RACE 1

WIN — Marathon Whitney Day card begins with cheap claimers. Bruce Levine wins one-third of the time with runners first off the claim, so we’ll play the percentages and tab SIR JACKIE. Has finished in the exacta in 17 of 34 lifetime.

PLACE — KEE KAW ships in from Suffolk Downs having won half of his starts this season. Has a fair amount of eary speed, and will need to use some of it to gain early position through the Clubhouse turn.

SHOW — Contessa enters a pair, although both draw poorly towards the outside. TSURIS was a handy winner of his latest, while FORECOURT’s form is headed the wrong direction in a hurry, but could rebound on the change of scenery.

RACE 2

WIN — GLOBALIZATION broke very fast from the gate in his debut, but was soon confronted by eventual Sanford runner-up Tale of Ekati to his outside. Dueled into defeat, he faded through the lane to finish third, but should move forward off this race, and love the fact he returned with a strong breeze just 10 days after that effort. Gomez rode all four of Violette’s juvenile winners at last year’s meet.

PLACE — MR. SHORTCAKE showed nice improvement in his second career start, flashing better early speed. Could be put in a tough spot with Globalization breaking to his immediate outside.

SHOW — WYNN IN COMMAND has done his pre-race prep work at Delaware Park, yet the Ritchie-trainee attracts Prado and sports a strong gate move going this six furlong distance last week.

RACE 3

WIN — MISTER WHITE SOCKS has run well in each of his two attempts on turf for McLaughlin. Got caught in a tough spot in his last, allowing others to get the jump.

PLACE — GUILLAUME TELL had a solid 3-year-old season when in the barn of Pletcher. Away for nearly two years and now in the barn of Jody Hammett, he now ships in from Woodbine for this. Glad to see blinkers coming off, which should help, but not thrilled that Luzzi (6 percent on turf here last year) gets the call.

SHOW — If GIANT CHIEFTAIN has matured this sesason, he could prove a tough customer. Extremely erratic last year, including a dramatic change of course to grab defeat in his career debut locally. The blinkers come back off and Prado stays — both good signs.

If run on Main Track: 1. Silver Express; 2. Hennig entry; 3. Thorn Song.

RACE 4

WIN — Both pieces of the Contessa entry could prove capable here. EXCELERATION takes a significant drop down the claiming ladder for this, while PRESSING ISSUE looks to make it two in a row after a facile win at Monmouth in his latest.

PLACE — IRISH BRIAN shortens back up to the distance of his most recent victory. Has held his own of late versus cheaper, and will be a good price here for Bejarano.

SHOW — SMOKIN LU has tackled his elders in each his last three, so the age restriction here plays to his favor. No excuse for coming up short in his last, although both career victories have come with Velazquez in the irons.

RACE 5

WIN — FOREST OF DREAMS ran well in his only career start, entering the stretch behind a wall of horses before finding a seam and striking the lead. Eventually gave way to last-to-first winner Tenacious Star, yet has trained very well since for Jimmy Jerkens.

PLACE — ROI MAUDIT showed improvement in each of his first three career starts, and now returns to that surface following a failed attempt on turf. Certainly capable for very capable connections.

SHOW — NOBLE TRUTH didn’t take much money in his career debut for Asmussen, but ran well enough in finishing third to warrant a look here. Daughter of Buddha cuts back a sixteenth.

RACE 6

WIN — MONSTER DRIVE must overcome a lengthy layoff, but his races last winter at Aqueduct were very good, and Mott does well in situations such as these. Velazquez, who doesn’t ride for Mott often, was up for the maiden score and has the return call today.

PLACE — DEFREREOFTHEHEART shipped up to Saratoga in early June and logged a trio of works, although his most recent drill in preparation for this came back downstate at Belmont. Should be prominent throughout for West Point.

SHOW — BURN ONE TURN ONE shortens up to a sprint here after contesting routes of late, an angle which should see him closing ground late. Gelding has hit the board in five of seven, and could surprise with a piece at a big price.

RACE 7

WIN — Good renewal of the Diana to kick off the graded stakes action. MAKDERAH has been ultra-impressive in her last couple, showcasing a devastating turn of foot. McLaughlin can’t speak highly enough about her, and would be surprised if she doesn’t notch her first Grade 1 score here.

PLACE — MAGNIFICENT SONG quietly enjoyed a solid campaign a year ago, and should be sitting on a big effort here in her third start of the season. Lone Grade 1 winner in the group.

SHOW — ARGENTINA narrowly missed in this race a year ago, coming up a head short while finishing third behind Angara in a blanket photo. Arrives here off an October layoff, but must be respected for Frankel and Prado.

If run on Main Track: 1. My Typhoon; 2. Magnificent Song; 3. Meribel.

RACE 8

WIN — DIABOLICAL may sit the ideal trip in a field loaded with early gas. Relaxed nicely behind the speed in the Carter, yet was unable to fend off the late rally of Silver Wagon, who ran huge. Wasn’t asked for his best in his latest, yet still scored an easy victory in a quck time. Loves it wet.

PLACE — COMMENTATOR was tought not to use as top as he loves this track, yet the 2005 Whitney remains his lone graded stakes win. Does draw outside the other speeds.

SHOW — SIMON PURE has always given the look of a horse with a world of potential, yet failed to achieve much on the track. He was transferred from Lukas to Asmussen over the winter, and his latest start was an “in hand” victory. May not have seen his best yet.

RACE 9

WIN — GINGER PUNCH has finished in the exacta in 9 of 10 starts, and an effort similar to her narrow loss to Take D’Tour in the Ogden Phipps would make her very difficult to beat. Some concern over his inexperience going two turns.

PLACE — ERMINE was flat in the Fleur de Lis, but has trained very well in advance of this. Not a whole lot of oace in front to close into, although she seems to be tactical enough to keep within striking distance.

SHOW — TEAMMATE finished last in the Phipps, beaten 22 lengths. Yet given the shape of this race, she figures to control to the tempo, like she did a year ago when nearly upsetting the Alabama.

RACE 10

WIN — Not often that Grade 1 races draw a field of 12, and this is as wide-open as it can get. MAGNA GRADUATE narrowly missed in the Stephen Foster, and should receive a nice journey from a good post with a ton of speed up top.

PLACE — DIAMOND STRIPES is lightly-raced making just his sixth career start here. Still eligible to improve, and finished between the top choice and Flashy Bull last out. Would love it wet.

SHOW — BRASS HAT returned from an injury that kept him sidelined for 13 months to set a track record in his first race back. One of four millionaires in this field, he draws the percfect post and would be a fantastic Cinderella story.

RACE 11

WIN — ANY WHICH WAY has several factors working in his favor today. In going from a barn that was 1-for-56 for the year to Gary Gullo, who hit the board in 7 of 13 Spa starts last summer, he also gets a rider change from Chang to Bejarano. Could control this from the break.

PLACE — NO LEMON broke on top, was overtaken, and re-rallied for the place in his latest while finishing strongly.

WIN — BIOHAZZARD has been live on the board in all three career starts, finding the board in two of those efforts last fall. Has trained well out of town, and gets Leparoux here. ROYAL LIVINGSTON rallied smartly for second in his latest, but Gyarmati has just 3 wins from her last 67 starters here.

BEST BET: Makderah (Race 7)

PICK 4 PLAYS

Early: 3,5,6 with 6,7 with 1 with 2,5

Late: 4 with 4,5 with 3,4,5 with 3,7,9

Meet Record: 28-5-2-4

$2 Win Total: $29.70