Holland's North America Racing Picks for May 31

by Tim Holland

Churchill

Carryover alert: $101,123 (Pick 5 on Races 6-10), $149,234 (Single 6 Jackpot)

Race 6

Trainer Correas wins with 15% of his first-time starters and saddles #4 Annie’sgoldengirl (8-1), a debuting daughter of 17% first-out sire Goldencents. Recent works include a 4-furlong move in :49 at Keeneland this month for Correas, who wins with 22% of his runners overall in maiden claiming events. Chestnut appears ready for a good first outing with Bejarano in the saddle.

Race 8

#1 Crystal Cliffs (6-1) makes her first North American start for trainer Motion and has not been seen since defeating 14 rivals by eight lengths in France in December in her second career start. Daughter of decent European sire Canford Cliffs has been working forwardly for Motion, who wins with 15% of his starters on grass and who has won with three of 11 at this meet. Bay can be along from off the pace under Velazquez, who has won with two of his last three rides for the barn.

Race 10

Maidens going 9 furlongs on grass include #10 Reigning Spirit (8-1), who has not been seen since making belated progress after a slow start and wide trip in his debut at Fair Grounds in March. Trainer Stall wins with 19% of his second-time starters and son of excellent turf sire War Front is out of Upperline, who won the Bewitch (G3) on turf at Keeneland. Half-brother to two winners can show more with Colby Hernandez remaining aboard.

Gulfstream

Race 3

Trainer Roussel has done well with few runners at this meet and saddles #3 Examiner (2-1), who drops in class off a well-beaten fourth-place finish over 6 furlongs at Fair Grounds in January. Son of Distorted Humor has won two of 11 career starts and has been working well for Roussel, who wins with 17% of his runners that have not raced for 90+ days. 5-year-old can be forwardly placed early with Jaramillo taking the mount.

Race 9

Another runner from the Roussel barn is #6 Overnight Success (8-5). Son of Giant’s Causeway also gets class relief, coming off a second-place finish at Fair Grounds in mid-March. Roussel wins with 16% of his runners on grass and son of Giant’s Causeway has won two of his 11 starts on turf. Bay can be running from off the pace with Prado in the irons.

Race 11

#1 Tide Storm (15-1) tries claiming company for the first time off a closing fifth place finish over 5 furlongs here last month in her first outing since last November. Daughter of Stormy Atlantic is a half-sister to Avanzare, who won the Del Mar Mile (G2) on turf, and has won one of six career starts on grass for trainer Matz, who has had decent meet winning with 13% of his runners. Chestnut can be tough at this level with Camacho in the saddle.

Laurel

Race 7

Trainer Delacour wins with 17% of his first-time starters and saddles #7 Smoothover (3-1), a debuting daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who is out of Blingismything, who won the Wilshire (G3) on grass at Santa Anita. 3-year-old cost $300K as a weanling and recent works include a sharp 4-furlong move in :47 4/5 at Fair Hill for Delacour, who wins with 20% of his runners on turf. Bay can be ready to win at first asking with McCarthy up.

Santa Anita

Race 5

Newcomer #9 Agamemnon (7-2) has a good win-early pedigree being by 14% first out sire Grazen and out of a mare by Salt Lake, whose offspring win 16% of their first outings. Gelding is a half-brother to two winners and has posted three good 5-furlong works recently for trainer McAnally, who won with two of his last three runners making their debut in maiden claiming events. 3-year-old appears ready with Valdivia in the irons.

Golden Gate

Race 7

#6 Mind Out (7-2) tries an all-weather surface for the first time and comes off a closing third-place finish over a mile on turf at Santa Anita in March in her third outing. Daughter of Tapit is a half-sister to Miss Mischief, who won the Bessarabian (G2) on the synthetic surface at Woodbine. Trainer Callaghan has won with one of three runners shipping to this meet and filly can be along from off the pace with Juan Hernandez riding.