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

2-9-3-4

As baseball broadcaster Ralph Kiner would say, to all you fathers out there, happy birthday. #2 Dark Pool (3-1) makes her second start for the Keri Brion barn, and was a chasing third first off a brief layoff last out. She has some early foot in a race largely devoid of speed, and could find herself with a very advantageous pace scenario. #9 Active (2-1) outfinished Dark Pool last out, and lost by a nose after a strong late rally. She’s improved sharply with each of her recent starts, but might find herself compromised if Dark Pool gets the trip she wants. #3 Dead Sexy (8-1) ran a career-best brisnet figure of 78 in her grass debut last out, where she came from way out of it and got fourth. She has tons of grass pedigree; all five of her siblings to race have won on this surface.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

3-6-2-1

#3 Social Lady (7-2) ships in from Parx or Jamie Ness, who’s had a fantastic start to the Laurel Park summer meet. She rallied from off the pace and got up to beat first-level foes last out, running at least an 80 for the eighth time in a row. No one else in here has done that even twice in a row. #6 Always Laughing (3-1) will be sent to the front from the outside, and led most of the way that this level last out before getting caught and holding second. If she gets a slow enough early pace, she’ll be able to sneak away from them and win going away. #2 Peyton Elizabeth (9-5), who is likely to be the better-bet Ness entry, was claimed back by Ness last out after an impressive last-ot-first win. She struggled badly in her prior three starts, so we’ll see if a return to Ness rounds her back to her best self.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

13-12-1-3

#13 Contrivance (5-2) improved to a 73 second off a six-month layoff last out against better. Two starts ago, he battled on the lead and held third behind Happy Jaunt, who returned to finish second behind Tidewater yesterday. #12 Tik Tok Daddy (8-1) made his grass debut against better last out, and made solid ground in the last eighth to run a respectable 63. A repeat of that race likely wins this one, where no one has much positive grass experience. #1 Bold Talk (3-1) showed speed first off the layoff, opening up a long early lead, and held in there until late. It was the first time he showed that much early foot. He’s sure to be sent for speed under J.G. Torrealba, who gets the call for the first time.

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

4-5-11-12

Keri Brion has them surrounded, in my estimation. I’ve got her two horses on top. #4 Molly Fantasy (8-1) has won only once over flats, but twice over jumps, thus keeping her eligibility for this race. She showed brief speed and faded going 2 1/4 miles at Percy Warner last out, in her second start off a year layoff, and looks well-suited for a return to flats. #5 Mary Katherine (3-1) made a big move to the front and fought on last out at Presque Isle Downs, but was outkicked by a rival who got the jump on her and ended up second. Still, it was a strong effort for her first race in in 4 1/2 months, and it sets her up well for today. #11 La Tache (6-1) held on to third after rating off the pace last out, running a lifetime-best 76 in the process. She usually shows a better late kick than she did last time, and with the right trip, should be a late threat.

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

2-1-3-6

#2 Kilo Road (3-1) won in a dead heat against open first-level foes in her first try against winners last out, for her second consecutive figure in the 80s. Third-place finisher Overly Dramatic came back to win next out. This one should show speed from the inside and set up shop on the front end. #1 Ribbonsinherhair (4-1) took big steps forward in each of her two starts at the Oaklawn Park meet. She ran a pace-chasing second last out behind next-out winner Greek Heiress, and head of third-place finisher Insightful Miss, who was also victorious in her next start. She’d take advantage if anyone presses Kilo Road. #3 Society Ball (7-2) is the most likely one to press, having show tactical speed in her last few races. She matched her career-best mark of 81 last out, when she finished second behind Golden Charm. Considering that one’s dislike of winning, that’s a bit of a red flag, but she should still at least hang around for a slice.

RACE 6: ALLOWNCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-7-4-5

This is pretty much the same race as race 5, only on grass. #1 Chickahominy (9-2) hasn’t raced on grass since early November, when she split horses late and got up to win against first-level foes, defeating, among others, recent winner Alla Breve. She didn’t do much on dirt over the winter, but went to the sidelines in early March, and has had a trio of decent workouts as she gets set for her return. #7 Money’s Worth (2-1) drops in class from second-level company, where she finished second behind the dominant Mystic Seaport. There’s no one that tough in here, and she should improve second off the bench. #4 Angel Art (5-1) surged and won first off a two-month break last out, and ran in the upper-70s consistently on grass last year. That’s not enough to beat the peaks of Chickahominy and Money’s Worth, but it should be good enough to at least grab a share from off the pace.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

1-5-2-6

A borderline stakes-quality of field of sprinters lines up. #1 Rominski (8-5) keeps getting better and better, running or matching a lifetime-top figure in three consecutive races. He turned away a challenge and drew off to beat a similarly salty field in his last start with an impressive 100. He was claimed out of that race by Brittany Russell, who trained his half-brother, Whereshetoldmetogo. #5 Sir Wellington (5-2) came from off the pace and kicked away against a strong field at Delaware Park last out. Runner-up Shaft’s Bullet and third-place Spikezone both came back to win their next outings. He had mixed, at best, form at Oaklawn over the winter, but that last race gives me confidence. He’ll get first crack if Rominski falters on the lead. #2 Factor It In (8-1), a 10-time winner on this track, finished a clear-cut second to Rominski last out, continuing an in-and-out form cycle where he ran at least a 94 for the third time in his last five races.

RACE 8: STORMY BLUES STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-3-10-14

The summer stakes schedule kicks off with a bang, as a gigantic 14-horse field of fillies takes the stage. This contest is named for the 1994 Selima Stakes winner. #7 Amidst Waves (9-2) made her first start off a six-month layoff last out in the Soaring Softly Stakes at Aqueduct. She bid her time behind rivals and made what looked like a winning move, but her lack of recent racing did her in, and she flattened out and got third. Still, she ran a solid 85 in that race, and was in ascending form towards the end of last year, a season in which she won a pair of stakes, so she should be ready to turn in a peak effort today. #3 Shuangxi (12-1) pressed the pace and fought on to win second off the layoff at Monmouth Park last out, improving sharply to a 90. The horse she pressed on the lead and ended up fourth by three lengths. She looks primed to outrun her morning line odds. #10 Toupie (5-2) ran a career-best 89 in her 3-year-old debut, when she closed late and got second in the Mamzelle Stakes behind Twirling Queen, who was in the midst of a three-race win streak. This one should pack a strong punch as longas she stays out of traffic trouble.