We’ve got 6 races on tap for this week with 2 each from Belmont, Churchill Downs, and Woodbine. The Jockey Club Oaks and Derby headline the start of the fall meet at Belmont. We’ve got 4 Breeder’s Cup qualifiers this week. Last week was tough picking with large fields and lots of good horses, will this week be any easier?

Race 1: Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes

• Higher Truth – Strong finishes in last 2 stakes races, Chad Brown trained, winner of 2/3 at Belmont, good speed, working bullets.
• Shantisara – Winner last race, seems to do a little better at longer distances, high speed fig last race, working out well.
• Creative Flair – Competitive speed last race, hit the board in 6/7 starts, should compete for the win again, graded stakes experience.
• Just Missed – Madone comes in at long odds, but really seems to be more a miler, 2 starts over 1 mile are finishes of 6th and 5th.

Race 2: Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1)

• Walton Street – Graded stakes winner coming off good results in Dubai, winner at distance, trainer is 50% with first time Lasix.
• Desert Encounter – Very familiar with long distance racing, 13 5-2-2 at distance, trainer is 67% in Graded stakes, 9 yr old Gelding WOAH!
• Belichick – Winner at distance, winner at Woodbine, has finished in the money in all 9 lifetime starts, high percentage trainer, lost to Corelli and English Conqueror last race is concerning.

Race 3: Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes

• Soldier Rising – Never finished worse than second, high speed figs, working out ok.
• Yibir – Winner last race, graded stakes winner, I like shippers on the turf.
• Bolshoi Ballet – Winner of 4/8 career starts, high speed figs, winner at Belmont, 4th in Saratoga Derby.
• Chasing Money? – Tokyo Gold has finished in the money in 6/8 starts including second in the Belmont Derby last race.

Race 4: Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1)

• Set Piece – High speed figs, finished first or second in last 5 starts, winner at distance, bested Raging Bull in 4StarDave.
• Raging Bull – Faltered in the 4StarDave, plenty of experience at distance, high speed figs, working bullets in September, ready to avenge loss?
• March to the Arch – High speed figs, high percentage jockey and trainer, winner at distance, winner at Woodbine, second in the Mile last year. Concerning loss to Olympic Runner and Town Cruise last race.

Race 5: Pocahontas Stakes (G3)

• Ontheonesandtwos – Bad start in the Adirondack but has faced graded stakes horses, good races in first 2 starts, high percentage jockey and trainer, working out really well.
• Goddess of Fire – Winner in only start, trained by Pletcher, working out well.
• Hidden Connection – Winner in only start, high speed figure, working out well.

Race 6: Iroquois Stakes (G3)

• Guntown – Sired by Gun Runner, winner last race, high percentage jockey / trainer.
• Major General – Winner in only start, high speed figs, working out well, Pletcher trained.
• Stellar Tap – Out of Tapit, high percentage jockey / trainer, good speed in debut at Saratoga, raced 7f, so close to race distance.
• Just Missed – Bourbon Heist – High speed figs, 2nd in last two races, working out well.

Lots of neat races today and tonight. Churchill Downs stakes should be interesting, lots of young horses ready to prove themselves.

Think you can make better picks than me? Then try and beat me.

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