Race 1: Fayez is on a long losing run but was staying on strongly over a mile in similar company last time and should get into contention. First In Line, who finished a close fourth in the same race, was also going on strongly at the finish and, as that was only his second start, he can reverse the form. The beautifully-bred War Front gelding Plan Of Attack hasn’t shown much to date though has only had five starts and should be showing some form soon. MR TITO’S has a long lay-off to overcome having not raced since taking part in an incredible maiden at Churchill Downs last summer that produced numerous winners. He’s been working steadily since arriving here and a chance is taken on his fitness.
Race 2: HARTLING completed her hat-trick when scoring at this level here in February. She didn’t run again until failing to fire in better company early this month and should be more at home in this grade. Lady Archa also completed a hat-trick though at a lower level before a moderate effort in this class. She earlier had Amelia Madelyn, Words Of Devine and Gran Brandy behind though that was over 7f and the former should do better over this trip.
Race 3: Gran Michelle has been catching the eye breezing and wouldn’t need to be a world-beater to make a successful start. Graham Motion doesn’t have too many runners here so the presence of Perfectcombination, who missed the break on her racecourse debut, is interesting. PANAREA is taking a big drop in class and looks the one to beat. An excellent third following a long lay-off in a much better race that has worked out very strongly, suggests this should be her day on just her fourth start. Kozy Dreams went off very quickly last time over slightly further and paid the penalty in the closing stages so the drop in trip should suit.
Race 4: Dancingwithjimmieb looked a certain future winner when beaten a neck on his penultimate start but never got going next time and finished behind Wild About This, who showed her liking for the trip with a fine placed effort after previously racing over a mile. Cultivation was also behind in that former event after missing the break completely and is much better judged on her earlier narrow defeat. It’s difficult to get away from the chance of I’M PRAYINGFORTHAT (NAP), who takes a big drop in class. An excellent second on just her third start over this track and trip, she couldn’t handle the step-up to a mile in a very much stronger race last time and this looks more her grade.
Race 5: TIGER BLOOD has a fantastic record which can be enhanced again. The winner of eight of 11 races on Turf and another ten on Dirt, his only recent defeat came when tackling a mile and he’s expected to shoot the gate as usual and make all. He had What’s Inside behind last time and the latter, who was on a hat-trick, will need to break much better to have a chance of a form reversal. Frenchmen Street is very quick out of the gate and had Coop Tries Harder back in third when runner-up in a similar race last time so looks the main threat.
Race 6: Golden Garter gained her only success to date at Woodbine in September and returns after a long absence but she’s well up to this class at her best. Lady Fiorella hasn’t been in the best of form since scoring here in November but can’t be discounted in this grade though this can go to SIMPLE STORY. Runner-up at Churchill Downs on her debut in November, she then landed a $50,000 maiden claimer here last month and with further progress likely will take some beating. East Coast Swing looks best of the remainder.
Race 7: PHANTOM RO, who won a better race than this at Woodbine in October, was having his first start for new connections here last month after being claimed and is expected to start paying his way. Kyle had Joe Di Baggio behind when runner-up over slightly further last time and looks best of the Carlos David pair as French Quarter has been winning in lower grade. Combination completed a hat-trick in very minor company and never really got going before staying on into third last time, again at a lower level than this.
Race 8: SECRET STASH, beaten just a length in the $200,000 Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay last time, can take this for Mark Casse though Tod Pletcher’s Eve Of War looks a danger. The daughter of Declaration Of War made a successful racecourse debut on the Dirt here before stumbling at the start next time and could do even better on Turf. Skye Snow landed a $50,000 maiden special weight in impressive fashion last month and is progressing nicely while the lightly-raced Ella Brilla, who also won at that level at Keeneland in October, is another improving type though returns after a break.
Race 9: Slam Dunk hasn’t been seen since landing a lucrative maiden in very wet conditions at Churchill Downs in November and this looks a tough ask on her return. GRACEFUL PRINCESS has an even longer absence to overcome but she’s moved to Todd Pletcher who will have her ready as she’s been impressive breezing at Palm Beach. Her placed efforts here a year ago put her right in the picture. Whispering Beauty, who completed a double for William Haggas last summer, was having only her second start for new connections when placed here in February with Hunting Season behind and should be winning again soon while Shrewdness scored at Wolverhampton for the Newmarket stable and will be better for a promising run on her debut here last month.
Race 10: CANDY COMA looks the one to beat in this moderate contest as she made a very promising start to her career in a better race than this last month where she was only caught in the closing stages. Nothing But Net has moved barns after placed efforts in slightly better grade and could provide the main threat though Fifty Cents, who wasn’t far behind the selection last month, didn’t stay the extra furlong on his next start. Annualized, who made a promising debut in a very much better race than this last May, should be approaching his peak after three recent runs at a higher level than this.