How to bet the 2022 Highlander Stakes

A quartet of graded stakes races will highlight a huge day of racing north of the border at Woodbine on Saturday. The $200,000 Highlander S. (G2) will cap the stakes action and it attracted an excellent field of 11. Conditioner Mark Casse holds a strong hand in the grassy dash with five entered, and I feel that one of his contenders will be a major player at the finish.

#9 Olympic Runner (12-1) is not the most consistent entrant in the deep field, but the one-run closer can really motor home on his best day. The gelded son of Gio Ponti is void of early foot but lands in a field with considerable pace in it, and I expect him to be at his best off the shelf for a fine layoff outfit.

The dark bay six-year-old consistently earns robust Brisnet Late Pace figures at longer distances and could appreciate the cut back in trip while making his seasonal bow. He has run some very good races on this course and will offer great value with Antonio Gallardo in the controls.

#11 Arzak (5-1) has run two of the best races of his career in 2022 for trainer Michael Trombetta. The chestnut son of Not This Time moves from the synthetic to the lawn on this occasion, and I feel that he will handle the transition with ease while in a superb form cycle. Arzak has improved his early speed as of late and will use that weapon to avoid being too wide early on in the tilt. Kazushi Kimura will be in the stirrups once again.

2021 Shakertown S. (G2) winner #10 Bound for Nowhere (5-2) rarely runs a bad one and commenced 2022 with a measured allowance victory at Fair Grounds for conditioner Wesley Ward. It seems that the eight-year-old son of The Factor still has plenty left in the tank.

Defending champ #7 Silent Poet (10-1), and Christophe Clement’s #2 Voodoo Zip (7-2), also merit attention in the tough handicapping puzzle.

Highlander Wagers

• $10 win/place/show: #9 Olympic Runner ($30)
• 50-cent trifecta: 9, 10, 11 with 2, 7, 9, 10, 11 with 2, 7, 9, 10, 11 ($18)