RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-13-10-5

Happy Maryland Million week! There’s eight races on a great Thursday program. #1 Coolcatsnkittens (7-2) makes her local debut for Arnaud Delacour after previously racing for Christophe Clement in New York. She was flat in her two most recent starts but did run brisnet figures in the 70s twice this summer. This is probably a drop in class compared to the races she’s been in, and she should work out a good trip from the inside. #13 Midnight Choir (2-1) drops for a tag for the first time and ships in from Presque Isle Downs, where she’s hit the board in her last three starts. Earlier in her career, she held her own on grass in New York and at Woodbine, with consistent figures in the 70s range and one mark of 80. Look for her to sit on or near the pace. #10 Performanceanxiety (6-1) closed for second in her career debut at Colonial Downs. The runaway winner of that race, Sol Hope, won a n/w2L race at that track next out. This one should improve second time out.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-5-1-3

#4 Smarty John (7-2) has lost his last two starts by a combined 21 3/4 lengths, but I’m willing to forgive those two starts. His race two back was on the Timonium bullring, where he tried to close wide and couldn’t make it happen. Next out, he dueled on a hot pace and Parx and stopped badly. He won impressively here in July with a clean trip, and he looks fast enough early to set his own fractions. From there, he should turn in a big rebound performance. #5 Born for Victory (4-1) drew off and broke his maiden impressively last out, in his second career start. Look for him to sit just off the early pace. #1 Bowie Two Step (9-5) finally broke his maiden in his 11th career try a few races back, and has hit the board against similar a few times since then without a victory. His figures make him competitive with these but he carries the danger of being a potential sucker horse.

RACE 3: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

3-1-2-4

#3 Flimsy (9-2) broke her maiden gate-to-wire a few starts back, then acted up in the gate next out against open n/w1x company and was visually unimpressive. However, she still ran a career-best figure of 81. She’s switching back from dirt for Graham Motion and will work out a great trip near the pace. #1 My Candy Girl (8-5) has run no worse than an 84 in her last three starts, and outfinished Flimsy two races ago with a solid-closing second. She’s going to be tough if she runs her race but will not provide much value. #2 Daily Planet (9-2) made a bold, wide move at Delaware Park last out but flattened out in the stretch and got third. She matched her career-best grass figure that day with a 78. That mark should be at least good enough for a minor share.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-1-3-5

The late pick 5 begins here, with a modest carryover. If no one hits it today or tomorrow, it could become quite juicy on Maryland Million day. #4 Dream Happy (10-1) finished fourth at this level at Pimlico last out behind two rivals he’ll see here. He made decent ground while racing wide and ran a 75, not a bad number for his second start off a brief layoff. He won on this track in gate-to-wire fashion in June with an 83. #1 Brion (9-2) went gate-to-wire to win easily at Charles Town last out. He has great early pace figures and the inside post, so he should be able to set up shop on the lead and get the trip he wants. He’s also dropping for a tag for the first time. #3 Rahmer (7-2) was a trainer scratch out of a $10,000 n/w3L spot and resurfaces here. He’s racing for the second time since March 19 and has good tactical speed. If Brion can’t clear to the lead and gets involved in a duel, it’ll be music to this one’s ears.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

7-8-14-12

This is a very nice allowance optional claiming race, and it’s not even the best grass race on the card! #7 Miss Delicious (9-2), a 4-year-old filly trained by Steve Klesaris, has found her best self as of late. She’s coming off back-to-back impressive victories at Delaware Park, including an explosive victory in a n/w1x race last out where she opened up a long lead about halfway through the race and kept on going. Another race like that and she’ll be tough to beat, but she’ll probably have to chase down #8 Peace With Honor (6-1) to do it. She’s also won her last two starts, both of them after racing on or near the pace. Those were her second and third races after returning from more than a year-long layoff, so she should only continue to improve. Her biggest threat on the lead will come from #14 Gravitron (5-1). She’s never missed the board in eight starts on the lawn and most recently won twice at Parx after sitting on or near the pace. Last out, she competed in a washed-off stakes race and was well-beaten but should improve here as she returns to her preferred surface.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

5-9-4-1

It’s not often you see a race with this condition draw eleven horses, but that’s what’s happened here. Love to see it. #5 Halo City (6-1) ships down from New York for Natalia Lynch. This one’s only bad recent race came last out at Aqueduct, when she made a wide move on a wet track and flattened out. Prior to that, she ran figures in the 80s consistently against better, including a third-place finish behind eventual Ballerina Stakes winner Goodnight Olive at Belmont Park in June. #9 Hashtag Lucky (8-1) raced wide on the pace at Delaware last out and tired. However, she ran well in other recent prior starts after being on the lead, including a game win at Colonial a few races back. If she gets back to her usual mid-80s figures here, she’ll be tough. #4 Flight to Shanghai (5-2) also has early speed and adds blinkers for Jane Cibelli. She’s held her own after leading against better earlier in the year and gets hot-riding Horacio Karamanos aboard. Recent workouts have also been strong as she gets ready for her first race since August 13. She might get overbet based on her gaudy class lines, however.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-1-10-6

#2 Matta (5-2) ran a big race in the Laurel Dash Stakes at Pimlico last out. This Maryland-bred son of Take Charge Indy got knocked around at the start, then chased Carotari, who got a great trip on a clear lead. However, Matta still closed well and got up for third, for the third consecutive start in which he’s crossed the wire in the trifecta. He’s run at least an 89 in each of his four starts this year, making him the only one in the field who has hit that mark in each race during that span. #1 It’s a Gamble (8-1) didn’t show much visually against these types in New York, but this closer take advantage of the long stretch run in Laurel grass sprints. Paco Lopez made the trip for this Kelly Breen trainee, in his lone ride of the day. #10 About Today (6-1) won two in a row at Delaware, including a determined win two starts back where he beat Zyramid and Nuclear Option, who both came back to beat weaker in their next two races. This one’s shown a lot of heart but his post means he might have to do it the hard way.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

3-1-2-7

#3 Awesome Dynamo (5-2) has improved dramatically in each of his last two starts. Last out, he ran a career-best figure of 81 when third behind Kefi, who managed to win from off the rail at Pimlico and came back to win a n/w2L race at Parx next out. #1 Wired Up (4-1) ran a career-best figure of 64 when third at Delaware last out in his first start off a long break. Jeiron Barbosa gets aboard for the first time. #2 Jebster (5-1) also improved to a career-best mark in his most recent start when second behind Born for Victory. If that one wins earlier in the day, it might boost Jebster’s stock.