Weekend Stakes Races – Grade II Gallant Bloom and Grade II Kentucky Cup Classic

Race-day: 9/26/2009

Race-times: Gallant Bloom at 5:15 pm EST and Kentucky Cup Classic at 6:21 pm EST

Two Grade II races are on the card this weekend in the BetOnline online racebook. Laurel Park is also having its Maryland Millions Day.

I’ve got a special write-up for that. In this write-up we’ll go over two big races. The first, at Belmont Park, will showcase Indian Blessing. The second, at Turfway Park, will showcase Hold Me Back.

Let’s get to both races.

Belmont – Race 9

Grade II Gallant Bloom Handicap

$150,000

For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward

6 ½ furlongs on dirt

Sara Louise and Indian Blessing will get most of the money, but Sara Louise won her best race on the slop and Indian Blessing just doesn’t look like the same horse that we saw a year ago. That leaves Thunders Dove who has won five in a row, all in spectacular fashion, and who gets the nice outside draw where jockey Rajiv Maragh can see what’s going on up front. She’s the pick. For second, Sara Louise has more upside, but trainer Bob Baffert says that Indian Blessing is doing very, very well. She should put in at least a second place finish in this and is the one to beat. Sara Louise is too good to keep out of the exotics. So, she has to be the choice for third.

1. Thunders Dove
2. Indian Blessing
3. Sara Louise

Turfway – Race 13

Grade II Kentucky Cup Classic

$200,000

For Three Year Olds and Upward

1 1/8 miles on Polytrack

Hold Me Back is the likely chalk because of his victory in the Lane’s End Stakes over this surface, but horseplayers should not discount the chances of Furthest Land. The turfer has a victory over the Polytrack at Keeneland, in a $100,000 optional claimer, is out of Smart Strike and trained by 62% meet winning Michael Maker. Garrett Gomez rides. Hold Me Back should finish no worse than second in this. Trainer Bill Mott really has this guy improving and anything close to what he showed in the Travers’ Stakes in his last would win this. Timeless Fashion has a record of 3-2-1 out of 6 starts over Turfway Park’s Polytrack. That makes him a legitimate contender for a top three finish.

1. Furthest Land
2. Hold Me Back
3. Timeless Fashion