How to Bet the 2019 Pocahontas Stakes

A solid field of nine juvenile fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on Saturday in the $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G2). The important two-year-old affair serves as a “Win & You’re In” event to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita on November 1, and it is also the first points race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series. ANALYSIS There is not an abundance of early pace in the affair, and I expect the main speed in the field to come from the outside through British Idiom (#7) (4-1) and Lotta Ott (#8) (8-1), with Portrait (#3) (3-1) never far back from that duo along the rail. I expect the winner will come from this trio, with a slight edge going to Saratoga debut winner British Idiom. Morning Gold (#6) (3-1), perhaps the best long-term prospect in the cast, will track from the second or third flight while making her dirt debut. WAGERS $20 Win #7 British Idiom = $20 $1 Superfecta 6,7 with 6,7 with 1,3,5 with all = $36 Here is the field: SHADILEE (#1) (10-1) – Mike Maker claim drew off to a sharp debut score at The Spa facing $75,000 maiden claiming foes at first asking. Declaration of War filly draws well on the inside and is bred to run a route of ground on both sides of her pedigree. January foal will have Julien Leparoux in the controls. HIS GLORY (#2) (20-1) – Tom Amoss pupil has been mostly outrun in a pair of stakes attempts which followed a fine debut tally at Indiana Downs. Ellis Park Debutante Stakes third doesn’t face the deepest field of fillies, and she could rally for a minor award with a forward move at a big price today. PORTRAIT (#3) (3-1) – Tapizar filly looked really good in her second lifetime appearance, and first on the dirt, at Ellis Park last time out. Bay miss was a dominant 12-length winner when adding blinkers, and she has a very high ceiling for Brad Cox. Shaun Bridgmohan retains the mount atop the fine prospect. LAZY DAISY (#4) (8-1) – California invader was sharp on debut at Del Mar prior to running fourth in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) behind the impressive Bast last time. $39,000 two-year-old purchase will need a big step in the right direction to challenge this field in the final furlong, though. BLOOD CURDLING (#5) (5-1) – Wild card in the affair decimated an inferior field at Colonial Downs at first asking, but she did it the right way en route to an 11-length waltz. Fed Biz filly was an expensive $325,000 yearling purchase and could be the real deal if she proves herself against this cast. Corey Lanerie picks up what might be a live mount. MORNING GOLD (#6) (3-1) – Ken McPeek pupil has a pair of route races on the turf under her belt and looks like a very promising prospect. Bay daughter of Morning Line dominated on the front end at The Spa while never challenged most recently, and she shows a solid five-furlong drill on the Churchill Downs strip in preparation of her stakes bow. Filly is the one to beat if she thrives on the dirt. BRITISH IDIOM (#7) (4-1) – Flashback filly was favored at first asking and delivered with a strong sprint victory at Saratoga. Kentucky-bred was flattered when the filly she topped, Miss Marissa, came right back to graduate at Belmont Park by five lengths last week. Brad Cox charge adds Lasix and could be the pace of the race with a clean break. LOTTA OTT (#8) (8-1) – Steve Asmussen trainee is another Saratoga graduate in the field and will likely be part of the early tempo. Daughter of Tapiture showed a lot of heart when rallying back in the stretch last time, but we question how far that she wants to run at this level. Ricardo Santana Jr. will be aboard. ADDILYN (#9) (15-1) – Gulfstream Park invader made good in her third lifetime outing for Antonio Sano. Palace Malice filly has been first or second in each of her trio of assignments to date, but she has to get faster to overcome this field from the outside post. PHOTO: Portrait (c) Coady Photography/Ellis Park