Race Analysis for June 4

Analysis by Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: MUCHO VERDE was involved early but faded late when he made his seasonal debut in the $25K claiming race on May 1 and he'll find these a lot easier to deal with. He's had three solid works since he ran and if he breaks alertly he should be right there the whole way. MORRISEY followed up his maiden win with a solid third in his first try with winners and he shows up with the best last race Beyer Speed Figure. He should appreciate what is likely going to be a lively pace and he probably won't be as far behind with the blinkers going on. BLASTING PISTOL won his only start at two and has been working well enough leading up to his initial start as a sophomore. His sire won going 1 1/4 miles so he shouldn't have any trouble stretching out to a two-turn sprint for the first time. LOCKSMITH may have bounced in his latest and he could make some noise with the drop to bottoms.

RACE TWO: JUMP PASS got sawed off early and then made a decent late move to finish second when he dropped to this level in his latest. He should get a nice trip from just off of what figures to be a hotly contested battle up front and could be tough to handle with a clean trip. BOURNE A PRINCE set honest fractions when he won his debut on May 9 and might be good enough to stand the jump. He is obviously in a lot deeper here but he appeared to have something left in his sharp win and he came back with a solid 5-furlong move on May 22. CAN'T WAIT FOREVER forced the issue and tired in the same race JUMP PASS exits and could last a lot longer in his second start following a long layoff.

RACE THREE: SMOKE'N COAL has never gone this far before but he looked good winning his latest sprint at this level and he certainly has the pedigree to get a middle distance. He is a half-brother to Smok'n Frolic who earned $1.5 million and won multiple graded stakes. Over the past five years Condilenios is 12 percent with horses stretching out for the first time. GATHER DE JUSTICE stretches out to his best distance and should appreciate the class relief. He gave it up pretty early in both of his starts but he was facing much tougher company and he could be ready for a better effort in the third start of his current form cycle. LORD VIC ran evenly in his first couple of sprints last year and then fired a big shot when he stretched out to a middle distance. He's on the same path here. Not sure why he was turned out so early last season but he has worked sharply all spring and he could be sitting on a big effort in his first route of the year.

RACE FOUR: ONLYTHEBESTFORYOO came from the clouds when she debuted in a B.C.-bred race for this price on May 16 and her trainer is a solid 20 percent with second time starters over the past five years. She has had a nice interim work, and although Perez heads to first time starter DIANA'S LEGACY, she gets some weight off with last year's leading apprentice taking the call. There should also be an honest pace for her to work with. MY BAILOUT has the best Beyer Speed Figures, cuts her price in half and figures to be involved right from the start. She finished second at this level two back and then couldn't keep up when she doubled her price in her latest. She is going to have to deal with VINTAGE VINO early who forced a quick pace and held on well to finish second in the same race ONLYTHEBESTFORYOO exits.

RACE FIVE: TWO LANE BLACKTOP flashed good speed before fading in a $10K maiden race for B.C.-breds May 23 and should appreciate both the drop to bottoms and the move to a shorter distance. He could also move forward as a second time Lasix user. PARTY PROSPECTOR has also shown good speed in both of his longer sprints and could be dangerous if he can handle coming back this quickly while running on Lasix for the first time. HASSLE received some betting support but then didn't show much after getting left when she debuted for $20K on April 24. She's by a decent debut sire so she could surprise if she leaves there running. She was a late scratch after flipping in the paddock when she was entered in a similar race on May 21 so you probably want to see how she is behaving before making your final decision.

RACE SIX: RIBOLETTO drops back in for a tag after a decent effort in his first start for his connections who claimed him for $12,500 last year. Over the past five years Morrisson is 22 percent with horses making their second start following a layoff so there is a good chance he'll move forward here. He cost over $1 milion because his dam earned over $1.5 million and was a multiple Grade 1 winner. WOODSHED drops into a maiden claiming race for the first time and over the past five years Condilenios has won with 22 percent of his starters dropping from a maiden special weight race into a maiden claimer. He was up close to a quick pace and held on well to finish third in his latest. DUBA just missed when he debuted for this price and is eligible to improve for a trainer that is 12 percent with second time starters over the common time period. VIA COL VENTO ran a decent race when he debuted for $12,500 last year and from the looks of his sharp works he could be ready for a big effort coming off the bench.

RACE SEVEN: NOBLE LAD is making his first start of the year and may have tipped his hand when he worked a bullet 5-furlongs in :59.60 seconds on May 12. He finished third in his only start here last year and the horse that won the race was coming off of a second place finish in the $110K B.C. Cup Classic and after beating NOBLE LAD he came back to dead-heat with a horse that won a Grade 3 in his next start. He should find these more to his liking and his new trainer can have them ready to fire first time out. PRINCE INTENT is undefeated in two starts and he took a big step forward in his second race. He could be good enough. CHARTERHILL adds blinkers for the first time and he likely had them on when he worked a sensational five-furlongs in :58.80 seconds May 22. He showed a lot of potential with a sharp win in his first start this year and he ran into a stakes winner when he finished third in his latest. CHEROKEE NOTION also looks pretty live but his trainer said he would probably scratch.

RACE EIGHT: CRIMSON QUEEN showed decent speed in both of her starts over Tapeta at Golden Gate and she has worked well enough leading up to her first start on dirt here. There is some concern with a horse that was claimed for $12,500 and then shows up for $5,000 five months later. Nonetheless, she is in very good hands and her owners certainly aren't afraid of jamming them. DANCEWITHMEMOLLY has good speed, drew the rail and could be tough to catch if she gets away alertly. ROUTE NINETY SEVEN has been right there in two starts at this level and distance this year and at the least should be considered for the exotics. GRACEFUL CAPTAIN made a strong middle move into a quick pace when she debuted going 6 1/2 furlongs and could be dangerous if she leaves there running.