Champs Elysees was perhaps the most impressive winner on Saturday, taking the $2 million Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine, but don’t expect to see the six year old in next month’s Breeders’ Cup.
There will be no curtain call for the Bobby Frankel trainee. He is going to be retired and sent to the breeding shed after accumulating nearly $3 million in his career from a record of 28-6-8-7.
The son of Danehill was eighth in the Breeders’’ Cup Classic last year and certainly has the pedigree to be a good stallion.
Among his sibs are stakes winners Dansili, Banks Hill, Heat Haze, Intercontinental, and Cacique.
The offspring of the remarkable mare Hasili has now accumulated nearly $10 million in earnings.
Dansili is one of the top sires standing in Europe and has a long list of black type runners in his six crops.
Juddmonte Farm’s manager Garrett O'Rourke stated that Champ Elysees would stand in England.
Perhaps Juddmonte will reconsider if the six year old comes out of the race in good order.
There is three weeks until the Breeders’ Cup, and he looks like he would be a good fit for either the Classic or the Turf.
To purchase my full card report for Keeneland and Belmont Park that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's opening race from Keeneland to get our day off to a good start:
KEE Race 1 Clm $25,000 (1:05 ET)
#7 Silver Chest 9/2
#1 Zubani 3/1
#3 Pure Heaven 5/1
#5 Cat Hop 7/2
Analysis: #7 Silver Chest is returning off a 3 1/2 month break and drops in for a tag for the first time in her career. Last out she was not a threat facing Alw-3 optional claimers on the turf. The winner of that race was Diamond Diva, who beat Alw-3 optional claimers and then ran a close up third in a stake at Belmont. The runner Zaskar has run second in a couple of stakes since. Our top pick drops into an easier spot here and posted a quick work over the poly on Oct. 13. The barn is on the light side with layoff types, hitting at a 6% clip with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.
#1 Zubani invades from Del Park for the Pino barn. Last out the filly made a good late rally to land second against $25K non winners of three or non winners of a race in '09. Note she comes off the turf where she is 0 for 8 and lands on the fake stuff where she has a 9-4-2-0 record. She fits well here despite facing open company and is in a sharp barn.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,3,5,7
TRI: 1,7 / 1,3,5,7 / 1,2,3,5,7
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 9 Top Secret S. (5:15 ET)
#4 Turn Away 2/1
#5 Trainee 6/1
#7 J Z Warrior 9/5
#2 American Queen 5/1
Analysis: #4 Turn Away was no match for loose on the lead Tar Heel Mom over a speed favoring racing strip last out against Alw-3 optional claimers. She was a solid second two back in the First Flight (G2) and beat Alw-2 foes three back over a muddy surface. The filly owns a solid pace profile throughout with good late pace numbers and the extra furlong here figures to suit. The filly popped a bullet work on Oct. 10 and Ramon sticks for the Frankel barn that seems to be heating up.
#5 Trainee cuts back form nine furlongs for his first start for the Levine barn that is 37% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. This gal has not seen the winners circle since taking a Alw-2 race last summer at Presque Isle, but she likes a wet track and the barn is back on track after a frigid Spa meeting.
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 2,4,5,7
TRI: 4,5 / 2,4,5,7 / 2,3,4,5,7
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Keeneland:
KEE Race 8 Bryan Station S. G3 (4:35 ET)
#4 Kinsella 3/1
#8 Rescue Squad 8/1
#3 Major Marvel 10/1
#1 El Crespo 4/1
Analysis: #4 Kinsella came off a four month layoff with a smart looking win last out against Alw-1 foes in his third career start. The colt had a tough trip two back over ground labeled as good in his first start against winners and is a toss. This guy was a $2.2 million purchase and looked like a million bucks in his last start.
#8 Rescue Squad made a good late rally to finish third last out against Alw-2 optional claimers in his first go off a 2 1/2 month layoff. The colt was sixth in the Colonial Turf Cup (2) in his lone stakes try and that turned out to be a pretty good group of runners. The colt figures to be fitter second off the bench and should be rolling late.
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 4,8 / 1,3,4,8
TRI: 4,8 / 1,3,4,8 / 1,2,3,4,8
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Keeneland
R4: #12 Storm Seige 20/1
R5: #3 Radical Fringe 8/1
R5: #4 Power Surge 8/1
R8: #8 Rescue Squad 8/1
R8: #3 Major Marvel 10/1
R9: #6 Mt. Fugi 10/1
Belmont Park
R1: #4 Vinnie Van Go 8/1
R3: #5 Qualia 8/1
R4: #6 Laysh Laysh Laysh 10/1
R6: #9 Sticky Wicket 10/1
R7: #7 Anne Margaret 8/1
R10: #2 Chandas / #2b Cantrushperfection 8/1
Good luck today!
