GRADE 1 RACING TIPS FOR OCTOBER 17TH

It’s setting up to be an exciting day of racing this afternoon with a number of Grade 1’s shaping up and some absolutely quality is set to come out of the gate. I’ve got my eyes focused on the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup- a Grade 1 race for fillies at Keeneland, as well as an incredible Grade 1 Daily Double at Woodbine for the Pattison Canadian International and the E.P Taylor Stakes.

In the QE II, we have a couple selections fresh off the Garden City Stakes. Miss World and Shared account was your exacta will heavily-fancied Gozzip Girl coming in an extremely disappointing fourth after leaving the gate listed at 2/5. I think this is Gozzip Girl’s TSN turning point and I like the favourable 4th post and I like Kent Desormeaux on top. I don’t think she’ll be priced as low as she was last time, but I think she gets the better of the field in this $500,0001 1/8 mile dash.

It should be mentioned that all the Woodbine Grade 1’s (and the Grade 2 Nearctic) are all Win and You’re In Breeders Cup Qualifiers. I think that explains the sheer amount of classy Europeans in the field.  For the Pattison Canadian International, I’m backing Champs Elysees, coming out of the 1 stall, for no reason other than that I think this is his big day. He hasn’t scored since the Hollywood Turf Cup back at the end of ‘08, but he’s been so close against so many top competitors that I think so many horses unfamiliar with the surface gives him the edge. He is a pro on this type of surface and his always a bridesmaid never a bride ends today, if you get my meaning. I expect Jukebox Jury to be odds-on or nearly odds-on at post-time and I also think he needs time to adjust to North American conditions. He has been at Cologne for a while this year and even though he’s coming in on two wins in a row, I think his streak ends here.

My second selection for the Pattison International is Just as Well- trained by Johnathan Sheppard for Augustin Stable, I like his style and how he comes in fresh off a Grade 1 victory over the same surface in the Northern Dancer Stakes. He also finished 2nd to the absolute quality Gio Ponti at Arlington back in August. He’s got references, he’s got Grade 1 form, he’s got the surface- I really like Just as Well.

I’ll be using these two in an each-way exacta and I’ll be top-ending each of them with Jukebox Jury for lower stakes just to cover my ass if I’m wrong.

The second Grade 1 at Woodbine today is the E.P Taylor Stakes where I’m all over Rainbow View like a cheap suit. She’s been competing in some of Britain’s most prestigious Group 1’s for fillies and mares. She comes into the race on a very progressive 3-4-2-1 with the victory coming on September 5th at Leopardstown in the Pegasus Matron Stakes. She’s put in very solid races against the likes of Goldikova, Ghanaati, and Sariska and those are some of the top female runners in the UK. The price will be short, but I like Rainbow View.

If you’re looking for a value option, Roses N Wine with Chantal Sutherland is a local favourite and the only one with some really solid experience on this track. She’s fresh off a win in the Algoma Stakes and could be the surprise if it isn’t in the cards for Rainbow View. Expect a fantastic price.