Race Analysis - Saturday, May 1

Race Analysis by Randy Goudling

RACE ONE: BABS MOOSSA had to check a couple of times when the winner of his latest came over on him mid-stretch. Not sure if he was going to win the race but it certainly cost him some momentum. The horse that won the race came right back to win his next start at Prairie Meadows. This guy is undefeated on dirt, has had two interim works since he arrived here, and should be tough to handle with a clean trip. FORCEFUL INTENTION beat pricier when he came off the bench last year and his solid 6-furlong move on April 25 is a good sign he's primed for another big effort in his initial start this season. Turner has won with two of his last three horses coming off of this kind of layoff. Not sure why his latest work was so slow, but FRENCH ROAST certainly fits here, and he is starting out the season at a lot lower price than he did last year. SCOTS PINE steps into open company following his front running win last weekend and if BABS MOOSSA doesn't break alertly he could have things his own way.
RACE TWO: STORM ABOVE has been working well enough for a trainer that can have them ready to go coming off of this kind of layoff and he is dropping back to the level of his second win. He couldn't handle allowance types in his last start of the year but he fits nicely here and notice the strong jockey-trainer stats showing. MUCHO VERDE drops in for a price for the first time since he broke his maiden for $30K and he'll certainly appreciate the class relief. Would like him a bit more if he had a few more works showing but over the past 5 years Olmos is a solid 30 percent with horses coming back in this time period, so we won't worry too much about it. RIGHT MARKER should be fit enough off of his decent 6-furlong move on April 24 and he ran well to finish third behind the top pick in his final race of 2009.

RACE THREE: SEE EYE TO EYE has posted a solid set of works this spring and the only time she came off of a similar layoff she was an easy winner. She also knows what it takes to win races and she won't mind the move back to traditional dirt. MUD SWEAT 'N TEARS also likes to win races and she should have a fitness edge with recent races showing. She probably wants more distance but her last couple of sprints were decent and it wouldn't be surprising to see Hamel put her into the race right from the start. BEAUTIFUL BREEZE won four races last year including her initial start. She has worked strongly for trainer Frank Barroby who was inducted into the local Horse Racing Hall of Fame last Nov. and he can have them ready to go coming off of this kind of layoff. MCGILL could be dangerous if she gets away on her own and that is certainly possible as there doesn't appear to be a lot of confirmed speed.

RACE FOUR: PRIVATE INTENTION ran decently in all five of his races last year and his last race turned out to be a key race with a couple of them coming right back to win - sort of. They both were moved up via disqualification and Shooter McGavin was moved up from third to first in a $5K maiden race at Turf Paradise. Still, it was a good effort by PRIVATE INTENTION and he has worked well enough this spring. As a newly turned 3-year-old he should also have some upside potential. NORTHERN INTENT took a big step forward in his second start and MacPherson won with two of his five starters opening weekend. It looks like he has this guy primed for a big effort as well. MORRISEY outworked FORCE THE ISSUE going 6-furlongs on April 23 with Hamel aboard and looks ready to go. PEMBRIDGE easily has the best Beyer Speed Figures but it took a few races for him to get going last year and he's had his fair share of chances.

RACE FIVE: HUFFMAN was scratched out of a tougher spot by his trainer last weekend and he should be tough to catch if he's ready to go. Bullets have been fired and he should be fit enough with the solid 6-furlong move on April 18 showing. He finished third to much tougher in his initial start last year and his new trainer has had seven of his first nine starters hit the board. LOYAL SON will try dirt for the first time and he has worked smartly over this particular surface. He didn't appear comfortable being stuck on the rail in his latest and he had to steady as they were approaching the turn. Figures to get a nice trip from just off of HUFFMAN today and could have the edge being racing fit. FULL POWER AHEAD should also appreciate getting off the rail and with nine wins to his credit he's no stranger to the winner's circle. He shouldn't mind the move to dirt but not sure what to make of his slow work out of the gate here on April 24.

RACE SIX: HABERDASHER has looked very strong in all three of her works here and she is coming into this off of a facile win over $35K maidens in New York. It appears that she has taken a big step forward since she turned three and she is the only one in the field with a race under her belt this year. This barn has done very well with horses they have purchased from Darley and this looks like another live one. This isn't exactly an easy spot, though. OTERO is undefeated in two starts and has worked well enough this spring. She also has enough speed to take advantage of her inside post. No surprise if she's the winner in what appears to be a competitive race. VYING TY GRR was the champion 2-year-old filly in the province last year and certainly looks fit enough.

RACE SEVEN: CARDINAL ZIN has impressed the clockers since he arrived here in March and it is possible he is a horse that will move up considerably on dirt. He tired in both of his races at Santa Anita this winter but he had to have needed his first start back and he was between horses in his second start. He has enough back class and he has looked great training over this surface. I WANNA GO FAST earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in a $16K claiming race at Golden Gate and if he comes close to repeating that figure he'll be tough to handle. He was claimed out of the race and Cone has solid stats with his new acquisitions. This could also set up nicely for him if the top pick and SIR GALLANT get involved in a duel. SIR GALLANT closed out 2009 with three straight wins and his works have been solid this spring. He could be gone if he clears early.

RACE EIGHT: In her last two races in 2009 STORM VIXEN finished second by a neck to $103K Fantasy winner Ebony N Ice and then forced a quick pace before tiring to finish third in the Sadie Diamond Futurity. She is dropping into a maiden claiming race for the first time and should be tough to handle if she's ready to go. From the looks of her sharp 5-furlong move on April 23, she is. CANDLEINTHEWINDOW, who placed in a couple of stakes races last year, has been working steadily for her return and she will also appreciate the move into a maiden claiming race. COATLICUE showed good speed in both of her races going 3 1/2 furlongs and she shouldn't have any trouble handling the extra distance. She is a half-sister to $117K earner Awesome Jared, who won four route races and another sibling won six sprints and earned $146K.