Wednesday, May 17 2017
RACE 1:
3 SYMPATICO is dropping $10,000 on the
maiden scale, and adding blinkers, after
responding to a dropdown in competition with a
5th place finish in a ‘key’ $35,000 maiden race
that produced 3 winners from 7 next-out starters.
8 LITTLE LEO, now in the Larry Bates barn, the
gelded son of Majesticperfection stretches out
around 2-turns after finishing an even 4th in his 5furlong debut. He’s bred on both sides of the
family tree to respond favorably to the added real
estate. 4 YOU ARE FLATTER is stepping up the
competition after opening and surrendering a 5length lead when 2nd in a $12,500 maiden test at
the distance.
SELECTIONS: 3-8-4
RACE 2:
5 STARSHIP APOLLO moved to the Gilberto
Zerpa barn after the claim, and turns back to 5 ½
furlongs, after dueling for the lead and finishing
3rd – beaten a length – vs similar going seveneighths of a mile. 3 MY JOHNNY BE GOOD
moved to the Marcelo Cuito barn via the claim,
and will try to make it three in a row, after stalking
early and drawing clear late to notch his 2nd
straight at this level and distance. The new
connections keep the status quo and have jockey
Nicky Figueroa going for the hat trick.
4 WHERE’S THAT CAT has that great equalizer
on his side – speed! The gelding returns to South
Florida looking to steal this heat on the front end.
7 FEELING AWESOME is dropping to the
$6,250 level on the main track after returning
from layoff to stalk the action and finish 5th in a
$10,000 conditioned claimer on the turf. Trainer
Carlo Vaccarezza has red-hot leading jock Tyler
Gaffalione in the saddle. 2 KING OF JAK is
stretching out to a mile after returning from the
freshening to set the pace and finish 2nd in a
$6,250 ‘3-lifetime’ claimer going 7 furlongs. The
previous winner at the distance is worth a look at
a price.
SELECTIONS: 5-7-2
RACE 4:
1 FAVORITE HEIR will depart from the rail, and
drop to the $20,000 level, looking to sit a stalking
trip behind the abundance of ‘need-the-lead’
types in the field. Trainer Lilli Kurtinecz has
strong finisher Luca Panici named on the 3-time
local turf winner as Tyler Gaffalione sticks with
7 STAR CONTENDER. The latter, trained by
Ralph Nicks, will try to make it two in a row after
leading every step of the way to defeat $16,000
optional claimers by 3-plus lengths.
2 JOJO’S DREAM, a speedy son of Discreetly
Mine, is making his first start since dueling for the
lead and weakening to finish 5th in the 1-mile
$50,000 Little Magician during February. Trainer
Ralph Ziadie, 19% with this type of layoff, has
Edgard Zayas named to ride.
SELECTIONS: 1-7-2
SELECTIONS: 5-3-4
RACE 3:
5 ROLL IT GAL, a 3-time winner, was solid in
defeat when she dueled for the lead and finished
2nd at this level and distance. Trainer Bernardo
Campos has Emisael Jaramillo penciled in for the
return assignment.
RACE 5:
9 FATHER LOVE will break from the outside,
and stretch out to 6 furlongs on the dirt, after
setting solid early fractions when winning 1 of 2
sprints going 5 furlongs on the turf. Trainer Victor
Barboza Jr, 6 for 16 (38%) with recent turf-to-dirt
moves, has Emisael Jaramillo handling the
surface change. 7 BITOMAGIC is dropping to
the $6,250 level, and stretching out to threequarters of a mile, after a steady inside move
produced a 3rd place finish vs $12,500 types
going 5 ½ furlongs. 4 KIMCHI’S STRIKE is
cutting back to three-quarters of a mile after
encountering traffic at the 3/8th pole and finishing
5th behind a pair of next-out winners going 6 ½
furlongs. Trainer George Handy has apprentice
Alvaro Donis handling the 3rd start back from the
layoff.
SELECTIONS: 9-7-4
RACE 6:
9 VENTINA is dropping to the $10,000 level after
a trio of interesting turf races against better in
which she defeated $16,000 claimers three starts
back, was 3rd in a strong $25,000 optional
claimers two starts back, and a disappointing 4th
in a $16,000 conditioned claimer in her last.
2 LITTLE SHADE is making the 3rd start of her
current form cycle after the pair of frustrating 2nd
place finishes vs ‘non-winners of 2-lifetime’
claimers at the distance. Trainer Carlo
Vaccarezza has Tyler Gaffalione trying to cure
the case of seconditis. 4 FLYING DUDE is
hoping to find a little more for the stretch drive
after the pair of 3rd place finishes at the distance
vs similar.
SELECTIONS: 9-2-4
RACE 7:
4 RICH MOMMY is stretching out to 7 furlongs
for the first time after dueling through swift
fractions of 22 flat and 44 & 3 when finishing 2nd
in a 6-furlong sprint at this level that was timed in
1:09 & 1. 6 QUEEN ROLLER is back in the
starter optional claiming ranks after being
unprepared at the start when her head was
turned, causing her to break 4 lengths behind the
field in the $75,000 Game Face last out.
5 E Z’S MISTRESS is stepping up after making
big move at the ¼-pole and finishing 2nd behind
repeat winner South in a $35,000 claimer
contested at 6 furlongs. She’s in for the $50,000
tag today, and trainer Larry Pilotti has Miguel
Vasquez in the saddle.
SELECTIONS: 4-6-5
RACE 8:
6 STAY IN CRUISE is turning back to a mile in
the first start since stalking the pace and finishing
3rd behind repeat winner Powerline in a $16,000
2-lifetime’ claimers going a mile and a sixteenth
on March 31st. The son of Admiral’s Cruise, out
of the Stack mare Stayanothertime, sent off at
52-1 last out, can score at a price.
3 COXSWAIN is stepping up to face winners
after ending his 2-race turf campaign at the Fair
Grounds with a nose victory vs $20,000
Louisiana stare-bred competition at the distance.
Trainer Ron Faucheux has C J McMahon in the
saddle. 4 RECALIBRATING is stretching out to
a mile after rallying to come within a half-length
of defeating this caliber of competition going 7 ½
furlongs.
SELECTIONS: 8-3-4
RACE 9:
2 ELLOREE GAL is poised to score after
responding to both a dropdown in competition,
and a surface switch, with a well-meant 2nd place
finish at this level and distance.
9 DREAMINGOFROSEALLA, now in the
Rasharn Creque barn, the daughter of
Gemologist shifts to the turf after getting
eliminated at the start when she was pinballed
between horses and left to fight another day
when checking in 10th and last in a $12,500
maiden test on the dirt. 8 CHECK OUT GILDA,
another from trainer Rasharn Creque, has been
knocking on the door in consecutive races, which
includes the 3rd place finish behind the top choice
last out.
SELECTIONS: 2-9-8
BEST BET: RACE 6 – 9 VENTINA
LONGSHOT: RACE 8 – 6 STAY IN CRUISE