Race Analysis for August 8

By Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: EL AGUILA REAL took some time off after he fired a bullet in :35:40 seconds in May but he has come back with a couple of solid works for a trainer that does very well with his babies. The rail is an issue but he's a half-brother to 2-year-old winner Therussianrocket and if he leaves there running they might not catch him. FEI YAN is by a decent debut sire and has worked well enough for a trainer that can have them ready to go first time - 14 percent with 2-year-old first time starters over the past 5-years. Both sibs are sprint winners including 6 for 31 Split the Kings. STORMIN GHOSTRIDER drops into a maiden claimer after a decent effort in his debut. He also adds Lasix and sheds 10-pounds for his second start which he should move forward in.

RACE TWO: RALLYING CRY goes for his fourth in a row and he he's versatile enough that he can stalk, go to the front or come from well out of it. He is picking up a couple of pounds and he hasn't gone this far, but he's on top of his game right now and should be up to the task. SHENANDOAH RIVER ran a big race versus much tougher when he stretched out to this distance for the first time in a starter handicap race July 17. He's reunited with Perez who was aboard for his win in his previous race and he figures to get a nice trip from on or just off the lead. MONSTERINTHECLOSET ran a much improved race to just miss to Rallying Cry and he could either bounce of move forward off of the big effort. GREAT PRINCE won three in a row with Alvarado aboard and he's back in the saddle today with the drop.

RACE THREE: MARKETIZE has finished full of run to win his last two and he figures to move forward in his second straight route. They should also be going pretty fast up front and that could set him up perfectly. BOBBY HANDY set fast fractions and held on well to beat $10K maidens two back and the Beyer Speed Figure he earned puts him squarely in the mix here. He's had three sharp works since then and he also went about six-furlongs without a rider when he reared at the gate in the B.C. Cup Stellar's Jay last Monday so he should be fit enough. GUNS N GOLD set an honest pace and then couldn't hold off MARKETIZE last time. He also figures to move forward in his second straight route but he is going to have to deal with BOBBY HANDY and not sure he'll be able to hold of MARKETIZE late.

RACE FOUR: MIA DOLCE has shown good speed in her last two routes and should be set up perfectly for the move back to a sprint. She is also dropping to a new low and she figures to get a nice trip off of speed that has to be a bit suspect. BEAUTIFUL BREEZE came back with a sharp work following another decent effort where once again she couldn't get it done as the heavy chalk. This figures to set up nicely for her and nobody should be surprised if she does get over the top. Not sure you want to accept what will likely be a short price again, though. ARCHERY has improved her Beyer Speed Figures in three straight races and she finished in front of BEAUTIFUL BREEZE in her latest. She figures to get a similar trip here and she is certainly capable of winning this if things fall into place for her. KACHINA DREAM figures to move forward in her second start following a long layoff and should be considered for the exotics.

RACE FIVE: SEE L. A. is a half-sister to seven route winners so the added distance should work in her favor and she is dropping to a new low. The horse that won her latest came back to beat winners and over the past five years her trainer has a 12 percent strike rate with horses stretching out for the first time. RIN CHAN finished second in her only try at the distance and she is the only horse in the field that has hit the board going around three-turns. She is coming off of a solid effort in her latest sprint and could take a big step forward in her second start in a row over this track. RED CARPET has speed, gets in light, and could take them a long way if she clears early.

RACE SIX: VYING TY GRR looked pretty sharp in her five-furlong move July 31 and could be dangerous as a speed horse taking the blinkers off for the first time. She also gets in light and could be tough to get past if she gets her head in front early. FINALITY PHILLY is on a roll with three straight wins over claimers. This is a much tougher spot, however, and she is going to have to deal with a lot quicker fractions with the move back to a sprint. She could be up to the task and her new trainer has solid stats when she runs them back the first time after the claim. PAT'S BID just missed at this level in her latest and she figures to get a similar trip. She's had a nice work since she ran and her trainer is having a solid meet.

RACE SEVEN: FIN DU JOUR sheds eight pounds after just missing in a similar race July 25 and he also looked a bit intimidated while stuck in traffic heading into the second turn. He's been right there in all of his two-turn sprints and could break through here with a clean trip. BERNIE THE BANDIT cuts is price in half and he also won't mind the move back to a sprint after being up close and tiring late when he stretched out for the first time this year. MAUDEST DANCER moves inside where he should be able to put is speed to good use. He is also cutting his price in half and could be dangerous if he clears early. Given the makeup of the field, that is a strong possibility.

RACE EIGHT: LOOKOUT DUBAI looked very strong when he worked six-furlongs in 1:14.80 seconds in company with Victory With Class who came back to romp in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Debutante last Monday. He has decent win-early breeding and over the past five years his trainer is 15 percent with first time starting 2-year-olds. He drew a tough post but it might be worth taking a stab at what should be a decent price. CHAPEL BOY got squeezed back early and then made a strong late move to get up for second in his debut in a similar race July 18 and is an obvious candidate to move forward in his second start. KING OF THE SKY also figures to move forward after a solid effort in his debut behind Jump Up and Kissme who came back to win the B.C. Cup Nursery last Monday. Hard not to notice Alvarado abandons him to ride Lookout Dubai, however.