Exotics Plays for the King Edward Stakes

A field of eight will travel one mile on the Woodbine lawn Saturday in the $200,000 King Edward S. (G2). 

Conditioner Mark Casse is in the midst of a fantastic summer and will saddle a pair of contenders, led by deserving favorite #8 Filo Di Arianna (4-5), who bagged this race in fine fashion in 2022.

The eight-year-old son of Drosselmeyer snapped a six-race losing skid when dominating the Highlander S. (G2) here most recently that upped his mark to a sterling 4-for-4 on the Woodbine lawn. 

King Edward Exotics

• $7 exacta 8 with 1,4,6 ($21)
• $3 trifecta key 8 with 1,4,6 ($18)
• 60-cent superfecta box 1,4,6,8 ($14.40)

Filo Di Arianna can handle the distance evidenced by his 4-2-1-0 record at eight panels, and he can be effective on the lead or when coming from off the pace. He will have a clear voyage from the outside post and is a must-use with Kaz Kimura in the stirrups. 

#4 Like the King (10-1), the other Casse pupil in the group, got up in the final yards to take down a nice allowance field in his latest effort and intrigues at a nice price. 

The six-year-old son of Palace Malice has yet to prove that he is of this quality, but the chestnut does have a fine turn of foot and could be sitting on a big one since his conditioner had the confidence to enter him. Patrick Husbands riding adds to his appeal. 

Defending champ #6 War Bomber (5-1) had an excellent prep for the tilt when a neck second in the Connaught Cup (G2) last time out, and this bay son of War Front will surely be in the mix with something resembling his top performance. 

The Irish-bred gelding posted a smart four furlongs in his latest morning move and will have Rafael Hernandez in the silks. 

The Donald MacRae-conditioned #1 Cruden Bay (7-2) has been first or second in an excellent 16 of 22 lifetime outings, and the bay has won three of his five assignments on this turf course. 

This Big Screen gelding rallied late to annex the Connaught Cup in his latest try and has earned Brisnet Late Pace numbers of 109 and 106 in his last grassy runs locally. The rail will allow the contender to save ground before unleashing his fine late burst beneath Sofia Vives.