Saturday Horse Racing – $100,000 Discovery Handicap and Cardinal Handicap
As the year winds down, the graded stakes are becoming few and far between, but we have a couple of interesting stakes today, taking us to Aqueduct and Churchill Downs.
At the Big A, a field of six line up for the $100,000 Discovery Handicap (G3), a nine furlong race on the main track.
On paper, it looks like a match race between Ohio and Pennsylvania Derby winner Gone Astray and Empire Classic winner Haynesfield.
We’ll lean toward the latter, who figures to be the better price of the duo, and the three year old still appears to have plenty of upside potential.
The $100,000 Cardinal Handicap (G3) is the better horse betting race of the two, with a group of nine fillies and mares going nine furlongs on the turf course.
There are no toss outs in the field, which should lead to decent payoffs.
My top pick Leamington is looking to rebound off a fifth place finish in the Flower Bowl (G1) at Belmont Park where she caught soft ground and I am hoping we see all of her 4/1.
She will be ridden by Calvin Borel, who is being honored on Saturday with a bobblehead giveaway.
First stop the Big A:
Aqueduct Race 8 Discovery Handicap (G3) Post time 3:44 ET
#4 Haynesfield 5/2
#5 Gone Astray 1/1
#1 Redding Colliery 12/1
#3 Birdrun 5/1
#4 Haynesfield is coming off a win in the New York bred Empire Classic, which was against older foes. The runner up in the race was Ruffino, who came back to win a New York Stallion series race in his next outing on Nov. 15. This colt looked like he might be headed down the Triple Crown Trail early this year after winning the Count Fleet and Whirlaway, but the wheels came off in the Gotham (G3) where he finished a distant eighth and he headed to the bench. He came back with a game effort in the Sir Keys two back, and showed he could handle nine furlongs and a wet track last out. The colt is back with straight three year olds here while trying graded stakes company. He looks primed for a good effort here in his third start of his current form cycle.
#5 Gone Astray comes into this race sporting three consecutive triple digit Beyer Speed Figures and back to back wins in Grade 2 company, making him the likely heavy favorite. While he earned solid numbers in his last two starts, he really did not beat much in either the Ohio Derby or the Pennsylvania Derby. He is giving our top pick five pounds and he likely is going to be around 3/5 in the betting, which sure looks light to me.
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 1,4,5
TRI: no play
Churchill Downs Race 9 Cardinal Handicap (G3) Post time 4:37 ET
#8 Leamington 4/1
#2 Tizfiz 8/1
#9 Lemon Chiffon 6/1
#3 Acoma 5/2
#8 Leamington may be primed to pick up her first graded stake here for the Graham Motion barn. Her last start was a fifth place finish in the Flower Bowl (G1) at Belmont Park where she set the early fractions over soft turf and weakened in the stretch to finish fifth. That was a solid field she faced, the winner Pure Clan coming back to finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and the runner up Criticism came back to win the Long Island Handicap (G3) in her next outing on Nov. 1 at Aqueduct. She won a restricted stake two back at Saratoga and that race turned out be tougher than it looked. The runner up Belle Allure and eighth place finisher Indescribable both came back to win graded stakes in their next starts. The cut back in distance and firmer ground should suit this filly.
#2 Tizfiz was in tough in her last two starts at Keeneland, both over polytrack. Her last two turf starts were solid, stakes wins at Remington Park and Mountaineer Park. She has won 6 of 12 on the turf in her career including a Grade 2 at Santa Anita back in January. I’m surprised the daughter of Tiznow did not seem to care for the fake stuff in her last two starts and she will appreciate the return to the grass and the earlier company here. The mare is in good hands with the John Good barn and her 8/1 morning line odds make her worth a good look in this spot.
Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 2,8 / 2,3,8,9
TRI: 2,8 / 2,3,8,9 / 2,3,7,8,9
Good luck padding your bankroll today!
