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Bold Venture Stakes (Grade 3) – Race 7 at Woodbine – Post Time 3:46 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Notorious Gangster
Notorious Gangster won his first race of 2026 on May 23, one race back from a nine-month layoff. That race was his best-career effort, and he won under command. That was seven furlongs, similar to this distance of six and one-half furlongs. In his only race since then on June 27, he stretched out to a mile and one-eighth, where he had no kick and finished fifth. Back in a one-turn race, he should rebound, and he should win his fifth victory in 11th career races.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Notorious Gangster at 8 to 5 or higher.
Canadian Stakes (Grade 2) – Race 8 at Woodbine – Post Time 4:40 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Lupa
For exactas: Eponine
I was torn between Eponine and Lupa, as both fillies ran big in their last races, and each earned a 100 Equibase Speed Figure, the best among the fillies here. However, Eponine just won her first allowance race in her third start in North America, whereas Lupa missed the Grade 3 Trillium Stakes by a head just a few weeks ago. In that race, Lupa left by a head at nine furlongs, where she led by a length and a half at the eighth pole and to the point this race the one and one-sixteenth will be run. Lupa was off a layoff from November to June, when she won easily, leading from start to finish. She earned a 93 figure off the 100 effort last out and is expected to improve. Also, Lupa is the only horse willing to lead, so she should control the pace.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Lupa at 9 to 5 or higher.
Exacta: Lupa over Eponine
Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (Grade 1) – Race 9 at Saratoga – Post Time 5:06 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Ole Crazy Bone, Program Trading
Contenders for exacta: Ancient Egypt, Fort George, Minaret Station
The Bowling Green Stakes, held July 11 at Saratoga, served as the local prep for the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes, which Ole Crazy Bone won. The United National Stakes, held July 18 at Monmouth, served as a prep for this race, which Program Trading won.
Although the second- and third-place finishers in the Bowling Green – Fort George and Minaret Station – were a nose and a half-length behind Ole Crazy Bone, I don’t see either of them beating him. Ancient Egypt, who shipped in from Europe, finished second in each of his two most recent races by less than a half-length. I think this three-year-old is just a bit less than Ole Crazy Bone and Program Trading.
Although Ole Crazy Bone was the 7-to-5 favorite in the Bowling Green, his odds start at 4-to-1 making him the third favorite. Minaret Station starts as the favorite at 3-to-1, and I don’t understand how his odds are lower than those of Ole Crazy Bone, but I am happy and will take it. Ole Crazy Bone led the race, and he could do it again, as no other horse has ever led early in a race. However, if any other horse wants the lead that’s fine, as Ole Crazy Bone won the similar Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes in September, when he rallied from fourth. Since trainer Maker claimed Ole Crazy Bone for $100,000 in June last year, the gelding has won those two races and finished second in the other two. Considering this race has seven entrants, the same as when he won the Bowling Green, and Ole Crazy Bone is likely to get the same lead he did in his last month, he is the one to beat.
Program Trading is the only horse trained by Chad Brown, who sometimes has two, three, or even four entrants. That tells us he feels Program Trading is the one. Given that the horse has won two straight stakes, the Monmouth Stakes and the United Nations, he has the chance to beat Old Crazy Bone if he can pass him and run this mile-and-a-half distance. Program Trading was racing for the first time at the one-and-three-eighths distance in the United Nations, but while Old Crazy Bone won the Turf Cup Stakes, Program Trading is just a bet with less probability. Also, Program Trading will go to post at odds shorter than his 7 to 2 starting odds.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Ole Crazy Bone and Program Trading at 9 to 5 or higher.
Exacta: Ole Crazy Bone, Program Trading over Ancient Egypt, Fort George, Minaret Station
King’s Plate – Race 10 at Woodbine – Post Time 6:12 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Luster
The King’s Plate is a race to “single” (the only horse to use in double, pick 3, pick 4, and pick 5 bets) Luster. Luster, a filly who gets the rail, has good tactical speed. Her latest speed figure (98) is the best in the race, and she is still improving. Luster could be the seventh filly to win the King’s Plate (formerly the Queen’s Plate) since 2011.
There are four horses to use in the exacta’s second position: Imyourmedicineman, Highwaytothemoon, Brachette and Bond Market.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Luster at 1 to 1 or higher.
Exactas: Luster over Imyourmedicineman, Highwaytothemoon, Brachette and Bond Market.
King Edward Stakes (Grade 2) – Race 11 at Woodbine – Post Time 7 PM Eastern
Top Win Contender(s): Seminole Chief
Seminole Chief has won seven of seventeen races. However, he is two for two since trainer Joe Sharp took over. He won the mile race when saddled by Sharp, the same distance as this King Edward. That earned the five-year-old his best-ever Equibase Speed Figure, 111. He then won the John B. Schuster Memorial Stakes on July 15. Sharp has been phenomenal at Woodbine this year, with a 4-3-0 record in 12 races, and he uses Rafael Hernandez. The pair have an excellent record of 10-7-3 in 27 starts over the past few years. Seminole Chief should be running his best at this trip, as no horse can run as fast as he did on June 17.
Handicapper Picks
Win bets: Seminole Chief at 2 to 1 or higher.