RACE 1: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-5-1-7

We’ll kick off a 30-strong race week with a very competitive starter allowance bunch. #6 Ace Nine Nine (7-5) and #5 Galatians (8-5) have already tangled a few times in the past several months, and so far Ace Nine Nine holds the upper hand, finishing ahead of his rival three times. His only defeats within his last five starts have come against the likes of Paradise Pride and Oxide, both of whom are better than anyone in here, so he should work out his stalk-and-pounce trip successfully. Galatians has beaten softer foes twice within his last three starts, and has the best average late pace figures in the field. Even if he can’t get by Ace Nine Nine, he should be able to outkick the others. #1 Cavalry Command (12-1) rode a rail-biased track to finish second behind Galatians last out, but will at least be able to secure position on the rail and the lead, and will be able to last a long way even if it’s a fair track.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-5-8-9

#6 Happy Union (9-5) tackled the boys first off a two-month layoff last out. She was outkicked late by the other female in the race, Viking Queen, but closed well from behind and got second, bouncing back to her usual form with a brisnet figure of 79 after a dull try in her 2023 finale. She can either sit just off the pace or come from far out of it. #5 Event Party (15-1) makes his third start back from a 13-month break here. He was completely flat first off the layoff, but made some mild ground late last out and improved sharply to a 72. He’ll seek further improvement here. If either Galatians or Cavalry Command win race 1, it’ll flatter #8 Steele Money (5-2), who finished third behind them twice earlier this year. He was no match against open claimers last out, but has run well against conditioned types in the past.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

2-5-6-1

Todd Pletcher doesn’t race in Maryland overnight races too often, but he has a contender here in #2 Carolo Rapido (9-5). Well-bet in his two-turn debut at Aqueduct last out, he got caught wide on the first turn and was little factor from there, but did improve sharply to an 83. He’s the only one in the race to run a figure anywhere near that big around two turns. #5 Intrepid’s Legacy (9-2) was very high-strung in the paddock before his debut, and caused a bit of a ruckus loading into the starting gate as well. He ran a respectable 77 in that race, well-beaten by the impressive Quint’s Brew, and has the body type that suggest he’ll want more distance. Watch him in the paddock beforehand if you can – if he’s calmer today, that’s a good sign. Fellow Gary Capuano trainee #6 Work Hard (6-1) is the only one in the field who has hit the board around two turns, having finished second going a mile at Delaware Park last October. He showed a bit of improvement in his second start of his sophomore season last out, and should make a late impact.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES

2-7-1-4

#2 Princess Mayfair (9-5) may have been overmatched in the Busher Stakes anyway, and her already-slim chances of winning took a big hit when she broke through the gate. Unsurprisingly, she was well-beaten. Take that race out, and she’s shown potent early speed and dominant figures in her last few outings. #7 I’m a Cutie Pie (2-1) has already won at this level twice, including a sharp victory last out (albeit over only three rivals at 2-5) that demonstrated her ability to run well over a route of ground. This will be her litmus test, as the competition here is much deeper than she saw in that last start. #1 Perfectly Wicked (9-2) has yet to recapture her excellent maiden-breaking form from last September, when she won going away with an impressive 84, but has also faced better company in her last two races.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

1A-3-6-5

#1A Sunset Town (9-5) faced winners for the first time last out at Parx, and beat them with ease, converting the trip to run a career-best 86. He’s lightly-raced and could improve even further with another nice setup. #3 Diamond Heist (6-1) has shown slow improvement in his last few starts at Penn National, running a career-best 84 last out behind Sheriff Ronnie, who won his next start and is a perfect 3-for-3 on the season. #6 Thataway (7-2) showed brief speed and faded against better first off a ten-month break last out, but showed plenty of promise in three starts last year, and has a lot of upside against these types.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

5-2-7-8

#5 Kick Startness (9-2) has run in the 70s three times in his last five starts, a range only one of his 11 opponents have hit at any point in their careers. He hasn’t been able to convert at low odds in his last few, but this looks like a field he should absolutely beat without much drama. #2 Not Thistimerandy (5-1) has shown different dimensions in his two career starts. First time out, he showed speed and backed up. At second asking, he came from off the pace and grabbed second, with a much-improved 68. Raul Mena keeps the mount after jumping on for the first time last out. #7 Estimator Ziggy (6-1) also improved second time out in his most recent, and should show a solid late kick.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

1-5-8-3

#1 Major Houlihan (6-1) set a very ambitious pace and faded first off a 7 1/2-month layoff two starts ago, but improved sharply in her next start, matching her career-best mark with an 84 in a near-miss effort. She was in up-and-coming form last spring before going on the sidelines in late June. #5 Brzina (5-2) has finished second in each of her last three starts, with figures in the 80s each time. She chased the pace while wide last out, and should be dangerous second off the Jamie Ness claim. #8 Ninja Abarrio (3-1) has faced some nice horses in her last few races, and outkicked odds-on choice Northern Glow to get second last out. Unfortunately for them, She’sarollingstone swooped by them all in the stretch. This one cuts back from 1 1/16 miles, but has won twice at today’s distance.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-7-3-5

#4 Square Slice (6-1) has improved drastically in his last few starts, running back-to-back 85s after running no better than a 75 in his last four starts. He closed well between horses for third in his last start, and was taken out of that race by Bob Klesaris. #7 Catahoula Moon (5-2), the reigning Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male, has in-and-out form, but at his best, is a serious contender. He closed well after an awkward break last out and got second behind Point Dume, who finished second in the Miracle Wood next out. #3 Prado Road (2-1) regressed first off a brief layoff last out, battling on the pace and hiding to second, but won going away despite early pace pressure two starts ago, so that ability’s in there somewhere.