Race Analysis - Sunday, September 18

By Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: GYPSY MAGIC won his last two starts gong this distance and there was nothing wrong with his third place finish sprinting in his latest. He is reunited with Hamel who was aboard for his two wins and he will certainly appreciate the added yardage and easier company with the slight drop. He should also get a nice trip from just off BOURNETOO who looks like the main threat. BOURNETOO looked good carrying his speed the whole way going this far September 1 and he drew the rail where he shouldn't have any trouble making the lead if he breaks alertly. MR. COOPER came from out of the clouds to win at this level and distance two back and could make some noise from off the pace. SMARTY FAWCETT beat BOURNETOO August 18 and ran an even race when he faced tougher in his latest. At the least he should be part of any exotics ticket.

RACE TWO:  REMARKABLE MUDDER cuts her price in half for her second start and could take a big step forward with the blinkers going on. All six of her siblings are winners and Rawson, who won three races last weekend, has excellent numbers with second time starters. PRINCESS SPARKLE improved in her latest and could be getting the hang of things. She will appreciate the easier company with the drop to a new low and with three starts she should have a fitness edge over most of the first-time starters. PALOMANEGRA is a half to $187K 2-year-old winner Hero of the Sea and could make some noise in her debut for a trainer that is having a strong meet. Morrison can also have them ready to go first time out. CLARISSE B is a half to $150K stakes winner Dashing Daisy and also comes out of a live barn.

RACE THREE:  GOLDFIRE might be worth a look at what could be a decent price. He will appreciate the easier company after tackling stakes horses in his last three starts and he could get set up nicely if STORMY CANUCK and TOMMY D' HORSEY hook up early. He looked pretty sharp in his 5-furlong move September 4 and his connections were hoping to run him in the B.C. Derby but he didn't have enough earnings to get in the race. STORMY CANUCK could be dangerous if he gets away on his own and that could happen if Hamel tries to stalk with TOMMY D' HORSEY who is the big question mark in the race. TOMMY D' HORSEY has the best Beyer Speed Figure at the distance but it is hard to say how he'll come back after getting fried in a duel in the 1 3/8 miles in the Grade 3, $300,000 Canadian Derby. The marathon distance can be hard on horses and the second, third and fourth-place finishers all ran dull races when they ran in the B.C Derby last weekend.

RACE FOUR:  BLAME THE BUBBLY showed a bit more tactical speed when he lost by a nose in his latest sprint and he came back with a couple of sharp half-mile works. He has increased his Beyer Speed Figures in his last three starts and it appears he is coming up to another strong effort. DYNA MINE has been working well enough for his first start in close to a year and the past five years La Vanway has a 15 percent strike rate with horses returning from a layoff of 180 days or more. He ran evenly when he debuted for $20K and he wasn't ready to tackle stakes horses going long in his second start. His only sibling is $184K stakes winner Dyna Stroll so there could be some potential here. GREEN DUDE has picked it up in his last two starts and could be dangerous if he shakes loose early from his inside post.

RACE FIVE: LOVE N PEACE ran a much-improved race when she cut her price in half in her latest and she takes another 50 percent drop here. She appears to be the lone speed and could be gone if she breaks on top from her inside post. FOXY DELTA finished in front of the top pick in the same race and she is certainly eligible to improve in her second start back following a four-month layoff for a trainer that has strong stats in the category. She is moving from an inside post to the 11-hole, though, and a Fuentes could have a hard time avoiding going wide on the first turn. REGAL SPICE rallied to finish second in a cheaper maiden race but certainly isn't out of line with this group. She has been part of the tri in five of her seven starts this year and should be used in the exotics.

RACE SIX: EBONY N ICE shouldn't mind the move to a middle distance following a solid effort in a $12,500 claiming sprint that came up pretty tough. This is a much-easier group and she should have an honest enough pace to work with. With the strong jockey-trainer stats showing it is encouraging to see Gutierrez take the call. INCLUDE THE GRAND is a tough one to figure but if she brings her best stuff she could easily win this. She has won five times at the distance and if she can sit just off GRANNIE GREENE she could make it six. She was on the bit when she worked a bullet half-mile in :46.40 seconds Wednesday, though, so it remains to be seen if she will be able to settle early. RAINBOWSINTHEWOOD will appreciate the easier company after tackling Dashing Daisy in the B.C. Cup Distaff and then a tough group of $17,500 claimers in her last two starts.

RACE SEVEN: BEAREMPIRE is always a risk because you never know how he is going to break and he usually spots the field a few lengths. As usual he hesitated in his latest sprint and he still almost managed to get up in time, losing by just a head to JOY OF THE LORD. He has more ground to work with this time and if he can leave there in a reasonable time frame he should get there. He also figures to move forward in his second start back following a layoff. No crying if he does spot them too many lengths at the start. FULL POWER AHEAD has won four of his last five and two at this distance. He is stepping up but he has back class and he overcame minor trouble to win his latest. He is right on top of his game and is a serious threat to repeat. JOY OF THE LORD is also doing very well right now and goes for his third in a row after winning back-to-back sprints at this level. He has four wins at the distance so the added yardage shouldn't be an issue, especially if he gets away on his own.

RACE EIGHT: RAISING MEMO has been off for almost three months but he runs well fresh and his trainer can certainly have them ready to go coming off this type of layoff - 28 percent the past five years with horses returning between 61-180 days. There should also be enough of a pace to set him up. MARKETIZE just missed going longer and won't mind the move back to a distance he has a solid 2-1-2 record from 6 starts. He should also appreciate the likely shape of the race. LOGANDALE inadvertently showed a new dimension by coming from off the pace after he was eliminated at the break in his latest. He looked pretty comfortable sitting behind horses and we can assume he will try and rate behind his stablemate VICTIM OF LOVE who has just one way of going. VICTIM OF LOVE hasn't been able to carry his speed this far lately but if LOGANDALE takes back he is going to be able set moderate fractions and could take them a long way.