Saturday’s racing is at Busan with 10 races from 13:30 to 18:00. The Jeju and Busan Racecourses will be open to customers at 20% of indoor seating capacity as will the Off Track Betting centres in Busan (both of them), Daegu, Changwon, Daejeon, Gwangju and Cheonan. Seoul Racecourse and all off-track locations in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province will remain closed. Here are the previews for Busan:

Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Competitive maiden to begin with. (11) HAENAM HAMMER finished a reasonable 5th of fourteen on her only start to date last October. She hasn’t raced since but looked well when trialing up two weeks ago and returns as one of a number of strong hopes here. The draw isn’t ideal as she will want to lead but she has a top jockey aboard and a real chance. (2) ACE GUY was less noteworthy on debut, failing to run on over 1000M all the way back last July. He looked a completely different prospect when finishing 2nd on a fast February trial and should be much better today. Coming out of the same trial as Haenam Hammer is (9) REAL CHARM, who makes his racing debut here. The Cowboy Cal colt ran on well in the heat and should go well first up. (5) DOCTOR FAITH has hinted at ability over two starts so far including a 3rd place on debut and should go close here while (7) BUSAN ACE is inconsistent but has proven capable of running a time and may figure.

Selections	(11) Haenam Hammer (9) Real Charm (2) Ace Guy (5) Doctor Faith
Next Best	7, 3, 10
Fast Start	7, 8, 14

Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

There are two previous winners in this field and both have credible claims to score again. (14) ACE DAY struck on debut with a comprehensive all the way win over 1200M. He followed up with a 2nd place at the same distance before running 4th over a mile. The draw may be an issue but the trip should suit and he has a chance. (2) BABY LINE broke through at start number four over 1200M in December. He stepped up to this trip on January 22nd and ran a useful enough 5th. He is drawn well and can lead here. Four of today’s runners went in that January 22nd race. The best finisher that day was (9) MIDNIGHT QUEEN, who came 3rd, overturning the form on Baby Line who had beaten her the start before. She is yet to win in four attempts but has never been worse than 4th and today could be her day. That also applies to (6) ECHO RUSH. After running 7th on debut, he’s followed up with back to back runner-up finishes beating three of these in the process and is set to be a big factor here.

Selections	(9) Midnight Queen (6) Echo Rush (14) Ace Day (2) Baby Line
Next Best	11, 5
Fast Start	1, 2, 6, 10, 14

Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(7) JEMA FORTUNE stepped up to 1400M on January 22nd and came from well back to record his best finish to date, running a fast-finishing 2nd and beating three of his rivals here. He steps up to the mile for the first time and looks to have fair claims to make his breakthrough. (11) GEUMA GOOD POINT ran 4th in the same race. He’s been consistent across seven starts to date and while he will probably find one or two too quick again today. (2) YEONGGWANGUIRUNNER is another who has been consistent. He didn’t overly impress on a previous try at this distance but has mixed it in better company than this and should be there or thereabouts today. (3) TOP ADELE showed improvement when 4th on his second career start. He is likely to be on pace from the start and can stay on at the business end of the race. (13) DAMYANG JEWANG is another with a fast start and while the draw isn’t the best, also looks to have good claims here.

Selections	(7) Jema Fortune (2) Yeonggwanguirunner (11) Geuma Good Point (13) Damyang Jewang
Next Best	3, 6
Fast Start	3, 8, 11, 13

Race 4: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 32 Million

(6) GALAXY ROAD took a couple of goes to figure things out but then won his next two in fie order, the latter at this distance. He is up in class finally today but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem and he looks the one to beat. (3) STAR EYE also steps up in class following a maiden win at start number five over 1400M three weeks ago. The distance may suit and the Violence filly can be competitive again. (12) GOLDEN KAISER completes the trio of last start winners and steps up after a front-running score over 1400M. He will look to be on pace again here. The main danger to all of them is (11) PINEUI KKUM. After nine blanks he broke through at the tenth time of asking and evidently enjoyed it as he followed up immediately with another win. He then beat four of these on his way to 2^nd place at this class and distance on January 22^nd and has solid claims here. As for the rest, (4) SEUNGNI TOUT remains a maiden but has three-runner-up finishes from six attempts to date including at this class and has at least placing claims again.

Selections	(6) Galaxy Road (11) Pineui Kkum (3) Star Eye (4) Seungni Tout
Next Best	12, 9
Fast Start	3, 6, 11, 12

Continue reading ”Busan Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 13)”