RACE 6: Post: 3:00 PT Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play: Ace of Clubs
Back-ups:: 4-Journey D’ Oro; 6-Wild Recruit.
Forecast: We’re expecting Ace of Clubs to produce a vastly improved version of himself in his first outing in almost 11 months with this sharp drop to the $25,000 claiming ranks in this abbreviated sprint restricted to 3-year-olds. The son of Mor Spirit exits a series of four stakes races – the most recent pair graded events – and returns as a first time Lasix user and first time gelding combined with a series of sharp workouts that seems certain to have him fit and ready. Clearly most comfortable around one turn, the D. O’Neill-trained sophomore is reunited with “win rider” A. Fresu and projects to be comfortably placed in the second flight and then ready to pounce when called upon. Let’s make him a solid play in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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RACE 9: Post: 4:00 PT Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play:3-Strutting (GB)
Back-ups: 9-Word Play
Forecast: Strutting makes her U.S. debut in this first level allowance turf miler for fillies and mares and should outclass this lineup based on her excellent European form. Two races back she finished a superb runner up in the 30-runner Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot over a straightaway mile on good-to-firm ground that produced a career top 94 Timeform rating, a performance that if repeated today makes her a standout. The local work tab since arriving at trainer M. McCarthy has been visually quite pleasing, so we’re expecting a major effort from this daughter of Frankel. Listed at 5/2 on the morning line, she offers a prime gamble on the tote and in the various exotics.
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