In a bit night for the Club tonight, both horses will be in action.  Looking back it appeared that the Club had never run twice on a card on our historical spreadsheet but we were missing a start!

Long time Clubber Janet reached back into her memory and recalled that there WAS a time when both Club horses ran on the same day: High Spirit and Lovely Tak both ran on July 27, 2012 with Lovely Tak winning her race and High Spirit finishing 3rd.  That would be a nice result tonight as well, though the Club has never won 2 in a day so we’ll shoot for that!

Group 3 is in the paddock for Laura Ray, while Group 1 will take the Ender race and we have space in WIld Horse should anyone look to take advantage of that as well.

LAURA RAY

First up will be Laura Ray.  She will be running in race 4, a $7500 claiming race going about a mile over the turf course.  Nik Goodwin will be aboard and she will break from post six in the twelve horse field.

Ginger Rose (M. Silva/Mawing) – Quick out of the gate she has carried that speed a mile before.  While she may not need to have the lead, she will be close to it.

Housemaker (Van Winkle/Loveberry) – Late closer peaked a bit early last out, seizing the lead but giving it up late.  Cutting back the 70 yards could get this mare in her sweet spot.

Lookin Ata Runaway (Rengstorf/Butler) – She has reeled off two wins in a row – partially at our expense – by stalking the early pace and getting up in time.

Silvera (Diodoro/Mojica) – Ran a nice one first off the layoff last out.  Diodoro is 25% second off the layoff and she’ll get some class relief as well.  She’s capable of pushing the pace, which is something our lady would like to see happen.

Cause to Wonder (M. Silva/Eikleberry) – Her first start of 2019 was last out where she ran third in a $10,000 claiming race.  She was a little keen to go and pushed the pace before tiring.  That race should serve her well.

LAURA RAY (LITFIN/GOODWIN)

Stellabrini (Donlin/Arrieta) – Back on the turf here after running a series of races on the dirt in Nebraska.  She won at $12,500 before pushing up into an optional claimer where she was 5th.  She’ll be making a late run and also dropping past that win level down to $7500 here.

Roxy Rocket (W. Rarick/Hernandez) – Been running in optional claiming races in Arizona and her first start here (where she was third).  She’ll be stalking the pace and look to make a late run.

R J’s Silver Syd (McKinley/Meche) – Another off the pace type that has a pair of state bred allowance scores to her credit.

Ocean Dream (J. Silva/S. Gonzalez) – Keen to go early in her last, she tired late, finishing 3rd.  It would be nice if she would push the pace again tonight.

C Islandsurprise (Scherer/Martin) – Wild card in the race, she’s been spending her time in Kentucky recently where she finished 3rd in a $15,000 optional claimer.  She’s hasn’t been over the turf in a long time and only 6 times in her 41 lifetime starts (best finish was 2nd).  Hard to know just how she will do here and draws far outside.

The race came up tough with several class droppers dotting the field. This is a considerably larger field than last out for Laura Ray and she will have some pace to run at if Nik can keep her relaxed and off the early lead.  You’ll recall last out she really pulled hard and forced her way close to the lead, leaving herself nothing for late.  For this race Nevada changed things up a bit in her equipment, adjusting her blinkers to hopefully allow her to relax more early and be ready to roll late.

ENDER

Ender drew into a very short (six horse) field in the ninth race, a $16,000 event going 6.5 furlongs on the dirt.  Ender will have Quincy Hamilton aboard and will break from post three.

Speeding Kid (M. Silva/Mawing) – Quick Minnesotan is the speed in the race and is getting some class relief after running in a state bred allowance, the 10,000 Lakes and a $35,000 to kick off 2019.  He’ll be out early and look to take the field gate to wire.

Luckynsuccessful (Bethke/Eikleberry) – Similar last pair of races as us, he was a length or so behind us in the last race and won a state bred allowance two back with the added 1/2 furlong.  May not be on the lead but doesn’t like to be too far back.

ENDER (BROBERG/HAMILTON)

Hot Item (Bethke/Butler) – We beat this one two back and finished ahead of him last out as well.

Reigning Warrior (Scherer/Martin) – Convincing win last out at $6250, pushes way up in class for this one.  Will be looking to come off the pace.

Rolls Royce Deal (Diodoro/Arrieta) – Winning at $10,000 non-winners of two and non-winners of three earlier in the meet before faltering going long and moving up to a $15,000 optional in last.

Admittedly Ender looks good on paper but they still don’t run races on paper so he’ll have to get it done on the race track.  There is not a lot of speed in the race and the danger is that Speeding Kid slips away and can’t get caught.  Hopefully Rolls Royce Deal or Luckynsuccessful stays close to keep him honest.  With a fair pace Ender is going to be really hard to beat in here but he’ll have to run closer to his earlier form than his last race.  The slight class relief and extra half furlong should help.

GOOD LUCK!