Dick Powell’s 2019 Pocahontas Stakes Tipsheet

The $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G2) will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt at Churchill Downs this Saturday. The Pocahontas is the first leg of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) to be run next May 1, 2020, and will award 10 points to the winner, four points to the second-place finisher, two points to the third-place finisher and one point to the fourth-place finisher. SHADILEE (#1) (10-1) rallied from off the pace to win a very fast maiden $75,000 claimers going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga. She showed an ability to pass horses that day and now moves up in class off the claim by Mike Maker who wins 15% with this move and 17% first time going long. Daughter of Declaration of War is out of a dam by Tapit, so there is plenty of stamina in her pedigree. HIS GLORY (#2) (20-1) broke her maiden first time out at Indiana Downs where she won going away by over eight lengths. She came back in a Grade 3 at Saratoga but caught a wet track that she appeared to hate. Last out, she was a good third going seven furlongs in a stakes race at Ellis Park where she was shuffled back from post one and now draws well going two turns for Tom Amoss who wins 37% going long off two sprints. PORTRAIT (#3) (3-1) almost overcame a poor start in her well-bet career debut at Ellis Park going two turns on the turf. She came back there for her dirt debut and won by 12 lengths when Brad Cox added blinkers for the first time. She stretches out to two turns on the dirt and if she shows the same pace that she did last out, she will be very hard to catch. Daughter of Tapizar is out of a stakes-winning dam by Bellamy Road. Shaun Bridgmohan wins 29% with his route mounts and 43% when he rides for Brad Cox. LAZY DAISY (#4) (8-1) rallied from just off the pace to win going away in her well-bet career debut on Del Mar’s very deep and tiring dirt track. She came back and was outrun in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) going seven furlongs and now tries two turns for Doug O’Neill who wins 13% going long for the first time. Daughter of Paynter returns on 14 days rest and ships in for Doug O’Neill who is always dangerous with his shippers. BLOOD CURDLING (#5) (5-1) broke her maiden by 11 lengths in her well-bet career debut going six furlongs in fast time at Colonial Downs. It is hard to tell who she beat that day but she made up ground quickly and passed horses willingly. Daughter of Fed Biz is out of a stakes-placed dam by Street Cry that has produced five winners from five other foals to race including a Grade 2 winner on this main track. MORNING GOLD (#6) (3-1) tries dirt for the first time after running well going two turns on the turf. She rallied wide to get up for second in her career debut at Saratoga in a very slow-paced race where the field was concerned with getting the distance on July 14. She came back there last out and exploded to a five-length win in very fast time and now adds Lasix for the first time. It looks like she raced on turf early in her career to get longer distance and now gets to prove it on the dirt with Jose Ortiiz back aboard – five for 11 riding for Ken McPeek. BRITISH IDIOM (#7) (4-1) looked sharp breaking her maiden first time out as the lukewarm favorite going six furlongs in very fast time at Saratoga. She came out of the race with two easy breezes here and adds Lasix for her stakes/two-turn debut. Brad Cox wins 25% first time going long and he gets Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride. LOTTA OTT (#8) (8-1) raced evenly in her well-bet career debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga then she came back to win by a head going six furlongs when she battled every step of the way after a slow start and despite being down in the inside, gutted out a narrow victory. Steve Asmussen wins 15% first time going long and 20% with his shippers. Daughter of Tapiture is fast and game so two-turns should be achievable. ADDILYN (#9) (15-1) has improved with distance and more racing. She raced second in her first two career starts at Gulfstream Park then broke her maiden there going seven furlongs as the 3/10 favorite. She will have to improve more but she has the pedigree being sired by Palace Malice out of a dam by Malibu Moon who won three stakes races and $354K. TOP PICKS Portrait (#3) Morning Gold (#6) British Idiom (#7) Shadilee (#1) WAGERS $40 Win 3 $20 Exacta 3 with 1, 6, 7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKFN2NuMnNA PHOTO: Portrait (c) Coady Photography/Ellis Park