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Race 3: Maiden Claiming $30,000 at 6.5 furlongs

THE EAGLE IS GONE (#4) is not going to be much of a price in his spot, but he does loom as a very likely winner. This horse's debut effort was a fine second place finish in which he earned an 80 speed figure, a number that would easily beat this field. His last effort might appear to be disappointing, but he was facing tougher maiden special weight foes and was also compromised at the start. A runner drifted in coming out of the gate, causing a chain reaction that resulted in The Eagle Is Gone getting knocked completely off stride. (Honestly, this was one of the worst bumping incidents I've ever seen at the start of a race.) Today, he should be quick enough to clear off early and never look back.

Win: 4

Double: 4 with 2,4,6

Race 4: Maiden Special Weight at 8.5 furlongs on turf

There are two ways to look at SPORT (#2). A) He's had his chances at relatively short prices, and his last effort is an indication that he's heading in the wrong direction; or B) He's a horse that has been his own worst enemy in many starts, fighting his riders and pulling poor trips, and now he is set to run a more professional race given the time off and removal of blinkers. I'm caught somewhere in between these two camps. Sport's antics negatively affected his performance last time as he was never able to get over to the rail while pulling his rider into the race sooner than he would have preferred. There's no doubt that this horse has ability, and he could easily beat a field like this if he ever put it all together. I like the rider switch to Jose Ortiz and am hoping James Bond has gotten him figured out over the past couple of months. I'm not sure what we're going to get, but the price should be generous enough to take a shot this time.

Win/Place: 2

Exacta Key Box: 2 with 4,6

Race 6: Allowance at 8 furlongs on turf

Given the presence of multiple speeds and sprinters stretching out, the Pace Projector is predicting a fast pace that could set things up for a closer. The late runner that I'm most interested in is MUNCHKIN MONEY (#8). She was facing a field of comparable quality in her lone start against winners, a starter allowance race for open company. A slow pace worked against her that day, and she was also trying to rally up the rail while weaving her way through a wall of tiring runners ahead of her. I thought she finished up decently to be fifth. It's worth noting that the third place finisher, Khaleesi Kat, a fellow closer, came back to win decisively last Sunday.

Win: 8

Exacta Key Box: 8 with 1,5

Race 8: Allowance at 11 furlongs on turf

I'm willing to give another shot to GOTACHANCETODANCE (#5) in her third start back off the layoff. Her return race at Saratoga was just too short for her to put forth her optimal performance, and I think she still has room to improve off her October 5th race at a more appropriate distance. That day, she was well-placed coming around the far turn, but ended up getting caught in a tricky spot as the field turned into the stretch. Perhaps she just didn't possess the acceleration to angle out, but she was quickly surrounded by runners and caught in behind the eventual winner. I think it cost her some momentum and believe she would have been better served by a more decisive thrust approaching the quarter pole. This filly ran one of the best races of her career over this turf course in the Long Island Handicap last year, and this distance suits her well.

Win: 5

Trifecta: 5 with 1,3,6,7 with 1,3,6,7