RACE 1: CLAIMING $20,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

11-14-5-13

We’re back in action this afternoon with a great 9-race card. #11 Switzer (7-2) improved sharply second off the layoff, and first time on grass this year, in his last start, where he closed well for a clear-cut second behind favored gate-to-wire winner Park Place. He raced twice on this grass course last year; he won once after a wide trip in a determined effort, and in the other, he frantically closed and just missed against better. #14 Sharp Note (5-2) dropped in for a tag for the the first time last out, and held on to win after racing wide on a contested pace. The other two horses involved in that contentious duel finished fifth, and eighth, respectively. He should once again be a serious pace presence from the outside. #5 Tall Order (2-1) ran on well after stalking the pace a few times against better last year, and should improve second off the layoff after showing little in his 2024 bow, which was washed away to dirt.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

4-5-2-3

#4 Ascribe (5-2) showed little first off the claim by Jamie Ness after a rough break, but should improve here as he gets on dirt for the first time and takes a career-low drop in class. He has some of the best late pace figures in the race, and should take advantage of the lone one-turn mile stretch, especially with Jaime Rodriguez, who is adept at riding this distance, in the saddle. Six furlongs might have been too short for #5 Coronation Time (7-2) last out, but he nonetheless rallied well while wide and lost in a three-horse blanket finish. By far his best brisnet figure, a 78, came at this distance three starts ago. #2 I’lltaketheblame (7-5), who sold for $700,000 to the self-appointed commissioner last April, can be yours today for a career-low tag of $12,500. He ran in the 70s in his first three starts, but was completely flat in his last start. He’s had some time off since then and turned in a decent recent workout, but the abrupt plunge from the $45,000 level leaves me cold.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

1-9-7-8

#1 British Sea (6-1) pressed the pace while wide throughout last out and just missed second, while finishing behind victorious stablemate Big Big Star. Though this is a tougher field than the one he saw at this condition last out, he should take a step forward second off the layoff. #9 Border War (3-1) made his return to the races off a year-plus layoff on the Black-Eyed Susan Day undercard last out. He finished a well-beaten fourth when trying to close off a very slow pace, but his ceiling is much higher than that effort would indicate. When he had more honest places to close into earlier in his career, he ran figures as high as 91. #7 Come Rain or Shine (6-1) hasn’t been able to keep a straight course in the stretch, and it’s cost him in each of his last two wins. Jorge Ruiz gets the mount for the first time. If Ruiz can keep him straight, he’ll be tough to hold off.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

4-6-5-2

#4 Finger Roll (5-2) got a great trip off the pace and rolled away to break his maiden at Delaware Park last out, with a career-best 83. He’s one of two in here who hasn’t lost against winners, and with some speed signed on here, he could get a similarly great trip and cruise away late. #6 Minxzluckystarfyre (9-5) is the only on in here to run in the 80s in each this last four dirt races. He finished a mild fifth in what proved to be a salty bunch in his last try on this surface, and concerted a great trip to a determined maiden-breaking win at seventh asking three starts ago. #5 Margie’s Fun Son (3-1) has shown enough late punch to dependably hit the board, but he doesn’t much like winning. In his 15-race career, he’s finished second or third eight times, but has, of course, won just once. He tends to leave himself with too much to do late; perhaps new rider Johan Rosado will keep him closer to the early tempo.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

11-7-3-4

#11 American d’Oro (9-2) finished a fast-closing fifth, beaten a length, against a much better field than this one last out. His running style leaves him susceptible to getting caught in traffic, but if he can avoid it, he’ll be rolling late. #7 Fortune’s Fool (2-1) makes his first grass start since last October, where he closed off a fast pace and upset the likes of stakes winner You Must Chill and salty local veterans Gunslinger, King’s Honor, and Cannon’s Roar. He ran a subpar trip after a wide trip on a wet track last out, and looks prime for improvement here. #3 Aliferous (15-1) hasn’t run on grass in a while, but did run in the 80s twice in three starts on this surface in the summer and fall of 2022. He dug in and won on dirt two races back, and has worked well since being pulled up on a wet track last out.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

6-1-5-8

#6 Mysisternancy (5-1) cruised on the lead against these types last out, winning by open lengths with a near career-best 78. She runs her best when left alone on the front end (as many early-speed types tend to do), and looks fast enough to work out the kind of trip she wants. #1 Sweet Heidelberg (3-1) looks like the most serious threat to any easy lead Mysisternancy might get. She went gate-to-wire going shorter at Delaware two starts ago, and led most of the way before finishing second in a stretch battle last out. We’ll see if she’ll be able to protect inside position. If she can, she might be the one getting away with a good trip. #5 Hot Lookin Royal (10-1) came from well out of it to finish a strong second in her first start off a seven-month break last out. She now returns to a track on which she’s enjoyed great success against these types.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

8-5-9-7

#8 Alla Breve (5-2) has taken steps forward in each of her recent grass races. Her only poor start on the surface as of late came at Pimlico last September, when she was bothered at the start and proved no match to Future Is Now, who has since won a pair of stakes races. In her last grass start in mid-January, she gobbled up ground at this level at Gulfstream Park and finished a hard-charging second. #5 Apropos (5-1) just missed in a four-horse blanket finish last out against similar, and has been consistent as of late, with figures between 77 and 80 in her last three races. #9 Atmidnight (15-1) has held her won against the boys in her last two races, and ran a career-best 78 second off the bench last out when a fast-closing fifth. She looks poised for another strong effort at a good price.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

3-5-7-8

If not for Bright Future, some of these might have run in tomorrow’s Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. However, they’ve decided to come here instead. #3 Shaft’s Bullet (7-2) ran some big races on this track over the winter, and ran a gigantic race at six panels last out at Delaware. He broke slowly and lumbered along throughout the early stages, but closed very well late and finished a clear-cut second behind stakes winner Sir Wellington and ahead of next-out winner Spikezone. This distance looks more to his liking. #5 Ain’t Da Beer Cold (8-1) is dangerous when left alone on the lead. He went gate-to-wire to win the Native Dancer Stakes in a 12-1 upset last out, and turned a similar trip to win the Maryland Million Classic via DQ last October. There’s not a ton of speed in here, so it’s not unreasonable to think he could get another easy lead and pull off another gate-to-wire performance. #7 Magic Michael (5-2) rallied to beat a very salty field last out, beating several of these rivals in the process, and lost by a head to Ain’t Da Beer Cold in the Native Dancer two starts ago after closing very well off those slow fractions.