BetPTC.com / Weekend Stakes Preview / Ed Meyer
Penn National
Race #11 – The G2 Penn Mile – 1 mile on the turf – 7:50 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections / #5 – Forty Under / #2 – A Thread of Blue / #1 – Moon Colony
#5 Forty Under is from the Jeremiah Englehart barn with Manny Franco in the irons. This son of Uncle Mo makes his second start of the year and gave a good account of himself at Aqueduct. He’s been working at Saratoga and Franco fits him like a glove. Look for a mid pack stalking effort. #2 A Thread of Blue is a son of Hard Spun for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Luis Saez is the pilot and he shows excellent speed as he cuts back in distance. He is six for six ITM on the turf and Saez knows him well. #1 Moon Colony is a son of Uncle Mo for Mark Casse barn. Julien Leparoux in the saddle and he has two bullet works since his last race four months ago. He’ll come running late and if his works are any indication the early speed should set up his late kick.
Woodbine
Race #8 – The G2 Connaught Cup – 7f on the turf – 5:00 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections / #6 – Emmaus / #4 – Eminent Force / #3 – Yorkton
#6 Emmaus is a son of Invincible Spirit (IRE) for the Conor Murphy barn. This is his 2nd start of the year after shipping in from Redcar. He had a solid prep at Belmont in preparation and he’ll be rolling late in the lane. He is 5 for 6 ITM going this distance. #4 Eminent Force is a son of War Front with Eurico Da Silva in the driver’s seat. It is his 2nd start off the layoff and the barn wins at a 20% clip making this move. Today he steps up in class and gets the acid test. #3 Yorkton is a speedy son of Speightstown for the Stuart Simon yard. Jesse Campbell in the saddle and he wins 17% with early runners. 2nd start of the year and been working well in the mornings.
Santa Anita
Race #8 – The G2 Santa Maria – 1 1/16 – 7:30 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections / #2 – Paradise Woods / #4 – Tapped / #3 – Exuberance
#2 Paradise Woods is a daughter of Union Rags for the John Sheriffs barn winning 24%. Mike Smith in the irons and her impressive ten length win in the G2 Santa Margarita shows she is ready. Her morning works have been bullets, and her last of 59.2 was the best of 57 at the distance on that day. #4 Tapped hails from the Richard Baltas barn with Flavien Prat in the irons. This is her 2nd start off a year on the shelf, and the O.C. $80,000 race was a solid prep. She is 2 for 2 with wins at SA and look for Prat to come calling late. #3 Exuberance is a daughter of Archarcharch with Norberto Arroyo in the driver’s seat. She cuts back in distance and ran a solid effort against Paradise Woods. Arroyo is winning 25% and she is 8 for 13 ITM this year.