Race Analysis - Sunday, June 26

By Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: GOODY FOUR FEET couldn't get it done as the heavy chalk when he stretched out for the first time this year but he finished a clear second and he could make amends in his second straight route. He really hasn't run a bad race this year and is overdue to break his maiden. LUCAVA is stepping up but he chased an honest pace and then held on to finish second in his first try at a middle distance. A 3-year-old, he should have more upside potential than his older rivals and he figures to take a big step forward in his second try at the distance. DIABLO PASS is usually in the mix and should be part of any exotics ticket. LAGER MAN made a strong middle move and then hung coming off of a layoff and could move forward in his second start back.

RACE TWO:  PERFECT HOSTESS seems to be heading in the right direction while some of the ones she is facing could be going the other way. She led every step of the way in her latest but she has won from a stalking position in the past and she should be able to sit just off of what should be a hotly contested pace. There is plenty of speed in the field and the likely shape of the race should help AUDZEEZEE who does her best running late. She just missed for $25,000 May 27 so it is a bit surprising to see her cut her price in half. VYING TY GRR also cuts her price in half after fading badly in her latest and she should appreciate the easier company. It is hard to see her taking them the whole way with all of the potential speed in the field, however.

RACE THREE:  VYING FOR GLORY couldn't keep up to rapid fractions in a similar race June 3 but he looks like the controlling speed here and could be tough to catch if he clears early from his inside post. He also looked pretty sharp when he came back to work five furlongs in a bullet 58.80 seconds June 18. INDIAN LOVE comes out of the same barn as the top pick and he could pick up the pieces if his stablemate falters. He is taking a substantial drop after trying to keep up with conditional allowance horses in his first try with winners and he will certainly appreciate the much easier company. DRIVING RANGE came from well back to just miss in the same race VYING FOR GLORY exits but the early fractions figure to be a lot slower. Nonetheless, he has been right there in all three of his races since he came back from Turf Paradise and deserves plenty of respect. His trainer is also having a strong meet.

RACE FOUR:  MARCADO had a couple of quick works in May and attracts Fuentes who is very good at getting them out of the gate in a hurry. Her stakes-winning sire has only had three starters but he won a couple of races as a 2-year-old so he might be okay as a win-early sire. She might be worth taking a stab at if the price is decent. TERESAMARIA will likely be favored but could be vulnerable. She finished third but only beat one in her latest and that was a pretty slow race she finished second in when she debuted for $20,000 May 22. Her slow work June 22 isn't encouraging but she does have experience and she easily has the best form of the ones that have raced. CANDY QUEEN doesn't have great win-early breeding but over the past five years her trainer has a 16 percent strike rate with first time starting 2-year-olds so we'll assume she's ready to go.

RACE FIVE:  CONSPIRACY THEORY forced an honest pace and then held on well when he just missed in a pricier nonwinners of three and a similar effort should have him squarely in the mix. He could be the one they have to catch but he is versatile and can stalk if the other speed gets carried away. GIUSEPPE'S RUNNER has been right there in all three starts this year and he has the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field. It was his career best by a large margin so he might bounce. Then again, he is lightly raced so he could just be reaching his potential. He could go either way. MOBIL SUPREME ran his usual solid race but couldn't catch a horse that set fast fractions and surprisingly kept going. He can stalk what should be a more contested pace and could pick up the pieces if the speed falls apart. He is an honest enough horse and at the least should be part of any exotics ticket.

RACE SIX:  DREAM IN THE DARK looked good winning a $12,500 conditional claimer two back and then was overmatched when she tried open $15,000 company in her latest. She is reunited with Gutierrez who was aboard for the win and the bullet four-furlong move June 17 is a good sign she'll come back with a strong effort. Not sure how fast they will be going up front but there appears to be enough speed to set her up. ANNADU will likely be one of the ones involved early and she may have bounced in her latest after a solid effort in her first start of the year. She could take them a long way if she is able to clear early. DIANA'S LEGACY rallied to just miss in a similar race June 10 and is an obvious threat to get up in time in her second try at this level. TRICKSY is stepping up after finishing second but she has the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure and should be considered for the exotics.

RACE SEVEN:  FUNNY FACE set fast fractions before getting edged late by older horses in a conditional allowance race June 11 and should appreciate being back with 3-year-olds only and dropping into a claiming race. He romped in the slop two back and his chances would improve if it comes up wet. He also looks like the one to beat if it stays dry. STOLENOTIS should benefit from what should be a lively pace. He has rallied to finish second in all of his four starts at the meet and in his latest he couldn't catch MR. COLLABORATOR who could have a hard time dealing with the top pick. MR. COLLABORATOR goes for his third in a row but he controlled the tempo in his last two and it is hard to see that happening with FUNNY FACE in the field. Nonetheless, he is on top of his game and maybe he can stalk.

RACE EIGHT:  COUNTING ON YOU hesitated slightly and was squeezed back at the start when she finished just behind TIGRESS LILY in a similar race and could be dangerous if she gets away a little better. She also came back with a sharp half-mile move June 22 and could be sitting on a big effort. TIGRESS LILY took a big step forward when she chased a heavy favorite through honest fractions and then held on well to finish second. She could be the one they have to catch or she might be sitting just off of speed that has to be considered suspect. Either way she figures to be involved right from the start and if she continues her progress she could be the winner. ACCEPTABLE HENNA figures to move forward in her second start and should be considered for the exotics. The same goes for CASHINO ROYAL who is dropping after showing good speed before fading in her debut with B.C.-bred no-tag maidens.