Saturday's Stakes Schedule Made for Multi-Race Wagers
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Saturday's stakes menu offers plentiful opportunities for multi-race wagers.
The penultimate day of the meet at Churchill Downs has an all-stakes pick four consisting of the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3), Fleur De Lis Handicap (G2), Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) and the Regret Stakes (G3T). The Foster and Fleur De Lis respectively offer win-and-you're-in berths to the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).
At Belmont Park, the late pick five begins with four stakes: the Vagrancy Handicap (G3), New York Stakes (G2T), True North Stakes (G2) and the Just A Game Stakes (G1T).
Meanwhile a wide-open renewal of the Ohio Derby (G3) from JACK Thistledown Racino is a qualifying points race (20-8-4-2) for the rescheduled Kentucky Derby Presented By Woodford Reserve (G1) Sept. 5.
The Ohio Derby kicks off a cross-country pick five that goes through the True North, Stephen Foster, Just A Game and Regret. Let's have a look.
Ohio Derby (Tdn, race 8, 4:22 ET): TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Storm the Court (13) is the only graded stakes winner in this large field of 3-year-olds, and gets some class relief after chasing the likes of Authentic, Honor A. P. and Nadal in three starts this season. The blinkers come off and he looks to be training forwardly, but post 13 could find him caught outside several others with early speed, notably Lebda (4) and Established (12). The latter is a maiden against winners, but the son of Constitution will not be anywhere near his 30-1 morning line after a big-figure effort second time out.
Looking at the possibility of a pace meltdown with three closers—Sprawl (6), who has won both of his prior two-turn dirt races on fast tracks; South Bend (10), who comes off five straight turf races and has won three of five on dirt; and Soros (11), who was used too hard too early in the Unbridled Stakes against Dr Post, subsequently second in the Belmont Stakes Presented By NYRA Bets (G1).
Despite a bad post, Unrighteous (14) rates a look, well, because Todd Pletcher, that's why.
A - 6, 10, 11
B - 12, 13
C - 4, 14
True North (Bel, race 9, 5:36 ET): Promises Fulfilled (7) and Firenze Fire (8) have some miles on them, but are the two grade 1 winners in the lineup, and one or the other figures to fire.
The bust-out inclusions are Wicked Trick (3) and Stan the Man (6), neither of which showed their best stuff when last seen in the Stymie in early March. Wicked Trick had reeled off six straight wins before that, while Stan the Man was beaten just three lengths in the 2019 True North, and has won previously when fresh.
A - 7, 8
B - 3, 6
Stephen Foster (CD, race 10, 5:47 ET): Tom's d'Etat (5) and By My Standards (6) come off impressive victories in the Oaklawn Mile and Oaklawn Handicap (G2) respectively, and will deservedly take the bulk of the action.
Our lone upset threat is Fearless (1), who was actually favored against By My Standards in the New Orleans Classic (G2) three starts back. He has switched to deep-closing tactics since then, and could get a setup if By My Standards goes after Pirate's Punch early.
A - 5, 6
B - 1
Just A Game (Bel, race 10, 6:08 ET): Chad Brown seeks his fourth consecutive win in this event, and may have them coming and going with three of the seven entrants, including probable pacesetter Newspaperofrecord (4), and the late-running Uni (6), last year's champion female grass horse who makes her seasonal debut.
The backup is Beau Recall (1), who was a rallying second in the 2019 Just A Game behind Rushing Fall, who walked the dog on an easy lead. Beau Recall is second back from a layoff after being caught behind horses through the stretch of the Old Forester Mint Julep (G3T).
A - 4, 6
B - 1
Regret (CD, race 11, 6:20 ET): Regrets, I've got a few (sorry) in what shapes up as a highly competitive event among a baker's dozen of sophomore fillies. Eight of them have similar peak efforts, at least so far.
The A-team is comprised of Dominga (1), Crystal Cliffs (5), Witez (11) and Pass the Plate (12). Witez was bottled up turning for home and finished well for second behind Crystal Cliffs over the course and nine-furlong trip May 31.
In Good Spirits (4), Micheline (6) and Harvey's Lil Goil (10) form the B-team.
In the event that things have gone exceedingly well through the first four legs, Eve of War (9) and Hendy Woods (13) also come into play.
A - 1, 5, 11, 12
B - 4, 6, 10
C - 9, 13