SHINING MOMENT (3) stopped while drifting out in her debut in a very strong maiden allowance race at Keeneland. She drops in class today, will benefit from the experience and should be in a good spot in the stretch. OLD TIME RELIGION (2) comes back quickly for new connections after being claimed from a race in which she was the runner-up as a heavy favorite. She is very quick and could prove tough to catch. SO MUCH TROUBLE (1) is a first-timer with a precocious pedigree, but average works.
3-2-1
Race 2
LECOMPASS (3) fared poorly as the favorite last out in an allowance race on a sloppy track at Hawthorne and wheels back today for a claiming tag. She does not need the lead in a race with lots of speed that could set up well for her. GEESKA (6) returns to a claiming price today after she finished in front of the top pick the last time they met. She looks tough from her outside draw. GO CHEROKEE GO (5) was overmatched on turf last out in her first race for new connections. She was a solid second at this level on the dirt prior to that race.
3-6-5
Race 3
FONTAZIA (5) cost himself any chance last out when bore out sharply when he made his move as the favorite at this level. His prior runner-up finish was good enough to make him a factor in his first start on dirt. ALLTOGETHERNOW (11) was a good third last out against a similar group over this surface. That was a one-turn mile and the concern today is his outside draw, which could force a wide trip. SPLISH (7) should appreciate today’s stretch-out in distance and drops in class for Paul McGee. He comes out of sprint races and should be forwardly placed.
5-11-7
Race 4
ROGUE SCHOLAR (2) has two wins here and gets a tepid nod in this well-matched group of mid -level claimers. His chances will improve even more if the track is wet. PINPOINT (3) just missed by a length in his first start of the year and could take the top spot with only slight improvement. There’s plenty of speed and he should be in a good stalking position. TRUE COURSE (5) has a great local record and defeated some good allowance horses here last spring. He makes his third start off a long layoff and should be happier with today’s return to the Churchill Downs oval.
2-3-5
Race 5
BEAUTIFUL NINA (3) was claimed by sharp connections out of a hard-fought victory over slightly lesser foes last out. She had been running well prior to that on the competitive Tampa Bay Downs circuit and seems capable of a successful step up. GENIVER (8) was second to a runaway winner in her first start since October and should move forward off that effort. The one-turn mile should be perfect for her off-the-pace running style as she searches for her first win in nearly a year. SUNSHINE SUMMER (1) is a sharp Tampa Bay shipper who would move forward if the track should turn up wet.
3-8-1
Race 6
HAPPY POINT (2) has been running very well on the dirt and should really improve with today’s switch to grass. She has turf on both sides of her pedigree and speed to be close throughout. DIVERSE (3) makes her first start on the turf and her pedigree points to improvement with the change in surface. She has run well in all her efforts prior to today and should have good early position in this one-mile event. NUMBER ONE SONG (8) has the advantage over the top pair in some decent turf form and looks to step forward in her second start of the year. Main Track Selections: Happy Point (2), Quiet Alice (1)
2-3-8
Race 7
KELLY’S LANDING (2) makes his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) and has run well over this track and off the layoff. He has faced tough opponents throughout his career and should be just off the leaders under Leparoux in this field that is packed with plenty of early speed. INDIAN CHANT (5) will be the one to deny if the top pick should need a race under his belt to be at his best. He put together a four-race winning streak last summer that included a blowout track record win over this surface. GOING WILD (1) set a quick pace before fading to finish six lengths behind Indian Chant last out. He will be forced to go again from his rail post as he continues his search for his first win since 2006.
2-5-1
Race 8
BOUNCE HOUSE (8) just missed in his last two starts at a class level similar to this conditioned claimer. He goes today for a new barn and a repeat of either of those races would make him a factor with the turn-back in distance. TACTICAL JOE (9) drops slightly after failing to make an impact in a fairly strong running of a $25,000 conditioned claimer. He has shown enough speed in prior races to be on-or-near the lead here. NEW AWAKENING (1) has been stuck at this condition for a while, but has run well enough to merit a look here. He makes his first start since March of 2007 and needs to break sharply from his inside post.
8-9-1
Race 9
STRATOSTAR (7) has been on a roll at this starter allowance level with five consecutive top finishes on both turf and dirt. He has no problem in handling the nine-furlong distance and should get a perfect stalking trip. SELF MADE MAN (4) likes to go to the lead and can be very tough to run down if left alone early. His last turf start here was a good fourth behind top stakes horse Storm Treasure. CHESTERMITE (9) has chased the top pick in his last two starts and shows a good record over this course. A clean trip today could help him turn the tables. Main track selections: Stratostar (7), Sterling Heat (12)
7-4-9
Race 10
TEMPER TEMPER (1) adds blinkers today after she hung in the lane last out, a move that deprived her of an outright win. She was subsequently moved up to the win via disqualification and shows a good second place finish here last fall at this distance. ACOMA (3) was a deceptively easy winner last out and shows a solid local workout. She has the pedigree to be a top class performer and a repeat of her last race would make her tough here. FLAMING SLEW (2) ran evenly in her first start against winners and could improve in her third start off the layoff.
1-3-2
Race 11
EL CABALLO (11) was an unlucky loser last out, which was his first start since a good fourth-place effort here last May. He has drawn well to the outside, and has the speed to contend throughout. MONHOCRACY (5) makes his first local start but shows a series of very good workouts over this track in preparation for today’s race. He has shown the ability to close from just off the pace and that seems a likely scenario here. PRIVATE GENTLEMAN (7) is a first-time starter from the red-hot Greg Foley barn and Julien Leparoux, the meet’s leading rider, gets the call. He has a pedigree to be ready to go first out and appears to be training sharply for his debut.
11-5-7
Value Plays
Race 4
SILVER PEGASUS (4) comes into this race riding a four race win streak. This suddenly red hot eight-year-old takes a class hike but runs into a field he might be able to handle if he keeps running the way he has in Florida.
Let’s play Silver Pegasus (4) across the board at 4-1 or up. Suggest using Rogue Scholar (2) in exotics.
Race 6
HAPPY POINT (2) has finished second or third in each of her four career starts. This sophomore daughter of Kentucky Oaks runner-up The Happy Hopper should enjoy the extended distance and that switch to grass.
Let’s play Happy Point (2) across the board at 7-2 or up. Suggest using Diverse (3) in exotics.
Race 11
EL CABALLO (11) finished second last time out at Keeneland off an eleven month layoff. He makes his second start off the layoff and should be ready to give his best effort in this event.
Let’s play El Caballo (11) across the board at 4-1 or up. Suggest using Posse Cat (12), Knock Out Cat (6) and Klassi Berti (3) in exotics.
