After a great, Opening Day, when we hit the first three races dead on the head and we won the G2 Phoenix Stakes with our Best Bet of the Day (Whitmore), we now turn our attentions to one of the best race cards in the world today.  Here is a closer look:

1st: 11-1-3-7-9-8…Our Girl Abby (11) returns to the dirt after two failed attempts on the grass for a trainer that does well with the switch from turf to dirt. This one has been facing some good ones in the past and should be in a softer spot with the drop in class today. Biloxi Princess (1) drops from MSW to MC50K for this outing after a wide trip in her initial outing.  She rallied in that one from near the back of the 12-horse field to finish fifth.  Starts from the rail today, and that can be a test unto itself, but she should be better today. Mizz Toshiba (3) is a first timer for a trainer that does OK with debut runners. Gets a top jock in Corey Lanerie.  I bet the 11 to win/place/show in this spot and then box the top 3 in the exacta.

2nd: 4-1-5-6-2…What a nice race on a day full of them. I go right back to Mayla, who won her last out in a good field in the Open Mind Stakes at Churchill Downs before being disqualified by a horrendous call from the stewards.  True, the horse behind her fell after hitting the rail, but she was trying to get through a hole that wasn’t there. Period. Today, Mayla catches another good field, but she should be close to the lead and have a big shot to right the wrong, with a new rider (Ricardo Santana) up for trainer William Bret Calhoun.  She deserves better today. Lake Ponchatrain (1) is really good right now.  She has hit the board in 8 of her last 10 tries, with four wins.  She has never missed the board at this tricky distance of “about 7Fs,” too. Watch out here. Athena (5) ran behind Mayla in the Open Mind and was moved up to second after the DQ.  I bet the 4 to win/place/show and then key the 4 over/under the rest of the numbers in the exactas.

3rd: 6-1-3-9-11…Rubus (6) is a very nice looking son of Majestic Warrior, who was compromised in his last out by an extreme outside post position and the fact that he had to have the track farrier do some “nail work” in the paddock before his race at Churchill Downs on Sept. 17.  He still ran second that day, beaten 4 lengths by a good one.  Gets blinkers today and should graduate for a nice young trainer in Phillp Bauer.  My first Best Bet of the Day. It won’t come easy today, though.  Conquistador (1) cost his owners $2.45 million to buy at the OBS 2YO Sale this April.  Has been training lights out for this career debut for a trainer that knows how to crank them up for the debut.  Draws the rail, and that may be a question mark for a new experience. Cove Blue (3) is a son of Ghostzapper, who cost $300,000 as a yearling. Was bet down to the favorite for his career debut and he ran very well for much of it before tiring.  I talked with Tammy Fox (Assistant Trainer to Dale Romans) about this one and the barn likes his talent a lot. Do not dismiss. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta and then key the top 3 over the rest of the numbers in another.

4th: 8-2-7-5-11-10-9-12-4-1…Lots of numbers show up here, but I’m focusing on the top 4.  Tiz Mischief (8) is another talented 2YO from the barn of Dale Romans.  This one really ran a top notch race in his last against a winner who may be a factor in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity later in the card. My second Best Bet of the Day comes here. With any improvement at all, this may may be very tough at a decent price. Slot (2) was shipped down from NY to try this spot after two nice runs at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher. He has faced some good ones, too, and could show up strong in this one after some nice works since the last race. Can he sustain his run around two turns? My question. Victory Lane (7) comes into this one for trainer Shug McGaughey, who is known for moving horses way up for their second starts. This one ran a solid third in his career debut and cost $675,000 as a yearling.  With normal improvement, this one could be rolling late in the first try around two turns.  Gets a nice jock change to Jose Lezcano, too. Orbatron (5) ran behind Dak Attack in the Ellis Park Juvenile and Free Drop Billy in his MSW try three starts back.  Faces another tough bunch today, but can’t dismiss. I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta and then key those 3 over the rest in another.

5th: 1-3-6-8…The G2 Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select…Conquest Panthera (1) is not a specialist at this tough 51/2F distance, but he has the running style to be very tough in this spot today, if jockey Robby Albarado can gear him up quickly enough.  This one has been facing some real good ones over the past six races, and he may find the right niche in this spot today for a clever barn. Commend (3) is another one that will be closing into a world of speed runners.  This son of War Front, owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, has been really good of late, winning twice and a tough-beat second in his last 4 races. With a clean trip, he could be right there at the wire. Mongolian Saturday (6) loves this racetrack, having won the BC Turf Sprint over this course. Seems to have rediscovered his stride again and gets back on his home course. I bet the 1 to win/place/show and then key the 1 over/under the rest of the numbers listed.

6th: 2-4-1-6-8…The G2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes…Vertical Oak (2) doesn’t get much attention in a crowded field of really good 3YO fillies this year.  But this daughter of Giant Oak is having a good year, too, with 3 wins, a second and a third in 8 starts this year.  But she has gotten real good of late — running off to an impressive 51/4 length victory in the slop at Saratoga in the G2 Prioress Stakes. The race that impressed me the most, though, was her convincing victory over a real nice filly by the name of Our Majesty in the G3 Miss Preakness Stakes on May 19.  This one can run and I like the odds (5-1 ML). Finley’sluckycharm (4) is 3-5 ML and may god down from there.  She is an absolute speedball and will try to take this field wire-to-wire on a track known to favor speedsters in the past.  This one has 3 wins and a hard-beat second to Paulassilverlining in the G2 Honorable Miss Stakes at Saratoga.  Off since July 26, this one has been training up to this event and doing very well.  The obvious favorite and one to beat. Bendable (1) is a stalker, who will try to hook up close enough to make a serious run deep in the stretch at the heavy favorite.  Shipped from the West Coast by trainer Richard Mandella, and he only ships for a reason.  I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices.

7th: 6-2-3-4-5-7…The G1 First Lady Stakes…Dickinson (6) has had the misfortunate of running against Ladi Eli in her last two efforts. But before then, she had hit the board in six of the previous seven starts — five of those against Graded Stakes company.  She will be stalking the lead from the get go and will have the services of a top front-end jockey in Paco Lopez.  With Lady Eli somewhere else, this one may be very tough today. Delectation (2) is a British-bred filly who will be making her career debut in NA for a trainer that does well with shippers to the U.S. This one is coming off a convincing win in a Group 3 Stakes in Germany. Ran against the top notch Roly Poly back in July and was beaten only 41/2 lengths. Seems to be getting good at just the right time, again. Dona Bruja (3) is an Argentina-bred mare, who has two wins and a tough-beat second in just three starts here. Shortens up to a mile distance today and that shouldn’t hurt here, in the least. Roca Rojo (4) is an Irish-bred who is trained by Chad Brown — the super trainer of turf runners. This one has a shot in this spot, too. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the 6-2-3 in one exacta and the 6-2-4 in another.

8th: 9-8-2-7-4-11-13-1…The G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity…Free Drop Billy (9) should have won the G1 Hopeful at Saratoga, after being compromised nearing the wire by the leader (and eventual winner) Sporting Chance — who bolted to the outside when hit with the whip in the final hundred yards. That one crossed right in front of the fast-closing Free Drop Billy, who had to dive to the inside to avoid the rogue move. Still, Free Drop Billy — a son of Union Rags — should love the extra distance of this one today and the move to two turns. He will be closing with a purpose and will be tough to hold off if he can get a clean trip.  The short stretch doesn’t help here, but the rider is very experienced on this course. Bourbon Resolution (8) is 8-1 ML and could make a huge improvement with the stretch-out to 11/16-miles today.  Goes for a top notch trainer and gets a new rider, who is super hot right now. This one is just now beginning to figure it out and has a world of ability to improve. My Upset Special in here. Ezmosh (2) is 6-1 ML, and comes out of a MSW victory at Churchill Downs in his last.  Gets a new rider in JJ Castellano today, after Florent Geroux opts to rider Lone Sailor. This one will try to lead wire-to-wire on a track that loves speed types. I bet the 9-8 across the board and then key those two over/under all the rest of the numbers listed.

9th: 2-3-8-10-14-7-9-6…The G1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes…Tough race. Full of contenders. But I have always been a huge fan of Divisadero (2) and his trainer Buff Bradley.  And, I think he could be sitting on a huge effort today.  After 2 failed attempts at 11/4-miles, in the G1 Manhattan and the G1 Arlington Million, Bradley decided it may be best to catch some rest and develop another plan for the 5YO Kitten’s Joy colt, who has already won over $1 million in purses. So, he shortens up. Unlike a lot of the mile experts in here, this will be the colt’s 3 try at a mile.  He has a second and a third in the two previous. But the race sits up perfectly for him and his closing kick.  If he gets a clean trip, he could be storming at the end in the middle of the track. Suedois (3) is a French-bred gelding who will be making his first NA start. Has only one win in 6 starts this year, but that was in his last effort after two close-up thirds. Has been facing the best in Europe. May be good enough today. Miss Temple City (8) is an amazing mare and her stalking style may be perfect here again. But she may have to spend too much energy chasing Heart to Heart in this one. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta and then key the top 3 numbers over the rest in a small saver.

10th: 7-9-6-11-12…Grade One (7) set sail in his debut, only to tire in the later going — but that is what happens when you go :213/5 for the first quarter and :452/5 for the half. With a little more throttle control today, he could go all the way. Curlin’s Honor (9) is a first timer for Casse, but this one only cost $1.5 million. This one training super charged, too. Casse could get the bookend wins today (1st and 10th races). Sensational Zip (6) is a first timer, who has been working well and gets Lanerie. I bet the 7 to win/place/show and then box the 7-9 solidly and then key them over the other 3 numbers.

Good luck &

All the Best/Gene