivals on May 1. The 6-year-old gelding moves back to the rail, should be able to save more ground, but has settled for far more underneath efforts than wins. The D’Amato-trained 5-Redial finished sharply for second in front of Hondo Crouch in the aforementioned May 1 event, and is now making his third start of the form cycle today off an improving Beyer pattern.
Race #2: Selections: 5-4-3
5-Bad Manners goes two sprints to a route, while making her third start off the form cycle today for trainer Richard Mandella. The pricey $700k purchase by Into Mischief removes the blinkers this afternoon, is bred to route successfully, and is likely to show her best today. 4-Wolf Hill moves back to dirt, having finished second or third in six of seven career starts, while already exceeding par for this class level. The Upstart filly projects to get another upfront-pressing trip this afternoon and is a logical fit again, but hardly a slam dunk. A beaten favorite in last, 3-Apples Y Peaches has finished third in both career tries for conditioner Mike Puype and should improve stretching back out and making the all-important third lifetime start.
Race #3: Selections: 1-2-3
This claiming sprint looks to run through the Team O’Neill pair. 1-Joker Went Wild’s last two races are tosses. The Practical Joke gelding wanted no part of the grass two-back, was beaten a mile, and was eased and walked off the course. In his most recent try, he was a well-beaten sixth when clearly overmatched. He’s back in for a $25k claiming tag today, where he just missed by a nose three back at this 5 ½-furlong trip. 2-Rollinwithpolan flashed good speed before tiring on April 25 and now drops from $32k claiming to today’s $25,000 level. The gelded son of I’ll Have Another is reunited with winning pilot Emisael Jaramillo, who was aboard for his debut win. Beaten by double digits in the last pair, 3-Original One drops into a softer spot and can improve, third try off the bench.
Race #4: Selections: 3-6-7
3-Sagunto goes turf-to-dirt and drops in for a first-time tag today for conditioner Ryan Hanson. The gelded son of Nyquist flashed good speed through a snappy opening quarter-mile but tired to finish seventh off a seven-month layoff on April 26. He goes second time Lasix today, figures to be on or close to the lead this afternoon, and should prove tough to reel in with second Lasix and the class relief. The Luis Mendez-trained 6-Whiz Kidd is by G1 winner Army Mule, who gets an impressive 15-for-58 (25%) with his 3-year-old & up debuting prodigy, and this barn is more than capable of firing with a firster. 7-Mansa Musa (by Grade 1 winner Jersey Town) is nicely drawn outside and lures Jaramillo on debut.
Race #5: Selections: 5-1-7
5-Holdthatrainbow was a sharp 7-1 maiden winner over two next-out winners on debut for trainer Carla Gaines and looks well-placed for her first try against winners. The sophomore filly returned to fire a “best of 101” bullet four furlongs in a snappy :46.2 on May 17. Blinkers on 1-Goje got up to win a tight photo on May 17 with a (70) grass Beyer, which matches up well for today’s first crack against winners. The George Papaprodromou-trained filly fits well for the potential repeat. The stakes-placed 7-What’s a Good Name has never tried grass and hasn’t been out in nearly seven months for trainer Peter Miller. By Grazen, she’s bred to handle the surface switch, and this barn can get one ready to fire off the bench. She adds Lasix, removes the blinkers, and lures Rosario off the bench.
Race #6: Selections: 6-3-7
6-Proud Racer has had several chances, finishing second and third in six of seven lifetime tries. The 5-year-old maiden was making up good ground late when settling for third, as the even-money choice off the 11-month layoff, and now gets back to dirt, second off the bench. He switches to Rosario, who has been riding well since returning to Southern California. 3-Danzing Wild Cat is back on dirt on the class drop. Both of his six-furlong turf efforts haven’t been very productive on grass, however, so perhaps the switch back to the main track will help. An encouraging sign to see Hernandez stick here, who has done well when riding for this barn. 7-Ride the Tiger returns from a seven-month layoff for conditioner Brian Koriner, off a steady and solid work tab that included a sharp three-furlong blowout on May 24. The Smiling Tiger sophomore drops in for a first-time tag today, adds Lasix, and is back on the main track.
Race #7: Selections: 4-7-1
4-I’m Otter Here is in good form, and the deserving morning-line tepid favorite, with a win and two runner-up finishes in his last three turf tries. The gelding exits a career-best grass Beyer and should fall into a favorable stalking journey with Berrios back aboard. 7-Mysterious Husband backed up poorly behind the top choice as the beaten favorite in a disappointing effort after a sharp win off the extended break on March 1. The Mark Glatt-trained gelding makes the third try of the form cycle this afternoon and is eligible to bounce back from that subpar effort. 1-Irish Prophet is winless since January 2024, having lost 14 straight, and was eased and walked off the course when last seen last October. Nonetheless, the 2-for-27 7-year-old gelding has run turf route Beyers that match up well here and is definitely capable of an underneath finish off the bench with Rosario taking over the riding assignment.
Race #8: Selections: 1-3-4
1-A. Z. Wildcat ran exceptionally well for the place spot in a 4-horse field when returning off a 15-month layoff on May 1. The 4-year-old daughter of Munnings figures to be hustled along by Rosario from the fence and could prove tough to reel in late. She returned to fire a “best of 47” five furlongs in :58.3 on May 23, indicating she remains razor sharp. 3-Our Moonlight returns to dirt off a troubled trip sixth grass try on April 26. This Tapit filly’s dirt Beyers are some of the swiftest in the field for trainer Dean Pederson, and she’s likely to bounce back in a big way today. The lightly raced 4-year-old 4-Cipriani (an $875k daughter of Bernardini) returns off a three-month mini-freshening, exiting a last-place effort in the Feb. 2 Las Virgenes (G3), which only attracted three, including stablemate and multiple graded stakes winner Tenma. Lasix on.
Race #9: Selections: 2-3-7
2-Latin Air broke a bit slowly on debut for Mullins, settled at the back of the pack, and then finished up evenly. Not the most inspiring unveiling, but the 3-year-old filly adds blinkers this afternoon on the stretch-out and makes a few lucrative changes that often produce improvement for this shrewd barn. 3-Intuitivebynature was a bit hard to handle and keen in start number two when dropped in for a tag, but goes second time blinkers this afternoon, making career try number three, and should be set for her best run to date for conditioner Dean Pederson. 7-Humidity stretches back out to a mile, exiting an even fifth when dropped to this level on May 9. The gray filly has finished third three times at this trip against Maiden Special Weight types, and deserves another chance against this softer $50k maiden-claiming caliber.
