A maximum field of twelve juvenile runners will square off for an automatic entry into the Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf during this Saturday’s renewal of the Grade 2, $250,000 Pilgrim Stakes, contested over 1 1/16 miles on the Belmont Park turf. This competitive event is packed with talent, so let’s analyze the field and find our top selection.
With nine of the twelve entrants coming out of maiden events and four competitors still searching for their maiden victory, identifying the strongest contenders requires searching for unique advantages and subtle clues. Despite being one of those four maidens, #4 Roscoe Goose stands out as a major threat. Representing the stable of up-and-coming trainer Riley Mott—who seldom scores with debut runners—this colt fell just a head short of winning his debut at Saratoga, delivering an impressive late charge despite leaving from the far-outside 11th post. Though he finished a narrow second to #12 Let Him Know on that occasion, the post positions are reversed today; Let Him Know must deal with the extreme outside in post 12, whereas Roscoe Goose lands a much more favorable draw in post 4, setting him up perfectly for a breakthrough performance.
Another pair of serious challengers emerging from a highly productive Saratoga maiden grass race are #1 Chief of Peace and #8 And the Runner Is. They occupied the top two spots at the Spa going this same distance on August 23, with Chief of Peace prevailing by a head for skilled grass conditioner Miguel Clement. That result left And the Runner Is to settle for his second consecutive runner-up finish for trainer Mark Casse. Top New York jockey Manny Franco takes over the reins on Chief of Peace from the inside post. On the other hand, And the Runner Is will try to secure a smoother beginning after his chances were compromised by a poor break in his previous outing.
An intriguing European shipper also joins the lineup, and while he has yet to visit the winner’s circle, he remains a formidable threat in this spot despite an unfavorable outer draw. #11 Dover Street arrives after a runner-up performance in a Group 3 event at Sandown Park in the UK, having twice recovered from poor starts to run second in two of his three lifetime outings. His conditioner, Richard Hannon Jr., may not be widely known to American fans, but he recently proved his capabilities here by sending out Haatem to capture the $2 million Mint Millions Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs earlier this month. If Dover Street can resolve his gate issues, he could easily prove to be a major force at Belmont Park this Saturday.
Our betting approach for the Pilgrim centers on placing a win wager on #4 Roscoe Goose and pairing him with #11 Dover Street in exacta combinations. We will also include both #1 Chief of Peace and #8 And the Runner Is in our trifecta tickets to catch a piece of the minor awards:
$18 Budget Betting Strategy:
$2 Win on #4 Roscoe Goose ($2)
What to request at the teller: Belmont Park, Race 11, $2 to win on number 4
$2 Exacta Box: 4, 11 ($4)
What to request at the teller: Belmont Park, Race 11, $2 exacta box on 4 and 11
$0.50 Trifecta Box: 1, 4, 8, 11 ($12)
What to request at the teller: Belmont Park, Race 11, fifty-cent trifecta box on 1, 4, 8, 11
$32 Budget Betting Strategy:
$10 Win on #4 Roscoe Goose ($10)
What to request at the teller: Belmont Park, Race 11, $10 to win on number 4
$5 Exacta Box: 4, 11 ($10)
What to request at the teller: Belmont Park, Race 11, $5 exacta box on 4 and 11
$0.50 Trifecta Box: 1, 4, 8, 11 ($12)
What to request at the teller: Belmont Park, Race 11, $1 trifecta box on 1, 4, 8, 11
Best of luck and have a great time watching the race!
