Race Analysis for Saturday, June 12

Analysis by Randy Goulding

RACE ONE: SIMPLY SAM drops to the level he was claimed for opening weekend and he really hasn't run a bad race in his career. He might have enough speed to clear early and if he does, he could take them a long way. T J GEMINI forced the pace before tiring in his initial start this year and could take a big step forward with the blinkers coming off for the first time. He has shown speed in all of his races but it wouldn't be surprising to see Wilson try and get him to stalk here. VYING COMMANDER may have tipped his hand with a bullet 5-furlong move May 28 and could come out running first time. His dad is a below average debut sire but his Grade 3 winning dam was a stakes winner at two and her only other foal placed in a couple of stakes as a 2-year-old. He was a vet scratch on June 4 but he is in good hands and his trainer can have them ready to go first time out.

RACE TWO: NOTIS ME tired in her first start following a layoff and could be ready for a big effort with a race under her belt. She certainly has the best early lick in the field and could take them a long way if she gets away with soft fractions. The only concern is that she has been known to throw in a dull effort following a decent race. EMMITT'S GIRL finished in front of the top pick last time and could be ready for a peak effort in the third start of her current form cycle. She has also had a sharp work since she ran and with 12 in the money finishes from 16 starts, at the very least she has to be part of any exotics ticket. BEAUTIFUL BREEZE drops to a new low following a dull effort where she might not have cared for the sloppy conditions. It was also a pretty nice horse that won the race and she could rebound with the drop to bottoms.

RACE THREE: SURVIVANT couldn't catch the speed after breaking a step slow and getting bumped around leaving the starting gate when she made her seasonal debut May 29. She probably wins the race with a better beginning and the horse that finished a length behind her in third came back to win her next start. She figures to move forward with a race under her belt and she could also improve as a second time Lasix user. SEE L. A. is clearly the main threat off of her second place finish at this level May 9 and the only concern is that it has taken her a while to make it back to the races. Her trainer is on a bit of a roll right now, however. MACLOGAN took a big step forward in her latest and also came back with a solid interim work. She could pick up another slice if she keeps improving.

RACE FOUR: CONCERT MUSIC was pretty impressive winning her fourth straight race and first added-money event in the Brighouse Belles. She had to check sharply when she tried to get past Dancing Allstar along the rail going down the backstretch and after regrouping she burst through when the rail opened up coming out of the stretch turn. She looked very sharp in her bullet 5-furlong move on June 3 and with her good speed she figures to get a nice trip from a stalking position. CLAIR ANNETTE is the one she'll be stalking and she carried her good speed to a couple of stakes wins at Emerald last year. She set the pace before tiring in her initial start this year and could take them a long way if she gets away on her own. Concert Music will probably have something to say about that, however. If a duel does develop it could set up nicely for KAWEAH PRINCESS who closed with good speed to finish second behind Concert Music in the Brighouse Belles.

RACE FIVE: JUDICIAL COMMITTEE cuts her price in half and easily has the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in the field. She is making just her third start and should be tough to handle with a clean trip. LA NORIA showed more speed in her latest and seems to be rounding into form. There doesn't appear to be a lot of other speed in the field and she could take them a long way if she clears early. OLLIE KAT finished in front of LA NORIA last time and that makes two solid efforts in a row. She also showed a bit more tactical speed and just might be getting the hang of it now. AGAMEONE has picked up slices in half of her races and should be considered for the exotics.

RACE SIX: PUNCH BACK could be the one in a race where it is hard to separate them. He set the pace and tired last time but he is capable of stalking and it wouldn't be surprising to see Hamel ease him off of what should be a hotly contested pace. Those tactics were used when he won a $25,000 claiming race in his first start this year and the barn has been hot lately. TERRELL ME A STORY set an honest pace and held on well to finish second in his first start of the year and could be ready for a big effort with a race behind him. He is going to have to deal with other speed, however. DUTAMIS had a perfect trip when he beat Punch Back in his latest and could do it again if he doesn't get trapped down on the rail. STORM ABOVE drops to a new low and is certainly capable of winning this if he brings his best stuff.

RACE SEVEN: BEARROCK N ROLL faced much tougher in his first two starts this year and should appreciate the class relief. He has good tactical speed and figures to get a nice trip from just off of HUFFMAN. He has had a sharp work since he ran and MacPherson is still winning races at a high rate at the meet. SOLDIERS RETURN is as sharp as a tack with two straight wins and could easily make it three in a row if BEARROCK N ROLL and HUFFMAN hook up early. POP ARTIST won the last time he ran for this price and there was nothing wrong with his third place finish behind a horse that jumped up to beat a very tough field of $50K optional horses in his next start. BOUNDLESS CAT comes out of a hot barn and might be good enough to stand the hike in class following his game win in his initial start this year.

RACE EIGHT: NINELEVENTURBO might be 12-years-old now but he looks great on the track and he runs well fresh. He also has good tactical speed and should get a nice trip from just off of SCOTS PINE. If he hasn't lost a step this year he should be tough to beat. BAD SNEAKERS earned most of his money last year going a lot longer but he has won sprinting and he has looked pretty sharp in all of his works this year. He also ran a decent race when he came off of the bench last year. SCOTS PINE looks like the controlling speed and should be able to stick around long enough to pick up a slice. FORCEFUL INTENTION has plenty of back class and maybe he'll find some of it with the blinkers going on for the first time since 2008.