- Juliet Foxtrot (GB)- Geroux/ Cox
- Juliet Foxtrot is a very classy mare for Brad Cox. Her career started in Great Britain and it wasn’t anything special. Once she came to the States she really excelled. She has a graded stakes victory under her belt and multiple stakes placings in even tougher. She can go to the lead or can sit right off and with 14 in this field, I expect she will probably try and sit the trip right off the pace. I think she has a very good shot, just don’t like the rail position.
- Beau Recall (IRE)- Bridgmohan/ Cox
- Beau Recall is the other Cox in here and gets Bridgmohan again which hasn’t been aboard this horse since the winter of 2018-2019 at Fair Grounds. She has gotten better since then but with multiple different jockeys in multiple different circuits. Glad to see Bridgmohan back aboard but I think the other Cox is tougher in this spot. However, if we are talking trip setups, Beau Recall should get the more simple trip of making one run after sitting maybe 5th or 6th.
- Winning Envelope- Leparoux/ Block
- Winning Envelope is a one run closer like a couple in here. I think she is just a tad out classed here and I don’t trust Leparoux usually. I think the distance is also in question but I think the fact that she has been beaten by a couple in this field already means I should pass.
- She’sonthewarpath- Sutherland/ Margolis
- She’sonthewarpath seems to just be outclassed and not as quick as most in this spot. I think she is a one run closer and needs a lot to happen for her to get to the winner’s circle. Pass
- La Signare (FR)- Santana Jr./ Walsh
- La Signare is a very interesting horse in this field. Her numbers are nowhere near this field but I think she has talent. She seems to be in good form and is improving in each start. But I think she is capable of getting minor awards at best.
- Nay Lady Nay (IRE)- Oritz/ Brown
- Jose Ortiz gets the mount for Chad Brown today and he has never ridden this filly in her career. She won a small stake at Parx and a G2 at Churchill as a 3yo. She gets her first start as a 4yo today and gets probably the best jockey she’s ever gotten in a race to date. Brown won last weekend in the turf stake so I can see him doing it again today. Chad does amazing on these type of layoffs too. I will be using.
- Secret Message- Velazquez/ Motion
- Secret Message either shows up or she doesn’t. She seems to prefer a softer turf course. She isn’t a Grade 1 or Grade 2 caliber horse in my opinion but Grade 3 fits her. Yet, i don’t like the layoff here but it makes sense with Motion. I prefer others here but I wouldn’t be surprised if she won.
- Altea (FR)- Rosario/ Brown
- Altea is a very intriguing horse for me here. Joel Rosario has been riding better than anyone out there at CD and gets the mount again aboard Altea for Brown. She just missed in her last two starts and seems to be fresh. With the amount of pace lined up here, it could set up ideally for Altea. Rosario is his best when on a closer. I like her today in this spot.
- Varenka- Castellano/ Motion
- I am not a big fan of Varenka. I think she has talent but I think she tends to be entered way over her head most of the time. Her speed figures are slightly slower than others. I think her Lake Placid race was her peak last year. I think that could also be her peak for her career. I will be looking elsewhere as she isn’t my top closer and seems to be declining in form.
- Hanalei Moon- Gaffalione/ Casse
- I can see why Stonestreet would enter Hanalei Moon in this spot but I don’t prefer it. She didn’t show up in her 5yo debut at Tampa off the layoff and then dropped to a Grade 3 and shipped to CD. She has never raced at CD but prefers Gaffalione aboard according to her past performances. I will be looking elsewhere because there are just too many question marks for me to take her at 20/1.
- Zofelle (IRE)- Lanerie/ Walsh
- I like Zofelle as a horse but this spot is tough. Rosario left this horse to ride Altea and both Geroux and Gaffalione have other horses in this field which I deem to be better than Zofelle. If this was an entry level stake or an allowance race I would have Zofelle as my top choice. However, against this tough of a group I will be looking elsewhere.
- Coco Channel- Bejarano/ Lopresti
- I have no clue on why this mare is in this spot. She hasn’t won in over 2 years and is 0 for 4 in the money at Churchill. Wouldn’t be surprised if she scratched or ran last.
- Elizabeth Way (IRE)- Hernandez Jr./ Attfield
- Roger Attfield tends to do amazing things with older turf horses. Elizabeth Way is only a 4yo but she has some solid career starts under her belt. She seems to be outclassed but if anyone is going to spring the upset I like my chances with her. The 13 post isn’t ideal by any means but I think the distance is key for her.
- Mitchell Road- Talamo/ Mott
- Mitchell Road is another outside chance type of horse. The post kills her chances in my opinion and Joe Talamo is as cold as the North Pole right now. She is coming out of a lot weaker but is running great races in those last few. Will be looking elsewhere.
TOP PICKS:
#2 Beau Recall (IRE)
#8 Altea (FR)
#6 Nay Lady Nay (IRE)