Race Analysis for Sunday, June 13

Analysis by Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: MONTERO ran a big race when she returned following a lengthy layoff and she is certainly capable of stringing a few good races together. A similar effort is probably good enough to get it done with the slight drop in price and if she takes the expected move forward she should be tough to handle. TAMARINDA should appreciate the move back to a sprint after trying a middle distance for the first time in her career. She might have enough speed to clear early and if she does she could take them a long way. BIG BERTHA ran a dull race when sent off as the chalk in the same race Montero exits and could rebound here. She is reunited with Gutierrez who was aboard for a couple of her wins last year. DESTINY'S HOME tries hard every time and should be considered for the exotics.

RACE TWO: DEVIL'S ATTIRE might just be a late running sprinter but he has closed strongly in all of his races this year and he is out of a mare that won going long. Gutierrez gets to choose which horse he rides for the barn so it is significant that he lands here. LADY SASHA is tackling males but she is a proven winner at the distance and in three starts going around three-turns she hasn't been worse than third. She ran an even race when she came back from an extended layoff and should improve with the added yardage. PRIVATE INTENTION took a bit step forward when he stretched out for the first time and he gets in light with Franco taking the call. He could easily be the winner here and the bad news is that you won't get much price because he's coupled with the top pick. STEPOUT faded after setting fast fractions versus multiple winners and could be dangerous if he can get away with soft fractions.

RACE THREE: SUMKINDAFUN just missed in a similar race when she dropped to this level in her first start this year and she came back with a strong interim work on June 6. She easily has the best Beyer Speed Figure in the field, plus, she has decent tactical speed and should be involved right from the start. GRASS ROOTS takes a huge drop and will certainly appreciate the class relief. Over the past five years her trainer is 29 percent when he makes the move from maiden special weight to maiden claiming. SARATOGA INTENTION also takes a sharp drop in her second start this year and she backed out of it pretty early after chasing the early pace from an outside post in her first start at the meet. She has had three solid works since she ran and she has enough speed to take advantage of her inside post. BELLA AVIVA seems to be heading in the right direction and should be considered for the exotics.

RACE FOUR: SMOKIN DANIELLE looked great winning her initial start this year and then may have bounced when she faced a tough group of $50K optional sprinters in her latest. She has very good speed but is capable of stalking what figures to be an honest pace and it wouldn't be surprising to see her rebound with a strong effort here. CRY CRY CRY has a lot to prove but she was a pretty impressive winner in her second straight win here. She is going to have to deal with a lot quicker fractions but she doesn't appear to need the lead and could be dangerous from a stalking position. She was claimed out of her last race and her new trainer doesn't claim many, but she has won right back with one of the last three horses she has haltered. RESTLESS LADY figures to take a big step forward in her second start back and could make some noise from off the pace.

RACE FIVE: NORTHERN INTENT had his number taken down for causing interference going past the stands for the first time but it shouldn't take away from his strong performance. Despite a wide trip he was good enough to win and a similar effort should put him right in the thick of it again. FIN DU JOUR couldn't get it done as the 1/2 favorite when he cut his price in half following an encouraging debut for $10K. Both of his races look pretty good here and the only concern is that there are no works showing since he ran almost a month ago. Under the circumstances it would be hard to accept what will likely be a short price. SAVUTI adds blinkers and cuts his price in half following an even effort in his first start this year. He came back to work a sharp half-mile on June 5, presumably with the blinkers on, and could take a big step forward here. SOCK PUPPET could make some noise from off the pace in the third start of his current form cycle.

RACE SIX: DARK VADER is obviously a bit suspect taking this big of a drop but he has had three decent works since he ran and with his good tactical speed he should be able to get involved right from the start. WINDY DAY just missed in a pricier non-winners of the year and then may have been coming back a bit too soon when he finished fourth as the heavy chalk going longer. He won't mind the move back to a sprint and looks like the one to beat if DARK VADER doesn't get to go. TOUGH TORQUE has good tactical speed and should get a nice trip from just off of speed that may not last. That would be MONEY X CHANGE who is stretching out to a two-turn sprint following a couple of races going about 3 1/2 furlongs. They don't figure to be going all that fast so it wouldn't be surprising to see him take them a long way.

RACE SEVEN: AUDZEEZEE looks as good as any in what appears to be a wide-open event. She has the best last race Beyer Speed Figure and could be coming up to a big race in the third start of her current form cycle. She can also come from off the pace and we can't say that about most of the ones she's facing. Alvarado abandons her to ride a very live looking OH SO NOTISED who is coming off of a win at this level. No complaints with the leading rider taking over, however. OH SO NOTISED seems to have improved with the addition of blinkers and if she can avoid getting hung out going into the first turn she should be right there again. MALAKWA scored an impressive win in her second start and in her only race at two she finished second behind a horse that won his next four starts all in stakes races. She is going to have to deal with a lot of other speed, however. PAT'S BID is another possibility in a puzzler.

RACE EIGHT: MOTEL STROLL ran well enough in her first two sprints with maiden special weight company in Northern California and has worked decently while preparing for her first start since she was claimed for this price last Dec. The winner of her race Oct. 24 has won a couple of stakes including the California Oaks and she just finished a close fourth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks. MOTEL STROLL has decent tactical speed and figures to get a nice trip from a forward position. SNOWBIRD PASS has the best speed in the field and could take them a long way if she clears early. She broke poorly and after chasing an honest pace it wasn't surprising that she tired in her first race back from a long layoff. QUATRE DAMES has the best last race Beyer Speed Figure and could make some noise from off the pace. PRINCESS RAINIER is eligible to improve with a race under her belt and she will be making just the third start of her career so there could be some upside potential.