Race 5: #8 Grande Bella (6-1)
The morning line favorite scratch out of this race so expect the price on #8 Grande Bella to come down significantly. Anything above the 3-1 or 7/2 range seems like fair value to me. This filly is getting back on the synthetic today after a solid try on the turf course going two turns. She pressed the pace throughout, disposed of that rival, and just got run down late by a horse that had a perfect trip from midpack. Good try and she should be super fit cutting back to one turn. Prior to that she wired the field on the synthetic going this distance so you know the trip will be just fine, and she’s run well from off the pace in the past too and I love that kind of versatility at this level especially. Drew a great outside post that should give her rider options so I think this gal deserves a long look.
Race 8: #5 Bet (8-1)
Let’s take a shot with a price in #5 Bet (8-1). This guy should get a great stalking trip sitting just off the two speed horses drawn directly to his inside. The rest of this field mostly wants to come from well out of it so I think he can get the jump on those foes. He has to find a way to turn the tables on the favorite, but #4 Finalist could not have had an easier lead last time and I’ll be surprised if he’s not pressured today. On paper Bet might seem like an inconsistent runner, but if you only focus on his synthetic tries around two turns his form really brightens. He’s 3 for 6 while hitting the board in two other races going two turns on the synthetic. His better Beyer figures put him right in the hunt so I would love to get 8-1 on this runner
