Classic
11⁄4 miles, 3YO and up, $6 million (5:44 p.m.)
With Triple Crown champion Justify down the road in Versailles, KY preparing for life in the breeding shed, the Classic features an overflow field and some potentially good wagering opportunities. The favorite is top West Coast horse Accelerate off his 5-for-6 campaign this year, but he may be vulnerable as he has raced outside of California only once, trainer John Sadler is 0-for-41 in the Breeders’ Cup and he drew the outside gate. Bob Baffert’s West Coast is winless in three starts against top competition this year but needed his start when finishing second to Accelerate in Santa Anita’s Awesome Again off a five-month layoff. Late-emerging 3-year-olds have a good record in this and another Baffert horse, McKinzie, fits that bill. A top Kentucky Derby contender last winter before suffering an injury. He returned with an impressive victory in the PA Derby and he looks ready to take a big step forward. Another top 3-year-old is Catholic Boy, who excels on both dirt and turf and won impressively at this distance in the Travers. Back to the older horses: NY-bred Mind Your Biscuits is a top sprinter who has blossomed into a legitimate router this year, but 11⁄4 miles could be asking too much. Roaring Lion, winner of four straight Group 1 races on European turf, is trying dirt for the first time and he’s a true 10- furlong specialist. If he takes to the dirt, you could be rewarded with a juicy payoff on one of the world’s best. A turf specialist who has made his bones on dirt is Yoshida, an impressive winner Woodward at Saratoga against a so-so field. Discreet Lover capitalized on a speed duel involving Aidan O’Brien’s Mendelssohn in Belmont’s Jockey Club Gold Cup to win at 45-1 odds. The runner-up in that race, Godolphin’s Thunder Snow, has banked over $6 million this year and could be a factor despite a disastrous appearance here in last year’s Kentucky Derby. Gunnevera likes to run late and a finish in the super is not out of the question. The inconsistent Pavel won the Stephen Foster over this surface last spring but finished a city block behind Accelerate in the Pacific Classic. 3YO Axelrod ran his guts out finishing second to McKinzie on a quirky surface that he likes. 3YO Lone Sailor looks like he’s entered to try to plod into a share of the $6 million pot. Collected and Toast of New York are also-eligibles.
Classic Selections
1st – McKINZIE
2nd– WEST COAST
3rd – CATHOLIC BOY
Longshot – ROARING LION
11⁄4 miles, 3YO and up, $6 million (5:44 p.m.)
With Triple Crown champion Justify down the road in Versailles, KY preparing for life in the breeding shed, the Classic features an overflow field and some potentially good wagering opportunities. The favorite is top West Coast horse Accelerate off his 5-for-6 campaign this year, but he may be vulnerable as he has raced outside of California only once, trainer John Sadler is 0-for-41 in the Breeders’ Cup and he drew the outside gate. Bob Baffert’s West Coast is winless in three starts against top competition this year but needed his start when finishing second to Accelerate in Santa Anita’s Awesome Again off a five-month layoff. Late-emerging 3-year-olds have a good record in this and another Baffert horse, McKinzie, fits that bill. A top Kentucky Derby contender last winter before suffering an injury. He returned with an impressive victory in the PA Derby and he looks ready to take a big step forward. Another top 3-year-old is Catholic Boy, who excels on both dirt and turf and won impressively at this distance in the Travers. Back to the older horses: NY-bred Mind Your Biscuits is a top sprinter who has blossomed into a legitimate router this year, but 11⁄4 miles could be asking too much. Roaring Lion, winner of four straight Group 1 races on European turf, is trying dirt for the first time and he’s a true 10- furlong specialist. If he takes to the dirt, you could be rewarded with a juicy payoff on one of the world’s best. A turf specialist who has made his bones on dirt is Yoshida, an impressive winner Woodward at Saratoga against a so-so field. Discreet Lover capitalized on a speed duel involving Aidan O’Brien’s Mendelssohn in Belmont’s Jockey Club Gold Cup to win at 45-1 odds. The runner-up in that race, Godolphin’s Thunder Snow, has banked over $6 million this year and could be a factor despite a disastrous appearance here in last year’s Kentucky Derby. Gunnevera likes to run late and a finish in the super is not out of the question. The inconsistent Pavel won the Stephen Foster over this surface last spring but finished a city block behind Accelerate in the Pacific Classic. 3YO Axelrod ran his guts out finishing second to McKinzie on a quirky surface that he likes. 3YO Lone Sailor looks like he’s entered to try to plod into a share of the $6 million pot. Collected and Toast of New York are also-eligibles.
Classic Selections
1st – McKINZIE
2nd– WEST COAST
3rd – CATHOLIC BOY
Longshot – ROARING LION
