RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

1-7-8-13

It’s been a long week or so, but we’re finally ready to get back to business. #1 Mister Ripster (6-1) improved sharply second time out last out, and first time at a mile. While he was no match for the runaway winner, Fowl Nation, he raced on well in the stretch and held third, increasing his brisnet figure six points from his debut to a 66. He should be heard from late once again. #7 Ask Him Oakey (3-1) ran a big race at 90-1 last out, racing wide near the pace in his two-turn debut and hanging around until fading in the last eighth. This was a drastic improvement from his first two starts, where he was beaten a combined 31 lengths. You won’t get nearly as good odds again, but he has lots of upside. #8 Don Bernardo (7-2) couldn’t chase down a loose leader last out, but outkicked the others for second while wide throughout. He’s making his second start since late November for Marco Salazar.

RACE 2: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

4-3-5-2

After showing lots of promise as a 3-year-old, including a stakes victory, #4 Everett’s Song (8-1) went to the sidelines for more than a year, finally returning to the races on March 17. He led most of the way at this distance and tired late, but it was still a solid performance for having not raced in so long. He ran a 90 that day, just two points shy of the best last-out figure in the race and not far off from his career best. #3 All Threes (6-1) has the best last-out figure in the field, having run a 92 last out in a dramatic victory against Maryland-bred allowance foes third off the layoff. He’s gotten better with every start since returning to action in early March and should be prominently positioned early on. #5 Be Better (7-2) was a solid second behind the promising Shaft’s Bullet in his most recent start, his first for the Brittany Russell barn. He has lots of upside, as evidenced by his last start and some promising races at Monmouth Park last year. However, because he’s a Repole-owned horse, he’s likely to be overbet.

RACE 3: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

11-12-15-14

Heavy rain all day yesterday knocked today’s races off the lawn. That suits #11 John the Bear (8-5) just fine, as he looks very tough to beat on the main track. He couldn’t chase down Backnthewoods, who we’ll see later today in the King Leatherbury Stakes, last out, but ran on well late and finished second. It was an encouraging effort, as in his prior races, he had a habit of drifting out badly in the stretch. While he drifted a little bit last out, it was not nearly as dramatic as it had been. As long as he stays straight here, he’s a threat. #12 Seven On the Rocks (12-1) was outkicked by the very impressive Classier, also entered later today, in his last start. However, this one’s run an 87 and a 90 in his first two outings off the bench, all numbers that contend with these, and has won three times from eight starts on an off track. #15 Doctor Jeff (5-1) checked out of contention late but raced near the pace throughout in a blanket finish last out, his first start off a ten-month break. He has plenty of back-class, having won a stakes as a 2-year-old in 2021, and has upside second off the layoff.

RACE 4: NATIVE DANCER STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

2-1-3-6

The first of five stakes races on the card is named after the “Grey Ghost”, who called Sagamore Farm home. This race saw two additions and one defection from last week’s scheduled lineup. While #2 Nimitz Class (1-2) is no Native Dancer, he’s dominated the older male ranks around here lately, with three consecutive stakes wins. He blew the doors off the field in the Harrison Johnson Stakes last out, defeating, among others, Ournationonparade, who came back to win an open allowance race on April 14. If the Pimlico Special future book was real, this one would be a low price. #1 Vance Scholars (5-1) closed well for third last out behind Ournationonparade, in his first start off a brief break. He has no early speed at all, but always run on well late and should shake things up underneath. #3 American d’Oro (6-1) didn’t do much behind Vance Scholars last out off a slow pace, but he has excelled over wet tracks in the past, with a perfect 2-for-2 record at the level against tough company.

RACE 5: HENRY S. CLARK STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-5-8-9

Henry Clark was a longtime trainer in the Mid-Atlantic who was inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame in 2007. He’s honored with a bookshelf at the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center. I was looking forward to seeing #6 Classier (8-5) in stakes company again after his impressive last-out win, and it looks like I’ll finally get that chance here, albeit in a soft spot. He stepped up to a second-level race first off the claim by Kieron Magee, and rated off the pace and kicked away emphatically with a career-best 99. We might also see him in the Pimlico Special if he wins this impressively. #5 Clubman (8-1) made a bit of a premature move last out, but held second behind a determined Bobby G. He’s shown a strong late punch in his prior races, and even if he can’t chase down Classier, he should be able to outkick the rest. #8 Yodel E.A. Who (9-5) loves to get checks, but his lack of early speed has doomed him in his last few. The extra distance might help him, but I’m looking towards him more for underneath spots.

RACE 6: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

8-6-4-2

Since arriving in Maryland earlier this year, #8 Velvet Ghost (7-2) has been in excellent form. He fended off a challenge from #6 Albertano (5-2) in the stretch for the victory, running a career-best of 90. That’s his third consecutive career-best figure, all of them at least an 86. While Albertano has also been in sharp form at this level, with two wins against these types earlier in the year, I’d have to lean towards Velvet Ghost, given that one’s improving form and possible higher price. #4 El Hermano (9-2) came from the clouds to get second over a wet track at Parx last out. He’s never raced on this track before, but the one-turn mile should suit his closing style very well.

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

8-3-2-6

All eyes will be on #8 Goodgirl Badhabits (7-5) in this one. She caught everyone’s attention on debut, opening up a big lead early and drawing off to win by twelve lengths while never being asked to run. If she broke her maiden like that at Gulfstream Park or Keeneland, racing twitter might’ve crashed. As is stands, she’s worked well since that last start and will be tough to beat if she keeps moving forward. If she wins like that again, stakes company could be next. #3 Happy Clouds (5-2) has been uber-consistent this year, running between an 84 and an 87 in her five starts since getting claimed by Anthony Farrior in January. She stalked and kicked away impressively to win at this level last out, and while she’ll have to improve a few points to beat Goodgirl Badhabits, she’s a solid underneath candidate. #2 Six the Hard Way (8-1) came from far out of it to win each of her last two starts at this distance and cuts back around one turn after a third-place performance in the Weber City Miss Stakes. She ran on well that day despite closing off a very slow pace.

RACE 8: DAHLIA STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

2-4-3-8

Stakes action returns here, with a contest honoring the great grass mare of the early/mid-1970s. She won the Washington D.C. International at Laurel in 1973. #2 Mit Mazel (2-1) has far and away the best early pace figures in the field and has won her last three starts at this distance in gate-to-wire style. Her last start over a wet track was not great, but that was more because of a bad start rather than the track condition. She should splash away to victory once again. #4 Deciding Vote (6-1) already has one off-the-grass stakes win to her credit, having won the PTHA President’s Cup last fall at Parx with a come-from-behind rally. She’s racing for the first time since late October and will be up against it if Mit Mazel sneaks away on the lead, but she should be able to outkick the rest and round out the exacta. #3 Silver Currency (12-1) impressively won her local debut in front-running style last out, beating some next-out winners in the process. I don’t think she’s fast enough to clear Mit Mazel, but she can sit a good trip near the pace if not and is on the upswing.