Race Analysis - Sunday, September 25

By Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: VYING FOR GLORY came back with a solid half-mile move following his third to Joy of the Lord who won his third in a row for $12,500 with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure last Sunday. He is going to have to deal with other speed but he could have the edge leaving from the rail and he won the only time he ran over a sloppy track. TALE OF THE BAT ran a big race coming off a layoff and could take a big step forward in his second start back. He also likes to be involved early but he has run decent races from a stalking position and it will be interesting to see the strategy his connections employ. PEACE BEAR also looked sharp in his latest win and might be good enough to stand the jump. All three have good speed and they hook up early it could set up for SILVER RULER who figures to be rolling late.

RACE TWO: TICK ME OFF is probably better off stalking but there wasn't any speed in her latest and she ended up setting the pace before giving way late. There should be an honest pace here and she could get a perfect trip leaving from the inside post. MAIDA VALE rallied to beat easier in her latest and should get a similar trip here. She is stepping up but she earned a decent Beyer Speed Figure and should be able to stand the jump. OUR COCO BEANS finished second as the chalk to TICK ME OFF two back and then looked good winning her latest sprint. She could get first crack at GRANNIE GREENE who looks like the one they'll have to catch.

RACE THREE: WILO KAT broke sharply but sucked himself back before he closed with a rush to just miss when he debuted in a $20K maiden claimer August 26. He looked sharp in his three-furlong move last Sunday and should take a big step forward in his second start. He is the first foal out of a fast mare that dominated her rivals here while winning six stakes races in just 10-career starts. VENI VIDI VICI improved quite a bit in his second start which came following a lengthy layoff and should move forward in his second start back. TERESAMARIA finished second to multiple stakes winner Herescomelucky when she debuted in May and she also ran well in two subsequent races going this distance. The gap between her last two works isn't encouraging but she looked okay working three-furlongs Sept. 15 and she doesn't have to run very far in her return.

RACE FOUR: MCARTHUR was squeezed back just after the start when he returned from a long layoff and could be dangerous if he leaves there running in his second start back. He faded badly in his only try over a wet track but he was coming off a long layoff and he was facing much tougher. TENSE BET has been posting decent Beyer Speed Figures while running with bottom level horses at Emerald Downs and could be a threat if he handles the new surface. He has had 46 starts with just 4 wins so it would be hard to accept what might be a short price, though. SCOTS PINE is another one that has had a lot of starts but not many wins. Nonetheless, he just missed in the same race the top pick exits and could be ready for a peak effort in his third start following a lengthy layoff. At the least he should be part of any exotics ticket.

RACE FIVE: SHINTOISM has shown steady progress and appears to be sitting on a win. He showed more speed in his latest and hung on well to finish second. If he keeps moving forward he won't be a maiden much longer. MASS MAILING got bumped around leaving the starting gate and recovered nicely to finish third in the same race the top pick exits. He came back with a solid half-mile move Wednesday and is certainly eligible to win this with a clean trip. OSCAR NIGHT ran evenly when he debuted for twice this price going 3 1/2 furlongs and being by Grade 3 B.C. Derby winner Wandering he should appreciate the added distance. His only sibling is a full-brother who won a couple of sprints and from 4 starts as a 2-year-old he compiled a 1-1-1 record. His trainer also has a solid record with babies. HALO'S QUEST has had rough trips in both of his starts and could make some noise at what figures to be a big price.

RACE SIX: EVALUATE is as honest as they come and has been right there in every race this year except when he clipped heels in his second start at the meet. He got beat in the bushes in his latest but he was carrying 126 pounds and the horse that won the race is a former stakes winner. He looked very sharp in his five-furlong move here Wednesday and he has a solid record running over wet tracks. He also has good tactical speed and should be able to stalk suspect speed. BOBBY HANDY drops to a new low and he won't mind the move back to a sprint following a good effort in his latest where he only got beat by three lengths despite going pretty wide around all three turns. ELUSIVE WAYS has a good record over wet tracks and could pick up what should be tiring speed. He does his best running late but it didn't help that he was squeezed back to last leaving the starting gate in his latest.

RACE SEVEN:  LASTING SPICE is probably better going longer but she has won sprinting and she moves up considerably on a wet track. There is other speed in the field but the last time she won a two-turn sprint she came from a stalking position and Gutierrez should be able to tuck her in behind suspect speed. DIANA'S LEGACY came from off the pace to win at this level two back and then couldn't keep up when she tackled a tough group of sprinters in the $50,000 Ladies Bar and Grill Express. She will appreciate the easier company and there is plenty of speed to set up her good late move. PRINCESS RAINIER showed she can compete with open company at this level with a good second behind a 4-5 favorite in her latest. She should also appreciate the shape of the race.

RACE EIGHT:  RANDOM HIGHS hasn't won this year but she has been facing tougher and if she can run back to her solid second in a $12,500 claimer two back she is going to be tough to handle. Her latest wasn't too shabby either as she as she was up close to a fast pace before tiring late. REMARKABLY FREE didn't have any noticeable excuses for her loss as the chalk in her latest but they were going pretty fast up front and she may have bounced after posting her career-best Beyer Speed Figure in her previous start. They shouldn't be going as fast early and it wouldn't be surprising to see her rebound with a better effort. ANNADU still has conditions but she owns the best last race Beyer Speed Figure and she has been in the mix in all of her races this year. At the least she should be part of any exotics ticket.