HRN Saturday stakes picks: Keeneland’s QE II and more
New to Horse Racing Nation, each weekend we’ll reach out to our network of editors, writers and bloggers for their thoughts on the country's biggest stakes races.
On Saturday, the main attraction is Keeneland’s Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for 3-year-olds fillies on the turf. But before they break from the gate at 5:30 p.m., a pair of stakes will also run at Belmont Park in New York.
Now, to the picks…
4:46 p.m. at Belmont — Grade III, $150,000 Futurity
Candice Curtis (@skipaway2000)
Winner: #4 Mojovation
On the board: #2 Happy Like A Fool
Longshot I like: #3 Barry Lee
Analysis: Top two look sharp in this compact field, but Barry Lee will get overlooked due to synthetic win last out; has highest TFUS number in the race.
Jeffrey Byrnes, Byrnzzze's Corner (@jeffbyrnes96)
Winner: #6 Engage
On the board: #3 Barry Lee, #4 Mojovation
Longshot I like: #5 Smooth B
Analysis: Engage is a highly touted 2-yaer-old for trainer Chad Brown. This colt by Into Mischief is coming off a sharp maiden win and retains Jose Ortiz. The Ortiz / Chad Brown combination is lethal in graded stakes races.
Jarrod Horak (@jchorak)
Winner: #4 Mojovation
On the board: #6 Engage, #2 Happy Like a Fool
Longshot I like: #3 Barry Lee
Analysis: Mojovation looked good going all the way as the heavy favorite Saratoga bow but flopped from the inside post in the Grade 1 Hopeful. He can rebound for Todd Pletcher. Enrage could sit the right outside tactical trip.
Casey Laughter (@writingcasey)
Winner: #6 Engage
On the board: #2 Happy Like a Fool
Longshot I like: #3 Barry Lee
Analysis: Chad Brown sends out Engage, a son of Into Mischief, who can get very good young horses. Happy Like a Fool is back on the dirt and should be at home!
Jasen Mangrum, Handicapper’s Corner (@Cappercorner)
Winner: #4 Mojovation
On the board: #6 Engage, #5 Smooth B
Longshot I like: #5 Smooth B
Impressive upon debut, Mojovation found the water a little deeper when stuck on the rail for the Grade 1Hopeful Stakes, so look for him to make the lead while dropping in class. Engage is well drawn on the outside, should sit off the early lead and try to run down the top pick in the late stages. Former front runner Smooth B comes off two routes and should be plenty fit for this.
Olivia Newman, The Final Stride (@barbaroloverrr)
Winner: #6 Engage
On the board: #5 Barry Lee, #4 Mojovation
Longshot: #5 Smooth B
Son of the hot sire Into Mischief, I look for a big effort from Engage this weekend. He's been training well at Belmont and has won against quality competition. I'm looking for Mojovation to improve off his disappointing effort in the Hopeful Stakes. I think Smooth B has a shot to hit the board. He's certainly the most experienced colt in the field.
Laurie Ross, Pedigree Power (@imtbreds)
Winner: #4 Mojovation
On the Board: #3 Barry Lee, #6 Engage
Longshot: #1 Red Peril
Analysis: Mojovation won his debut in 1:11.06, getting his final 1/8 in a crisp 12.38. The bay colt beat Lionite by two lengths. That one recently placed fourth in the Keeneland Breeders’ Futurity (G1). Mojovation regressed in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) but has been training well since then.
5:19 p.m. at Belmont — $200,000 Pebbles Stakes
Candice Curtis (@skipaway2000)
Winner: #2 Rubilinda
On the board: #3 Thais (FR)
Longshot I like: #7 Bellavais
Frankel daughter has been brought along carefully and deliberately by Chad Brow and should be flying in the final furlong. Thais, in 2nd U.S. start, will be making that bold, Euro-style closing move as well. Bellavais has pedigree and got bumped last out, dangerous.
Jeffrey Byrnes, Byrnzzze's Corner (@jeffbyrnes96)
Winner: #4 Party Boat
On the board: #2 Rubilinda, #1 Adorable Miss
Longshot I like: #7 Bellavais
Analysis: Party Boat has been very consistent all year long. She comes into the Pebbles off three straight stakes placings, including two graded stakes at Saratoga. With a good trip and decent pace, look for this daughter of Into Mischief to get back into the winners circle.
Jarrod Horak (@jchorak)
Winner: #4 Party Boat
On the board: #3 Thais, #2 Rubilinda
Longshot I like: #8 Dynatail
Analysis: Party Boat hooked Grade 1 QE II entrants in her last pair and she runs well fresh. Thais and Rubilinda are logical threats for Chad Brown.
Casey Laughter (@writingcasey)
Winner: #2 Rubilinda
On the board: #4 Party Boat
Longshot I like: #8 Dynatail
Analysis: Rubilinda has been raced exclusively at Belmont Park and is a two-time winner in three starts, including a stakes win over the turf here.
Jasen Mangrum, Handicapper’s Corner (@Cappercorner)
Winner: #3 Thais
On the board: #1 Adorable Miss, #2 Rubilinda
Longshot I like: #1 Adorable Miss
Analysis: Thais encountered some traffic trouble when 2nd in her U.S. debut and still earned the highest BRIS figure last out, so look for improvement with a hot early pace to close into. Rubilinda got the best of Adorable Miss last out, but at a short price Adorable Miss can turn the tables 2nd off the layoff.
My play: $10 exacta 3/1-2, $5 exacta 1-2/3 Total = $30
Olivia Newman, The Final Stride (@barbaroloverrr)
Winner: #2 Rubilinda
On the board: #1 Adorable Miss,#4 Party Boat
Longshot: #9 Scheme
Rubilinda, daughter of Frankel and a Chad Brown trainee, screams turf horse. She won last time out at Belmont defeating Adorable Miss. Adorable Miss could be a threat though, considering the adversity she over came last time out. She went very wide in the stretch and finished a game third behind Rubilinda.
5:30 p.m. at Keeneland — Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Challenge
Jarrod Horak (@jchorak)
Winner: #6 La Coronel
On the board: #11 New Money Honey, #2 Proctor’s Ledge
Longshot I like: #1 Con Te Partiro
Analysis: There is not much pace in the paper race and I am looking for La Coronel and New Money Honey to control proceedings throughout. Proctor’s Ledge and Uni look like the best late threats.
Casey Laughter (@writingcasey)
Winner: #11 New Money Honey
On the board: #10 Uni
Longshot I like: #9 Daddys Lil Darling
Analysis: New Money Honey and Uni worked in company last Saturday and looked amazing over the Keeneland turf. NMH would not let Uni by in the stretch to the wire. Also, Daddys Lil Darling looked very nice over that same turf course.
Olivia Newman, The Final Stride (@barbaroloverrr)
Winner: #10 Uni
On the board: #6 La Coronel, #11 New Money Honey
Longshot: #9 Daddy's Lil Darling
Analysis: Uni is coming off a win at Belmont defeating La Coronel. She has Irad Ortiz aboard, and she will be tough to beat. La Coronel has won at Keeneland before and was game last time out. She will be the biggest threat.
Kate Richards, Racing Hearts
Winner: #1 Con te Partiro
On the board: #11 New Money Honey, #2 Protcor’s Ledge
Longshot I like: #3 Daddys Lil Darling
Analysis: The combination of Wesley Ward and Mike Smith is too good to pass up. The inside post doesn’t bother as the first turn is the story. Smith is the master of strategic moves.
Tony Bada Bing, Bada Bing Inc. (@tonycbadabing)
Winner: #11 New Money Honey
On the board: #6 La Coronel
Longshot I like: #10 Uni
Analysis: This race is stacked with graded/group stakes winning fillies - six out of the 10 runners. You'll either have to spread your bets around or land on who you think is best. Draw a line through her foray into Grade 1 stakes company on dirt in her last race, and you've got your most likely winner in New Money Honey. If La Coronel gets loose on the front end she may be a neck better than her last, which should get her a piece of the pie.
Jason Wood, The Paddock View (@thepaddockview)
Winner: #2 Proctor’s Ledge
On the board: #6 La Coronel, #11 New Money Honey
Longshot I like: #1 Con Te Partiro
Analysis: I love New Money Honey but that outside post worries me. Proctor’s Ledge, with an inside advantage, makes it three in a row here!