7/1/23

  9  WO   Highlander Stakes (GII)     

$200.000   4yo&Up      6f  Turf       122lbs 

North of the border and bring your marshmallows as we have a hot group set to go spiriting six panels on the WO lawn in the Highland Stakes (GII).  I’m probably going to be a bit chalky with my selections in this one, but you gotta pick who you like… I’ll take Creepy Rocky Party as the top selection as he just always seems to be around and has been facing salty group after salty group.  I think he gets the job done today.  Danube has won his last two, so there’s no doubt he can run and I put him in the second spot.  He comes from off of the track, but this is a configuration where closers can find room to run, and that bodes well for him.    

Here’s The Field –

Has been on the board in just about every single race of late, and now steps up to the big leagues off of Alw efforts.  He’s running big and this is a smart outfit, so I’d look for him to be in the middle of things because they don’t jump into just anything. 

Four wins from his last five starts including a last out win over the CD sod taking the Beau Stakes, going 5f.  He’s been handled quite well and this looks like a spot where he can make some noise.  Don’t ignore him.

He hasn’t had his picture taken since winning the TX Derby back in may of last year.  Six off the board finishes in a row is not exactly what you want to see, so I have to pass here as well. 

Back-to-back wins taking the Elusive Quality at BEL, then the Dayton (GIII) on the downhill at SA, both in very quick time.  He looks like one of the ones to get past if they can just keep him pointed in the same direction. 

Another monster that never seems to miss a check… 2-3-1 in six starts this year, including a near miss second (DH) in the Japiur (GI) last out.  I’d look for him to be right in the thick of things and certainly would not leave him off of any tickets in this one.

Got back on the winning side of things taking down an OptAlw group at CD going 5f on wet sod, his second start after a layup.  He likes it wet, and we are seeing a lot of rain, so keep you eye on the forecast and this one. 

A ton of speed from this one, but he seems to back up when they get into the lane.  He’s had the lead in his last three starts only to end up with a 5/3/4 ending to the story.  Now he’s won nine races and has five seconds with five thirds, so don’t think he can’t pull off the win. 

No wins this year, no wins last year… but he did show some life last out running third vs high end Alw types at CD going 5f on the sod.  He was second in the ’21 BC Turf Sprint (GI), so he has the back class, but can he find some of that old magic vs. this group?

He won the GP Turf Sprint (GIII) to kick off the season, then just missed last out in the Chamberlain Bridge on wet sod at LS, both of those at the 5f distance.  He could be a wild card in this one if he can show his best stuff.

He’s been very solid this year, winning the Sensational Star Stakes at SA vs Cal-bred types, then just missing in the Lure, and again when third in the MD Sprint Stakes (GIII) on PRK Day.  He seems to be there each and every time they hand out checks. 

COZMAN    5 / 4              Willie’s Green Card      4 / 5 / 10

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES