Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 3-Known Idea (Race 4)
Race #1: Selections: 5-6-7
5-Beer Buzz has run two sharp races in a pair of local starts with solid Beyer speed figures to coincide with those efforts for trainer Craig Dollase. The 3-year-old gelded son of Stay Thirsty should be set for a career-best effort this afternoon and is a logical win candidate in the Sunday opener. 6-Silver I Am has improved with each subsequent start for D’Amato and now gets a key rider change to Juan Hernandez. 7-Ya’ll Come (by Smiling Tiger) debuts for trainer Dean Pederson off a solid work tab. This shrewd barn is 8 for 31 (26%) with a $2.36 ROI the past five years with sprint dirt firsters. The gelding debuts with Lasix and is nicely drawn outside.
Race #2: Selections: 4-3-2
4-Irish Rose is 1 for 18 but shortens back up to a sprint this afternoon for conditioner Neil Drysdale, and she’s run some of her better races going six panels on grass. Berrios sticks. 3-Miss Mandalay (GB) exits a pair of wide trips when beaten less than three lengths in both tries against similar and needs only to work out a better journey to compete with these. 2-Cyprus Moon flashed good speed but folded badly when attempting two turns just a week ago and is quickly cut back in distance today on the quick turnaround for the Papaprodromou barn. Kimura is back aboard and has three runner-up finishes when riding this filly.
Race #3: Selections: 3-4-5
3-Thirty Two Chunk goes turf to dirt on the class drop in career try number two for trainer Mark Glatt. He’s by More Than Ready (14% dirt sprinters) and is eligible to move forward in his second start off the mini-freshening. 4-Kid Dynasty saw his Beyers jump nearly 20 points from start one to two for conditioner Tim Yakteen and should be set for another top effort in the all-important third career try. The sophomore by Constitution, continues to train well in the a.m. 5-Friends With Fidel returns as a first-time gelding off nearly a year layoff for the lucrative Desormeaux/Hess combo while making his initial try on dirt. He’s by St. Patrick’s Day, who gets an above-average 17% with dirt sprint offspring.
Race #4: Selections: 3-6-4
3-Known Idea flashed speed and tired to finish sixth when dueling through some taxing fractions in his first start off the seven-month layoff for trainer John Sadler, and is eligible to move forward off that effort. The 4-year-old colt is reunited with winning pilot Hector Berrios this afternoon and projects to get another favorable upfront trip. Trainer Peter Eurton has won with three of his last five claims and sends out new acquisition, 6-Invincible in here. The 4-year-old has been gelded since that last try on May 4, switches to Hernandez, and shows a sharp bullet “best of 24” four-furlong synthetic drill in :47.4 on May 25. 4-Carribean King sports the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (82) after just missing the show spot in his most recent try on May 4 when facing similar.
Race #5: Selections: 3-4-8
3-Bazooka Charlie goes turf to dirt on the substantial class plunge for trainer Steve Miyadi while making his second try off the seven-month freshening. The 3-year-old colt removes the blinkers today and is by Grazen, who gets a strong 21% with dirt sprint prodigy. This jockey-trainer combo has had a pair of winners this meet. 4-Millbo Baggins hasn’t shown much in all three turf tries to date, but moves to the main track this afternoon, dropping in for a first-time tag, and is eligible to wake up against this inferior group. 8-Whats the Buzz crossed the line second but was placed 11th for interference out of the gate on May 4. He draws outside today with good gate speed and deserves another chance at this reduced $12,500 maiden claiming level.
Race #6: Selections: 6-5-7
6-Brigante is by Group 1 winner More Than Ready, who gets 11% with debuting prodigy and 13% with turf sprint runners. The juvenile debuts from the Doug O’Neill barn off a spirited work tab, and this jockey-trainer combo has done well with grass sprint firsters from limited tries. 5-Hey Nay Nay is by No Nay Never (BC Turf Sprint (G1) runner-up and Grade 1 winner in France) and attracts Berrios. This combo has two wins and a runner-up finish with their last three turf sprint firsters. 7–Mo Holland Drive (by G1 winner Mo Farza) has trained steadily for today’s unveiling for trainer Peter Miller and lures Hernandez. This jockey-trainer combo is 0 for 11 with turf sprint firsters, but is 6 for 11 with ITM finishes. Brigante’s stablemate, 1-Won for Lou, must negotiate the tricky rail draw but is by Bucchero, who has above-average numbers with juvenile firsters and grass sprinters. Maldonado gets the call, and he figures to be hustled along from the inside.
Race #7: Selections: 2-3-4
The 5-for-7 Grade 1 winning 2-Sweet Azteca is the class of this field and returns off an eight-month layoff today for new conditioner Richard Baltas. This ultra-talented mare has trained sharply for today’s return to action and has proven she can fire fresh. 3-Chismosa won this event last year using the same turf prep (Mizdirection S.) for trainer Rafael DeLeon and is likely to move forward off that last subpar performance on May 17. The 5-year-old mare is a perfect 3-for-3 going six furlongs on dirt. 4-Super Shine (Arg) returns off a nine-month layoff for the D’Amato barn, and is still looking for her first win stateside after several solid efforts against graded stakes rivals last year. This daughter of Super Saver might be using this race as a stepping stone to graded stake route races this summer.
Race #8: Selections 3-4-5
3-Its a Cinch hasn’t been out since October of last year, but was a dominating 8 ½-length grass sprint Maiden winner with a solid (80) Beyer when last seen. The 3-year-old colt by Om has trained steadily for today’s return to action. 4-Triple Diamonds has been beaten double digits in the last pair of main track sprints, but moves back to turf today for trainer Mark Glatt, where he had good success to start his career, winning back-to-back efforts. The gelded son of Sir Prancealot is reunited with winning rider Kimura. 5-Binging was overmatched against allowance foes on May 16, but drops back down to a softer spot today, where he was a winner and runner-up two and three-back.
Race #9: Selections 2-4-3
2-Haywood kicked away to a 13-1 upset on May 2 when dropping in class off the mini-freshening for Team O’Neill. This 4-year-old gelding looms tough for the repeat if he can replicate that (87) main track Beyer. 4-Chasin Munny finished fourth behind Haywood in last, but has won two of his last three starts, and now goes second off the claim for conditioner Librado Barocio, who has had a strong meet. 3-Jaguar Jon ran well when stepped up to face allowance runners in start number two after a sharp debut score when flashing good speed again and tiring to third. This gelding drops in class today, but must contend with other speed this afternoon.
Race #10: Selections 5-6-9
A tricky and competitive allowance 1X sprint over the downhill turf course closes out the card. The lightly raced 5-Bit’s Tiger Magic returns off an extended 13-month layoff for trainer Peter Miller after showing solid ability in her first two starts last year. This daughter of Smiling Tiger kicked away to a seven-length maiden grass win before going on the shelf last April. She’s been training steadily at San Luis Rey for her 2025 unveiling and gets Hernandez back in the saddle. 6-True Patriot returns off a nine-month layoff for conditioner Bob Hess and has run well in her two tries over this downhill turf course. The 6-year-old mare shortens up to a sprint today after a series of grass routes to close out last season, and should be making up good ground late with Carmouche. 9-Blue Wildcat has hit the board in her last four consecutive grass sprint tries and finished third over the downhill course two back.
