OffTrackBetting.com – The Grade 1 Acorn Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, June 11 as part of the Belmont Stakes undercard in Elmont, New York. A purse of $700,000 will be on the line for three year old fillies willing to go seven furlongs on Belmont Park’s dirt track.
Six sophomore females will take to the track in the Acorn Stakes – race 3 on Belmont Park’s stacked Belmont Stakes card. Post time is 12:39 PM. Here is a peek into the past performances of all six combatants for this intriguing Grade 1 stakes.
2016 Acorn Stakes Race Preview at Belmont Park
Cathryn Sophia 6-5 – John Servis trained filly has six career starts and five dominating wins (the first four by a combined 41 1/2 lengths) and a third place finish. Last time out was a nice win in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 6 after her only career blemish – a third behind Weep No More and Rachel’s Valentina in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland April 9, a good seven length win in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream February 27, a win in her graded stakes debut – by an impressive 5 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes January 30, a win in her stakes debut – by an incredible 16 1/2 lengths in the $100,000 minor Gin Talking Stakes at Laurel Park December 5 and a win by an astounding 12 3/4 lengths at first asking at Parx in October. She has been a factor in every race so far, has looked terrific in posting a number of bullet works and will be tough to beat again Saturday. Javier Castellano gets the call on the morning line favorite from post 5.
Go Maggie Go 3-1 – Dale Romans trained filly makes just her fifth career having posted three wins so far. Her first race produced and impressive2 1/4 length win at Gulfstream March 13 and her second was a nice upset score by 2 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks April 2. Last time out was another impressive win – by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico May 20 after a slightly disappointing, troubled fourth behind Cathryn Sophia in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 6. Go Maggie Go, outside of one bad outing has been superb – she chases her third graded stakes victory with Luis Saez in the saddle of the second betting choice from the outside post 6.
Bet Belmont Park Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com
Carina Mia 4-1 – Bill Mott trained filly has three wins and a second place finish in five career starts – the runner-up finish coming in her debut. She enters off a nice six length win in the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs May 6 which followed an uncharacteristic fourth in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in April and an impressive two race win streak – by 4 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs November 28 and a maiden score by 9 3/4 lengths in record time at Keeneland October 29. Carina Mia has been especially very good so far and is expected to be competitive again Saturday. Julien Leparoux has been tabbed to ride the intriguing third choice from gate 4.
Off the Tracks 5-1 – Todd Pletcher trained filly has four career starts – three wins and a third place finish. She broke maiden at first asking at Gulfstream last June and went on to a terrific win in the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga in July. She returned from a seven month layoff February 21 and posted a good win by 4 1/2 lengths in the minor Margate Handicap February 21 and was most recently a respectable third in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks April 2. Off the Tracks has placed in all four starts and hopes to keep the impressive roll going from the outside gate 2 Saturday with John Velazquez in the irons.
Paola Queen 15-1 – has six career starts for trainer Gustavo Delgado with a win, two seconds and a third place finish. Last time out was a disappointing ninth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 6 which followed a good second in her stakes debut April 2 – the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks. Before that she broke maiden February 14 in her fourth career start and had a second, a third and a fifth to start her career. Paola Queen had improved every time out before her last start and hopes to bounce back with Jose Ortiz aboard from post 3.
Forever Darling 20-1 – has two wins and a second place finish in seven career starts for trainer Richard Baltas. She enters off a second place finish in the listed Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita May 15 which followed two disappointing results – a fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and a ninth in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds. She did have a career defining win before that – the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes January 2 but also posted and eighth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Forever Darling has been up and down in her career and looks for her second graded stakes win Saturday. Irad Ortiz gets the call from the rail.
2016 Acorn Stakes Entries & Odds
Race 3 on Belmont Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 12:39 PM.
Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Forever Darling | 20-1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Richard Baltas |
2 | Off the Tracks | 5-1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
3 | Paola Queen | 15-1 | Jose Ortiz | Gustavo Delgado |
4 | Carina Mia | 4-1 | Julien Leparoux | William Mott |
5 | Cathryn Sophia | 6-5 | Javier Castellano | John Servis |
6 | Go Maggie Go | 3-1 | Luis Saez | Dale Romans |