Autumn Stakes 2015 at Woodbine Racetrack

Las Vegas, NV – Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario will play host to the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes this Sunday, November 8. Horses three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Woodbine’s All Weather Track and go 1 1/16 mile for a $200,000 purse.

Nine older entries will take part in the Autumn Stakes – race 6 on Woodbine’s Sunday schedule. Post time is 3:26 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all nine combatants for this Grade 2 stakes.

Lukes Alley – Defending champion in this race and last year’s Sovereign Award winner as champion older horse has just two starts since – an Allowance score by 2 3/4 lengths September 12 and a second in the Grade 3 Durham Cup Stakes on this track October 3. Lukes Alley has been terrific in his career thus far – seven wins and two second place finishes in 11 career starts (all on this track) and has won four of his last five starts overall. He makes just his third start this year hoping for his third graded stakes win. Luis Contreras rides from post 7.

Golden Sabre – has 12 career starts for trainer Malcolm Pierce with four wins, two seconds and a third place finish. He enters off a good win over Luke’s Alley in track record time in the Grade 3 Durham Cup Stakes here October 3 after two decent runner-up finishes – in the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes on this track August 16 and behind Are You Kidding Me in the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes here July 19. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming score in June. Golden Sabre has two wins and two seconds in his last four starts – in the best form of his career. He looks for a second straight graded stakes score from post 9 with Emma-Jayne Watson in the saddle.

Are You Kidding Me – had a nice two race win streak in the summer- both graded stakes on this track – the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes July 19 after his win in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes June 7. He has been OK since – a third last time out in the Grade 3 Durham Cup here October 3 followed a fourth in the minor Presque Isle Mile September 6 and another third in the Grade 2 Sky Classic here. Are You Kidding Me finished 2014 with a disappointing sixth in the last year’s Autumn Stakes but has placed in five of his last six starts ahead of this weekend. He has three graded stakes scores in his career and will try for a fourth Sunday. Alan Garcia gets the mount from the rail.

Florida Won – Mark Casse trained colt has 12 career starts with four wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. Last time out was his worst effort in a while – a fifth in the Grade 3 Durham Cup. Before that was a good two race wins streak – the minor Presque Isle Mile September 6 and the Grade 3 Seagram Cup on this track August 2. He also had a decent second behind Red Rifle in the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes here July 1 and a career best effort – a win in the 2014 Grade 3 Ontario Derby here back in September. He has placed in three of his last four starts but will be after a bounce back after an uncharacteristic effort last time out. Patrick Husbands has been tabbed to ride from post 5.

Karibu Gardens – won the Grade 2 Sky Classic on this track in August 2014 but has just four starts since. Last time out was a second in an Allowance here October 17 after eight months away and an Allowance Optional Claiming score in February. He has 12 career starts with five wins, a second and a third place finish and looks for his first graded stakes score in 15 months. Luis Contreras rides from the outside post 9.

Bet Woodbine Racetrack online with OffTrackBetting.com

Eirigh – has 17 career starts for trainer Kevin Attard with four wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. Last time out was an Allowance score October 17 here after a second in a similar race on this track September 12, a seventh in an Allowance Optional Claiming in July and a sixth in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes here in June. He finished fifth in this race last year and hopes to better that result from gate 2 with Jesse Campbell in the saddle.

Royal Son – Todd Pletcher trained gelding won the minor John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park in February but has posted three straight fifth place finishes ahead of this weekend – an Allowance last time out at Keeneland October 8, the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs in May and the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in March. He has two wins and two seconds in eight career starts and will be after his first graded stakes score from post 3 with Justin Stein in the irons.

Western Reserve – lightly raced Jane Cecil pupil has five career starts and has place in all – two wins, a second and two third place finishes – all in Britain. He makes his North American debut this week off a third in a stakes at Chelmsford City September 26 and a Handicap score at Newmarket in July. Western Reserve has been successful so far and hopes to maintain that trend from gate 4 with David Moran in the reins.

My Name is Michael – Rachel Halden pupil enters in decent form – three wins and a second place finish in his last four starts – no stakes however. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score September 30 after a second in a similar race August 15 and an Allowance and Claiming score earlier this summer. My Name Is Michael has four graded stakes starts – the best result was a third in the 2013 Sam F. Davis Stakes. He has 19 career starts with four wins, three seconds and two third place finishes and will be after his first graded stakes score with Gary Boulanger guiding him from gate 6.

Race 6 on Woodbine’s Sunday card with a Post Time of 3:26 PM.