Sep 16 2022
Mid September Saturday: Churchill and Woodbine Head Big Juvenile Race Days.
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Saturday, September 16, 2022. Churchill and Woodbine loom large this weekend with big 2yo stakes races and MSW’s. As we wind up towards the Breeders’ Cup in early November, the younguns are warming up for the BC Juvenile and possible Triple Crown run.
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Churchill Downs’ pair of G3’s include the Iroquois for 2yo’s and Pocahontas for 2yo fillies, each worth $300k. The top finishers will likely run in the BC Juvenile but that is not guaranteed. There are also two $120k MSW’s for 2yo/2yo fillies worth paying attention to.
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Woodbine’s pair of 2yo G1 races are each worth $500k: the Natalma will provide an automatic BC Juvenile Fillies Turf berth, and the Summer will grant a spot in the BC Juve Turf. The Woodbine Mile G1 will get the winner a post in the BC Mile.
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Churchill’s slate of stakes races begins at 4:22ET. See the Grid snapshot below of the 4 stakes races on tap.
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The Locust Grove G3 obviously has a short field and I doubt you’ll get Tootsie at less than 5-1 but anything over 4-1 would be a good value.
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The Iroquois G3 field is a more exciting with 9 entries in the race, however, the 4 single digit entries, all 5-1 or less, are the only group that can win and will probably roll 1-4. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they finished in exact betting order.
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The Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes is an interesting sprint but again we’re limited to the 6-1 or less entries as the only possible winners.
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The Pocahontas G3 appears more wide open with 12 entries, but once again, I’m sounding like a broken record, there are only 4 possible winners. Don’t be surprised if Asmussen sweeps the 2yo races.
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Moving north to Woodbine, the big stakes racing also begins at 4:22ET. Follow along with the Grid snapshot.
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The Summer G1 for open juveniles and a short but talented field of 7. The ML is all over the favorite, who beat 3 others in the last prep for this race. But they could turn the tables, and Chad Brown will be invading with Appraise.
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The Seaway G3 is on the artificial track with a field of 10 fillies and mares. The favorites look strong but there’s also some good value, such as Dreaming of Drew 5-1, Hazelbrook 8-1, Beyond Mybudget 10-1, Golden Vision at 15-1, and even Emmeline at 20-1. It’s kind of wide open and a good betting race.
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The WOB Mile field of 11 has just enough speed in it to give closers a good nod. Ivar and Modern Games are obvious and will be the top 2 betting choices. But look also at Wakanaka at 10-1, March to Arch 12-1, and Homer Screen 10-1.
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The Natalma for fillies has a talented field of 8, most of which racing 2 turns for the first time. It’s hard to envision favorite Cairo Consort not winning, but others have a shot including Adora 6-1 and Collecting Flatter 8-1.
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You can get the Grid for all your favorite tracks and races right here, so check out the options.