RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 4 AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

3-4-7-6

Lots of fun races on the penultimate scheduled Thursday of the winter season. #3 Vanhoofer (9/2) made his first start in more than six months last out, and raced wide before falling flat. He drops in class to this level for the first time and gets the very tough Victor Carrasco in the saddle. The closest he came to winning was on the grass at Delaware Park in June, when he raced closer to the pace than usual. #4 Bourbon On the Bay (5/2) chased the odds-on favorite all the way around last out on debut, but finished well-clear of the others and got second. His brisnet figure of 84 in that race makes him very tough. #7 Rahmer (5/1) exits the same race as Bourbon On the Bay, and won a photo for third after recovering from a bad start. Has shown both good tactical speed and good late pace figures in the past.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

7-3-4-1

#7 The Walk (5/2) has won five in a row, all against similar types to what he’ll see here. He made his first start in more than three months last out, and swung wide in the stretch to get up for the win against Jovis, who had won at this level in his prior start. #3 Swing West (4/1) has won his last two starts against open claimers, including a gate-to-wire score last out. This is the perfect kind of race in which to flaunt his speed. His biggest threat on the lead may come from #4 Maythehorsebwithu (10/1) who won the Miracle Wood Stakes last year and goes first off the claim for Jamie Ness. He got caught in a duel last out and was ultimately well-beaten by The Walk. He should improve off the claim and will be a serious threat to upset if he can manage his speed a bit better.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000,4 AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

6-5-7-1

#6 Utterly Courageous (4/1) was well-bet at this level last out, in her first start off a brief layoff, She ran a 73 on debut back in November, and has a chance to return to that form second off the break. #5 Killy Start (9/2) made a mild move after a bad start on debut, before rallying for third. Drops for a tag and adds lasix for the first time. #7 Island Philo’s (6/1) form is obscured a bit by a dull performance going 1 1/16 miles last out. In her prior race, she closed gamely at six furlongs to get second, with a big mark of 77. That’s far and away a career-best race.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

8-1-9-5

#8 Golden Grant (5/2) has run a lifetime-top figure in each of her last two starts, both of which were front-running victories. Doesn’t have an ideal draw but is the fastest one in the race early and will likely fly to the front as soon as the gates open. #1 Glowing Star (4/1) didn’t show much going one turn last out in her first race off a break, but tends to do her best racing around two turns anyway. She fought on gamely at Penn National two races back and was put up via disqualification. #9 Sierra Leona (6/1) drops back to a friendlier level and will likely sit a good trip just off the leaders.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $5,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-7-1-3

#6 The Wolfman (5/1) continues his ascent down the class ladder here. He hasn’t been the same since returning from a long layoff in the fall, but ran figures in the upper 80s and low 90s consistently at about this time last year. Is this a desperation move of a spot where he can get a softer time of it early and flourish? Either way, the price will be right. #7 Bardolino (4/1) ran away from the field three back to handily win a n/w2L race with a big mark of 80. He showed speed and faded against slightly better last out, and without much quality speed in here, he could take them all the way. #1 Daper’s Drink (5/1) cuts back from a mile, a distance at which he had tired in his last two starts. He went off as the slight favorite at this level last out, but got bumped around at the start and showed little. He’s run some of his best figures recently and will try to sit in the middle of the pack without too much traffic.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

2-3-7-8

After showing little in her first two starts, #2 Fashionista (6/1) improved dramatically third time out, when she closed for second with a sharp wide move. A repeat of that performance likely wins this one. #3 Crosstown Girl (9/2) goes first off the claim for Claudio Gonzalez. She was flat after a wide trip last out but has room to improve, with this being just her third start. #7 Miss Foxann (3/1) drifted out badly last out, a problem that should be remedied with the addition of blinkers. She’ll be a factor on the early pace.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

7-1-5-6

Lots of very promising horses in here. I imagine we’ll see some of these in the Private Terms Stakes next month. #7 The Addison Pour (6/1) closed strongly and got up to win his debut with a figure of 86. He looks bred to go long, and stretches out from six furlongs. #1 Mr. Mox (7/2) couldn’t handle Joe last out, but held on for third after rating near the pace. Goes first off the claim for Ferris Allen and gets an ideal draw. #5 Maximum Impact (6/1) crushed the field to break his maiden at Mahoning Valley last out. He won by 6 1/2 lengths, and looked like he would’ve won by much more if the race was a bit longer. That was far and away a career-best effort when compared to his prior four starts, so we’ll see if he’s the real deal or if that last race was a fluke.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

2-3-4-5

#2 Fraudulent Charge (1/1) was stakes-placed four times last year and capped off her season with a dominant first-level allowance win. She exploded down the stretch and matched her career-best mark with a 92. Should have little trouble with these. #3 Pretty Lori (4/1) went off as the favorite at this condition last out, but set a very fast pace and stopped. She’ll try to go gate-to-wire again here, hopefully with better results. #4 Hope Has a Name (7/2) has won three of her last four with big figures each time. She battled on the lead throughout last time but wrestled clear late and got up in a gutsy effort. She’ll try to press Pretty Lori on the pace and hope to hold off Fraudulent Charge.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-6-5-1

#4 Red Mesa (5/2) ran huge first off a brief layoff last out, and now goes first off the claim for Anthony Farrior. He’s been showing more and more early speed with every race. #6 Playboy Roy (3/1) was an impressive second on debut behind Dontcrossfuzzy, who came back to win a claiming race next out. Dale Capuano took Playboy Roy out of that race, and hasn’t raced him since that October 29 start. We’ll see if he needs a race first off the bench. #5 Vinny (9/2) has steadily improved in his last few starts and drops from the $25,000 level.