• CARRYOVERS: None
• POST TIME: 12:25 P.M.
• NUMBER OF RACES: 8

RACE 1: 8-4-7-2

#8 Sweet Honey Bee didn’t run a bad race last out when third behind runaway winner Tasty Time, and her start prior to that also wasn’t bad; she’s not far removed from races that would make her the favorite here, and with the outside draw and a bit of tactical speed, she might get the trip… #4 Flee galloped last out to graduate in her first outing over the strip and second with trainer Ness… #7 Sweet Summer Love will (and should) be a longshot but has a couple of competitive tries at this level and makes her third start off the bench…

RACE 2: 3-1-4-2

Low-level maiden claimers square off in a one-mile contest… #3 My Last Dime showed little on debut but has a couple of OK works since, and trainer Russell is 5-for-8 with a $3.25 ROI with second-start maiden claimers dropping in price; note that Jevian Toledo is here for this and one other mount… #1 West Seventeenth gets blinkers on for her third career start and tries two turns for the first time… #4 Santa Luzia is the most likely winner, but her form would make the morning line 7-5 tough to take; notably she finished a couple behind Missy Moosey last out, and that rival moved up the ladder to win last Thursday at DEL; first in the red-hot Gallegos barn…

RACE 3: 5-6-1-8

#5 Gift of Gab makes her third start of the season following a two-back win versus lesser and, last out, an evenish try against two-other than foes; trainer Stettinius has a strong record with horses making their third starts of a cycle, and while this mare’s lack of early foot is a bit of a concern, this seems like a field she’ll be able to be in touch with and then unleash in the lane… #6 Bahamian Moon has been keeping better company in recent grass tries and likely will be in the vanguard early in this contest… #1 Baby Blocks was ultra-competitive at this level last season at Delaware, and while her lone grass try of ’26 was not very good, her other races indicate she’s holding her form, so we’re inclined to forgive that one…

RACE 4: 4-6-3-5

#4 As the Bell Toles saw a two-race win streak snapped in latest when second to 1-2 favorite Luminous Secret, but that was a pretty good try all the same: she kept trying all the way to the wire while increasing her advantage over the rest; looks to be speed of the speed and gets hot-riding Lopez up in first in Pecoraro barn… #6 Downanddirtydonna hasn’t been in great form of late but gets blinkers on for her first try around two turns; her breeding says the added ground should be manageable… #3 High Hearts pulled away nicely to win last out, and show horse Vino Bella came back to win, but this miss will probably have to run down As the Bell Toles, who has more early zip…

RACE 5: 5-4-7-2

#5 My Gal enters in improving form, and while her latest outing on the main track was poor, her three prior turf tries were very good, including a win and then a second against similar when a bit of trouble in upper stretch may have made the difference and she galloped out in front… #4 Queen Rocket had a useful enough return to action in latest when racing close to the pace before tiring late; three of four to run back have finished in the money, including show horse Hockey, who won her follow-up; this one’s two-back win produced three next-out winners… #7 Caravaggio’s Song ran a good one to win last out, but we’re inclined to be a bit skeptical on the gaudy Beyer fig until we get more evidence…

RACE 6: 3-5-4-1

#3 Striking Sparks laid waste to a starter field last time out, pressing the pace and drawing away to win by 6 1/2 with his fourth consecutive mid-70s and up Beyer fig; looks to be the controlling speed in this spot… Don’t sleep on #5 Take the Pledge, who has run some good races against better; last time out he caught a tough group with hard-hitting rivals Freedom Road and J D Factor, missed the break, fell well behind, but then revved up a big late run and posted by far the fastest second half-mile of the group… #4 Cut the Cord returns to a level at which he’s won after a two-race detour onto turf…

RACE 7: 1-4-8-7

In a race that feels like it should have plenty of pace, a late runner like #1 Specialagentjonson ought to have a shot to pick up the pieces; he doesn’t win much and most often comes along for a minor share, but over the winter he ran several solid races against better, so a bit of class relief and the projected lively pace might be enough… #4 Distinct is likely the speediest of the speed here and is moving fairly quickly through his conditions; last out he pressed a fast pace and cleared to the lead but could not hold off Persisten… #8 Fridayswithmurray was probably best in his last turf try but traffic trouble left him in third, behind Persisten, who then beat Distinct; might be the later runner who gets first crack at the tiring leaders, and the Ness-Paco combo has been absolutely lethal this meet…

RACE 8: 4-5-1-3

Small but evenly matched field in this maiden special to close the card and we land on #4 Splendid Song, who was beaten favorite last out and finished behind #3 in here, but this one did all the work up front, dueling through fast fractions for a long way before tiring late; she’ll be tighter second time off the bench and has a chance to move forward; four of seven to run back from latest finished second next out… #5 Flavors makes her career debut for Monmouth-based trainer Terri Pompay; she’s by well-regarded sire City of Light, has been training forwardly, and is a half to a second-out winner… #1 Sassy Sangria completely stopped last out, but that was going two turns in the slop; back to her best game today, and her runner-up finish behind Irish Jig was strong…