Thistledown Race 1 - Race 1 - Allowance Optional Claiming
MR. PENNY PINCHER (3) comes off a Thistledown 1207 AOC 89 win on 19 May, making all to score by 1.3L with 54kg and he rises to 56kg. VODKA N GINGERALE (1) is second-up after a 4.25L Thistledown 1106 win in 3U with 54kg; up to 56kg here and he’s 6:2-3-1 at the track and 4:0-3-1 at the Thistledown 1207. HANDSOME PANTS (4) was 3rd in that 19 May AOC 89, 2.5L behind MR. PENNY PINCHER, and drops to 54kg. KONTEEKEE (2) was 4th in the same race, beaten 3L, and owns solid Thistledown 1207 figures (7:2-2-0), having also defeated VODKA N GINGERALE by 3L at this trip on 7 Oct 2025.

Jockey: Chelsey Keiser
Weight: 56kgs
Stats
Comments
Powered home to win the 3U at Thistledown over 1106m on 16 May, drawing clear by 4.25L from Picaro with 54kg. Second-up with Chelsey Keiser again and up 2kg to 56kg; boasts a strong local record (Thistledown 6:2-3-1) and is consistently competitive around 1207m (5:0-3-1, track/distance 4:0-3-1). Draws barrier 1 and his inside-gate stats read well (barriers 1-3: 4:1-2-1), so he profiles to run well.
Last Starts 26 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/9 | 16/05/2026 | - | 3U | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1106m | FAST | Chelsey Keiser | 54kg | - | 4-3-1 | 4 |
| 4.25L | $0.00 |
| 2/5 | 07/10/2025 | - | Allowance 83 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | SY | Chelsey Keiser | 53.5kg | - | 4-4-2 | 3 |
| 3L | $2.80 |
| 2/7 | 15/09/2025 | - | 3U | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FAST | Chelsey Keiser | 52kg | - | 5-5-4 | 6 |
| 2.25L | $7.00 |
| 2/6 | 21/06/2025 | - | Allowance 85 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Anthony Y Nunez | 54kg | - | 3-3-3 | 3 |
| 4L | $4.20 |
| 1/5 | 03/06/2025 | - | 3U | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1106m | FAST | Anthony Y Nunez | 52kg | - | 4-3-2 | 6 |
| 0.75L | $2.60 |
| 3/7 | 13/05/2025 | - | Allowance 85 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Anthony Y Nunez | 54kg | - | 7-7-3 | 2 |
| 3.3L | $15.00 |
| 7/9 | 26/02/2025 | - | Claiming 88 | $0.00 | Turfway Park | 1207m | FT | Irving Moncada | 49.5kg | - | 3-2-3 | 6 |
| 7.8L | $5.00 |
| 8/8 | 31/01/2025 | - | Starter Allowance 82 | $0.00 | Turfway Park | 1609m | FT | Gerardo Corrales | 54.5kg | - | 3-3-3-8 | 5 |
| 8.5L | $7.50 |
| 7/10 | 28/12/2024 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 90 | $0.00 | Turfway Park | 1609m | FT | Corey J Lanerie | 54.5kg | - | 10-9-8-7 | 6 |
| 10L | $10.00 |
| 1/11 | 13/11/2024 | - | MDN Claiming 75 | $0.00 | Churchill Downs | 1308m | FT | Tyler Gaffalione | 54kg | - | 4-3-2 | 1 |
| 0.5L | $4.20 |

Jockey: Rocco Bowen
Weight: 54kgs
Stats
Comments
Proven at Thistledown over 1207 (7:2-2-0) and remains at 54kg. On May 19 he was 4th of 7 in an Allowance Optional Claiming 89 here over 1207, beaten 3L after racing around 4th, with Mr. Penny Pincher winning. Earlier this prep he scored at Oaklawn Park over 1207 in Claiming 94 on SY by 2.3L at $17, so with his local record he can be competitive.
Last Starts 23 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/7 | 19/05/2026 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 89 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Luis Raul Rivera | 54kg | - | 5-4-4 | 1 |
| 3L | $0.00 |
| 9/10 | 10/04/2026 | - | Claiming 97 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | FT | Cruz Walter De La | 56.5kg | - | 9-10-10 | 8 |
| 8.3L | $0.00 |
| 1/10 | 07/03/2026 | - | Claiming 94 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | SY | Cruz Walter De La | 53.5kg | - | 6-5-2 | 9 |
| 2.3L | $17.00 |
| 7/11 | 15/02/2026 | - | Claiming 94 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | MY | David Cabrera | 55kg | - | 7-7-6 | 3 |
| 6.9L | $20.00 |
| 6/12 | 06/02/2026 | - | Claiming 98 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | FT | David Cabrera | 53.5kg | - | 9-9-6 | 9 |
| 8L | $61.00 |
| 4/8 | 21/12/2025 | - | Claiming 94 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | FT | Cruz Walter De La | 55kg | - | 4-2-3 | 6 |
| 5.5L | $11.00 |
| 1/5 | 07/10/2025 | - | Allowance 83 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | SY | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | 54kg | - | 5-5-4 | 2 |
| 3L | $5.50 |
| 4/7 | 15/09/2025 | - | 3U | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FAST | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | 54kg | - | 6-7-5 | 4 |
| 5.75L | $6.00 |
| 2/4 | 25/08/2025 | - | Allowance 91 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | 55kg | - | 4-4-2 | 2 |
| 2.8L | $5.50 |
| 1/6 | 10/07/2025 | - | Allowance 85 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | MY | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | 54kg | - | 3-2-1 | 6 |
| 1.8L | $1.91 |
| 2/8 | 23/06/2025 | - | Allowance 85 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | 54kg | - | 4-3-2 | 3 |
| 3.8L | $7.00 |
| 6/7 | 13/05/2025 | - | Allowance 85 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | 54kg | - | 3-4-5 | 7 |
| 8.3L | $5.50 |
| 7/8 | 25/04/2025 | - | 3U | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | FAST | Cristian A Torres | 55.5kg | - | 7-6-7 | 5 |
| 8.25L | $3.60 |
| 2/7 | 28/03/2025 | - | 3U | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | FAST | Cristian A Torres | 55.5kg | - | 7-7-3 | 8 |
| 4L | $4.20 |
| 3/10 | 17/02/2025 | - | Claiming 87 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | FT | Kelsi Harr | 55.5kg | - | 4-4-3 | 9 |
| 5.5L | $5.00 |
| 3/11 | 26/01/2025 | - | Claiming 87 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | FT | Kelsi Harr | 55.5kg | - | 7-2-2 | 9 |
| 4.8L | $7.00 |
| 6/8 | 14/12/2024 | - | Starter Allowance 97 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1207m | MY | Kelsi Harr | 53.5kg | - | 6-6-7 | 7 |
| 9.3L | $21.00 |
| 9/11 | 28/09/2024 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 85 | $0.00 | Canterbury Park | 1006m | FM | Kelsi Harr | 53kg | - | 10-10-9 | 3 |
| 11.7L | $29.00 |
| 3/4 | 14/09/2024 | - | Stakes 83 | $0.00 | Canterbury Park | 1207m | FT | Kelsi Harr | 56kg | - | 2-2-2 | 3 |
| 6.3L | $0.00 |
| 4/9 | 24/08/2024 | - | Allowance 86 | $0.00 | Canterbury Park | 1207m | FT | Kelsi Harr | 54kg | - | 7-6-5 | 5 |
| 1.1L | $19.00 |

Jockey: Ricardo Feliciano
Weight: 56kgs
Stats
Comments
Led throughout to win at Thistledown over 1207m on 19 May (Allowance Optional Claiming 89) by 1.3L over Tricky Tiger. Rises 2kg to 56kg but draws inside in barrier 3 and boasts solid local/track-distance figures (Thistledown 8:2-4-1; Thistledown 1207m 4:1-2-0) with a proven Feliciano partnership (14:4-5-2). In consistent form this season (12:4-3-3) and looks set to be competitive again.
Last Starts 23 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/7 | 19/05/2026 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 89 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54kg | - | 1-1-1 | 5 |
| 1.3L | $0.00 |
| 3/6 | 20/03/2026 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 97 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1207m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54kg | - | 1-2-3 | 3 |
| 0.8L | $6.00 |
| 4/9 | 28/02/2026 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 97 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1408m | GD | Ricardo Feliciano | 54.5kg | - | 4-4-3 | 9 |
| 5.8L | $5.50 |
| 6/8 | 15/02/2026 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 105 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1408m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54.5kg | - | 1-1-4 | 7 |
| 9.5L | $13.00 |
| 1/6 | 10/01/2026 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 97 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1408m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 55.5kg | - | 1-1-1 | 2 |
| 1.5L | $3.10 |
| 1/7 | 27/12/2025 | - | Starter Optional Claiming 98 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1207m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54.5kg | - | 7-4-1 | 6 |
| 1.8L | $3.00 |
| 3/8 | 17/12/2025 | - | Starter Optional Claiming 95 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1646m | FT | Daniel Centeno | 54.5kg | - | 1-1-2-2 | 4 |
| 5.3L | $3.25 |
| 2/8 | 29/11/2025 | - | Starter Optional Claiming 102 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1308m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54.5kg | - | 4-4-3 | 6 |
| 1.3L | $6.50 |
| 1/9 | 10/10/2025 | - | Allowance 84 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1106m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54kg | - | 3-3-1 | 4 |
| 1.8L | $2.10 |
| 2/6 | 11/09/2025 | - | Allowance 88 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54kg | - | 1-1-2 | 2 |
| 1.5L | $8.00 |
| 3/7 | 26/08/2025 | - | Allowance 86 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1609m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54kg | - | 4-5-2-4 | 6 |
| 1.5L | $2.60 |
| 2/9 | 04/08/2025 | - | Allowance 86 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1609m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54kg | - | 4-4-1-2 | 5 |
| 4L | $3.70 |
| 2/6 | 16/07/2025 | - | Allowance 88 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54kg | - | 4-2-2 | 4 |
| 3.3L | $6.50 |
| 2/6 | 02/07/2025 | - | Starter Optional Claiming 99 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1106m | FT | Ricardo Feliciano | 54kg | - | 4-4-4 | 3 |
| 0.1L | $13.00 |
| 5/7 | 18/06/2025 | - | Claiming 87 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | MY | Ricardo Feliciano | 56kg | - | 6-6-7 | 2 |
| 13.6L | $4.33 |
| 2/7 | 31/01/2025 | - | Claiming 88 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1408m | FT | Rosario Montanez | 53.5kg | - | 3-3-1 | 1 |
| 0.8L | $14.00 |
| 3/6 | 04/01/2025 | - | Claiming 89 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1207m | FT | Rosario Montanez | 53.5kg | - | 4-4-4 | 4 |
| 8.5L | $9.50 |
| 1/9 | 27/11/2024 | - | Claiming 85 | $0.00 | Tampa Bay Downs | 1408m | FT | Samuel Marin | 54.5kg | - | 3-4-2 | 1 |
| 0.5L | $5.50 |
| 8/8 | 04/10/2024 | - | Claiming 88 | $0.00 | Meadowlands | 1006m | FM | Samuel Marin | 54kg | - | 5-6-7 | 8 |
| 7.3L | $18.00 |
| 1/5 | 19/07/2024 | - | Claiming 76 | $0.00 | Monmouth Park | 1207m | FT | Samuel Marin | 55kg | - | 5-2-1 | 4 |
| 8L | $1.85 |

Jockey: Fernando Salazar Becerra
Weight: 54kgs
Stats
Comments
Stuck on for 3rd at Thistledown over 1207m on 19 May in an Allowance Optional Claiming 89, 2.5L behind Mr. Penny Pincher after racing handy. With a track/trip placing from one go and a 3:1-1-1 record with Fernando Salazar Becerra, he can run well again.
Last Starts 23 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/7 | 19/05/2026 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 89 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 55kg | - | 2-3-3 | 3 |
| 2.5L | $0.00 |
| 1/4 | 24/03/2026 | - | Allowance 85 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1609m | GD | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 3-1-1-1 | 4 |
| 6.5L | $2.15 |
| 2/5 | 09/03/2026 | - | Allowance 85 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1609m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 2-2-2-2 | 1 |
| 7.3L | $3.10 |
| 5/7 | 19/02/2026 | - | Allowance 82 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1609m | MY | Alexander Crispin | 57kg | - | 5-3-3-3 | 3 |
| 8.3L | $2.10 |
| 1/5 | 05/02/2026 | - | Allowance 89 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1609m | MY | Alexander Crispin | 56kg | - | 1-1-1-1 | 1 |
| 2.3L | $2.60 |
| 3/10 | 18/12/2025 | - | Claiming 87 | $0.00 | Turfway Park | 1609m | FT | Adam Beschizza | 53.5kg | - | 7-7-7-6 | 5 |
| 1.5L | $2.25 |
| 4/7 | 20/11/2025 | - | Claiming 88 | $0.00 | Churchill Downs | 1609m | MY | Jose L Ortiz | 53.5kg | - | 7-5-5-4 | 2 |
| 5.1L | $3.30 |
| 6/6 | 08/10/2025 | - | Claiming 91 | $0.00 | Keeneland | 1710m | FT | Irad Ortiz Jr | 53.5kg | - | 4-4-4-5 | 3 |
| 19.8L | $2.15 |
| 7/8 | 03/09/2025 | - | Allowance 94 | $0.00 | Colonial Downs | 1609m | FM | Emmanuel Esquivel | 54.5kg | - | 6-5-3-7 | 6 |
| 5.1L | $6.50 |
| 6/9 | 09/08/2025 | - | Allowance 94 | $0.00 | Colonial Downs | 1710m | FM | Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr | 54.5kg | - | 5-6-5-5 | 2 |
| 5L | $13.00 |
| 4/7 | 27/07/2025 | - | Claiming 92 | $0.00 | Saratoga | 1609m | SY | Luis Raul Rivera | 54.5kg | - | 6-4-3-3 | 3 |
| 2.9L | $10.00 |
| 6/6 | 11/07/2025 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 88 | $0.00 | Saratoga | 1609m | FT | Kendrick Carmouche | 54.5kg | - | 1-1-1-6 | 4 |
| 5.8L | $8.50 |
| 6/8 | 14/03/2025 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 92 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1710m | FT | Emmanuel Esquivel | 53kg | - | 5-5-6-6 | 6 |
| 24.3L | $8.00 |
| 3/6 | 17/02/2025 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 91 | $0.00 | Fair Grounds | 1710m | FT | Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr | 54kg | - | 4-4-3-3 | 4 |
| 11L | $5.00 |
| 4/7 | 26/01/2025 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 91 | $0.00 | Oaklawn Park | 1710m | WET FAST | Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr | 54kg | - | 2-2-2-4 | 5 |
| 8.8L | $1.80 |
| 8/11 | 05/10/2024 | - | Stakes 96 | $600,000.00 | Keeneland | 1710m | FT | Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr | 55.5kg | - | 5-5-4-5 | 4 |
| 16L | $12.00 |
| 1/11 | 14/09/2024 | - | MDN Special Weight 85 | $0.00 | Churchill Downs | 1710m | FT | Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr | 54kg | - | 6-6-4-1 | 4 |
| - | $9.50 |

Jockey: Erik Barbaran
Weight: 54kgs
Stats
Comments
Runner-up at Thistledown on 2 May over 1207m in a Claiming 88 (8 runners), beaten 1.5L by Atkins after racing on the speed with 56kg. Second-up with a 2kg drop to 54kg and staying at the trip, he brings strong local figures—Thistledown (17:5-5-2) and track/distance (12:2-5-2)—and now with Valerie K. Shanyfelt, he looks set to run well again.
Last Starts 40 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/8 | 02/05/2026 | - | Claiming 88 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | WET FAST | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 2-2-1 | 2 |
| 1.5L | $0.00 |
| 4/5 | 06/10/2025 | - | Starter Optional Claiming 100 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Victor R Fernandez | 55kg | - | 3-3-2 | 4 |
| 2.8L | $8.50 |
| 5/6 | 17/09/2025 | - | Allowance Optional Claiming 102 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Victor R Fernandez | 56kg | - | 1-1-1 | 3 |
| 3.5L | $11.00 |
| 1/6 | 28/08/2025 | - | 3U | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FAST | Victor R Fernandez | 54kg | - | 1-1-1 | 6 |
| 2L | $3.50 |
| 2/7 | 14/08/2025 | - | Allowance 94 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Victor R Fernandez | 54kg | - | 1-2-1 | 7 |
| 1.5L | $4.00 |
| 3/7 | 30/06/2025 | - | Allowance 95 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Victor R Fernandez | 55kg | - | 2-2-2 | 4 |
| 2.8L | $10.00 |
| 2/6 | 07/06/2025 | - | Allowance 92 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 3-2-1 | 4 |
| 0.1L | $0.00 |
| 1/6 | 13/05/2025 | - | Claiming 90 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1106m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 54kg | - | 1-1-1 | 1 |
| 3.8L | $2.75 |
| 5/7 | 13/03/2025 | - | Claiming 91 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1207m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 3-2-1 | 7 |
| 1.6L | $7.00 |
| 5/8 | 28/12/2024 | - | Claiming 95 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1207m | MY | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 57kg | - | 2-4-4 | 1 |
| 14.3L | $8.50 |
| 1/7 | 04/12/2024 | - | Allowance 91 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1207m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 1-1-1 | 1 |
| 1.3L | $5.50 |
| 4/10 | 14/11/2024 | - | Allowance 91 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1207m | SY | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 2-2-2 | 1 |
| 2.6L | $17.00 |
| 6/11 | 30/10/2024 | - | Allowance 90 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1207m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 1-3-2 | 1 |
| 7.4L | $10.00 |
| 2/5 | 10/10/2024 | - | Allowance 89 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 2-1-2 | 1 |
| 3L | $13.00 |
| 1/7 | 19/09/2024 | - | Claiming 84 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 54kg | - | 2-2-1 | 4 |
| - | $4.50 |
| 4/6 | 29/08/2024 | - | Allowance 90 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1207m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 54kg | - | 3-5-5 | 6 |
| 8.8L | $10.00 |
| 7/8 | 06/08/2024 | - | Allowance 82 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1609m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 54kg | - | 2-3-4-7 | 4 |
| 15.6L | $4.40 |
| 4/7 | 16/07/2024 | - | Allowance 92 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1106m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 1-1-1 | 3 |
| 2.1L | $11.00 |
| 1/9 | 24/06/2024 | - | Claiming 82 | $0.00 | Thistledown | 1106m | FT | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 1-1-1 | 4 |
| 1L | $10.00 |
| 4/4 | 25/01/2024 | - | Allowance 96 | $0.00 | Mahoning Valley | 1106m | MY | Fernando Salazar Becerra | 56kg | - | 3-3-4 | 4 |
| 5.5L | $17.00 |

Jockey: Luis Antonio Gonzalez
Weight: 54kgs
Stats
Comments
Proven at Thistledown 1207m (8:4-1-1) and strong at the trip overall (19:7-3-4), with an effective partnership with today’s rider (9:4-1-2). First-up here and yet to win fresh (3:0-0-0), so the platform is solid but he may be sharper deeper into the prep.