Race Analysis for Thursday, August 26

Analysis by Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: MUCHO VERDE forced honest fractions while going three wide and held on for a long time when he faced older horses in his latest start. He moves inside where he should be able to clear early and he'll certainly appreciate being back with his own age group. He should be tough to run down if he breaks on top. ABERFELDIE won at this level from a stalking position two back and should get a similar trip here. T J GEMINI just missed to LEGO MAN in his latest and also to the top pick two back and there should be enough speed to set up his good late move. Not sure if he'll get up in time but at the least he should be considered for the exotics.

RACE TWO: OVERVALUED was a very impressive winner over colts and geldings in her debut and could be tough to handle facing fillies. She has two strong interim works showing and she has the pedigree to be a decent horse. She comes from the same connections that had Monashee and they are also pretty high on this one. VICTORY WITH CLASS scored an easy win from off the pace in the B.C. Cup Debutante and with plenty of speed signed on here she should get a similar set up. She is clearly the one to beat. NUJ NUJ WINK WINK forced a fast pace and tired in the Debutante but it was her first try going around two turns and she could take a big step forward here. VICTORY WITH CLASS beat her both times they met so you probably want to use her underneath only.

RACE THREE: NEZAHUALCOYOTL ran a decent race to finish third behind his stable mate when he debuted in a maiden special race in May and from the looks of his sharp works he should be ready for a big effort coming off the bench. His trainer does an excellent job with his babies and over the past five years he has a 40 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds making their second start. O'GEORGE was up close to fast fractions before caving in the B.C. Cup Nursery and should appreciate the move back to an abbreviated sprint. STORMIN GHOSTRIDER took a big step forward in his second start, has had a decent interim work, and could be ready for a peak effort in the third start of his career. MCGILLIVRAY LAKE could be live for a trainer that can have them ready to roll first time out.

RACE FOUR: FOXY LIKE A CAT scratched out of a tougher spot to run here and she can either stalk speed that probably won't last or take them all the way. She took a clear lead into the stretch in her latest and tired to finish second but it was a quickly run race and she could be ready for a peak effort in her third straight route. BEULAH LAND closed with good speed in the same race the top pick exits and once again there should be an honest pace for her to work with. She has been right there in the last two races she completed going long, and it appears she came out of the race okay where she stumbled and lost her rider. SASSY'S TREASURE looked good winning her first route, is lightly raced and might be good enough to stand the raise. She was also claimed by a trainer that doesn't jump in and grab them very often but he has won with two of the last three that he has run back first time.

RACE FIVE: W W WANDERER couldn't hold off a couple of late closers in his latest but he was the only one of the horses involved early that stuck around late. He appears to be comfortable stalking so he can either sit off of speed that won't probably last or take them all the way if he breaks on top. SOCK PUPPET might not have wanted to go long in his race two back and then caught a wet track when he moved back to a sprint. He also got off a little awkwardly in his latest and if you key on his other races he looks pretty solid with this group. VICTOR finished full of run in his latest sprint and it was quite a turn around from his first two starts. He is lightly raced so there could be some upside potential and he could make some noise if he can get involved a little sooner. PARTY PROSPECTOR should be considered for the exotics following an improved effort in his latest.

RACE SIX: J J'S ORCHID set honest fractions and then held on well to finish second when she faced winners for the first time and once again should be able to clear early. She figures to move forward in her second straight two-turn sprint and could take them all the way if she leaves there running. EPICUREAN should appreciate both the move back to a sprint and the shorter distance after trying to stretch out for the first time. She had a rough trip the last time she ran at this level and could be dangerous from a stalking position if she gets away cleanly. GRANNIE GREENE has good tactical speed and if the top pick falters she should get first crack at her. She had to wait for room heading into the stretch turn in her latest and then may have been a little intimidated when she tried to get past the top pick mid-stretch. LINDEN'S LADY went wide around both turns in the same race and could be dangerous if she can save a little more ground.

RACE SEVEN: HORNBLOWER ran into a tough one when he debuted going 3 1/2 furlongs and then ran down the speed when he stretched out to six furlongs in his second start. He should have ample speed to work with here and from the looks of his bullet five-furlong move on Aug. 4 he should be ready for a big effort coming off of a two-month layoff. He is a half-brother to $487K Grade 2 winner Spice Island so there is also some pedigree to work with. TLAQUEPAQUE blew them away when he debuted in a 3 1/2 furlong maiden special weight race June 18 and he has fired bullets in his last two five-furlong moves. His trainer has a 28 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds running in stake races the past five years and it sure looks like he has this guy primed for a big effort. LOOKOUT DUBAI was a very impressive front-running winner when he debuted in a six-furlong maiden special weight race Aug. 8 and could easily move forward enough to win what appears to be a wide-open race.

RACE EIGHT: VYING FOR GLORY looks like he might have enough speed to clear early and he could be gone if he does. He is cutting his price in half after a solid effort Aug. 13 and both of his last two races put him right there. JUMP TO IT figures to move forward in his second start following a two-month layoff and over the past five years his trainer has a 16 percent strike rate in the category. She is facing boys but she does have the best last race Beyer Speed Figure and she could get a nice trip from a stalking position. ROSES FOR BEN takes the blinkers off for the first time and could make some noise from off the pace with the move back to a sprint. He is coming out of a pretty fast route for the level he was running at and he ran a big race the only time he was in a sprint this year. ROYAL BANNER ran well in both of his races but has to be suspect with the 50-percent drop and no works showing since he was claimed close to a month ago.