RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

7-2-8-6

Time to begin a new racing week. #7 Devilment (4-1) got loose for a bit in the post parade prior to his debut at Delaware Park last out, but nonetheless showed some signs of life late and closed to lose a photo for place as the lone first-time starter in the field. He overhauled the longtime leader, but could not withstand the late rally of odds-on favorite Runaway Jack. Still, it was a promising bow. #2 Sheriff Ronnie (8-5) chased the pace in the Sir Barton Stakes last out and unsurprisingly flattened out. He still ran a career-best brisnet figure of 87, and it wasn’t much of an aberration, being just two points off from his previous career high of 85. He keeps getting better on this track and should find this company much easier. #8 Super Accelerate (4-1) has run by far his two best figures in his last two starts. He couldn’t make the lead while wide last out and flattened out, but that was his first start in almost four months.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-4-2-1

#7 Gatita Suave (3-1) showed speed and held third for a solid effort in her grass debut. The winner of that race, Act of Congress, had previously won on grass in New York, while runner-up Gift of Gab beat a Maryland-bred/sired allowance field on this surface last Saturday. #4 Meliponini Bee (5-2) closed well for third first off the bench two starts back, finishing behind next-out winner Bosserati, who is entered in Sunday’s Stormy Blues Stakes. However, she was a bit closer to the pace than usual and flattened out. If she gets her usual setup, she should rebound. #2 Loving Cup (7-2) ran in mid/upper-70s twice on grass last year but hasn’t raced since last October. A quick return to peak form probably wins this race.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 4 1/2 FURLONGS

5-6-2-1

The road to the Maryland Million Nursery has begun, with a few Maryland-sired members of the class of 2021 already finding the winners circle. #5 Never Grew Up (5-2), an $85,000 son of Anchor & Hope Farm stallion Bourbon Courage, will try to add to that list. He’s worked well both here and at Delaware Park for Brittany Russell, including a four-furlong drill in 49 seconds last Saturday. That was tied for the fastest time among 21 2-year-olds who worked that distance that day. #6 Captain Woodrow (4-1) may well have won last out at Pimlico if he didn’t break a sneeze slow. As it were, he closed well and lost in a blanket finish. I would’ve liked to have seen a gate workout between now and then, but he’s nonetheless a candidate for improvement. #2 Malibu Slew (6-1) exits the same race as Captain Woodrow. He was well-bet in that race, but hopped at the start and was no factor from there. He’ll add blinkers second time out.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-6-1-5

Two horses who won graded stakes races last year headline this field. #7 Arzak (5-2) won the Jacques Cartier Stakes at Woodbine last year and was second in the Highlander Stakes next out. He showed speed and flattened out in a repeat Cartier bid last out, which was his first start of the year, but he now stays local and faces easier rivals. He has plenty of aptitude on grass as well as synthetic; he was beaten less than a length by Golden Pal at Saratoga last year. #6 Cazadero (2-1) won the Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine last year, but was soundly beaten in the Breeders’ Cup and in Saudi Arabia in his next two races. His ceiling doesn’t look as high as Arzak’s, but he has great late pace figures and will be a factor with the right trip. #1 Zyramid (5-1) goes first off the claim by Kieron mage and has blazing early speed from the rail. We’ll see if he has enough left late to hold off the charge of the aforementioned two.

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

12-1-3-13

#1 Now and Later (7-2) has improved his figure in each of his last four starts. He peaked at an 81 last out first off the layoff at Churchill Downs when he raced wide throughout and stopped. He should get a better trip here for Shug McGaughey, who’s always a threat with his Mid-Atlantic runners. I’m a bit suspicious of #12 Toofareastiswest (9-5), but his recent form is too sharp to overlook. He’s run in the 80s in each of his two starts, coming from well off the pace to just miss both times. My concern with him is that he might not have enough early speed to win races like this, and as long as he keeps rallying and just missing, he’ll keep going off at low prices. #3 Runaway Storm (8-1) closed well at Indianapolis first time out and adds blinkers here.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-7-10-2

#4 Mungo Magic (12-1) ran a huge race to break his maiden on the lead last out, running easily a career-best figure of 79. Winners came from all over the place that day, so you can’t say that he was carried by a speed-biased track. He’s one of two in here who has not lost against winners, and the other one is coming off a long layoff. #7 Rascally Rebel (4-1) consistently runs in the 70s but has fallen just short in his last three starts after coming from off the pace. He’s making what is probably a lateral move in class from open 3-year-old claimers, but is more likely to once again close for a share. #10 Natagar (3-1) ran in the 80s twice earlier this year, but has declined with every start since coming off a long layoff and is now plunging in class. Lots of boom-or-bust potential with him.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

3-4-2-5

#3 Golden Charm (5-2) was one of two well-bet firsters in her debut on grass last out. She got stuck in a very tough pace scenario, but made ground from fairly close to the early pace and got second. She ‘s intriguing going to dirt and stretching out a bit from five furlongs. #4 Northern Glow (2-1) is a first-timer out of Maryland Million champion Love’s Blush. This one is a half-sister to three winners, including graded stakes winner Beach View, and is an aunt to stakes-placed 3-year-old Feeling Woozy. Her Delaware workouts for Brittany Russell have been solid. We’ll see how much action she takes. #2 I Can Do It (6-1) switches back to dirt after a dull try on the lawn last out. She has early speed and has been working very well, with back-to-back bullet drills.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-2-6-1

After some dull efforts over the winter, #5 Self Isolation (8-5) found herself again last out, crushing a strong field of claimers at Monmouth Park and narrowly missing her career-best figure with a 95. She looks at home against these types and is likely to sit near the pace and pounce. #2 Shero (10-1) fought hard to win against softer at Monmouth last out. She’s started to round back into form after some declining figures earlier this year and would take full advantage of a fast pace. #6 Intrepid Daydream (2-1) makes her long-awaited (at least by me) return to the races, and her first start outside of Delaware. She looked invincible against softer earlier in her career, but showed little against stakes company last September, then just missed against Juror Number Four to cap her season. She’s worked well since then and should sit on or near the pace from the outside.