In Focus: MATCH Series and Haskell Day

Race 8 — G3 MONMOUTH CUP

RACE PARTICULARS: Race 8 (3:28 pm EDT), Grade 3, $150,000 guaranteed purse for three-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles

THE FIELD (post position order)

1. Phat Man (9-2): Joe Sharp trainee won his only prior visit to MTH and enters off a win in his seasonal bow but will need a step forward to take out top runners here
2. Remembering Rita (2-1): Took the G3 Cornhusker last out for third straight win after starting career with 11 consecutive defeats; best rivals in last included G3 winner Dalmore, multiple graded winner McCraken; figures to be on or near the lead in the early going
3. Page McKenney (9-5): 8yo veteran sneaking up on $2 million in career earnings, continuing to run well; found himself at the mercy of loose-on-the-lead Harlan Punch last out but might find a more congenial pace setup here; has been worse than third only once in 10 tries at the trip
4. Let Me Go First (20-1): John Servis trainee really hasn’t shown he’s this quality to date
5. Name Changer (3-1): Had two-race win streak snapped last out when third in the Hanford Memorial at DEL, emptying out late after making a middle move; owns a stake win (2016 Small at LRL) at the trip; closing sort will try to be rolling late under Jose Ortiz
6. Zanotti (5-1): Crushed last out in salty edition of G2 Suburban but this group a little more to his liking; both to run back from last were second in follow-up; has been first or second in all four tries at the trip; Vargas, Jr. returns to irons – he and this horse have a preposterous record of 5-4-0 from nine starts together

Imprimis. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.

RACE 11 – WOLF HILL STAKES

RACE PARTICULARS: Race 11 (5:12pm EDT), $75,000 guaranteed purse for 3yo and up, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf)

THE FIELD

1. Abiding Star (15-1): Has done best working going farther; figures to be running late
2. Triple Burner (15-1): Laurel-based runner ran a big one two back when second in allowance company but disappointed last out at PEN; must turn tables on four who best him that day SCRATCHED
3. Proforma (12-1): Solid season debut last out behind speedy sprinters at MTH; second start of year is also second on the lawn and can improve here with Jersey Joe in the irons
4. Simon Bar Sinister (10-1): Has been in the money six of seven at the track, but several here have bested him in prior tilts; productive season debut last out and can improve off that, but note rider Bravo picks #3 here
5. Dubini (8-1): Closing just a bit too late two back in PA Gov Cup, but last out on good PRX turf had no answers; return to firmer ground would be a plus
6. Snowday (10-1): Winner of last year’s My Frenchman over the strip, this MTH-based runner’s never been out of the money on his home track’s turf course; doesn’t win much, but is capable on best; ran credibly last out in season debut, tiring late to be second going 7f, so should be plenty fit here
7. Bold Thunder (30-1): Solid effort last out in season debut when fourth in G3 Parx Dash and can improve off that; but only one win since middle of ’15 makes this one a dicey play
8. Oak Bluffs (9-2): Trainer Eppler’s runner could seize control of MATCH Series division with win here; firm ground a must for 8yo NJ-bred to fire best shot; note rider Lopez jumps ship, but Eppler brings along go-to pilot Karamanos
9. Nice Tune (30-1): Would be a major surprise
10. Pool Winner (5-1): Has run back-to-back terrific races, failing to hold on late in both; added half-furlong may not play to speedster’s strength, but he’s been in the exacta four of five at MTH; may be playing ‘catch me if you can’ on front end again
11. Imprimis (2-1): Never had anywhere to run last out as second choice in G1 Highlander at WO when tasting defeat for first time in career; drawn outside here with Jose Ortiz up, should have every shot to work out clean trip
12. Ray’swarrior (8-1): Paco picks this runner over #8 in here and why not? He and trainer Servis score at a 41 percent clip (48 percent at MTH)! Ran behind three of these last out in PA Gov Cup, shows three modest works since; figs say no, but it’s tough to ignore these connex