Full Mast Could Cruise in King Edward Stakes

Full Mast, making his second North American start in the July 2 $200,000 King Edward Stakes (Can-IIT), figures to be the one to beat in the one-mile turf test at Woodbine.

The lightly raced 4-year-old will be making just his seventh career appearance for breeder/owner Juddmonte Farms, and showed enough talent to win a group III event at 2 in France. He was beaten just a half length that year by Gleneagles in the Prix Lagardere Grand Criterium (Fr-I).

After just two races at 3, Full Mast came to the U.S. and won an allowance optional claimer in early June from off the pace, going seven furlongs in a snappy 1:20.37 at Belmont Park. If he can handle the extra furlong, he should be tough to handle here.

Smokem Kitten has shown more speed than many of Kitten’s Joy’s progeny, winning the Miami Mile (gr. IIIT) on the front end in April. Middleburg, the runner-up that day, came back to win the Red Bank Stakes (gr. IIIT) in his next start. Smokem Kitten could be on or just off the lead here and is a logical choice for the top award.

Solemn Tribute is an interesting choice at a price. He popped and stopped in his first start this season, weakening in the Tampa Bay Stakes (gr. IIIT) after pressing the early pace. That was his first outing since winning the Tropical Park Derby last December wire-to-wire. He’s bagged a couple of wins and a close third in his trio of starts at Woodbine, and that recent running line could disguise a solid chance on the win end.

Commute finished a length behind Undrafted in the Shakertown (gr. IIT) at Keeneland in April and returned to win an allowance optional claimer next out. He didn’t fire in the Jaipur (gr. IIIT) last out but the quick turnaround is encouraging. Dimension landed the seven-furlong Connaught Cup (gr. IIT) at Woodbine last out at 20-1 after six straight off-the-board finishes. The closer will have to prove that effort wasn’t a fluke. His races at a mile haven’t been much.

Hammerstein flashed speed winning an allowance optional claimer over the layout in May. He failed to make an impression in the Jacque Cartier Stakes two back and will be tested here for class. Tower of Texas won the King Edward last year rather easily but has been on the bench since September, when he faltered in the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT). It’s a tough spot for the comebacker but not impossible.

Born in a Breeze got good at this time last year, winning the restricted Vice Regent Stakes last summer at a mile at Woodbine. His two starts this year have not inspired confidence, however. Tesseron started just once last year and once this year, and neither effort would point to the 6-year-old by Tapit   jumping up to win here.