Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 3-Gallatin (Race 4)
Race #1: Selections: 5-3-4
A beaten favorite in the last pair, 5-Kokosan got cooked through a taxing early quarter mile in his most recent grass try on March 15, but should be able to clear this field a lot easier in this spot. A solid five-furlong bullet on April 16 over the synthetic track indicates he remains sharp, and his last three turf Beyers were above par for this class level. 3-Rostovsky rallied smartly for the place spot when stepping up in class for trainer Mark Glatt. The gelding will need to get moving sooner cutting back to a mile. 4-Tribal flashed speed and tired, finishing well behind Rostovsky in last, but can move forward second off the bench and claim for Team O’Neill.
Race #2: Selections: 2-1-5
The lightly raced 2-Rollinwithpolan showed speed and tired badly when trying turf in career try number two on April 19, but moves back to the main track today, where he was a gate-to-wire debut winner. This shrewd barn is 4-for-15 (27%) with dirt sprint starters on the quick turnaround (1 to 7 days) the past five years. 1-Sendit Mo was a game 5 ½-furlong winner in his most recent effort on March 27, and now goes first off the claim for the Papaprodromou barn. A lucrative angle for this outfit—8-for-22 (36%). 5-Desert Kat was third behind Sendit Mo in the aforementioned March 27 4-horse field, and now makes his second try off the mini-freshening.
Race #3: Selections: 4-6-3
4-Dreaming On (by Liam’s Map) was a game runner-up at 14-1 on debut Feb. 20 with a lofty (77) Beyer and has had plenty of recovery time for conditioner Tim Yakteen. A solid win candidate with any normal second-out progression. 6-Pacer is a $300k Keeneland purchase by Nyquist debuting for the Sadler barn off a steady work tab. The sophomore colt is nicely drawn outside, and this barn has above-average stats with dirt firsters. The Peter Eurton-trained 3-Woodson goes turf to dirt in career try number six, and his most recent synthetic drills have improved substantially, including an eye-catching bullet four furlongs in 45.4 on April 13.
Race #4: Selections: 3-7-8
The recent Peter Miller purchase, 3-Gallatin, was a vastly improved runner-up, with improved speed, when switched to grass for the stretch-out on March 27. The Authentic 3-year-old should establish a clear early lead in this spot with Kimura and prove tough to reel in late for the new barn. 7-Savahe Warden makes his initial try for his new connections off three South Florida sprint tries over grass and the synthetic track. The Code of Honor gelding seems to have successfully worked himself into the D’Amato program and should fire fresh off a solid work tab with Lasix. Recent maiden winner 8-Map Me Sexy tries turf and stretching out for Team O’Neill off a solid main track win off the six-month layoff on March 21. The gelding’s pedigree suggests both maneuvers should be well within his wheelhouse, and Jaramillo sticks.
Race #5: Selections: 2-4-6
The 8-time winning 2-Red Flag has run well in all three main-track sprint tries this year for Mullins and now drops from a $50k claimer to today’s $32,000 level. The veteran 8-year-old gelding owns the recency edge over returnee 4-Mega Moon. The Frosted 6-year-old is back off an 11-month hiatus for conditioner Ron Ellis and fired a field’s best last out (89) Beyer before hitting the sidelines. His bullet five-furlong gate drill in :58.1 on April 9 indicates readiness, and the gelding lures Hernandez off the bench. 6-Hey Brother steps up in class after a solid score off a year’s layoff on March 13. He figures for another favorable upfront-pressing trip this afternoon.
Race #6: Selections: 6-3-7
6-Lonesome Stew is back off an 11-month freshening, having won four of his last five starts with a second for trainer Mark Glatt, proving to be equally effective over dirt and turf. The Grazen gelding has already proven he can fire off the bench for an excellent layoff barn, and his five-furlong drill in a snappy :58.4 on April 18 indicates he’s ready to go. The multiple stakes-winning 3-On the Whim likes this course and exits a solid second in the Sensational Star S. on March 22 for trainer Dean Pederson. The gelding makes his third try of the form cycle today and should be ready for a top try. The lightly raced and speedy 7-Septembersixtyfour returns off a six-month break off a spirited work tab for conditioner Mike Puype and may find the downhill course to his liking.
Race #7: Selections: 5-1-3
Turf to dirt 5-Exington is pure speed for conditioner Steve Miyadi and drops in for a career-low $10k claiming tag this afternoon with the addition of blinkers. The 1-for-15 daughter of Hard Spun should prove to reel in today against this level of competition. The lightly raced 1-A Fleet Ride sports the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer (63) when battling gamely on the lead before settling for a hard-fought second against a pair of today’s returning rivals on March 22. The filly figures to be hustled along for position from the fence. 3-Union Heiress adds blinkers for the first try off the claim for the Dollase barn, finishing fourth behind A Fleet Ride in last. The 5-year-old mare is reunited with veteran pilot Victor Espinoza, who was aboard for the solid second-place effort two back.
Race #8: Selections: 3-5-9
3-Uncle Chilly is in rare form for Mullins, having won two straight main track sprints in solid time, and a threepeat is well within reach at likely low odds. 5-Mici’s Express makes the third try of the form cycle today for Team O’Neill, exiting a solid one-mile finish on March 21. Another potential move forward for the winning jockey-trainer combo makes him a conceivable mild upset candidate to the top choice. 9-Majestic Palisades has run well in all five starts since joining the Barocio barn and switches to Hernandez this afternoon off a close-up third behind next-out winner Joint Venture.
Race #9: Selections: 9-2-5
What’s not to like about the multiple stakes-winning mare 9-Grand Slam Smile, who has never run off the board in 19 lifetime starts (11-6-2) and exits a sharp score in the downhill Irish O’Brien S. The champion 5-year-old has proven she can stretch out her cruising speed to a mile and will take some beating today despite the outside draw. The Grade 3-winning 2-Tirupati ran a better-than-looks wide fifth off the year layoff on April 4 for trainer Jonathan Thomas, and is eligible to improve significantly, second off the bench. The Mitole mare fired a snappy four furlongs in :46.3 on April 18. 5-May Day Ready hasn’t quite regained her 2024 form when winning three of four, including a runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Nonetheless, she returns to Southern California after a six-month freshening for the new barn and is dangerous if she can rekindle that past form.
