Next Question sprints to Nearctic triumph

16-1 shot Next Question was one of the longer shots in the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes (Can-I) last Sunday at Woodbine, but the four-year-old gelding apparently didn't know that. With John Velazquez aboard, he was able to steal the race in gate-to-wire fashion, holding off a late charge from Night Carnation to win the six-furlong turf sprint by a half-length.

Racing over a course labeled good, Next Question showed speed from the start, setting fractions of :23.03 and :45.71 while being pressured by Bear Tough Tiger. Super Chunky and Artic Fern were right behind the leading pair, followed then by Night Carnation, Stormy Rush, and Grand Adventure. As de Trobel, Big Band Sound, Fire Lily (who got off to a very poor start), and Hammers Terror were the trailers.

Next Question and Bear Tough Tiger continued to duel around the turn and into the homestretch, entering the final furlong with nothing between them. In the final sixteenth, Next Question put his rival away, but then had to hold off a late challenge Night Carnation, which he did so gamely. The final margin of victory was a half-length, with the final time being 1:09.32 seconds.

Bear Tough Tiger finished another half-length behind Night Carnation in third, while Big Band Sound rallied well to complete the superfecta. Stormy Rush, As de Trobel, Super Chunky, Hammers Terror, Grand Adventure, Fire Lily, and Artic Fern completed the order of finish.

The winner is a son of Stormy Atlantic out of the Slew City Slew mare Seattle Stardust. He is trained by Michael Trombetta and owned by Three Diamonds Farm.

-Keelerman

Woodbine Super Sunday Analysis

Later this afternoon, Woodbine will play host to a trio of prestigious grade I turf races, including the $1.5 million Pattison Canadian International. There are a ton of interesting horses entered, so let's start handicapping!

Nearctic Stakes (gr. I)

The morning line favorite is the local hero Big Band Sound, who won the Play the King Stakes (gr. II) two starts back in brilliant fashion over the Woodbine turf. Overall, he's been very consistent this year, winning or placing in six of his eight starts, but six furlongs may be a tad short for him.

If that is the case, than look for Fire Lily to take advantage of the situation. A very talented Irish-bred three-year-old filly, she finished second in a pair of group I races as a juvenile and has been very competitive in group III races this year. In fact, three starts back, she beat subsequent Prix de la Foret (Fr-I) winner and Betfred Sprint Cup (Eng-I) runner-up Gordon Lord Byron by a half-length in the Patrick O'Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint (Ire-III). Given this record, one has to like her chances later this afternoon, although the fact that she has drawn post eleven is a serious concern.

The other European shipper, Night Carnation, is also mildly intriguing, but the filly has not won a stakes race of any kind since taking the group III Coral Charge Sprint Stakes in July 2011. With John Velazquez in the saddle, you can't count her out, but she probably isn't quite as good as Fire Lily.

Bear Tough Tiger has won two of his last three starts in excellent fashion, but is taking a sizable step up in class and will have to overcome breaking from the rail. But at least that is better than drawing gate eleven. I envision him showing speed from the start, setting the pace, and hopefully holding off the closers late.

Selection: Bear Tough Tiger

E.P. Taylor Stakes (gr. I)

It's hard to look past morning line favorite Siyouma, for the Irish-bred filly is coming off of a strong victory in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Eng-I) over the very talented Elusive Kate. True, that race was only a mile, but her form at ten furlongs is decent enough to suggest that her class can help her successfully stretch out in distance.

Her main competition will probably come from Dream Peace, who has placed in both the Diana Stakes (gr. I) and Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (gr. I) this summer. She is coming back a bit quick off of her last effort -- with just two weeks rest -- but ten furlongs should be just about perfect for her, and the long Woodbine homestretch should help her late rally.

Barefoot Lady won the Canadian Stakes (gr. II) here at Woodbine in good fashion last month, but is facing tougher today and will have to step up. The same goes for the other European shippers -- Pagera, Trois Lunes, Princess Highway, and Havant -- most of which have shown good form in lower level group races and could contend with career-best efforts.

Selection: Siyouma

Pattison Canadian International (gr. I)

Going over the past performances, it's hard to look past the European shippers, led by morning line favorite Imperial Monarch. From the powerful barn of Aidan O'Brien, the three-year-old colt has won three of his four starts, including the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I). He's proven at this distance and over soft turf, but he hasn't run since mid-July. Will he be fit enough to defeat a field of this caliber off of such a lengthy layoff?

If he's not quite up to the challenge, than Reliable Man can pull off a mild upset. Trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre, the talented colt has not won a race in over a year, but he has been running against some of the best horses in Europe, including Danedream, Nathaniel, St. Nicholas Abbey, So You Think, Farhh, Golden Lilac, and Cirrus des Aigles. And given how he has held his own against many of this, one has to view him as a serious contender for the win. Plus, he will have the services of top jockey Olivier Peslier.

Joshua Tree won this race two years ago and finished a strong second last year, signaling that he is quite found of the Woodbine course. Last time out, he finished a strong third to subsequent Arc de Triomphe runner-up Orfevre in the Qatar Prix Foy (Fr-II), proving that he has retained his good form. Frankie Dettori has the mount.

Wigmore Hall has won the Northern Dancer Stakes (gr. I) here at Woodbine two years in a row, but has never been better than a group II/III type in Europe, so beating the likes of Reliable Man and Imperial Monarch could be difficult. However, like Joshua Tree, he has shown an affinity for the course, so counting him out could prove a mistake.

Air Support looks like the best of the North American hopefuls, as he can unleash a strong late kick on occasion and has run well at the grade I level, but the turf course may turn up a bit soft for him today. A good pace to run at would greatly help his chances, but time will tell if he gets one.

Let me also take a moment to mention Prince Will I Am, winner of the grade I Jamaica Handicap in 2010. His last two efforts haven't been particularly noteworthy, but he does seem to be rounding back into his 2010 form, and twelve furlongs on turf seems to suit him well. Perhaps the long Woodbine homestretch will help him rally for a piece.

Selection: Reliable Man

-Keelerman

Wise Dan Romps in Woodbine Mile

Heavily favored Wise Dan added yet another impressive victory to his record when he dominated an excellent field in the $1,000,000 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Can-I) on Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.

A gelded son of Wiseman's Ferry out of the Wolf Power mare Lisa Danielle, Wise Dan was sent off as the 0.55-1 favorite in a field of nine thanks to a eye-catching victory in the Fourstardave Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga. With John Velazquez aboard for trainer Charles Lopresti, Wise Dan broke just a bit slowly, but soon recovered to settle into third place along the rail as Worthadd and Artic Fern set fractions of :23.78 and :46.90 seconds. Cityscape was on the outside in fourth, while Hollinger, Big Band Sound, and Hunters Bay comprised the group of mid-pack runners. Dance And Dance and Riding the River were the early trailers.

Rounding the turn, Wise Dan made a bold and decisive bid to seize command of the lead, entering the homestretch with a commanding advantage. Cityscape briefly loomed a threat on the outside, but he failed to sustain his challenge, leaving Wise Dan to romp home uncontested by 3 1/4 lengths.

The final time over a firm turf course was 1:34.07 seconds. Hunters Bay rallied well toward the inside to secure second over Cityscape, while Riding the River, Dance And Dance, Big Band Sound, Worthadd, Hollinger, and Artic Fern completed the order of finish.

Bred and owned by Morton Fink, Wise Dan has now compiled a record of 11-1-0 from 18 starts, with earnings of $2,011,638. He is pointing toward a start in either the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) or the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) in November at Santa Anita Park.

-Keelerman

Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $1,000,000 Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (Can-I), to be run on Sunday at Woodbine. The prestigious one-mile turf race has drawn an exceptional field of nine, including Clark Handicap (gr. I) winner Wise Dan, Dubai Duty Free Stakes (UAE-I) winner Cityscape, and five-time group stakes winner Worthadd.

1 Riding the River
2 Dance And Dance
3 Wise Dan
4 Artic Fern
5 Big Band Sound
6 Hunters Bay
7 Cityscape
8 Hollinger
9 Worthadd

-Keelerman