Friday July 11 picks

Race 1

#2 DOODLES gets a much better post position after showing some late life against tougher last week. #1 MS LORA is the latest in a long, generally successful, line of horses dropping in class first off the claim for these connections. #8 REMY CHRISTINE got stuck behind a glacial pace last time and takes a big class drop. #7 LIPSTICK WARRIOR could improve substantially with a better start.

Suggested bet: Trifecta – 1,2 w/ 1,2,8 w/ 1,2,7,8

Race 2

#5 SIR CLASSIC CHRIS should get another dream trip stalking a slow early pace. #6 SMILING CAT has been remarkably consistent over the past year. He’ll be in the mix but has a troubling propensity giving away stretch leads. #7 CHOCOLATE KNIGHT ran well enough to win this last year and should move forward in his second race of a long layoff.

Suggested bet: Pick-3 – 5,6,7 w/ 3 w/ 3,6,8

Race 3

#3 LADY STRIKER will be freewheeling on the lead once again. The droop back $7,500 should insure something closer the 8-length victory two back than the 6^th place finish last time. #4 LADY AT THE HELM will be closing late for a piece. #2 SCAT CAT SCAT hasn’t done much lately but has the back class to win. #6 SHANNON H couldn’t finish with $16,000 foes, class drop helps.

Suggested bet: Win - 3

Race 4

#8 GUERILLA TACTICS ran well on turf as a 2yo. Today’s surface switch and class drop may be all he needs. #3 ROSEVILLE RUN ran very well opening week but disappointed most recently in his first try against winners. #6 SEVEN TWO OFFSUIT should be prominent throughout

Suggested bet: Pick-4 – 3,6,8 w/ 6 w/ 2,7 w/ 2,6

Race 5

#6 INISH SHANK had an excellent seasonal debut two weeks ago, a closing third going shorter that sets him up perfectly for today’s return to his best distance. #5 WILD PAL should be very tough on the class drop. #7 ON MY DIME probably needed his last and should improve today.

Suggested bet: Win - 6

Race 6

#7 WHITE HART LANE finally got his first victory in his first start for a red-hot barn. Today is first two-turn turf try, which the pedigree suggests should be his best trip. #2 PAINTED FACE won the pace duel but lost the war in his first start off a long layoff. He should finish stronger today. #6 IRISH GUY could take the needed step forward with more ground and Lasix added today.

Suggested bet: Exacta box – 7 w/ 2,5,6

Race 7

#6 FAST DEVON was a good 2yo and gets the turf sprint his pedigree screams for today in his 3yo debut. #2 SPORTING PRINT failed as the favorite against tougher but a then-cold barn has heated up lately. #3 HE’S TUNED ran reasonably well in a stake last time so he obviously fits very well here. #7 RIDDLES AND RHYMES closed furiously after a bad start last time. He’ll be tough today with a clean break.

Suggested bet: Pick 3 – 2,6 w/ 2,5 w/ 1,2,6

Race 8

#2 ONLY BY INVITATION couldn’t catch a heavy favorite last time but was finishing well and should relish the added furlong today. #5 HARD LEMON has been steadily improving in all three of his races. Further improvement plus further class drop would be a winning formula. #6 READY SMILE has run well enough to win this on turf but is an unknown quantity on the main track.

Suggested bet: Exacta box – 2 w/ 5,6

Race 9

#2 FINISHLION should improve with Lasix added for his second start and may well prefer dirt. #6 DUE TIME has run well enough to handle this field several times in the past so he may be due for a breakthrough today. #1 SIR STRETCHALOT didn’t take to the turf but can win on his dirt form.

Suggested bet: Exacta box – 1,2,6