Longshot County Final Tries to Upend Highlander Field

Twenty-to-1 morning line longshot Kentucky-bred County Final scales back in distance with his sights set on the $200,000 Highlander Stakes (G2T) June 29 at Woodbine.

After getting out in front of the field in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 20 at Oaklawn Park, the son of Oxbow faltered with a little more than a quarter-mile to the wire.

He is cutting back from nine furlongs to six and moving from dirt to turf, where he’s run half of his 34 starts. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is hoping the 6-year-old responds positively to the shorter distance. The Highlander is the gelding’s first race under a mile since the Nearctic Stakes last year—a span of six races—although that didn’t go according to plan, as he finished 10 1/2 lengths back in 10th.

One of the favorites, Oceanic (4-1), makes his second start of the year after a triumphant allowance race at Keeneland in April. After a promising 2022 season that saw the son of Constitution finish second in the Woodford Stakes (G2T) and a distant 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GT), he hadn’t seen the winner’s circle until that April win. His best finish came in last year’s Highlander, where he was second by half a length.

Last time out, favored Filo Di Arianna finished in the middle of the pack after failing to rally and catch record-setting Cogburn in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T). In the race prior, he showed better form, coming in 2 1/4 lengths behind Cogburn in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T). The gelding has finished first or second in seven of his last nine starts.

Entries: bet365 Highlander S. (G2T)

Woodbine, Saturday, June 29, 2024, Race 7

Grade IIT
6f
Turf
$200,000
4 yo’s & up
4:36 PM (local)

Fev Rover Seeks Another Nassau Victory

Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Fev Rover returns to Woodbine, where she won the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) last year. Since coming to North America, she’s run six of her 10 starts there with a 3-1-2 mark.

Winner of last year’s Nassau Stakes (G2T), Fev Rover will try to do better than she did in her last two starts, both in United States. She ended last year with a disappointing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, then had a seven-month break before returning in the New York Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course June 7.

That day started ominously as she became rambunctious behind the starting gate, tossed jockey Javier Castellano and briefly got loose. Despite that, she ran well early before weakening.

But she’s back in her comfort zone at Woodbine, where she and Patrick Husbands patiently allowed last year’s Nassau to develop before moving down the stretch for a 4 1/2-length runaway. Husbands is back in the irons Saturday.

Entries: Nassau S. (G2T)

Woodbine, Saturday, June 29, 2024, Race 10

Grade IIT
1m
Turf
$175,000
4 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares
6:13 PM (local)

Palazzi Looks for Back-to-Back Wins

Palazzi , who rallied along the rail for a half-length win last time out in the Eclipse Stakes, seeks a second straight win on Woodbine’s all-weather track in the Dominion Day Stakes (G3).

The Pioneerof the Nile gelding has had difficulties of late away from the Canadian track in three starts before the Eclipse this year. In his five starts to end 2023, Palazzi had three firsts and two fourths, all at Woodbine.

Pushing him Saturday will be Tyson , who finished second in the Eclipse. Like his rival, the son of Tapit seems to enjoy running at Woodbine, where he has a 3-1-1 record from six starts, including a win in last year’s Dominion Day.