Some familiar New York-bred turf runners run in Sunday’s co-featured $125,000 stakes scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf, the Ashley T. Cole for males (race 4) and the John Hettinger (race 9) for fillies and mares.
Sunday’s card at Woodbine is headlined by the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile, but overall, it presents plenty of wagering opportunities for horseplayers with two guaranteed pick four pools and the Jackpot Hi 5 wager, which could have a significant carryover heading into Sunday.
It would be nice to play the pick five or either of Belmont’s two pick fours – especially the late pick four with a $300,000-guaranteed pool. But such thoughts are discouraged by the placement of 2-year-old maiden races filled with first-time starters in such a way as to make them totally blind items.
Going to take a stand on BATTLE FOR GOLD (No. 8). He was an impressive winner of his last two sprints on the main track last year and came back with a decent effort running over turf in his only start this year. JAGGER M (No. 13) is dropping and will appreciate the easier company.
With seven of the 10 races carded for turf and the National Weather Service forecasting an 80 percent chance of rain sometime after noon, this Belmont card will turn on the weather. The forecast isn’t calling for heavy rain, and I’d guess even if rain does fall, the stakes, at least, are very likely to stay on turf.
Heavy rain on Wednesday night softened up the turf course, and there’s more rain in the forecast for Saturday, which would put a damper on the two one-mile Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In stakes for 2-year-olds on the card, the Grade 2 Natalma and the Grade 2 Summer.
The Noble Damsel and Sands Point get Saturday’s $300,000 guaranteed late pick four off to an exceedingly tough start, as both turf stakes came up extremely competitive.
DRF Plus graded stakes analysis of the Pucker Up at Arlington Park.
Saturday’s $100,000-guaranteed early pick four at Woodbine offers a challenging sequence for horseplayers, with two graded stakes that feature full fields.
Week two of the Churchill Downs September meet gets underway Friday with the track, as usual, starting with a late afternoon post time.
