September 16, 2023
(listed in chronological order)
Gulfstream Park Fifth Race
Post time: 2:54 ET
5-Embrace the Dream (7/2)
A strong, athletic, and long striding Florida-bred son of Jess’s Dream, this impressive juvenile colt really caught the eye at the OBS June sale, where he displayed powerful auction in a :21 flat quarter mile breeze before bringing $100,000 through the ring. He arrives after receiving his preparatory work at Monmouth Park, where he recorded two recent bullet drills, and hails from a barn that has strong stats (21%) with the first time starter angle. This seven furlong distance should be well within his range, so at 7/2 on the morning line the Jorge Delgado-trained colt looked primed to score in his debut.
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Belmont at the Big A Sixth Race
Post time: 3:42 ET
2-Mitole Magic (5/2)
This $275,000 auction purchase displayed intense speed at the OBS March Sale when breezing a furlong in a sizzling 9 4/5 seconds, fastest during her preview session, and has been equally impressive in her local workouts while preparing for her racing debut. Bred to win early (Mitole), the Chad Brown-trained juvenile has been given a strong foundation to have her fit and ready right off the bat and having been produced by a 12-race winning California turf specialist by Bernstein, it makes sense to start her off sprinting on the lawn. With Irad Ortiz, Jr., taking the call and at 5/2 on the morning line, she offers good wagering value in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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Churchill Downs Seventh Race
Post time: 3:50 ET
6-V V’s Dream (5/2)
She broke her maiden at first asking over the Churchill Downs main track by more than six widening lengths during the spring meeting, a performance that earned her the 1/5 favorite’s role in the Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park in early July. However, in that race the daughter of Mitole ran her race but was simply beaten by Brightwork, who currently ranks among the two best juvenile fillies in North America (along with Tamara) after winning a pair of stakes races at Saratoga, including the prestigious Spinaway Stakes. The Kenny McPeek-trained filly hasn’t missed a beat in her recent work pattern, has the proper style for this one turn mile distance, and will offer excellent wagering value in this year’s edition of the Pocahontas Stakes at or near her morning line of 5/2 if you can get it.
