Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 4-Go Go Prancer (Race 6)
Race #1: Selections: 4-6-3
4-A Friend of Mine just missed by a nose at 14-1 in a strong debut at this level on May 10, and is a logical threat in start number two for the D’Amato barn with the likelihood of some improvement off that sharp effort. The 4-year-old filly by Mineshaft (17% dirt routes) should relish the stretch out and will show more speed. 6-Sunset Beauty moves back to dirt for the all-important third career try for conditioner Leonard Powell and switches to Hernandez today. She finished a solid fourth in her main track dirt sprint debut in a “key” race. Blinkers on 3-Time to Shine goes turf to dirt this afternoon for the Glatt barn and is bred to effectively handle the main track. She’s by Not This Time, who gets a strong 19% with his dirt route runners.
Race #2: Selections: 2-5-4
2-Check’s On the Way rallied for the place spot in a much-improved effort on May 4 when turning back in distance and moving back to dirt, finishing in front of a pair of today’s returning rivals. The 3-year-old gelding sports the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer (76). 5-Rumble King returns off a year hiatus for trainer Steve Knapp and was a solid 4 ½-furlong debut winner when last seen back in May of last year. The son of Stay Thirsty adds Lasix, and has trained well leading up to today’s return to action for an excellent layoff barn. 4-Letmein finished third behind Check’s On the Way (beaten less than two lengths) when making his first crack against winners in his most recent try.
Race #3: Selections: 1-3-2
1-Nevada Beach was a sharp Maiden winner with a lofty (90) Beyer in his April 19 debut for Team Baffert, going a tricky and demanding one-mile distance. The son of Omaha Beach looks like a strong threat for a repeat, stepping up into stakes competition. His stablemate, 3-Gaming, winner of the 2024 Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, makes his third start of the form cycle today, exiting a runner-up finish in the Hot Springs S. and a most recent third in the Pat Day Mile. The battle-tested colt should appreciate getting back to his Southern California home base. The Maiden 2-Westwood finished a well-beaten third behind Preakness winner Journalism when last seen in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and has shown ability for conditioner John Shirreffs in his last three dirt routes. The $700,000 gelded son of Authentic lands in another tough stakes event, however.
Race #4: Selections: 4-8-3
4-Mo Town Girl drops in for a career-low claiming tag today for conditioner Bill McLean while making her second try off the bench. The 5-year-old mare projects to sit a favorable stalking trip directly behind the race speed and retains Kimura. Route to sprint 8-Hollywood Mistress drops from $8k claimers to $5,000 this afternoon while making her second start off the bench. This consistent 7-year-old mare sports an impressive lifetime record of (10-10-14) from 47 starts. She appears to have found a level at which she can compete effectively on this circuit. 3-Woodbine Way didn’t have the cleanest of trips when facing several of these on May 9 as the race’s second choice and deserves a chance to rebound today at a level she has been successful at in the past.
Race #5: Selections: 2-4-5
The speedy 2-Carver goes two sprints to a route this afternoon and is a multiple winner going today’s one-mile trip. The 5-year-old gelding makes his third start of the form cycle this afternoon and looks like a solid gate-to-wire threat on the stretch out. 4-Dealers Special got banged around at the start as the beaten favorite against a trio of today’s returning rivals on May 9 and is likely to improve today with a better getaway for trainer Richard Baltas. The 4-year-old gelded son of Upstart was a sharp 4 ½-length winner going longer against cheaper two-back. 5-Rastaman Vibe has finished third in his last four consecutive grass route tries for trainer Peter Eurton, but is reunited with jockey Juan Hernandez today, who was aboard for his last win back in November of last year.
Race #6: Selections: 4-2-3
A beaten favorite in his last pair, 4-Go Go Prancer drops in for today’s $50k claiming tag for trainer Phil D’Amato while making his third start of the form cycle. The 3-year-old gelding looks primed for a maiden-breaking score today. 2-Proud Racer has hit the board in three of four career tries for Baltas, exiting back-to-back (69) main track sprint Beyers. He finished behind Go Go Prancer in his most recent try. The speedy 3–En Tu Honor Bro makes his first dirt try off a 15-month layoff after racing in Northern California for trainer Jesus Ramos. The 5-year-old maiden gelding drops in for a first-time tag today off the extended break.
Race #7: Selections: 2-5-1
After 18 consecutive graded stakes tries, the veteran gelding 2-Dicey Mo Chara gets some class relief this afternoon for trainer Leonard Powell after just coming up a neck short in his most recent third in the May 3 Grade 2 Charlie Whittingham. He’s the class of this field, and this looks like the right spot to finally get back on the winning track. He’s winless since 2022. The graded stakes-placed 5-Spycatcher had a nice prep for this with his most recent runner-up effort on May 3 when making his first start off an eight-month layoff and projects to be much tighter today for conditioner Mark Glatt. The 6-year-old gelding has hit the board in eight of ten career tries, and likes this 1 1/8-distance. 1-Final Boss exits a fourth-place finish in the Siren Lure S. and now stretches back out to today’s 1 1/8-mile trip where he’s a perfect 2-for-2.
Race #8: Selections 4-2-7
The Richard Baltas-trained 4-Naida sports the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer (66), which is above par for this class level off a recent runner-up effort on May 10. The 4-year-old filly makes her second try at today’s $16,000 claiming level and looks best. 2-Broadway Venus has flashed speed and tired in her last several tries, but takes a sizable class plunge today and could shake free against this softer lineup. 7-Lita Way hasn’t shown much in recent starts but goes turf to dirt this afternoon on the class drop and is eligible to improve for trainer Steve Sherman.
Race #9: Selections 2-4-1
2-Vinalia (GB) finished a much-improved closing second on May 18 for trainer Phil D’Amato and co-tops the field’s best last-out grass Beyer (73). This filly moves from post 11 to today’s favorable inside draw and should be motoring home late for Rispoli. 4-Unbinding (GB) is an interesting import for trainer Mark Glatt, finishing second in her Lingfield debut back on April 10. The 3-year-old filly adds Lasix today for her first stateside start and is by multiple Group 2 winner Iffraaj. She shows one solid drill over the track on June 1. 1-Storm Lady (GB) finished a disappointing eighth in her most recent try for trainer Carla Gaines, but moves back to the rail today with good positional speed and retains jockey Hector Berrios, who has been torrid over this grass course all year.
