Pace Ratings, Not Run Style, Portend Gate To Wire Victory for Viva Bertha

There is not a lot of early speed in the past performances of the six starters remaining in the eighth race on Thursday at Arlington International Race Course, a $12,500 claiming event for 1 1/16-mile turfers that serves as the start of this week's #Let8Ride game.

The three scratches included the lone "E" type in the race as well as the two horses with the most Quirin Speed Points among entrants, but someone will be on the lead, and if these fillies and mares run to their past performances than there is a very good chance that someone will be #5 Viva Bertha, who draws into favorable post 3 because of the scratches and is the only starter to post 90+ Brisnet.com E1 & E2 Pace Ratings in the same race on turf. The Military mare also benefits from a barn change to Larry Rivelli, who is 20% off the claim and is two-for-his-last-eight when giving a leg up to hot (23% at the meeting) jock Florent Geroux.

Arlington Park, race 8, $8 to win on #5!