Woodbine DRF Plus Graded Stakes Analysis: December 1, 2013

Bessarabian Stakes, (Woodbine, Race 8)

The Bessarabian Stakes drew a full field of 12, and it's a fairly competitive group.

YOUCAN'TCATCHME (#2), the second choice on the Morning Line at 3-1, already has three stakes wins this year, and she's proven at this seven furlong distance. She was, however, loose on the lead against only four rivals in her last start, and that makes her a horse to play against in her return. There is some concern that she'll once again be able to control the pace, as there's not an overwhelming amount of pace in this field, but it does seem that a filly like DENE COURT (#5) will be able to at least keep her honest.

PURELY HOT (#6), the ML favorite at 5-2, deserves a long look thanks to her most recent figures and her very strong overall win percentage, but she's unproven at the distance and track, making a short price a little tough to take. I'll use her, but not as an "A" play.

From a speed figure standpoint, MEKONG DELTA (#1), ACTING NAUGHTY (#7), LEMON SPLASH (#8), CABO QUEEN (#9), DANCE TO THE MOON (#10) AND RUNFOR RO (#11) all seem to be lacking compared with the top contenders. PART THE SEAS (#4) seems best suited to turf. That leaves STRIKE THE MOON (#3), who was a decent third behind YOUCANTCATCHME in the Seaway three back in a race where she was against the pace scenario, and QUEEN'S AWARD (#12), who makes her local debut, but she has posted some solid figures on other synthetic strips. I'll use those two equally in exotics and would consider "dutching" them at the right odds, and I'll also use them with PURELY HOT in exactas and trifectas.