RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

7-5-3-4

#7 Need a Marker (8-5) broke her maiden in impressive fashion last September at Pimlico, but was dull against better rivals in her first start off the bench. The drop in class second off the layoff should help. #5 Sister’s Duty (7-2) ships in from Charles Town off a solid maiden score where she dueled on the lead and drew off. She faded in her prior few starts at Gulfstream Park, but she looks like she’s maturing at the right time. #3 Bustin Wide Open (8-1) held on to break her maiden on the lead at Finger Lakes last out, and has worked well at Charles Town for her first start since early November.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

3-4-1-2

#3 Ghostlighter (2-1) hasn’t run worse than a 79 in his last five starts, with his best figures coming at a one-turn mile like he’ll see here. He has great late pace figures but might need more of an early pace to run into. #4 Lookin For Justice (7-2) also ran his career-best figure at this distance a few starts back and was a solid second after contesting the pace in his most recent. #1 Majestic Frontier (5-2) faced better throughout most of last year, and has been rounding back into form in his last few starts after declining a bit in the late summer and fall.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 4 AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

1-2-5-6

#1 Performanceanxiety (5-2) chased The Haunted Room, the favorite who got a very easy trip, and had no chance to catch her. However, she pulled well clear of the others and got second with a career-best 73. There’s not much proven speed in here, so it’s hard to gauge how the pace will develop, but as long as it’s not too slow she’s in with a shot. #2 Tipsy Tourist (3-1) has run a career-best figure in back-to-back starts, and just missed last out in her bid to snap her losing streak. Taking a low price on an 0-for-23 horse is a difficult proposition, but she’s in improving form and has run winning races in her last few, at least. #5 Good Story (5-1) had an awkward start and showed little first off a two-month layoff last out. Two starts back, she was a respectable second to runaway winner Hov Lane, who has since come back to finish second in a pair of n/w2L events.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-1-3-5

#6 Savoy (9-2) was a bit closer than he might’ve liked to be in the Fire Plug Stakes last out, and flattened out late. He showed a strong closing kick to win a second-level race three starts ago, and got up for third in the Dave’s Friend Stakes in the race afterward. #1 Air Token (6-1) was also closer to the lead than expected in the Fire Plug, and hung on late before fading in the last eighth in a tightly-packed bunch. He ran a 95 that day, his best figure in months. #3 Wendell Fong (4-1) beat some of these two starts back after sitting the trip off the lead and would once again take advantage of a fast pace if it develops.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-8-4-7

#6 Bad Guy (9-2) has been slowly rounding into form since joining the Bob Klesaris stable in the summer. He didn’t do much when he returned to the races in mid-November, but he closed well for third when dropped to this level second off the bench, improving his figure of a 76. #8 Spotted Bull (5-2) finished second ahead of Bad Guy last out after getting in an early duel. Usually, he isn’t that close to the pace, but could find himself up there again without much early speed. #4 Galatians (7-2) ran a respectable 78 in his first start in seven weeks last out. He’s had trouble staying on the track over the past year or so, so to see him come back fairly quickly is encouraging.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

10-2X-1A-6

Five of these exit the same race at this condition on January 8. The winner of that race was #10 Up Against It (3-1) who chased down loose leader Frosted Indian and got up to win by a neck, running a 90 in his first start in two months. Far and away his two best dirt figures have come in his last two races on this surface. #2X Thorny Tale (5-2), the entrymate of Frosted Indian, saw his three-race win streak snapped last out when he fell further behind the pace than usual and couldn’t make up the ground. He won at a one-turn mile back in November and will be tough here with his usual trip. #1A Northern Thunder (7-2) has just missed in his last two against similar types. He was edged out by Clubman, who won at Penn National next out.

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

3-5-4-6

#3 Circling the Drain (9-5), entered and scratched from the Withers Stakes a few weeks ago, resurfaces here. He set comfortable fractions and drew away to break his maiden in early December, improving off his debut with an 84. He’s worked consistently well over the past few weeks, and if he can shake off the speed of Bo’s Bourbon from his outside, he’ll be in good shape. #5 Byk (6-1) lacked room in his first start against winners but closed well for third when clear. He’s going first off the claim by Hugh McMahon. #4 It’s Viper (5-2), the “other” Brittany Russell trainee in here along with Circling the Drain, shipped up to Aqueduct last out and and drew off after stalking the pace. He hasn’t run in the 80s yet, but has good late speed and has been improving in his last few.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 4 AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

2-4-8-6

#2 Categoryninetynine (4-1) makes her dirt debut after racing on grass twice earlier in her career, with mixed results. In her first start, she was allowed a loose lead and well for third, but backed up late next out when she had to deal with more pressure. She’s easily the fastest one in the field early on, so she should be able to sneak away from the others and set herself up for success. #4 Sapphire Beauty (5-1) also has plenty of early speed and almost wired them last out. I don’t think she’s fast enough to run with Categoryninetynine early on, but she’s shown she can rate. #8 M’Lady Thatcher (7-5) has run in the 70s in her last two starts against better. She keeps dropping down the class ladder in pursuit of a spot she can win, which has not been an easy task. She’s hit the board seven times from 11 starts without winning.