Happy Bowling Green Day!

Given that the United Nations Stakes is run at Monmouth next week the seven horse field for the Bowling Green is very solid.  The Caress Stakes has strong field where five of the six starters look like contenders. Weather looks great and these stakes should stay on a Firm turf course.

Trivia Question: Three horses have won the Bowling Green Stakes twice – who was the most recent to accomplish this feat?

Race 5  The Caress Stakes – Grade II

Five and One Half Furlongs On The Mellon Turf

for Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward

1. Zeitlios: Was second in this race last year (97 Beyer) but her six most recent starts were on the dirt. Has hit the board once in four starts in 2026 and is winless in four career turf starts but if she returns to last year’s turf form, she’s a potential threat. Jose Ortiz moves here. Slice at a price.
2. Movin’ On Up: Has primarily been a miler but did sprint on the turf two back in the Giant’s Causeway where she made a decent move to get third (86 Beyer). She’s best as a pace presser/stalker type but might get out run early which will leave her with a lot to do. Exotics only.
3. Italian Soiree: Has shown improvement this year after a move to the Graham Motion barn. Was a decent second in the Intercontinental over this track last month as Roja wired the field (97 Beyer). Two her three career wins are at today’s distance and she won the Coronation Cup over this surface last Summer. Should sit a bit off the speed. Win candidate.
4. Sunna: Undefeated in four career starts on the turf including wiring the field in The Very One at Laurel on Black Eyed Susan Day (90 Beyer). Most recently she won with pace pressing trip in a high end optional claimer. Beyers have increased each of her four turf starts. Looks to be the pace, but should get pressed by In Our Time from his outside. Hits the board.
5. Obstreperous: Showed improvement in winning at Monmouth two weeks ago which was off an eight month layoff as she ran down the leader in the lane (84 Beyer). Needs to be faster.
6. In Our Time: Has primarily been going longer but he is arguably better turf sprinting. Two back in the Giant’s Causeway she was a given a fantastic ride by Prat (who stays here) with a pocket trip and then slipped through on the rail to win (96 Beyer). Last out in the Intercontinental Prat tried a similar trip but the rail didn’t open up (90 Beyer) as she was boxed in and finished third. Should sit off the hip of Sunna who is drawn to her inside. The Pick.

Picks 6-3-4-1

Race 10  The Bowling Green Stakes – Grade II

One Mile and Three Furlongs on the Inner Turf for Four Year Olds and Upward

1. Ole Crazy Bone: Has improved since the Mike Maker claim and was a decent second in a high end optional claimer (97 Beyer) in his 2026 debut. Won at Kentucky Downs last September (101 Beyer) but results there don’t tend to translate elsewhere. Likely pace setter in a paceless race. Maker going long – always dangerous. Prat in the irons. Win candidate.
2. Soleil Volant: Stretched out in his two most recent starts with a win in N2X company and then was second in the Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park (90 Beyer) where he was wide on all three turns. Graham Motion may have found what this runner does best – go long on the turf. Hits the board.
3. Desvio: In two starts this year he finished distant second in the Elkhorn and was a no threat fourth in the Cape Henlopen (89 Beyer) where he finished behind Soleil Volant. Johnny V stays aboard. Could contend with an improvement.
4. Fort George: British bred gelding raced in Dubai this winter where he won the Group 3 Dubai Millenium and then was a strong second to Rebel’s Romance in the Group 2 City of Gold Stakes where he couldn’t run down that Godolphin monster. Off that he moved to Group 1 company in the $5 million Dubai Turf but was three wide and faded behind Ombudsman. He doesn’t face a Rebel’s Romance or Ombudsman today. Reports indicate this one has settled in nicely at the Spa. The 9/5 ML is a touch short, 5/2 would be ideal. The Pick.
5. Carson’s Run: Has only raced four times in eighteen months. Recent efforts have not been as sharp as those from two years ago when he won the Jockey Club Derby Invitational as a three year old. Would be a surprise.
6. Minaret Station: Will Walden trainee has moved forward in his two 2026 starts after only start in 2025. In both 2026 races he came from the off the pace but ran out of room going a mile and a mile and a sixteenth while posting 95 and 96 Beyers. More ground may suit and there is some breeding to suggest that he could handle more ground. Possible.
7. Carcano: Cross entered at Colonial Downs. Stretched out to a mile and a half last time out at Keeneland where he was a decent third in N2X company (88 Beyer). Will need to improve.
8. Yo Daddy (MTO): Has hit the board in six of seven starts over off going. The Pick on dirt.
9. Kinetic (MTO): Has won five dirt races but none on an off track. Exacta play on dirt.
10. Dr. Kraft (MTO): Has three exacta finishes in six starts on a wet track. Minor award on dirt.

Picks 4-1-2-6

Trivia Answer: The venerable Channel Maker trained by Bill Mott won the Bowling Green in  2018 via a dead heat, and again in 2023 when he was nine years old.