Race Analysis for Friday, May 14

Analysis by Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: VICTIM OF LOVE ran into a tough one when he finished second for $12,500 in his seasonal debut and should find these easier to deal with. He usually breaks sharply so leaving from the inside post shouldn't be a problem. If he takes the expected move forward in his second start he's going to be tough to beat. SLICKSTER won both of his races going this distance and his sharp work on May 5 is a good sign that he's ready for a big effort coming off the bench. He's clearly the main threat to the top pick. MO'S POCOLINO has been working well enough for his return and his trainer usually has them ready to go coming off of a layoff - over the past 5 years Cloutier is 15 percent with horses returning in 180 days or more. It is also encouraging to see the leading rider accept the mount.

RACE TWO: ENFORCEMENT beat tougher when he came off of a long layoff here last year and he has been working decently for his return. He is a 7-year-old now so he might be a step or two slower but he has looked pretty sharp this spring and should come back running. He'll have to in order to beat a very sharp AFLEET DEAL who just missed at this level on April 25. AFLEET DEAL has plenty of speed and could be very tough to catch breaking from the rail. He's had a sharp work since he ran and the only complaint is the very low price he's going to be. SOLDIERS RETURN was forced out pretty wide going around the first turn in his comeback race and he moves inside where he should be able to save some valuable ground. He is also dropping in class and he should be happy to get away from Sir Gallant who has beaten him in three straight races.

RACE THREE: MAJESTICALITY got a little tired after making a strong move while going 3-wide around the stretch turn when he debuted in a slightly shorter race at this level and should be tough to handle in his second start. His only sibling has won four sprints and it shouldn't be long before this guy gets his picture taken. WOODSHED was highly regarded going into his initial start this year but he stumbled coming out of the gate and lost his jockey. Nice work from the gate on May 7 and it might be worth giving him one more chance. PASSION RED has been well prepped leading up to his debut and he's by a sire that is 11 percent with first time starters. A couple of winning sibs to report, but no stars in the family so far. KANONKULE ran evenly in his initial start this year and could move forward enough to make some noise here.

RACE FOUR: BEST VERSE looked good winning a key race at Emerald and the horse that finished second came back to win his next two. Solid works since he ran, and although he hasn't been in a sprint for a while, he broke his maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs at Stockton so the cutback in distance shouldn't be an issue. There doesn't appear to be a lot of real speed in the field so he should also be involved right from the start. POSTMASTER GENERAL steps up following a sharp win for bottoms on May 2 and he has enough back class to easily stand the hike. The move to an outside post could mean a wide trip, however. SHENANDOAH RIVER probably wants more distance but he ran evenly in his initial start this year and he should appreciate the drop to what appears to be an easier spot. WINDY DAY has never won coming off of this kind of layoff but he has been working well enough and anything coming out of this barn has to be respected.

RACE FIVE: GRAYROSS GAL should be sharp enough coming off of this kind of layoff and she is certainly fast enough. Sharp work on May 8 should have her on edge for a strong performance and MacPherson is on fire at the meet. BEAR'S TRUE GAL has won half of her starts at the distance and her half-mile move in 47.20 seconds on May 9 tells us she's ready for a big effort coming off the bench. APILONIA has been working smartly for her new trainer who has solid stats with horses coming off of this kind of layoff. APILONIA was a sprint stakes winner at two in Alberta and from the looks of her sharp works she appears to like her new surroundings.

RACE SIX: TRICKSY came back with a strong half-mile move following her sharp win in a $10K maiden race opening day and might be good enough to stand the hike in class. Gilker has done well spotting his horses coming off of their maiden win - 26 percent over the past 5-years - and this seems like a reasonable spot for TRICKSY to try winners for the first time. DESTINYSSILVERLACE comes right back for the same price following her win going 3 1/2 furlongs on April 25 and she has carried her speed this far in the past. She is certainly a threat to take them all the way. AKINA has won two of three starts between Turf Paradise and Emerald Downs so she seems to run over any kind of surface and we'll assume she'll handle this track just fine. She should have an honest pace to work with and it will be no surprise if she gets up in time in what appears to be a wide-open event.

RACE SEVEN: MISS KAY DEE RAINE is a better horse going longer but she did break her maiden sprinting and she has been working well enough leading up to her 4-year-old debut. She was good enough to finish third in the $122,000 B.C. Oaks and her trainer is off to a strong start with two wins from just three starts at the meet. If she can stay in touch early she should be tough to handle. LASTING SPICE has been away for a while but she her last two works certainly indicate that she's ready for a big effort coming off the bench. There doesn't appear to be a lot of other obvious speed and she could be gone if she breaks alertly. SEDONA MISS posted her career best Beyer Speed Figure in her first start for Barroby who has solid stats when he brings them back for a second start following a layoff. She has had two solid interim works and it wouldn't be surprising to see her take a big step forward here. Not sure if she is going to get the kind of pace she appears to need to win going this short, however.

RACE EIGHT: STEVIE MARIE flashed good speed in a couple of her races last year and she has earned bullets in three of her last four works going three-furlongs. She appears to be primed for a big effort and she could be tough to catch if she breaks on top. She is a filly facing boys but that isn't a big concern going this distance. DECLAN DOWNS picked it up in his latest work and comes out of a barn that can have them ready to go first time out. He's also by a sire that is off to a goods start with 21 percent of his starters winning first time out. SCOOTER BUG finished second going this distance in his second start and then showed good speed before tiring in a more traditional sprint in his final outing last year. His works are just average but he is dropping to a new low and he certainly could make some noise if he's ready to go.