BetPTC.com Graded Stakes Preview / Ed Meyer
Woodbine
Race #9 – G1 Highlander – 6f on the turf – 4:51 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections / #8 Belvoir Bay / #6 Long On Value / #2 Imprimus
#8 Belvoir Bay has the services of Tyler Baze for Peter Miller. She ships in from Santa Anita where she rolled off three straight wins. This daughter of Equiano will come calling late in the lane and cuts back from 6 1/2 to 6 panels. Miller scores 18% with shippers and 24% off a last race win.
#6 Long On Value comes off a 2nd time off the layoff move for trainer Brad Cox who wins 27% with freshened runners. He closed stoutly in the Mighty Beau Stakes at Churchill and ran in the G1 Woodbine Mile last year where he had a bumpy trip. Florent Geroux in the saddle and has two solid works to signal readiness.
#2 – Imprimus ships in from Pimlico and is a perfect 4/4 with wins. He’s moving up in class and Joel Rosario is the pilot. He gets an added furlong to run and today will be the acid test to see what his future holds. His last win in the Turf Sprint at Pimlico showed signs of ready to move to the next level.
Woodbine
Race #10 – $1,000,000 Queens Plate – 1 1/4 – 5:36 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections / #11 Wonder Gadot / #10 Telekinesis / #7 Dixie Moon
#11 Wonder Gadot is a daughter of Medaglia d’ Oro. She gets first time blinkers for Mark Casse who wins 18% on this equipment change. John Velasquez is the reinsman and she is 2/2 ITM over the synthetic surface. Look for an up close stalking trip and was a beaten favorite last out. Casse comes back to score 26% getting some payback on this move.
#10 Telekinesis ships in from Keeneland going 2nd time off the layoff. He won the Woodbine Plate Trial under Patrick Husbands for Mark Casse. This son of Ghostzapper appeared to relish the surface and should jump right out and dictate the pace today. Catch him if you can.
#7 Dixie Moon is a daughter of Curlin who is 4/4 ITM at Woodbine. She won the Woodbine Oaks beating Wonder Gadot and returns Eurico Da Silva to the saddle. She has the look of a perfect stalker and can easily take down the prize today.
Monmouth
Race #11 – G1 United Nations – 1 3/8 on the turf – 6:01 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections / #5 Money Multiplier / #8 Bigger Picture / #1 Funtastic
#5 Money Multiplier comes in for trainer Chad Brown who sends out four runners to take down the dough. “Jersey” Joe Bravo in the irons and this son of Lookin At Lucky has a strong late punch. He is 3/3 ITM in New Jersey and exits a perfect prep win over the course. He finished 2nd in this race in 2016 and should relish the distance.
#8 Bigger Picture hails from the barn of Mike Maker. He is coming in fresh off a 49 day layoff and has the services of Kendrick Carmouche. He won last year’s edition of this race and is looking to make it two in a row. The morning works show all systems are ready coming into the race.
#1Funtastic has Antonio Gallardo in the driver’s seat for Chad Brown. This son of More than Ready ships in from Belmont and moves up in class off the last race win. Gallardo wins 23% on the sod and he’ll be a little closer to the pace today.