DRF Plus Graded Stakes Analysis: Connaught Cup

In a wide open race we’re going to go with MR. ONLINE who hasn’t been worse than second in his last 10 starts and has a good record running over the Woodbine turf course. He is coming off two solid efforts going a mile in Grade 3’s at Gulfstream and the last time he ran at Woodbine he finished second in the Grade 1 Nearctic at six furlongs so he won’t mind the move back to a sprint. He set the pace in his last two races but he’s versatile and with plenty of other potential speed in the field he could be dangerous from a stalking position.

SOMETHING EXTRA is trying to win this race for the third consecutive year and he is following the same path as last year, using the Grade 3 Shakertown at Keeneland as a prep race. He ran a solid race in the Shakertown, finishing third, and the winner came back to win the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs May 2. He won the last two Connaught Cups on the lead but similar to Mr. Online he is versatile which gives Eurico Rosa Da Silva more than one option if he doesn’t break on top.

EXCAPER tailed off at the end of the 2013 meet but he appears to be back on track with a sharp front-running win at Keeneland April 13. Utley, who finished third, came back with two big races including a win in the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico. Excaper has speed and will likely use it leaving from the inside post. OCCASIONAL VIEW is better on synthetics than on turf but the potential shape of the race could work in his favor and he is a very sharp horse right now.

DIMENSION, second to Occasional View in his latest, won the Grade 2 Play the King over this course last year and could be ready for a big effort in his second start of the year.

RIVER SEVEN hasn’t been worse than second in four starts on the grass but appears to want more distance. He should be heard from late and could pick up a minor award.

It is a great betting race with many possibilities and a lot is going to depend on how they leave the starting gate. We’re going to use Mr. Online and Something Extra in the first and second positions in the exotics. We’ll go deep below them with Excaper, Occasional View and Dimension as the key players. RIVER SEVEN will also be used on the bottom part of any exotics wagers.