Gierkink's preview: Jackpot Hi 5 up to $183K

Jackpot Hi 5 continues to build

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover heading into the nightcap, the ninth race, is $183,847. The ninth could be viewed as Chocolate Ride’s to lose, even though the 4-year-old is returning from an extended layoff in the 1 1/16-mile maiden special on the grass. The 5-2 morning line favorite, he put up a fat 87 Beyer while finishing a lapped-on second in an Oct. 4 allowance at Keeneland for trainer Mark Casse.

FORMULATOR FACT: Casse has won at a 14 percent clip with six-month-plus comebackers in routes during the last two years, with a return on investment of $1.66.

Chris’ Brew (20-1) could crack the top three on either surface. The half-brother to the stakes-placed turf expert Why Katherine went four wide on the first turn and six wide on the far turn before ending up fourth in a Polytrack route in his second start July 20.

Three turf races scheduled

Wednesday’s grass events were transferred to the Polytrack following heavy rain on Tuesday. There’s no significant rain in the forecast for Friday, when lane 1 will be used over a course that should have a little give to it. The ground along the inside hasn’t been used much this year, and should be preferred territory.

Can “Queensbury” rule?

With a record of eight seconds and a dozen thirds in 32 starts, Queensbury Rules is Woodbine’s best-known maiden. Off several decent efforts, the 7-year-old gelding is 8-5 on the line in the sixth, a weak $8,000 maiden route, but is obviously worth trying to beat.

Two Stellas (5-2) might be the spoiler in his initial two-turn excursion. The son of Philanthropist is bred for stamina on both sides of his pedigree, and is dropping to a new low for his fourth outing and second with Lasix. Trainer Mike DePaulo has lured second-leading rider Eurico Da Silva for the mount.

Horse to Watch
PRETTY TWO FACED
Trainer: Tom O’Keefe
Last race: Aug. 13, 4th
Finish: 3rd by 1 and one-quarter
Beyer: 65
She was blocked behind rivals on the turn and in the stretch while closing from the back of the pack in a slow-paced route for non-winners of three Ontario-sired stock and $40,000 claimers. The late-blooming 4-year-old has only missed the board once since late May, which was a wide sixth-place finish in the Victoriana Stakes.