Molly Jo Rosen Handicaps Saturday’s Trio of Graded Stakes

Mainly sunny. High near 45F / 7C. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.

Love to see a card that has dual King’s Plate winners on it!

Race 7 | G3 Maple Leaf Stakes | 3&up F&M going 1 1/4 mi. (A)

13-Caitlinhergrtness: Kings Play heroine’s back on her home all-weather after a really nice summer season – but – can she best non-ONbreds again?

5-Fashionably Fab: your favourite for good reason because that win last out was pretty & she does get super streaky

2-Millie Girl: always runs her race but needs some racing luck

12-Queen Regent: Walsh doesn’t ship for kicks & love seeing Murphy with mounts on this side of the pond & she does cut back to a more favorable distance – but – she hasn’t really shown that last closing kick to get her nose down when it counts

6-Elysian Field: she’s talented – yes – but she’s not consistent & that scares me at a short price

$5 WPS Longshot: 3-Ecstasy because speed’s done very little wrong when she’s been up on the pace no matter what distance we’re talking – she can sprint, she can route but can she beat this caliber?

Race 8 | G3 Bessarabian Stakes | 3&up F&M going 7f (A)

10-Love to Shop: barely put a hoof wrong since the near-year vacay & Stein all-but won on her in this spot last year

6-Gal in a Rush: always runs her race & is a neck from undefeated here so the morning line favouritism makes sense

3-Stormcast: speed’s gotta hold on against open company but the cutback in distance off the freshening should help

7-Sunday Shoes: she’s undefeated if she’d gotten a few cleaner trips

14-Storm Miami: talent’s there but feels a step behind these gals so beware of too short a price

$5 WPS Longshot: 5-A Game because closer steps up & gets a bit more ground looking for her third straight win

Race 9 | G2 HPIbet Autumn Stakes | 3&up going 1 1/8 mi. (A)

11-Dresden Row: intrigues cuz he’s never been out of the money & did take the prep & okay maybe isn’t as experienced as some others in here, but also what’s he done wrong?

7-Paramount Prince: speed’s been freshened & carefully managed this year to great effect & I’m gonna assume the folded-when-headed-in-the-lane last out was a fluke even at a shorter price

6-War Bomber: I love this horse because he gets in the gate & shows up & does his thing every dang time – does he want the surface/distance/jock switches? I dunno but he’s fun to watch!

9-Never Surprised: shows up on the clocker report stepping up off the confidence win & he’s consistent – but – he’s never run on anything but grass though that pedigree says he should like the synthetic

5-Stanley House: always runs his race but needs racing luck (& maybe blinkers eventually to curb that drifting problem)

$5 WPS Longshot: 1-Artie’s Storm because the gritty win against confidence-boosting Allowance company off the near-year layoff was great but how does he respond on the quicker turnaround & stretch out & rail draw

@MollyJoRosen