BEST BET: SHAKHIMAT – 7TH RACE (5-2)
LONGSHOT PICK: R U WATCHINGBUD – 10th race (10-1)
RACE 1- 7 fur; optional/claiming
1-2-3-4
1 – PREFERRED GUEST may be the lone 3-year-old filly in this tiny field but she is a stakes winner who was in Florida all winter. Nancy Guest’s CTHS yearling purchase was on turf for a race in march and had no pace to run at. The winner that day came back to win the Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct recently with an 82 Beyer Figure.
2 – JACK’S MEMORY is one of 2 in the field for trainer Robert Tiller. She won her debut back in 2017 but was only a minor player in 5 outings at 3. The distance suits her and Eurico da Silva stays on board.
3 – BRIDLEWISE wants more distance but this is a good place to start her season and she is in the hands of Laurie Silvera, who has already sent out a winner in the first two days of the season.
RACE 2 – 5 1/2 fur; maiden claiming
3-6-5-2
3 – IN VIEW was favoured to win his last 5 races of 2018 and landed 2nd, 3rd and 4th in thos outings. This shorter distance might be perfect for him off the winter vacation.
6- ALICIA’S KID raced once in 2018 and that was 11 months ago. It was a a good little run while wide around the turn and into the strtech. He returns to racing as a gelding for Paul Buttigieg and his team.
5 – CAPOEIRA is a 4-year-old filly who was bought for $2,000 at auction this winter but she was originally a $150,000 yearling. She has had loads of workouts since 2017 at Keeneland, Monmouth, etc. Nicely bred gal is a wild card.
RACE 3- 5 fur.; claiming $5,000
2-6-1-5
2- TOBRUK is a steady fellow who likes the distance and he has had some nice workout times this spring. He appears to be the best speed type in the field.
6 – MAJESTIC HEIST has a super record at the distance and he was in the money 11 of 16 races last year. He had a well deserved winter vacation.
1 – HOLTZ was also a busy guy in 2018 with 15 races and he was in the top three 11 times. He found a love fore the Fort Erie grass last year.
RACE 4- 5 fur; optional claiming
4-1-8-7
4 – BLUEBLOOD may be overbet based on the fact he ran in nothing but stakes races after his maiden debut win in May 2017. Speedy colt has back class, drops big time off the long layoff and this is Patrick Husbands’ first ride since he was seriously injured last year.
1 – SALIERI has a tricky post for such a short race unless he really gets going quickly. His workout times this spring for trainer Steve Attard have been super.
8 – ALACRITIOUS did some nice work last season and his barn won with its first runner of the year.
7 – CARMENOOTZ has a wide post but was very steady with Beyer Figures in the 70s last year.
RACE 5- 5 1/2 fur.; maiden claiming $25,000 fillies
7-5-1-2
7 – BLACK SAGE is one of 2 gals in the field for trainer Abraham Katryan and she is pretty quick. She is probably happier on the grass but she is a top three candidate.
5 – MISS DANIELLE is the stablemate of Black Sage and she has had a lot of chances but loves this distance. She has been in the top three 6 times from 8 tries at 5 or 5 1/2 furlongs.
1 – REXDALE debuted on turf at Fair Grounds in March and was last out of the gate. She does not have a great post for her local debut but her 2 workouts here were in nice clockings.
The workout times on beginner BIDDY EARLY are super and she is a 4-year-old by a good local sire and a half to useful Sam’s Cross.
RACE 6 – 6 furlongs; maiden optional; fillies
5-6-2-4
5- BONNIE LEE sizzled 2 furlongs in 21 seconds flat for that sale last April. By a 12% debut sire and a half sister to 11 winners, this gal had a start and stop training schedule last year and has been given lots of time.
6 – PINK SCRIBBLES is the likely favourite off some nice runs last year in her first season of racing. The owners already have a win on the season and she has positive experience compared to the others.
2 – SLYDINI was favoured for her debut last June and had sharp speed. The 2nd place finisher went on to be placed 1st in a stakes race after that outing. She has been working in Florida all winter.
RACE 7 – 7 furlongs; allowance/optional
5-6-1-2
5 – SHAKHIMAT is a graded stakes winner of $444K and while he needs things to go just the right way – he likes to be left alone on the pace – he has done well against tough ones over the years. He shortened right up to 5 1/2 furlongs for a Grade 2 turf stake 3 weeks ago at Keeneland but that was too short. No reason why he can’t tow-rope this great field of stakes calirbe guys.
6 – SWEET LITTLE MAN is now 9-years-old and he was graded stakes placed twice last year in a huge season. He also won 1st time out in 2018. He has been trained by marty Drexler/Jim Ensom for a long, long time but was moved to a new trainer in Krista Cole this season.
1 – COLONEL SAMSEN was put away early last year (June) by mark casse. The gelding should have won his local debut last May but had a terrible trip.
RACE 8 – WOODSTOCK STAKES – 6 FUR. 3yo
7-2-6-4
7 – YES I AM FREE is one of 2 tough ones in the field for trainer Mark Casse. This race is loaded with speed so it is a guess as to who will gun to the lead and who can stalk and finish well. This guy won 2 5 furlong turf sprints to begin his career for Gary barber before fizzling in a recent Keeneland stakes race.
2 – ALL AMERICAN HERO has won going 1 mile on turf and he has been off since January. His Tapeta workout times have been super strong.
6 – THE BOSS FACTOR was a decent 4th in the Display Stakes last December and he was winter trained. Toss the dirt race in march, he gets back to Tapeta.
*Four of these entrants were supplemented at a cost of $2K – Souper Success, Hesathriller, Corduroy Road and Tiz Breathtaking the filly.
RACE 9 – 6 fur; Claiming $7,500
2-7-1-3
2 – HEYDON’S CASE has been busy working a lot this spring for trainer Norm McKnight and he ran well in all 4 of his starts for this barn last fall. He should be on or close to the pace as there is not a lot of speed in the field.
7 – BUTILOVESYABABE is a personal favourite who was picked to win by this corner in his season debut in 2018 – he just missed. He has a new owner and trainer for this year’s unveiling. he has not won since October 2016.
1 – DOT’S VISION didn’t have much of a rest after 2018 as he had 3 drab runs on dirt at Parx. He should be happy to get back to Tapeta.
RACE 10 – 6 FUR; Claiming $10,000
8-4-2-7
8- COURT BATTLE won 4 races last year as a 3-year-old and comes off the winter layoff for John and Jane Staples and John Hillier. He is reunited with Eurico da Silva and is a speedy guy with an outside post. Must avoid getting caught up in am early battle with Kitchen Fire.
4 – R U WATCHINGBUD won the New Providence Stakes in 2016 in his first start of the year but missed all of 2017. Last season he only had a few minor shares. He has had some nifty workout times for the JC Stable of John Ross and Cathy Wong and he has speed to run at.
12 – CONSTANTINO is now 10-years-old but he has been working like the wind in April. He is a wonderful fellow who should do well off the winter layoff at this $10,000, his lowest level yet.
Also consider KITCHEN FIRE and KITTEN’S SOLUTION for the trifectas, High 5 etc.
