Race Analysis - Sunday, August 7

By Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: BANK couldn't keep up to a heavy favorite who had things her own way in a $25K claimer in her latest and she will appreciate the easier company she is facing here. She also sheds 12 pounds and is reunited with Dunn who was aboard for her win in a maiden special weight race for B.C.-breds in her second start. There is plenty of other speed in the field but it looks like she can stalk. EXCLUSIVE CASH came back with a sharp half-mile move following an even effort in her first try with winners where she got bumped around a bit at the start. She won't mind what figures to be a contested pace and could get up in time if things fall her way. MEDANO BEACH has won her last two but was dq'd when she came over late on MASS FLORA and cost her second money in her latest. A similar effort puts her right in the mix again.

RACE TWO: FEI YAN figures to be tough to handle with the move back to a maiden race after she came close to beating $7,500 winners in her latest. She also figures to move forward in her second try going around three turns and once gain she gets in light with Dunn aboard. TIGRESS LILY had a very rough trip when she finished second as the chalk in a sprint at this level in her latest and she only has one poor effort to show for her five starts. She is a half to seven-time route winner Marquet Rebel so the added distance shouldn't be an issue. COUNTING ON YOU comes out of the same race as TIGRESS LILY and she made a strong move into a quick pace and then hung after making the lead at the top of the stretch. She also had to steady late when the winner blew by her. She is the first foal out of a mare that won going long.

RACE THREE: HELLO FRANKIE looked pretty sharp when he worked a bullet five furlongs August 3 and he comes out of a barn that can have them ready to roll first time. All three of his siblings are winners including Jack Diamond Futurity winner Ookashada. MADEIRA PARK ran into some tough ones when she made her debut 3 1/2 furlongs May 22. The winner won her next two starts in stakes races by a combined total of 23 1/2 lengths and the second horse just romped in the B.C. Cup Debutante by eight. The horse that finished third won a maiden special eight race in his next start by over six. She has a solid pedigree and should appreciate the move to a two-turn sprint. OSCAR AWARD lost any chance he had when he was squeezed back just after leaving the starting gate when he debuted going 3 1/2 furlongs in a $20K maiden race for B.C.-breds July 15. He came back with two solid works and could do some damage if he gets away cleanly.

RACE FOUR: AMALGAMATION showed a lot of potential when she debuted and was claimed out of a cheaper maiden race July 24. She didn't get away that well and then had to steady at the top of the stretch when she was making a strong late. She still managed to just miss finishing second and it wouldn't be surprising to see her take a bit step forward with a race behind her. She is doubling her price but she should be able to handle the jump if she takes the expected move forward. CRANTINI takes a substantial drop after tiring in her first try going around three turns and the winner came right back to win the B.C. Cup Dogwood last weekend. She showed good speed in her previous sprint and the winner there also won her next start. SONIA'S MANE GIRL has good speed, gets in light, and could take them a long way if she can clear early.

RACE FIVE: FULL TIME DUKE has the best speed, owns the top Beyer Speed Figures and should be gone if he breaks alertly. The only concern is that he has looked like a pretty strong commodity a couple of times and wasn't able to get it done. Nonetheless, he is dropping to a new low and today should be the day he gets over the top. COUNT OF NOTIA figures to move forward in his second start back after being away for two months. He made a nice move before tiring late in his comeback race and his trainer has solid stats in the second start following a layoff category. PAY DADDY comes out of the same race as COUNT OF NOTIA and he had a wide trip while only getting beat a few lengths. Use him in the exotics. TIM BITS worked a sharp three-furlongs out of the gate July 30 and could be live first time out.

RACE SIX: GILDED OPPORTUNITY picked things up in his six-furlong move July 29 and he could come back running for a trainer that is winning races at a 45 percent rate this year. Obviously Stolzenberg can have them ready to go coming off this type of layoff and these aren't nearly as tough as the horses Gilded Opportunity ran against in his first try with winners last year. SILVER RULER is clearly the main threat and should be part of any exacta ticket. He has been unlucky to lose a couple of times this year and once again should be right there. SMARTY FAWCETT isn't as consistent as SILVER RULER but he almost edged him last time and he had a pretty rough trip. He is a 3-year-old and his Beyer Speed Figures have improved in his last three races so he could just be reaching his full potential. UNDER THE HOOD won't mind the move back to a sprint and could make some noise if Hamel can work out a trip from the 10-hole.

RACE SEVEN: POP ARTIST won three in a row at this level before setting for fourth in a quickly run race with much tougher. The winner came back to finish second in the B.C. Cup Sprint last Monday. He is versatile and can either stalk or if he breaks sharply he is certainly capable of taking them the whole way. FOXCREEK has posted solid Beyer Speed Figures in both of his starts this year and the horse that beat him in his latest won a $35K optional race with an 87 Beyer Speed Figure in his next start. He would look a lot better with more than one slow work since he ran over a month ago. Nonetheless, MacPherson is showing confidence by jumping him up in class. Tough call. FINALLY KRUISIN probably wants more distance but he has been working sharply for a trainer that can have them ready to go coming off of this type of layoff and he could get up in time to pick up a slice.

RACE EIGHT:  TICK ME OFF hasn't been able to get there in her last two sprints but there should be a lively pace for her to work with here and she could get up in time with a clean trip. At the least she should be part of any exotics ticket. POP has been part of the exacta in her last two abbreviated sprints and she is capable of carrying her speed this far. Her trainer does an excellent job with his small stable and she should be ready to go despite the layoff. GRASS ROOTS comes out of a race that produced a couple of next-out winners and she should appreciate the drop into an easier spot. The shape of the race should also suit her running style. OUR COCO BEANS held on well to just miss at this level in her latest but they will probably be going a little faster during the early stages if POP leaves there running. She is too sharp to ignore, however, and should be used in the exotics.