The Pattison Summer Stakes, which will be run Saturday, Sept. 17 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto on the E.P. Taylor turf course, will highlight seven 2-year-old colts competing for a pumped up purse of $500,000. This Grade 1 stakes is also part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. The winner will automatically receive a free entry in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 4. This race, along with the Ricoh Woodbine Mile, the Natalma Stakes, and the Seaway Stakes, will be featured on ABR’s “Woodbine Live!” livestream beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
This race’s distance of one mile around one turn is the furthest any of these youngsters have traveled. Because they have all been sprinting, some of them will find the extra ground to be a challenge while others will relish it. The pace of the Summer Stakes tends to be very quick early because the colts aren’t used to conserving their energy to travel additional ground.
Horses who can sit just off of the pace usually have an advantage. Inside post positions from the rail to post six are statistically beneficial at this distance at Woodbine.
The horse to beat looks like the European invader, #1 Mysterious Night, for the Godolphin stable. Trainer Charles Appleby is enlisting the services of jockey William Buick, who has ridden the flashy son of Dark Angel in all five of his starts. Appleby won the Summer Stakes last year with Godolphin-owned Albahr, with Frankie Dettori riding.
Appleby has a sensational record at Woodbine. In the last five years, he has sent out runners in seven Grade 1 races and won five of them. He knows what kind of horse will thrive on the expansive E.P. Taylor turf course.
Buick may have his hands full with Mysterious Night who tends to get very keen early in his races. He asked him to settle behind the pack in his last race at Deauville, and the big bay colt proved best down the stretch when finally allowed to run.
#3 Appraise comes from the Chad Brown juggernaut stable but was no match for stablemate Oxymore in the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga. His pedigree may be best suited to shorter distances, but racing one mile around one turn could prove to be okay. He will need a better effort in this race to get into the top three.
#6 Philip My Dear is undefeated in two races and was very professional in winning the Soaring Free stakes at Woodbine in August. He has a quick turn of foot and is expected to improve with a bit more distance. One mile is likely ideal for his pedigree and his physical makeup.
The wide, sweeping turf course should give every horse a chance to run his best race on Saturday. The weather in Toronto is also expected to be ideal, with no rain in the forecast.
With a budget of $25 for betting this race, I will take a straight exacta for $15 with Mysterious Night on top of Philip My Dear. I will also play a trifecta keying Mysterious Night on top with Philip My Dear for second and Appraise in the third spot for $10.
Wagering Strategy on a $25 Budget:
$15 Exacta 1 over 6 (total $15)
What to say at the betting window:
Woodbine, Race 7, $15 straight exacta, 1 over 6
$10 Trifecta 1 with 6 with 3 (total $10)
What to say at the betting window:
Woodbine, Race 7, $10 trifecta key 1 over 6 over 3
Good luck, and enjoy the Summer Stakes!
Pick 3
10/11-1/10-1
10/11-1/10-1
$4
Pick 4
2-10/11-1/10-1
2-10/11-1/10-1
$41
Daily Double
10-1
10-1
$7
Superfecta
1-3-6-2
1-3-6-2
$8
Pick 3
10/11-1/10-1
10/11-1/10-1
$4
Pick 4
2-10/11-1/10-1
2-10/11-1/10-1
$41
Daily Double
10-1
10-1
$7
Superfecta
1-3-6-2
1-3-6-2
$8
