Weekend Graded Stakes Previews

Saturday

Belmont: Garden City Stakes (Grade 1)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Samitar 2. Somali Lemonade 3. Ciao Bella

SAMITAR makes her first start for Chad Brown after finishing third in her United States debut in the Lake George at Saratoga; should be tough to handle.  SOMALI LEMONADE should be in the mix, and might provide you a middle priced option worth looking at.  CIAO BELLA tries turf for the first time, and also is trying to bounce back from her first defeat.  If she takes to the turf she could give our top two picks a run for their money.

Woodbine: Summer Stakes (Grade 2)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. The B’s and E’s 2. Archer Hill 3. Are You Kidding Me

THE B’S AND E’S was an impressive maiden winner at Belmont, and also has a race over the Woodbine surface.  ARCHER HILL won his maiden at Saratoga over a Notacatbutallama, who that came back to win next time out, and then run decent in a stakes.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME has already had four races as a two-year old, all over the Woodbine surface.  He’s also won his last two races.

Woodbine: Natalma Stakes (Grade 2)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Coconut Shrimp 2. Dancing For Glory 3. Kitten’s Dumplings

COCONUT SHRIMP impressed in her debut at Saratoga, beating our second choice for this race by 1 1/2 lengths.  DANCING FOR GLORY is a maiden, but was very competitive with Coconut Shrimp in her first race.  More distance will do her well.  KITTEN’S DUMPLINGS rounds out our top three, and is also a Saratoga maiden breaker.

Kentucky Downs: Kentucky Turf Cup (Grade 3)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Lake Drop 2. Rahystrada 3. Tahoe Lake

LAKE DROP was not all that great in his United Stakes debut, but look for him to improve with his second try.  RAHYSTADA would certainly be no surprise here, and is a deserving favorite.  TAHOE LAKE has been running against tougher in recent starts, and might be a perfect horse to use on the bottom of exotic wagers.

Arlington: Pucker Up Stakes (Grade 3)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Angegreen 2. Treasured Up 3. Volcat

ANGEGREEN has been really solid in five overseas races, and lures Mike Smith in to ride for her American debut.  TREASURED UP ran poorly at Arlington last time out, but before that had been very consistent.  Look for her to bounce back.  VOLCAT has won two races in a row, including the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks last time out.

Belmont: Noble Damsel Stakes (Grade 3)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Dealbata 2. Julie’s Love 3. Federation

DEALBATA looks to make it two in a row at Belmont Park, after a solid second place effort at Saratoga.  JULIE’S LOVE beat Dealbata last time out, and has won three out of four starts in the United States.  FEDERATION has placed in a Grade 3 before, and is coming off a nice Allowance Optional Claiming victory at Saratoga.

Sunday

Woodbine: Woodbine Mile Stakes (Grade 1)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Wise Dan 2. Dance and Dance 3. Cityscape

WISE DAN is not only our top choice for this race, but is also our choice to win the Breeders Cup Turf Mile.  DANCE AND DANCE was sixth in last years Woodbine Mile, but might be a better horse coming into this year’s race.  CITYSCAPE has won over 4 million dollars in his career, and will be making his United States debut in this one.  If he takes to the surface he will be dangerous.

Woodbine: Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (Grade 1)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Forte Dei Marmi 2. Scalo 3. Al Khali

FORTE DEI MARMI won the local prep for this, and could make it two in a row with a clean trip.  SCALO was one of the horse he beat in that race, but look for him to run an improved race in this one.  AL KHALI is always competitive in these types of races, but might be a horse to play underneath and not on top.

Woodbine: Canadian Stakes (Grade 2)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Stars to Shine 2. Laughing 3. Smart Sting

STARS TO SHINE gets our top pick on what is a very balance race.  Her recent success at Woodbine gave her the slight edge.  LAUGHING may be the fastest horse speed figure wise, and is coming off a Grade 3 victory at Monmouth in her last start.  SMART STING is a consistent horse, that could rise up and pull an upset if she shows up with her best race.

Woodbine: Ontario Derby (Grade 3)

Racing Dudes Top 3: 1. Stealcase 2. Prospective 3. Gung Ho

STEALCASE will appreciate the class drop in this one, and will most likely run his best race here.  PROSPECTIVE is a horse that we know can compete at the Grade 3 level.  GUNG HO has run solid on the all-weather track in the past, so maybe he’ll show us some of his old form in this one.