Algoma Stakes

Five three-year-old fillies take the gate here and they are a really even looking bunch. It is hard to have one on top with the works and form very similar. I think I will side with Sentiment for the narrow win. She was a stakes winner over this trip last out and is working strongly however she gets a 2LB penalty for that win, so that brings in all the others. Dressed In Pink could be the main danger although Dime Moment may have enough class to win this and if the 2Lb anchors the Fractious runner then she may be the one to take advantage.

Regent Stakes

This will be fast and furious and the outside pair Tiger Force and Sir Lionking looks like they may be fast enough. Infared was a stakes winner last out but will find it harder to find the front this time. La Fiere Bridge is on fire with 5 wins in a row but this is a step up in grade and it is impossible to write off any Mb Stables runner and they saddle Night Raider here who ran well in a hot sprint at DMR last time. Darkest Night takes the ace gate and is not out of it in an open looking sprint.

Muskoka Stakes

Only five Canada bred two-year-olds for a $200.000 prize is a little disappointing but for these five it is the chance to take a big purse when they might be out of their depth in similar non-State bred races. Speed Five has won his last two as has All Out Fury, but it is hard to weigh up their form as their last wins came at much lower level. Bordeaux was game in winning a decent WO maiden last time and looks more like he will be suited by this race as does Underlined who had an outing on grass last time for her second win. It is hard to find a stakes race without an Mb runner and they always have a good chance and Bitter represents the stable here and will be hard to beat. I think I will settle on Bordeaux for the win here though.

Simcoe Stakes

Another big purse for the two-year-olds, this time the colts and again just the five. There are three here that I like, the inside goes to Secret Pancake who was a strong maiden winner and is working strongly, he must be a good chance. Consumed By Fire looks promising too and looks to stay unbeaten and Masculinity comes here from Smokey Stover and threw a strong mile work recently. The Mb runner will of course be well supported and though he is still a maiden he looks like an above average sort.

The NJ Breeders Handicap

Daddy A Baller looks to have found his five-year-old improvement this year winning two from three and working a 1.10 flat recently. He must be the winner in my books, but this is an even field of NJ Breds and nothing is without a chance. Fleeting Tiger is another 1.10 flat worker off bottom weight, but his form isn’t so sharp this year and maybe second best today.

The Fleet Indian

A pretty good field for this, albeit a little short of runners. Unicorn Girl has been showing big improvement since changing stables, but she will have to step up again against a few of these. Jawaher is the class runner having run well in the GP, Summertime and MTH Oaks and running from the ideal gate she must be a winning chance. Lil Sunshine has the class but is carrying a big weight and may only be a top 4 chance and we have the inevitable runner from Mb Stales in Jean From Winter Pen who has worked a sub 1.37 mile before being claimed by the champ.

The Funny Cide

The NY Breds go here for a nice prize in another open juvenile race. I like Mooresy and Into The Ether for this as both are drawn well, recent winners and working strongly. Mb brings two here so means business and there is very little between them, Repel may be the better of them despite some ordinary looking form but with his last two being on an off track I think he is better than that.

The West Point Handicap

A better sized field here as ten take the field. State Apples is a very interesting entry with only three starts as a four-year-old but with a 1.09 and 2 work over the turf six, he looks like he may be an emerging star. Another lightly raced one here is Snakie You with three wins from five starts but in contrast he is proven in this grade with a close and fast finishing fifth in the Connaught Cup last time. For me it is one of those off bottom weight, but the chances don’t end there, and a case can be made for every runner.

The Yaddo Handicap

Sandrine is a handicap winner already this year and carries the same weight she did in the Critical Eye Handicap although she switches surfaces here, so it is hard to line up that form. Long Term parking has gone off the boil this year and is having a HRP four-year-old year as is Liberty Lake who is struggling to improve on some good early season form. Ma Petite Penne ran well in the Nassau last time so must be a contender as is Pippin who hails from Mb Stables and has the form to take a race like this. Ginger Lucy has been really consistent through some big races so is well worth the 120Lbs and that may not be enough to stop her winning.

The Albany

A nice field of three-year-olds for this and a very strong hand for Mb Stables as expected. The Peter Pan winner Gaslight is the more proven of the two but Rolling Loud looks like an improver and there won’t be much between them. Valance and Jameson will both have their chance as will Licit who is drawn perfectly today. I think Rolling Loud will go to the front and could be hard to roll over, but there are a few here that can mount a finish and in a smaller field it can suit those types.

Bernardo Handicap – Grade III

I think the weight favors La Roo here who has run well in this grade before, but that can also be said for Always A Virgin who is a grade one winner this year carrying bottom weight…..who knows how that works!! I think either of those will be tough to beat if they are at their best but there are plenty of chances here not least the top weight Smokin Cara who definitely earns her impost with some great wins including the Derby City at grade one in May. Penal Partido Rene won the Honourable Miss last time but is raised three pounds for this and that may be enough to see her struggling to repeat that great effort. The outside gate Rainy Bronze Party shouldn’t be overlooked.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES