Papo’s Picks – Saturday, Oct 14 & Sunday, Oct 15
Saturday – October 14
Keeneland Race (9) G1 Queen Elizabeth II
A highly contentious race that is stacked with a full field of eleven three-year-olds looking to take grade one honors. While the Brown team of Uni and New Money Honey form an imposing tandem, I will try to beat them both with #2 Proctor’s Ledge(9-2). The daughter of Ghost Zapper has reeled off two graded stakes victories in row and I believe she still has room to improve. She will have to in order to beat #7 Wuheida (4-1) who ran 4th just beaten a half a length in the G1 Prix de l’Opera at Chantilly two weeks ago. Wuheida has run five times in her career, winning two, but the class is there as four of those were group one races. Of Brown’s pair I prefer #10 Uni who I believe has gotten better in each of her starts since making her stateside debut. If playing tris/supers make sure you spread in the 3rd and fourth positions as any number of the fillies in this race could get a piece of the pie.
Top Selections #2 Proctor’s Ledge, #7 Wuheida, and #10 Uni.
****With the scratch of Wuheida, I would add Dream Dancing to your tickets******
Sunday – October 15th
Woodbine Race (9) E.P. Taylor Stakes
A field of nine fillies and mares going the classic distance of a mile and a quarter on the Woodbine turf course. In this race we have three Europeans that have shipped over the Atlantic to run here. The contingent is led by #6 Nezwah (5-2), the morning line favorite , #7 Rain Goddess (9-2) , and #8 Blond Me (6-1). Nezwah has only raced three times this year but has won two of those including the G1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh in July. While finishing fourth in her last race, she did not disgrace herself on ground that was rated soft and at a distance that may have bit beyond her scope. She is a deserving favorite but of the euro’s I am actually more interested in Blond Me. She finished 2nd, only beaten 1.5 lengths to the world class Winter in the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwind. She has been as consistent as they come finishing in the exacta in 10 of 15 career starts.
#3 Quidura (3-1) for Graham Motion deserves a look as a contender. The Dubawi filly enters this race off a winning performance at Woodbine taking the G2 Canadian. She has good tactical speed and enters this race with +100 bris speed figures in her last two races. The value horse is this race however is #1 Kitten’s Roar and at the morning line price of 12-1 is worth a play for me. While she may not have the back class of some of the others in this race she is coming off her best career speed figure and this will be her third start off the layoff. I love seeing the confidence from her trainer Mike Maker, shipping her up north for this race. Maker knows a thing or two about winning this race as he won it with Al Gal’s last year. A highly competitive race with Chad Brown’s two, of which I prefer Fourstar Crook who I will use underneath in my exotics.
Top Selections #1 Kitten’s Roar, #8 Blonde Me, #6Nezwaah, #3 Quidura
For Pattison Canadian International thoughts on Sunday see my comments on twitter @papocore1
