PICKS

Race 1:   2 - 3 - 1
Race 2:   6 - 1 - 7 - 4
Race 3:   6 - 3 - 1 - 4
Race 4:   6 - 5 - 8 - 7
Race 5:   7 - 1 - 4 - 5
Race 6:   3 - 8 - 7 - 10
Race 7:   2 - 6 - 3 - 5
Race 8:   11 - 12 - 5 - 4
Race 9:    5 - 1 - 7 - 3

TOP PLAYS

RACE 2: DIVINE MISS GREY (#6)
If this race stays on turf, I want to take a shot with Divine Miss Grey getting back on this surface. I know that proven turf performers like Bernadiva, Wild About Harry, and Louisville First aren’t exactly pushovers, but I think this Danny Gargan trainee may have a future on grass. Her only start over that surface was her second race last December at Aqueduct over a course that had taken significant rain. The pace of that race was very fast for the distance, and the two speeds whom she was dueling with in the early going faded badly late. She actually has pedigree to handle this surface since Divine Park is a 14 percent turf sire, and she is a full sister to a two-time-winning turf sprinter. If this race were moved to the main track, she still would be a major player, along with the likely favorite, Jamyson ‘n Ginger.

Win: 6
Exacta Key Box: 6 with 1,3,4,7

RACE 7: DOYOUKNOWSOMETHING (#2)
Can you trust Gift Box as the favorite in this race? Sure, 6 1/2 furlongs may have been a little too short for him last time, but I really didn’t like what I saw from him. He was a lukewarm favorite, at best, for the duration of the wagering and then didn’t pick up his feet at any point during the running. I know he likely will step forward with the stretch-out, and his races from last year would beat this field, but I’m still a little skeptical. The other main player is Harlan Punch, who makes his fourth start at this meet in the span of exactly one month. He’s shown up in all of his races for David Jacobson, but he will have to handle a bit more ground today. I think this race is a bit more wide-open than it seems at first glance, so I’m taking a shot with Doyouknowsomething. This horse’s last race is not as bad as it seems since he was chasing a fast pace and broke open the race around the turn. The race was dominated by closers late, and Doyouknowsomething hung in gamely until the late stages. He’s run plenty of races that would give him a big chance here, and he’s likely to get lost on the board given the amount of play the aforementioned runners will take.

Win: 2
Exacta Box: 2,6
Trifecta: 2 with 3,5,6 with 1,3,5,6

RACE 8: SPRING QUALITY (#11)
The two main players in this race are Delta Prince and Forge, who both exit the Bernard Baruch, won by Heart to Heart. Of the pair, I slightly prefer Forge, who may have really relished the yielding going last time and figures to get a similar kind of turf course here given the rain that’s been predicted. However, he must work out a trip from the outside post, and there isn’t much speed in this race. That could work to the advantage of Delta Prince, who at least has some tactical speed. I respect the shorter prices, but I have to take a shot with the first-time turfer Spring Quality. For whatever reason, his connections have avoided running him on grass for his entire career, but he certainly is bred to handle this surface. Quality Road is a 14 percent turf sire, and his dam produced multiple turf-stakes winner Holiday Star. This is a tough spot in which to make a turf debut, but this runner has shown some quality on dirt and possesses the tactical speed to get over from this outside post.

Win/Place: 11
Exacta Key Box: 11 with 1,3,4,5,12
Trifecta: 4,5,12 with 1,3,4,5,12 with 11