RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-6-5-4

#7 Wemby (5-1) took a step forward last out, running a career-best brisnet figure of 73, but it wasn’t enough, as he got caught wide from further off the pace than he might have liked and was well-beaten against better non-winners of two types. He stretches out from five furlongs here, and with the extra run into the turn, should be able to secure position without being rushed. #6 Suga Steve (2-1) makes his first start off a six-month break, adds Lasix for the first time, and makes bow against non-winners of two types. He lost all chance at the break last out when he stumbled, but he should be attendant to the pace here, and is a threat to wire them. #5 Box N Ben (5-2) drops to this level for the first time after numerous tries against better non-winners of two types. He’s 1-for-17 lifetime, but has hit the board fourteen times. He always looks like a contender wherever he goes, but doesn’t quite have that punch needed to win. If you’re playing an exacta or trifecta, he’s a good horse to key underneath.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-4-8-11 (DIRT: 5-3-11-6)

#2 Happy Jaunt (3-1) ran a big race on debut last October at Laurel Park. As one of two first-time starters in the field, he battled on the early pace and hung around until late. He’s cutting back from a mile first off the bench, but this looks like a great spot to ease him back into competition. Trainer Jorge Duarte won with a horse coming off a long layoff last Saturday, taking the Jim McKay Turf Sprint with Grooms All Bizness. #4 Sasse’s Class (6-1) tended to show speed and fade going further last year, so he might be better suited for shorter distances. He’s also making his 2024 debut, but has worked well recently for Milan Milosevic. #8 Act Lively (5-1) drops for a tag for the first time and ran a career-best race first off a 9 1/2-month layoff last out, showing speed for the first time while battling with the fairly well-regarded Beltane.

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

3-6-2-7

#3 Always Forward (7-2) has made solid ground off slow paces in each of her last two starts, and is one of two in here to run in the 70s in each of her last five starts. She cleared her non-winners of two condition at this distance in late February, and should appreciate the stretch-out from a mile. #6 La Macchina Rossa (9-2) ships back to Maryland after a come-from-behind maiden win at Charles Town, and gets Jaime Rodriguez back in the saddle. She’s one of two in here who has not lost against winners, and is the lightest-raced of anyone in the field, having made just five starts. #2 Mo Tough (8-5) checked at the start last out and got thrown out of sorts, but she’s raced well at this level in her recent past, and with a clean break, should make it to the rail and the lead.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

1-13-14-3 (DIRT: 1-3-5-14)

#1 Come Rain or Shine (3-1) nearly pulled off a wire job in his grass debut last out, but faded late while drifting and settled for second. He’ll have every chance to finish what he started this time. #13 Owhatanite (12-1) was dismissed at 114-1 in his grass debut last out, following a complete no-show in his career bow on dirt, but he made good ground late despite checking twice in the late stages; once in the stretch, once more in the final eighth. You won’t get that big a price this time, but he should still go off at a healthy number. He’s also a brother to two grass winners, including Bonded, second by a nose in last year’s Maryland Million Turf Starter Handicap. #14 Silk Suit (10-1) finished eighth behind Owhatanite in his last start after racing wide throughout, and is in a prime spot to improve second time on the lawn for Graham Motion.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-2-6-5

#4 One Way Farrior (9-5) won for $40,000 three races ago, then made a strong stretch bid when dropped to this level last out, but couldn’t outkick Paco the Taco Man. Still, he matched his career-best figure with an 86, and should be hard to hold off. #2 Irish Bandit (5-1) exits the same race as One Way Farrior. He led most of the way and held third, improving dramatically for the second consecutive race in his third start off the bench. Look for him to get a similar trip as last time. #6 Dance for Green (4-1) went gate-to-wire last out despite early pace pressure, but it’s not likely he’ll want to challenge stablemate Irish Bandit early and get involved in a potentially destructive duel. He’ll likely rate just off the pace and pounce on the turn.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $6,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-5-10-9 (DIRT: 10-11-4-2)

#2 Speak Unity (4-1) has already gotten two grass races under his belt this year, both of them solid efforts with back-to-back 77s. He ran on this grass course at about this time last year, and finished second behind the dangerous frontrunner Gunslinger. The leaders should be easier to run down today. #5 Super E (20-1) has great closing speed and gets J.G. Torrealba in the saddle for the first time. He made his first start of 2023 under very similar circumstances at almost this exact time last year, and was a sharp-closing third. #10 Two by Two (2-1) made good ground off very slow fractions in his most recent grass start, which came at Tampa Bay Downs in February. He showed some solid late speed recently on dirt at that track, and should be heard from late for the Jamie Ness/Jaime Rodriguez combo.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

5-2-3-4

#5 Cloud Music (9-2) goes first off the claim by Mike Gorham, and enters off back-to-back gate-to-wire wins. He got away with slow fractions in his last start, but without much speed to his inside, he should make the front and set the kind of pace he wants. #2 Uncaptured Storm (8-5) has converted stalk-and-pounce trips to victory in each of his last three starts. If Cloud Music can’t last on the lead, this one will be right there to pick up the pieces. #3 Shivaree (2-1) returns to the Lacey Gaudet barn following a third-place finish after a wide trip last out. Naked and Famous, who won Shivaree’s last start, came back to finish second by less than a length to Uncaptured Storm in his most recent race.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $20,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-8-1-3 (GRASS: 1-11-10-7)

#4 Kbcya Later (6-1) got a race under his belt in 2024 on dirt last out, battling on the pace and fading. He ran three consecutive 77s in his final three grass starts of last year, and has abundant early speed. #8 Switzer (9-5) exits the same race as Kbcya Later, which was also his first start of the season, He was flat that day, but ran in the 80s in both of his starts on grass last year, including a season-capping effort where he gobbled up ground and just missed in a blanket finish. That field included stakes-placed Tidewater. #1 Outkissed (6-1) makes his grass debut here for Robby Bailes. He’s run some big races on the lead against better in his last few, and if he takes to grass at all, he should be a serious pace presence from the inside.

RACE 11: MAIDE