RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

7-5-1-3

We’ll start a new racing week, and month, with a field of seven and a likely prohibitive favorite. #7 Royal Whisper (7-5) led almost the whole way in the Geisha Stakes last out, but got caught in the last sixteenth and finished third. Two starts ago, she ran a huge brisnet figure of 97 when second after a wide trip, sandwiched between a pair of next-out winners in My Flicker and Mystic Spirit. #5 Mama G’s Wish (5-2) was entered in the snowed-out version of the Geisha, did not return when it was rescheduled, and is now set for her 2024 debut here. She dropped to starter optional claiming company for the first time in a while last out, and closed well to miss by a nose, running a near career-best 84. She should make a serious late impact. #1 Spicy Margarita (2-1) shook off early pace pressure, pulled clear late, and held on to win last out first off the claim by Kieron Magee. She’ll have to deal with speed from her direct outside in Lady Serenity, but at least she’ll be able to protect position.

RACE 2: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-6-2-3

#4 Nasty Habit (2-1) had the race fall into his lap last out, when the speedy first-time starter Hundred Grand set very fast early fractions and wilted in the stretch. Still, Nasty Habit had run well in his prior starts, running no worse than an 82 in his first three efforts and losing to the likes of Full Irish, an impressive next-out winner. #6 Arden’sluckytobe (7-5) will be the one he’ll have to run down on the lead. This one’s turned a corner in his last three starts, lasting on the lead and running big figures, including an impressive 95 in a gate-to-wire performance last out. If he can clear to the rail and the lead, he could prove tough to catch. #2 Dark Timber (7-2) lasted most of the way through pressure last out at Penn National, and could try to make things interesting for Arden’sluckytobe from his inside.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

1-2-7-8

#1 Neil to the King (8-1) makes his 3-year-old debut here for Phil Capuano. He cut back to six furlongs from a mile last out and ran a much-improved 74, even though he was well-beaten. The winner, Prado Road, will resurface in a first-level race later today. If this one wins, it’ll flatter Prado Road’s form. #2 Medagooch (3-1) has shown more early speed with every start, including a game effort last time where he dueled with eventual winner Bruder and held on for third. He’ll likely try to press Neil to the King from the outside. #7 Pealing Lad (5-2) comes out of the same race as Medagooch, and went off as the 5-2 favorite on debut. He ran well while wide on the pace and was involved until late. He’s had a sharp four-furlong workout since then for Ben Perkins, and should improve with a race under his belt.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-4-7-2

#5 Brzina (8-5) chased Lady Serenity while that rival set the pace on a rail and speed-favoring track in her most recent. She held on for second, about as well as she could’ve done under the circumstances, and now makes her first start off the claim by Jamie Ness. #4 Touisset (4-1) battled with 2-5 favorite Mystic Seaport last out, and faded to third while that one kicked away to victory. She lasted on the lead against pace pressure against softer two races back, and should be a factor on the early lead once again. #7 Graceful Rose (5-1) came from just off the early pace to wear down the leaders and win last out, and will take advantage if the pace proves too hot for Touisset to handle.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

6-5-1A-8

#6 Casanova Kitten (5-2) has run a career-best figure in three of his last four starts, including an 89 last out when second behind the very impressive winner A C Expressway, who saved much more ground. He looks well-suited for today’s distance, and should make a strong, winning late rush. #5 No Easy Days (9-5) has started to put it all together with two consecutive sharp victories off duels. He was a confirmed frontrunner earlier in his career, but has been much better off as of late when coming from just off the leaders. #1A Get Set (3-1) looks like the better half of the Jamie Ness-trained entry, having run at least an 83 in each of his last three races. He faded in his last two two starts going a mile and 70 yards, but should improve on the cutback to one turn.

RACE 6: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

1-4-6-5

#1 Pudd’n N Pie (8-1) ran a big race on debut last September at Pimlico. She pressed the pace on the outside, sending the early leader into a seven-length defeat, but still wore her down in the stretch and held second behind a rival who sat a great trip. She hasn’t run since then, but has turned in back-to-back bullet workouts at Pimlico for Miguel Vera and will be tough if she moves forward in her 3-year-old debut. #4 Profitunity (10-1) outfinished her sparring partner, fellow first-timer Grammy Girl, last out, but she couldn’t hold off Society Ball, who sat a perfect trip and kicked away. She looks fast enough to set the pace by herself, unless someone else really steps up. #6 Society Ball (6-1) has run respectable figures in the 70s in each of her three starts, all of which have come at Woodbine, and gets Jaime Rodriguez in the saddle of her Maryland debut. She should do her best running late.

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

4-2-7-6

#4 I Know Map (6-1) has run an improved figure in each of his last three starts, peaking at an 81 last out with a strong come-from-behind victory at Penn National. He has by far the best late pace figures in the field, and should mow them down with a clean trip. After showing some promise in his first two starts, #2 Prado Road (7-5) put it all together at third asking last out with a devastating seven-length win. Runner-up Dalinar broke his maiden next out, while third-place finisher Davyjonz was second in his most recent. He hasn’t raced since that Dec. 17 effort, but he worked strongly all February long for Brittany Russell, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he runs back to that big performance. #7 Workislife (3-1) made his local debut a winning one last out, where he stalked the pace and looped the field to outfinish odds-on choice Petingas Twin. He hadn’t shown that kind of late punch in his prior starts in Kentucky; let’s see if he can keep it up here.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 1 1/8 MILES

4-5-2-1

After a December swoon, #4 Frightland (5-2) bounced back in a big way last out with a dominant win over softer, running a career-best 95 with an impressive stalk-and-pounce victory. He had run similar figures last year, and it was encouraging to see him run such a race in his first start of the season. #5 Dolice Vita (7-5) is the only one in the field who has run in the 90s in back-to-back starts, but tends to not have much of a late punch despite nice trips in his last few races. He has to be respected, but would be tough to take at low odds. #2 Crossland (3-1) improved to an 89 second off a brief layoff in his most recent try, and should work out a more ground-saving trip after racing wide in his last few.