Saturday Plays: Stakes action at Churchill Downs, Woodbine

Modern Games makes his return to North America in the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on Saturday and catches a modest field for the level. As longtime readers know, this blog tends to stray away from heavy favorites often - maybe too often - but he looks too good to lose.

Which filly in the $500,000 Natalma Stakes (G1) fits in a double with Modern Games? Also included are picks for the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes and the $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes, both Grade 3 races at Churchill Downs.

Woodbine race 9: Woodbine Mile (G1)

Modern Games not only won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November, but he also started off his current campaign by taking the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1) at Longchamp. Sometimes the European horses who win the Juvenile Turf end up as Group 2 or 3 types back in their home circuits overseas, but this is a real Group 1 horse over there.

In Modern Games’ most recent start, he finished second in the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood to a legitimate European superstar in Baaeed. That effort alone gives him the highest class in this mild Grade 1 race.

Modern Games is the single.

Win: 5 (at even money or higher)

Double: 5 / 6

Woodbine race 10: Natalma Stakes (G1)

Wickenheiser ended up fifth in the local Catch a Glimpse Stakes after making a threatening move around the turn. Given the pedigree though, Wickenheiser deserves another chance as she stretches out to one mile.

This filly is a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid and a full sister to Belichick and Season Ticket. Only two years ago, Belichick ran second in the Queen’s Plate and then broke his maiden in the Breeders’ Stakes at the one and one-half mile distance. As for Season Ticket, she won the one and one-fourth mile Wonder Where Stakes in 2015 for her career highlight. It seems clear this family loves longer routes.

Although this is still not a long route, Wickenheiser still gets extra distance here and can turn the tables on Cairo Consort.

Churchill Downs race 9: Iroquois Stakes (G3)

Curly Jack is not too far off the leading contenders Damon’s Mound and Echo Again, at least in terms of numbers.

In his most recent start, Curly Jack took Top Recruit to the limit in the seven-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile. Curly Jack lost by a head, but he put 14 ¾ lengths on the third-place Roman Giant and scored a 106 on TimeformUS.

To put the 106 in perspective, Damon’s Mound’s top TimeformUS Speed Figure is 105, while Echo Again shows an impressive 109 for his lone start.

With all three colts making their two-turn route debuts, the tides can change. Sure, Echo Again might handle the stretchout just fine. However, it stinks to accept a low price on a horse unproven at the race distance.

At 9/2 or higher, Curly Jack is a good bet to win or place.

Win/place: 5 (at 9/2 or higher)

Churchill Downs race 11: Pocahontas Stakes (G3)

After losing twice to start off her career, Fun and Feisty took a giant step forward and broke her maiden in a local six-furlong sprint on Aug. 13.

Fun and Feisty won the maiden race by three lengths with a 94 on TimeformUS. The 94 was 33 points higher that the 61 TimeformUS figure in her second start, where she lost at Ellis Park on July 23 by only a head.

In terms of pedigree, Fun and Feisty is supposed to handle the extra distance. Fun and Feisty’s second dam Arctic Queen is a half-sister to Fairbanks, who won the 2008 Hawthorne Gold Handicap (G2) at the 10 furlong distance. Overall, Fairbanks won six different routes in his six wins.

Yes, Fun and Feisty still needs to prove herself though, as stretching out from six furlongs to a two-turn route is never easy the first time. But she owns useful tactical speed and her running mechanics look good enough.

At the right price, Fun and Feisty works as a win or place bet.

Win/place: 10 (at 9/2 or higher)