Feels like you want to be close early going two turns, but there were a couple of horses that closed in the 2nd and 4th races yesterday from 8th early. Definitely need to be forwardly placed in any kind of sprint. Thorpedo Anna stole the day in romping fashion in the Oaks splashing along from gate to wire. Final time was a mere 1:50.83 when elders blitzed 1M in 1:35.02 in the 3rd. Undoubtedly the track changed quite a bit throughout the day, and nearly race to race. Not an easy day for figure makers.
Florent Geroux had himself a day. Personal P3 in the 5th, 6th and 7th yesterday. 3 wins, 3 seconds, and Show for his efforts on a monstrous pink lady day for him. Luis Saez got back on track as well after a bit of a tough start to this CD meet. Can Irad Ortiz only win on Brown mounts outside of NY and FL? The other Ortiz had a big day as well with 3 wins to his record and 3 shows.
Eddie Kenneally had 4 entrants and 3 of them hit the board. No wins, but certainly a solid day. Unfortunately, only has 1 entry today in the 14th. Cox and Mott barns continue to be very solid and you have to respect anything they put in a race at this joint. Brad Cox nearly has a horse or two in every field today while Mott saddles ones in the 2nd, 5th, 12th, 13th, and 14th.
Horses from Oaklawn, Keeneland, and Turfway continue to be dominant. Fair Grounds shippers seem to only contend on the green stuff. Gulfstream shippers are doing well on turf to boot.
The Japan horse T O Saint Denis nearly blew up the toteboard in the G2 Alysheba. Rushed out to an early 5 length lead and nearly walled them off till First Mission displayed his class and rolled on late. Interesting in that the jockey rides the more accomplished Forever Young today while riding for the T O Password trainers horse yesterday. Will the Japan horses look to blitz the field again like in 2022, or are other tactics possibly at hand?
Great day of racing ahead. Good luck everyone!