RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-5-4-2

Only two runners in here have shown they can crack the mid-70s mark on the brisnet scale with any consistency; they’re my top two picks. #6 Milano (7-5) has run at least a 77 three times in four starts this year, and made a strong late rally to miss by a half-length last out. He’s likely to employ that grinding closing style to victory here. #5 Entrust (8-5) will try to use the opposite style, and showcase his early speed. He overcame a wide trip to win two races ago over non-winners of two foes, then wore down the early leader and held second in his most recent effort. #4 Wonder Water (10-1) improved sharply second off the bench last out with a 67, and has finished no worse than second in three starts on this surface.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 FURLONGS

9-5-6-10

Once again, all scheduled grass races, including this one, were taken off. Will it ever stop raining around here? #9 Kapatude (6-1) ran a big race on the lead last out, pressing pacesetter Neolithica to a sound defeat, and holding third, finishing behind only a pair of rivals who sat great trips. Her early speed will be potent at this distance. #5 Sun Streaming (15-1) made a bold bid and finished fourth behind Kapatude two starts back, and looks for a rebound off a flat effort last out. #6 Attached (3-1) has a high ceiling, having broken her maiden with an 82 at Aqueduct in September 2022, and gets to face an easy field in her first start since June.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

5-2-7-1

#5 Dust Devil (5-1) won three of four at a variety of Mid-Atlantic tracks to start his season, coming from off the pace to win going away with an impressive 94 in his most recent dirt start. He didn’t do much on grass last out in his first start off the claim by Jonathan Maldonado, but should improve with a surface switch. #2 Uncaptured Storm (9-2), another recent Maldonado claim, wore his way by the leaders to win against starter allowance foes last out. A nine-time winner last yar, he has the figures to win this, but it’s still a class test for him. #7 Naked and Famous (5-2) went gate-to-wire last out in his best effort in more than a year. If he gets to the front, he’s especially potent, and you better believe Kevin Gomez will send him hard for speed.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

1-4-6-5

#1 Magical Monarch (9-5) won three in a row in gate-to-wire fashion between here and Pennsylvania tracks earlier this year. He broke slowly last out and was rushed up, and backed up after showing speed. With a better break, he won’t have to be as hard-used early, and that should help him for the late stages. #4 Not Thistimerandy (9-2) got honest enough fractions to close into last out, and rallied well to win in a three-horse blanket finish. He’s never gone beyond seven furlongs, but his best races have come at that distance, so there isn’t much to suggest he can’t go an extra furlong and a half. #6 Sheer Delight (4-1) won going away at this level three starts back at Tampa Bay Downs, and gets some class relief after facing first-level foes in his last five races.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 5 FURLONGS

1-9-12-11

#1 Holonui (2-1) improved sharply second time out, setting honest fractions on a loose lead and leading most of the way before flattening out. He’s poised to take another step forward here, and is a serious threat to wire them. #9 Box of Rockets (8-1) was completely flat going a mile last out, but put in some good rallies going shorter in his first two career starts, and put in a strong five-furlong workout on this track May 2, going the distance in 1:01. He should gobble up as much ground as he can. #12 Watch Out World (5-1) chased the pace on debut in the Timonium season finale and held second. The horse he chased, Force of Justice, won that day, and has won three additional times since. This one hasn’t raced since then, but has some decent recent drills at his Belmont Park base, and should put in a good effort in his 3-year-old bow.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $40,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-1-7-8

#4 Burningupthedough (8-1) has taken big steps forward in his last two starts, including a sharp gate-to-wire against $20,000 foes last out. He’ll have to deal with some speed from his outside, but he’ll at least be able to protect position on the rail. #1 Medagooch (2-1) broke his maiden impressively two starts back, then faced a tough field in his first start against winners, which included the likes of Catahoula Moon and Play Harder, and faded to fourth. This bunch is easier to deal with. #7 King’s River (3-1) came from off the pace and surged to victory two starts back, getting up over Burningupthedough. He has some of the best late pace figures in the race, and will hope Burningupthedough gets serious early pace pressure.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

4-11-6-16

#4 Fun Lovin Criminal (6-1) sat just off the pace and kicked away to win easily last out with an impressive 90, despite racing wide throughout. He was claimed back by Keri Brion in that race. #11 Brother Brad (8-1) has run in the 80s three times in his last four starts. He rated near the pace and flattened out last out at Parx, but he should be able to grab a share even if he does that again. #6 Hoku (7-2) was pace-compromised against better at Turfway Park last out, and has worked well at his Parx base since that March 1 effort. He should also make up solid late ground.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES

7-3-6-4

#7 Grammy Girl (7-2) got caught up in a contested pace in the Weber City Miss Stakes last out, and ended up well-beaten. She broke her maiden in gate-to-wire fashion two starts ago, and might get a similar trip in a race without much other speed. #3 Determind Princess (5-2) came from just off the pace to break her maiden in impressive fashion last out, with a much-improved mark of 84. If Grammy Girl can’t last on the lead, she’ll get first jump. #6 Regaled (9-2) hasn’t shown any early speed at all in her three career starts, but she’s taken leaps forward with every start, and rallied from 16 lengths out of it to break her maiden going away in her last effort.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $30,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-6-7-8

#1 Ginger Girl (3-1) battled on in the stretch last out and just missed behind Black Ice, who came back to win next out and was second in her most recent. This one’s recent dirt form is consistently the best of these. #6 Memento Mi (20-1) closed well two starts back at Aqueduct, and has had some time off since a relatively flat race there March 16. Her ceiling isn’t as high as Ginger Girl’s, but she looks like the best of the rest. #7 Louise Brooks (12-1) ran solid late pace figures against better on grass last year, and has worked well for her first start since November 17.