RACE 1: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

3-4-8-7

It’s not just the start of a new racing week, it’s the start of grass season! Rejoice! #3 Sheherhers (5-2) dropped to the $12,500 level last out and made short work of the field, stalking the pace and drawing off impressively with a career-best brisnet mark of 74. She was claimed out of that race by Mike Gorham, who hits at a solid 25% first off the claim in recent times, and gets Jaime Rodriguez in the saddle for the first time. It’s a step up in class on paper, but her best form beats these. #4 Buckin’ Great (4-1) ran in the mid/upper-70s twice as a 2-year-old last year, and now resurfaces for the first time since early August. If she was running numbers that big in hr freshman season, her ceiling as a sophomore is certainly very high. I’m not too worried about her being risked for a tag first off the bench; Jerry Robb is probably just looking for a soft spot to ease her back into, and will step her up next out with a good effort (assuming no one takes her). #8 No Walk Inthe Park (8-1) has had only one dull race in recent times, and it came going a mile, which is too far for her. She’s in improving form if you look at just her sprint efforts.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-5-6-8

Many horses in the first wave of Maryland grass races have not raced since the end of grass season last year. As such, anyone with a recent race has the edge in my book. That’s the case for #3 Destin’s Mission (9-2), who has stayed sharp with some starts on the Gulfstream Park Tapeta for John Servis. He led most of the way last out and got caught late by the very classy Shekky Shabaz, who is a Breeders’ Cup-placed sprinter with earnings of over $600,000. On grass last year, this one won in gate-to-wire style twice, including an effort on this track, and should make the lead and the rail without too much trouble. #5 Lucci (5-1) also has abundant early speed and has an affinity for this track, having finished no worse than second in three tries here. He hasn’t raced since November 16, so he might need a race first off the layoff. Still, he’s worthy of respect. #6 Hunter Joe (10-1) was well-beaten in his last two starts on dirt, and looks for a rebound with a surface switch and brief two-month layoff. He’s run well around one turn, but he’s at his best around two turns, suggesting that Hammy Smith might be using this spot as a prep for a longer race next time out. Still, he has enough class and tactical speed to get into an exotics spot at a decent price.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

2-4-9-1

After a flat effort against better non-winners of three types last out, #2 Battle of Bostogne (9-5) takes a class plunge. In his last start at a mile, he chased a favored gate-to-wire winner, but held second with a career-best 82. He also won two straight earlier this year with stalk-and-pounce trips, so he’s an especially serious threat with any kind of pace to close into. The move to Mike Gorham’s barn last fall did #4 Entrust (5-2) a world of good. He’s improved with every start since then, including a non-winners of two victory last out where he pulled clear late despite an overland trip. The Charles Town and Penn National lines might scare bettors away from #9 Marcus Junius (15-1), but he’s been uber-consistent as of late, running no worse than a 74 in each of his last four starts. He’s put in strong late rallies as of late despite having to close into slow paces.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-7-2-1

This race features a rematch of the top two finishers in the sixth race on March 23. #7 No Easy Days (8-5) went off favored that day in pursuit of his fourth consecutive victory, but couldn’t hold off the punch of #6 Kadri (2-1), who rated just off the leaders and outkicked his rival late. No Easy Days declined quite a bit from his low/mid-90s range that day, while Kadri is in ascending form and looks to be rounding back into peak condition. I’ll look for him to get the better of No Easy Days once again. #2 Chief Ron (3-1) goes first off the claim by Kieron Magee. He won at this level three starts back, and looks to bounce back after a dull effort last out.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

4-9-3-15

You don’t often see a Breeders’ Cup starter show up in a first-level allowance in Maryland, but that’s the case with #4 Fulmineo (3-1). He’s started three times since his try in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and he’s had the misfortune of some bad post draws and wide trips each time. He got caught wide every step in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last out, and was impeded by a fading rival when in the midst of a stretch move. He’s drawn well here, and looks poised for a big effort that will set him up nicely for a return to stakes competition (possibly the James Murphy on Preakness day?). Though his running lines show he hasn’t raced since November, don’t be fooled: #9 St. James the Great (8-1) has recent experience. He won at the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point at Shawan Downs on Easter, pulling away late to win at 1 1/2 miles over stakes-placed jumper Who’s Counting. That sets him up nicely for today’s race, to go along with an impressive maiden score on this course to cap his 2-year-old season. #3 Mission Man (12-1) made a bold, if premature move last out got get second at this level. He’s more than held his own against these types, and has worked well for Lizzie Merryman in preparation for his return, but he looks like he’s perpetually on the verge of a breakthrough without ever doing so.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

4-1-3-5

#4 Under the Radar (2-1) got squeezed back at the start last out and lost his usual forward position. In spite of that, he recovered and finished second behind impressive stablemate Margin of Air, who came back to win going away at Aqueduct next out. This one has a bit of a seconditis streak, having hit the board in his last four starts without a win, but he’s easily the most consistent member of the group, having run at least an 87 in each of those races. #1 Collection Day (6-1) bounced back in a big way last out, winning after a wide trip with a 90 after a string of double-digit length defeats. His peak form doesn’t always appear, but if it does here, he’s dangerous. #3 Castle Island (7-5) pretty much had to win his last start, considering who was behind him, but he still turned in a sharp performance with a career-best 91. He’s likely to set the early pace, and could prove tough to catch first off the Kieron Magee claim.

RACE 7: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

10-3-7-1

#10 Fivecommatwo (7-2) is in PRIME “now-or-never” territory. On one hand, she’s 1-for-24 lifetime, never great. On the other hand, this race is full of horses who also hate winning, and she has the most consistent form of any of then, having run at least a 73 in each of her last four starts. Her usual race wins this one by default. #3 Prize Debate (9-2) improved sharply from her first dirt try of the year last out at Fair Grounds, running on well while wide with a sharp 71. The best of #7 Candy Arcade (5-1) is a tad below that of Fivecommatwo, but she’s put in some solid late rallies against similar lately, and could get it done if Fivecommatwo regresses a bit.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-8-9-12

#2 On the Shortlist (10-1) did very good work in the mid-Atlantic last year, taking three of four between here and Penn National with figures in the mid/upper-80s. She got in a bit over her head in the Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct last out and was well-beaten, but looks to be in top form for her return. #8 She is Wisky (3-1) was a two-time winner on the grass here last year, gobbling up ground to beat both open and Maryland-restricted allowance company. She should pack a potent punch here, but if she wins, she’ll have to run down #9 Paper Mansion (9-5), who has won six in a row, including five straight at Tampa Bay Downs, all of them in gate-to-wire style. She might have to deal with Thisnameisokay from her direct outside in the early stages, but if she shakes free of her, she could prove tough to catch on the front end.