(Stats to be updated after Friday and Saturday night’s cards are completed)

Here’s our looks for Sunday at the “big oval:”

1st: 9-6/5/7-10/3-4/1-2-8…Out Work’n (9) gets the nod in the ole’ lid-lifter at the “big oval.” This 4YO gelded son of Outwork comes into this one off a couple of poor outings, but was right in the mix here on April 30 at this level — where he was claimed. The rider has won with .25% of the last 8 for this barn, which is winning at .19% this meet. In 8 previous tries here? Has 2 seconds and a third. Blinkers come back on and the drop in class could help immensely. Popster (6) rates a real chance here, coming off a nice run over the slop at Horseshoe Indianapolis last time out. Moves to the big leagues here and has to up the game. But may be able to here. I bet the 9 across the board and then box the 9-6 in the exactas. I key the 9-6 over/under the 5 in two smaller units.

2nd: 5-1A-6/10/1-4-12/2/3…Mo Bonita (5) is a 2YO daughter of Uncle Mo and comes into this one off a promising performance in the career debut here on May 26. Tired mightily in that one, but it was over a very tough and sloppy track. Should improve off that effort and the rider has had a solid meet. Look for improvement out of this one. Runner-up came back to run 3rd here on Friday. Evening Merlot (1A) is on the AE List, but if she can get in? She may be a serious contender in the first outing. Has trained very well for a sneaky good barn operation. Dam of this one has 3 winners from 5 starters, too. Black Forest (6) rates a shot here, as well. ran super to be 2nd in the debut at long odds. Could be right there if she improves at all. I bet the 5 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 10 in two smaller units.

3rd: 5-8/4-3-1/2/7/6…B Dark (5) has been facing some real serious competition of late, and rates a huge shot here for a two-time Derby winning trainer. Ran 2nd to Ethereal Road in the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico in the last outing. Won the race before to break the MSW at KEE. Won that one b y a whopping 11 lengths. Meet’s top rider back up. Look out. Wayakin (8) is a bit older, and ran up against a thrasher in Caddo river just two starts ago. In 4 previous runs here, has a 1-2-0 mark. Could press the pace and last for part of this one, too. I bet the 5 across the board and then box the 5-8 in the exactas. I will key the 5-8 over/under the 4-3-1-2 in two smaller units.

4th: 8-9-11/2-7-4/3-5-6/1-10…Disarm (8) is a first time starter for great connections and warrants a serious exam on this breakout session. Picks up the meet’s top rider and has been training very well for a HOF barn operation. Trainer wins with .16% on first tries, and this is a well-bred son of Gun Runner. Enough for me. Summonyourcourage (9) ran a very game 3rd here on debut for HOF trainer Todd Pletcher. Barn wins with .22% on the second out and this is a son of Practical Joke that brought $500,000 at the 2021 KEE September Yearling Sale. But? Gaffalione gets off to ride the top pick. Hmmm. I bet the 8-9 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 8 over/under the 9-11-2-7-4 in two smaller units.

5th: 7/3/4-11-9/5-6/8-10/2-1…The first “Key Play of the Day”  comes here with Best Bet (7). Makes sense, doesn’t it? Name. Play of Day. Makes sense. This 4Yo son of Uncle Mo ran poorly last time out, but had a very rough trip in that one. Has speed. Will go. Trainer wins with .32% when dropping from the MSW ranks into the claiming ranks. Rider has teamed up with trainer to go 3-1-1 in the last 6. Look out on the front end. I bet the 7 across the board and then key the 7 over/under the 3-4-11-9-5-6 in the exactas More with the 3 than the rest. 

6th: 7-6/5-1/4-3-2/8…I will go with back-to-back #7s here with Flags up (7). This one could be a solid number on the tote board, too, and should improve with the 2nd start off the layoff. Ran well to be 3rd last time out. Barn wins with .21% on the next outing. In 8 starts here? Has a 2-1-2 record. Veteran rider just won his 500th race at CD on Friday. Gulfstream Way (6) is the ML favorite and figures to be the one to beat. Claimed last time out off an easy win. Has speed. Can burn. Has 2 wins in 4 trips here. I bet the 7 across the board and then box the 7-6 in the exactas. I will key the 7-6 over/under the 5-1-4-3-2 in two smaller units.

7th: 7-6-11/1-10-2/4-5/3-8…I go with my third #7 in a row — for the trilogy — here with Cami Cat (7). This 3YO Dialed In filly was claimed last time out and now has been purchased at the track in both of the career starts. Has two 2nds on the board here, too. Bumps up in class, but this trainer wins with .15% on the first effort and picks up a really good gate rider for this effort. Holding his own against some of the best riders in the world here all meet. I’ll  buy in. Merci Road (6) may be the horse to beat. Ran well at KEE on debut and now shows up in the MCL ranks after a tiring move in the slop last time. Can forgive due to the track and the drop here. Daughter of Quality Road and out of a Stakes-winning British mare. Pedigree there, too. May be worth the $75,000 and grass could be in this one’s future. I bet the 7-6 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 over/under the 1-10-2 in two smaller units.

8th: 3-6-9/4-2/1-5/7/8-10…Naval Aviator (3) is a son of Tapit that I touted earlier this year following an impressive win at KEE to break the maiden in the first start in 2021. Disappointed the last connections, who finally dumped this talented runner into the claiming ranks last time out. Won easily in those ranks and got purchased, too. new owners win with .15% on first try. Looks like a bargain buy to me, especially if he launches again here. I bet the 3 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 4-2 in two smaller units here, as well.

9th: 3-1/7-6/4-8-9-11/5-2/10…Eivissa (3) has never missed the board in four career starts, but gets the blinkers for the first time here. Barn wins with .16% when it adds the shades. Gets the meet’s top rider back up here, too, and that could be a huge thing. Bumped and bothered at the start last time. I can forgive. But time for this one to deliver on the promise. Sunny River (1) comes from the Brad Cox barn and ran well on debut here on May 19. Went 7-wide in that one. A better trip could = better result. Barn wins with .30% on the first route try and with .27% in the 2nd career start. Look out here. I bet the 3-1 across the board and then box these two sternly in the exactas. I hit the 3-1 solidly again. 

10th: 11-2-12/(13)/7-6-3/9-10/4-5-8/1…This is a really nice race full of potential stars in the future. I give the edge to Congressman (11). This 3YO son of Constitution ran well in the career debut in January, but ran even better to break the MSW here on May 7. The “Show” horse that day came right back to win the next outing, too. This is a significant step up in class, but this one could be a tough out with the meet’s top rider up. Open Road (2) is super-well bred and comes in off an impressive MSW win in the career debut here on May 20. Could be tough running in the lane. Osbourne (12) may be the best of them all, too. This one ran 2nd here last time out and was 3rd in a Stakes event at KEE in Aril. In 6 career starts, this one has a 1-3-1 mark. Has run up against some good ones. Chance. I bet the 11-12 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 13, if he gets in. If not? I key the top 3 numbers over/under the 7-6-3 in two smaller units.

11th: 8-3-9/11-1-4-5/2-6-7/10…The finale is a very nice MSW event and I will give the edge to Woodbine (8). This 3YO son of Gun Runner has raced 6 times so far. A 2nd and four times 3rd. Gets the meet’s top rider up. Has speed. Figures to improve on the 3rd start off a layoff — and the barn wins with .17% of those. One to beat, for me. Appeal Denied (3) is my final “Upset Special.”  This guy will make the career debut and has been training well for a classy hard boot conditioner. Picks up a rider who has won with .25% of his mounts for this barn. Chance at a nice price. Rum ‘n Tonic (9) nearly won when the race was moved off the turf last time out. Now, he will try the dirt again. Comes in off some solid works and the rider has gone 5-3-2 in the last 18 starts. Hot. I bet the 8-3 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 8-3 over/under the 9-11-1-4-5 in two smaller units.

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene

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