Daily Handicapping

#6 SINISTER will probably be one of the biggest prices on the board on the class rise today and facing a deep field, but he’s likely going to get a perfect pace setup and could come rolling late to win two in a row. #3 COOL HERO ran a good 3rd in his last when he was only beaten two lengths after battling the whole way. COOL HERO exits the same December 12th race as #5 AMERICAN HUSTLER who finished 4th in that race but figures to take a lot of money today and may even end up favored as he races for the Asmussen barn.

#10 BOBBYN BOUIE may seem unlikely for as win as he makes his 31st career start today still looking for his first trip to the winner circle, but he’s had quite a few close calls, many times he’s had very valid excuses, and he landed in a good spot here today. BOBBYN BOUIE moves up even more if we have an off-track. #5 EXCESSIVE DIAMONDS makes his lucky 13th start today after missing as the mild favorite in his last at this level and distance over the FG track. He flattened out a bit in his last and could improve while making his 2nd start off of a three month layoff today. #3 MIDSHIP ALI will probably be a big price as a 5 year old maiden making only his 2nd lifetime start, but he was well backed in his debut at 4-1 when he didn’t break all that well. He’s had a gate work since and didn’t catch the toughest field, so keep an eye on his odds.

After a big win as the heavy favorite in his most recent start, #2 GATORIZED seems well positioned for two in a row. She just won a N3L race and now faces N2Y competition as she goes route to sprint for trainer Tom Amoss. #3 ONE MORE FAPIANO has run evenly in his last two and now for his 3rd start off of a 6 month layoff races off of the Cody Autrey claim. #8 CHESSA FAIR ran evenly in her last at this level and distance when she drew the outside 12 post. She has a better draw today and notice that in her race two starts back, against non-conditioned 5k claimers, she ran 3rd at 35-1.

#7 BRIGHT HALL has won his last two in dominating fashion, both times as the favorite, and once again he looks like the one to beat and he should only benefit going from 1 1/16th to 1 mile 40 yards today. #5 LION MAN has been running evenly at Woodbine for trainer Steve Asmussen while steadily dropping down in class. Most of the Asmussen WO string who have come down to the FG have shown marked improvement over the FG track. #2 ROME IS BURNING has run 2nd behind BRIGHT HALL in both of his last two races and is another who figures here but is hard to rely on with is 0-13 record this year.

We’ll have to take a wait and see approach with the weather and turf situation for Monday’s program. #8 LOUISIANALAGNIAPPE is one who should be ok either way as he’s shown ability over all surfaces – except synthetic but only because he’s never tried it – and he has been running at about his level so he’s not on a suspect call drop like quite a few of these others. #5 ANTE GO GO tried open company last time out in a race that came off of the turf course. He’s back in with state-breds and possibly back on the grass today. #11 BARUFF may be better off on the main track as he’s never raced over the grass. He’s on the drop off of the layoff and he gets John Jacinto aboard today – no rider has been hotter than Jacinto in the past couple of weeks.

#6 I COME FROM BEHIND ran gamely last time behind the ultra impressive Larry Jones runner Dr Large. He was gaining well late after waiting in traffic and could possibly go overlooked in this deep field. #3 SUNDAY WORSHIP breaks from post three, the same post Dr Large had, and he also hails from the Larry Jones barn. He debuted going 1 mile 70 yards and ended up 3rd so distance is not a concern as he make his first FG start and gets 1st time lasix. #5 SOUL WARRIOR is a 2nd time starter for trainer Steve Asmussen that had an impressive debut when he was 2nd after a wide trip while breaking from post 11 over a sloppy track going 6 furlongs. He stretches out today after solid works including a 6 furlong work on December 15th.

The majority of this field is made up of class droppers. #1 MIDDLEWEIGHT has been racing at about this level in his last two starts and has been running very well with a 2nd and a win. He’s now 3rd off of a layoff and with him current form is not a question but he has been strictly a grass runner lately so could come out if we end up off turf. #5 PURSUE A DREAM is in a good spot here and comes into this race with legitimate excuses for his last races as he ran at Delta last time out in a tough stakes race won by the on-a-roll Tend, and before that was in a turf sprint. Back on the grass and around two turns, and on the class drop, he could be tough and at a square price. #9 NORTHERN SCENE is on a big drop and making only his 2nd 2008 start but has big time back class and has been working well and steadily even firing a bullet best-of-60 four furlong work on November 2nd.

#7 CACTUS KITTY appears to have a case of seconditis, and maybe she does, but she has been gaining ground in the stretch in her recent races and the long FG stretch could be what helps her break her string of 2nds today. #2 INSURE is 3rd off of a five month layoff and on the class drop back in with conditioned claimers looks well spotted here today, but after losing the lead in the stretch in her last two races, the long FG stretch may not help her as much. #1 OMNYTI has only had one start since July, a 2nd place finish in an allowance race at Retama, but races fresh and drops in class today for the dangerous Asmussen/Bridgmohan combo.

#4 ELISION is a Woodbine based turf runner making her first start over the FG turf course. That makes her an automatic contender, but she looks live anyway with her 4 length maiden special weight win and her recent sharp works. #3 DANCIN PERFECT was a big first time out winner taking down a maiden special weight race at today’s distance of 1 mile on the turf course and at big odds of 36-1. That was against a tough field of 12 and if she can repeat that performance could be tough. #2 NOBLE BANDIT won her debut and then ran 2nd in a stakes, both times racing over the grass. She runs fresh today for trainer Steve Asmussen.

#11 SAFE AND SECURE is on the big red flag class drop for trainer Steve Asmussen after not showing much in a 7 furlong stakes race that was won by the solid Foreign Production. He’s been working steadily and didn’t catch the toughest field for his comeback-on-the-drop race. #7 NMYBELLY was well backed in his debut but after a rough start didn’t do much besides trail the field. Consider that a workout and he could improve on the class drop from maiden special weight to maiden claiming today. #5 REALLY DID BAM also drops down after a rather flat race, but making his third lifetime start could improve today.