Happy Coaching Club American Oaks Day! 

We have another excellent rendition of the CCA Oaks as Kentucky Oaks winner Always a Runner and Acorn winner Counting Stars face off in their third head to head battle. If either win today they will become the clear leader of the three year old filly division.  

Trivia question: Who was Alfred G. Vanderbilt? 

Race 9 The Alfred G. Vanderbilt  Handicap Grade II 

Six Furlongs on the Dirt For Four Year Olds and Upward 

1. Damon’s Mound:Has been running primarily against Florida breds this year while earning a career best 100 Beyer. Has handled open company as shown by his win in the Bold Ruler last Fall (91 Beyer). Finished a distant fourth in this race last year. Six of nine career wins are at six furlongs. Race flow doesn’t suit with speed to his outside that will crossover. Looking elsewhere. 
2. Crazy Mason:Closing sprinterhas been primarily going seven furlongs and a mile and has not won a race since the 2025 Carter Handicap. Runs consistently in the mid-90s Beyers, but will the pace collapse for him? Blinkers ON. Passing. 
3. Cat On Time:Won his first race of the year three weeks ago atHorseshoe Indianapolis with a stalking trip (85 Beyer). Similar performances last Summer when we won four optional claiming races with a 97 Beyer top. Jacobson is strong with second off a 180+ day layoff. Should be able to work out a stalking trip again today. Lasix OFF. Is he fast enough? 
4. Just Beat the Odds:Won the Grade 2 Elite Power Stakes last winter (100 Beyer) and then shipped to Saudi Arabia where he was second in the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint where he led but was caught. Wasn’t sharp at Delaware Park last time, where he finished third (87 Beyer). May have needed one. Reunited with Franco who was the pilot in his two best efforts. Come and catch me. The Pick. 
5. NutellaFella: First start for Joe Sharp off an eight month layoff. Worked a bullet over the Spa main track two weeks ago. Won the Hopeful here in 2023. Has shown the ability to fire off the bench before. But the 82 career Beyer top at today’s distance in lacking. Lasix OFF. Passing. 
6. Hymn:Winner of three in a row with his besteffort being his most recent in the DeFrancis Dash at Laurel where he stalked and then drew off (98 Beyer). Tries graded stakes company for the first time. Three of four career wins are at six furlongs. Dangerous. 
7. T Kraft:Has been running in optional claimers this year and won two back (97 Beyer). Last year he was unable to handle graded stakes company in both the Woody Stevens and Amsterdam over this surface. Lasix OFF. Should get an outside stalking trip. Underneath. 
8. Built:Has two wins in two optional claiming races this year and a strong second in the Bango Stakes where he couldn’t run down the leader over a sloppy track (103 Beyer). Irad up. Can sit outside and just off the speed and make the first move on those leaders. Win candidate. 

Picks: 4-8-6-7 

Race 10  The Coaching Club American Oaks Grade I 

One Mile and One Furlong on the Dirt For Three Year Old Fillies 

1. Counting Stars:In the Acorn she tracked the leaders, tipped out at the quarter pole and handled the field (including the previously undefeated Always a Runner) pretty easily (95 Beyer). In the Kentucky Oaks she had a rail trip and she ran well to finish a good third (90 Beyer) but was no match for Always a Runner. Should get an inside tracking trip. The Pick. 
2. Dandona:First dirt start for this$1 million filly who has been going the wrong way since winning the Florida Oaks (81 Beyer) on the grass.  Two turf stakes since yielded an eighth in the Edgewood Stakes and a sixth in the Regret Stakes (78 Beyer). Decent dirt work two back and her sire (Tiz the Law) won multiple Grade 1 dirt stakes. Maybe a small slice. 
3. 3. LaRascasse:Will Walden indicates he scratch her due to a foot fracture.  
4. 4. Miss Fulton Gal:Cross-entered at Monmouth.Two back she was a no show in the Black Eyed Susan (68 Beyer) finishing fifth and then in the Christina Stakes at Delaware Park over a sloppy track she was strongest late to get the win (71 Beyer). Needs to be much faster. 
5. 5.Measure:Most recently she came flying down the lane over this track and almost caught Directive (84 Beyer) in an optional claimer. Lasix OFF. Water is pretty deep here. 
6. AlwaysA Runner:Stalked the leaders in the Acorn and looked a possible winner until Counting Stars took over at the eighth pole (88 Beyer). Was impressive in the Kentucky Oaks where she sat mid-pack and made a sustained outside run (94 Beyer) to get the win. Will need to deal with Counting Stars who got the jump on her in the Acorn. Win candidate. 
7. Directive:Crushed a maiden field at the Big A in April (91 Beyer) in the mud and then won next out going two turns while running greenly (86 Beyer). She will need to be more polished today to contend. Prat will likely send her from this outside post. Underneath.   
8. Zany:Cross entered at Monmouth.We last saw this filly in the Kentucky Oaks where she finished mid-pack (86 Beyer). Two back she was a good second in the Ashland (83 Beyer). Look for an outside stalking trip. Johnny V takes over for Irad. Blinkers ON. She’ll keep running to the wire. Outside post should lead a stalking trip in the clear. Minor award. 
9. Nycon:Cross entered at the Spa on Friday.Still eligible for an N1X race with seconds in the Cash Run and Busher (71 Beyer). Will need a big improvement to contend. Passing. 

Picks 1-6-7-8 

Trivia Answer: Alfred Vanderbilt Jr. was a member of the prominent railroad family who served as President of both Belmont and Pimlico, and was Chairman of the NYRA Board. He campaigned four champion horses including all-time great Native Dancer.