Twenty-to-1 morning line longshot Kentucky-bred County Closing scales again in distance along with his sights set on the $200,000 Highlander Stakes (G2T) June 29 at Woodbine.
After getting out in entrance of the sector within the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 20 at Oaklawn Park, the son of Oxbow faltered with somewhat greater than a quarter-mile to the wire.
He’s reducing again from 9 furlongs to 6 and shifting from filth to turf, the place he is run half of his 34 begins. Coach Saffie Joseph Jr. is hoping the 6-year-old responds positively to the shorter distance. The Highlander is the gelding’s first race underneath a mile for the reason that Nearctic Stakes final 12 months—a span of six races—though that did not go in response to plan, as he completed 10 1/2 lengths again in tenth.
One of many favorites, Oceanic (4-1), makes his second begin of the 12 months after a triumphant allowance race at Keeneland in April. After a promising 2022 season that noticed the son of Structure end second within the Woodford Stakes (G2T) and a distant tenth within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash (GT), he hadn’t seen the winner’s circle till that April win. His greatest end got here in final 12 months’s Highlander, the place he was second by half a size.
Final day out, favored Filo Di Arianna completed in the course of the pack after failing to rally and catch record-setting Cogburn within the Jaipur Stakes (G1T). Within the race prior, he confirmed higher kind, coming in 2 1/4 lengths behind Cogburn within the Twin Spires Turf Dash Stakes (G2T). The gelding has completed first or second in seven of his final 9 begins.
Entries: bet365 Highlander S. (G2T)
Woodbine, Saturday, June 29, 2024, Race 7
- Grade IIT
- 6f
- Turf
- $200,000
- 4 yo’s & up
- 4:36 PM (native)
Fev Rover Seeks One other Nassau Victory
Reigning Canadian Horse of the Yr Fev Rover returns to Woodbine, the place she gained the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) final 12 months. Since coming to North America, she’s run six of her 10 begins there with a 3-1-2 mark.
Winner of final 12 months’s Nassau Stakes (G2T), Fev Rover will attempt to do higher than she did in her final two begins, each in United States. She ended final 12 months with a disappointing eleventh within the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, then had a seven-month break earlier than returning within the New York Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course June 7.
That day began ominously as she turned rambunctious behind the beginning gate, tossed jockey Javier Castellano and briefly received free. Regardless of that, she ran properly early earlier than weakening.
However she’s again in her consolation zone at Woodbine, the place she and Patrick Husbands patiently allowed final 12 months’s Nassau to develop earlier than shifting down the stretch for a 4 1/2-length runaway. Husbands is again within the irons Saturday.
Entries: Nassau S. (G2T)
Woodbine, Saturday, June 29, 2024, Race 10
- Grade IIT
- 1m
- Turf
- $175,000
- 4 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares
- 6:13 PM (native)
Palazzi Seems for Again-to-Again Wins
Palazzi , who rallied alongside the rail for a half-length win final day out within the Eclipse Stakes, seeks a second straight win on Woodbine’s all-weather observe within the Dominion Day Stakes (G3).
The Pioneerof the Nile gelding has had difficulties of late away from the Canadian observe in three begins earlier than the Eclipse this 12 months. In his 5 begins to finish 2023, Palazzi had three firsts and two fourths, all at Woodbine.
Pushing him Saturday can be Tyson , who completed second within the Eclipse. Like his rival, the son of Tapit appears to get pleasure from operating at Woodbine, the place he has a 3-1-1 report from six begins, together with a win in final 12 months’s Dominion Day.
Entries: Dominion Day S. (G3)
Woodbine, Saturday, June 29, 2024, Race 8
- Grade III
- 1 1/8m
- All Climate Observe
- $150,000
- 4 yo’s & up
- 5:08 PM (native)
