Race Analysis for August 24

Analysis by Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: AQUISTADORE out finished QUIET WYATT despite running greenly through the stretch when they met in a similar race Aug. 7 and once again gets in with a feathery 107 pounds. He ran a much improved race in his latest and he is either catching on to what it is all about or he appreciated the wet conditions. We'll assume he's just rounding into form. QUIET WYATT is clearly the main threat and he could move up enough in his second straight route to edge the top pick. It sure looks like a solid exacta and it could go either way. DONTCALLMETOMORROW has been pretty dull lately but he has run decent races going this far in the past over this track and the leading rider is attracted. Maybe he’ll turn things around in a pretty soft spot.

RACE TWO: WE ARE ONE has been working well enough for her first start since March and her trainer has a 25 percent strike rate with new horses in her barn that are coming back from this type of layoff. The horse that won her last start hasn't won since but she has been competitive while facing mostly $40K starter horses in Northern California. PRINCESS RAINIER ran a big race to finish second when she faced winners in her latest and is an obvious threat to win this. She really hasn't run a bad race in her five-race career and once again figures to be right there. BEAUTY AND VICTORY takes the plunge into a maiden claiming race in her first start since April 2 and just her second overall. Snow can have them ready coming off of this type of layoff and over the past five years he has won with 33 percent of the horses he has moved from maiden special weight company into a maiden claiming race.

RACE THREE: SWAPALADY takes a big drop in class and she figures to relish the added distance. All three of her siblings are route winners and from the looks of her sharp work on Aug. 14 she could be ready for a big effort. Her trainer doesn't run a lot of horses but the last two horses that he stretched out for the first time both finished in the money. MAYBINEE keeps improving and she is coming off of a big effort where she finished just behind MY BLACK PEARL going 1 1/8 miles. Give her the edge because MY BLACK PEARL is picking up seven pounds and will probably have to deal with speed stretching out for the first time from the rail while MAYBINEE should get a nice trip from a stalking position.

RACE FOUR: FUN AGAIN has worked decently for a trainer who over the past five years has a 19 percent strike rate with first time starting 2-year-olds. No real stars in the family but all four sibs are winners including Right Marker who won his 2-year-old debut. MISTY MEMORY hasn't run back to her solid showing in her debut but she was facing tougher and she'll appreciate the move into a maiden claiming race for the first time. Her sire is off to a good start as a 2-year-old sire and she could be dangerous if she breaks alertly from her inside post. IMNOTSTANDINAROUND is also taking the plunge in his second start for a trainer that is having a solid meet and has done a good job with his babies over the years. FASTTALKNYOO adds Lasix following an improved effort where she finished third at this level and should be considered for the exotics.

RACE FIVE: THERUSSIANROCKET exploded with a huge win in her first try going long and she is coming right back for the same price. Once again she gets in with a feather and unless she regresses off of her big effort she is going to be tough to handle. BESPOKE comes out of the same race and after leading for most of the way she couldn’t hold off the top pick. She did hold on well to finish second and that makes two big races since she has stretched out to a middle distance. She doesn't need the lead and if they decide to send SAINTSBURY from her inside post she is capable of stalking like she did in her maiden win. AINTNOMISBEHAVIN threw in a dud last time but she did have to check sharply going into the first turn and then went very wide and lost a lot of momentum when she was trying to make a late move. It is certainly encouraging to see Perez retain the mount. SAINTSBURY broke poorly and then was rank early in the same race. She could run a lot better, especially if Fuentes gets her out of there running from her inside post.

RACE SIX: SARGENT SALLY ran well enough in her first couple of routes this year and she will appreciate both the added yardage and the easier company after her latest sprint. She could be the one in a race where it is hard to separate them. FOXY LIKE A CAT opened up a two-length lead before tiring late in her latest and could be ready for a big effort with two routes behind her. KATELLIENA is as honest as they come and goes for her fourth win in her last five starts. Not sure what kind of trip she'll get from her outside post, however. LADY SASHA has improved quite a bit in her last two starts and might be good enough. MAHATY JO fired a huge shot when she stretched out after two sprints last year and if history repeats itself she could easily win this.

RACE SEVEN: EVALUATE looked good winning his first start in over a year and he'll either take a big step forward or bounce. The barn - 11 percent over the past five years with horses coming back for a second start following a layoff - has been heating up lately so we'll guess he's going to move forward and he also figures to get a nice trip from a stalking position behind what figures to be a lively pace. FURY'S ALLSTAR ran a much improved race when he stretched out to a two-turn sprint for the first time this year and should be able to carry his speed a little farther in his second straight traditional sprint. He will have to deal with SAVO ISLAND who also has decent speed and will make his first start after being claimed by Barroby who has a 20 percent strike rate when he runs them back the first time. GALAHAD should appreciate the likely duel and at the least should be considered for the exotics.