Highland Yard's Big Weekend
Not to sound to fatalistic in these times but ……. three races this weekend will tell us a lot about the success of our North American racing program this year.
Things kick off Friday with stable star and Kentucky Oaks hopeful Venetian Harbor running in a stellar edition of the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Given racetrack closures across the country the best and deepest Fantasy Stakes field has assembled. Breeders Cup Juvenile 2019 champion British Idiom is here as is Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Swiss Skydiver, Demoiselle Stakes winner Lake Avenue, Busanda Stakes winner Harvey’s Lil Goil, Honeybee Stakes winner Shedaresthedevil, and Pochantas Stakes winner Lazy Daisy. It is a virtual championship race and the winner will be odds-on for 3 year-old filly of the year.
Having said all that, our filly is the fastest of the bunch and if she breaks well from her inside post 2 it will solely be a matter of whether she gets the distance. Flavien Prat comes in from California for the mount. Is it to early for a cocktail at 3pm Pacific Time on Friday? I think not.
On Saturday a Highland Yard double-header. Just for One Day our promising home-bred colt returns from his maiden victory last month to tackle allowance company at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Breaking from post 1 of 9, jockey Dylan Davis will have to utilize some of Just for One Days speed to be in the lead or close stalking position. Similar to Venetian Harbor the main question around our colt is his ability to get the distance after winning a sprint on the turf in March. We believe dirt is his preferred surface which will confuse some of the punters. Good odds should be available for an across the board wager on our speedy colt.
Lastly, Highland Yard bred Anneau d’Or has a fighters chance in the $500,000 Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. He will have to contend with heavy favourite Charlatan who comes east for Bob Baffert. A top three finish would give Anneau d’Or a second Grade 1 placing. A place/show bet or exacta paired with Charlatan seems the choice here.
All of these races will be broadcast on FoxSports and NBCSN.
https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2020-the-2020-fantasy-stakes-glance