Pocahontas Stakes 2014 Odds & Plays

Pocahontas Stakes 2014 Odds & Plays: The 46th running of the 2014 Pocahontas Stakes for 2 year-old fillies running 11/16 miles on the dirt for a purse of $200,000 is set for Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.  This is a “Win and You’re In” for a paid berth into the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race and points for the 2015 Kentucky Oaks in May, 2015.

Historically, the Pocahontas Stakes was first held on Thanksgiving Day in 1969 and was fittingly named for Pocahontas, the daughter of Native-American chief Powhatan, who aided the early American settlers. The stakes race itself remained as a Thanksgiving Day event until 1982 when it was moved to the early weeks of the Fall Meet.  The speed record for this race is held by Sara Louise with a 1:34.57 in 2008.  Most wins from trainers are three from D. Wayne Lukas in 1988, 1994 & 2003.  Also trainer Pete Vestal in 1991, 1996 & 1997.

The Pocahontas is part of the Churchill Downs racing program that will feature four stakes races on Saturday, September 6th, the second day of the track’s 12-day meet. Also included in Saturdays lineup is the (GIII) Ack Ack for 3 year-olds, the Locust Grove for fillies and mares and the (GIII) Iroquois.

The September Meet opens this Friday, September 5th and concludes on Sunday, September 28th, running Friday – Sunday each weekend with “Downs After Dark” night racing scheduled for Friday, September 5th (Opening Night) and Friday, September 19th.

The 2013 Pocahontas was won by Untapable who ran eighth in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies but came back with a smoking-hot 2014 campaign.

The Pocahontas is the last of 4 stakes races scheduled for the day and is the 10th race of the day on a card of 11 with a post time of 5:27 pm, EST.

Sigi and I will be picking our top two in this race and a play so let’s take a look.

Kari’s Picks: 3,10

My top pick is the Lookin At Lucky baby Phoenix Park for J.J. Toner.  She is one of four entrants with experience in stakes races.  She won her maiden race first asking at Parx on June 9th and was claimed by Toner.  He turned around and ran her in the (GII) Adirondack at Saratoga where she finished 6th, right behind Take Charge Brandi, whom she faces again here. She has a sharp 4f work in :48 on August 31st and should improve with the added real estate. She breaks from post #3 with Landeros riding.

My second pick is the Scat Daddy baby, of course, True To You,  coming off a victorious debut for Tom Amoss at Indiana Grand on August 20th on the grass.  That race she stalked the pace, split foes, lugged out in the stretch for the win. Hopefully she can route well on the dirt.  She has four nice works on the Churhill dirt and Scat Daddy kids have run and done well on every surface.  We’ll see what she can do from the far outside post #10 with Pedroza in the saddle.

Kari’s Play:

Take Charge Brandi looks tough to beat here and Lukas shares the record of three Pocahontas victories with retired Pete Vestal. Can he do it again for a 4th victory? Yep, but I’m taking a stab against.  I’ll be playing a $2 Daily Double starting with the Iroquois Race #9:  2,5,6/3,10.

Sigi’s Picks: 4,10

Cristina’s Journey won in a fashionable style in her debut at Ellis Park.  Since that brilliant effort, she’s been working steadily and looks like she has a bright future.  This time I’m only try to beat her with True To You.  This daughter of Scat Daddy won handily in her debut.  I think this year Scat Daddy will have some really good runners and she is one of them.

Sigi’s Plays:

I’ll be playing a Daily Double starting Race #9: 2,6,7/4,10 and also a Pick 3 starting in Race #8: 2,5/2,6,7/4,10

DD: Race #9 2,6,7; Race #10 4,10

Pick 3: Race #8: 2,5; Race #9 2,6,7; Race #10 4,10

Good luck to all of the girls and safe run. Thanks Sigi for adding your input and plays.

Related Links:
Past Pocahontas Winners
Pocahontas Stakes Day Events

Pocahontas Stakes 2014 Post Positions & Odds
1.  Loom 6-1 J.Rocco Jr./P.Oliver
2.  Queen’s Ready 20-1  D.Osorio/G.Dorochenko
3.  Phoenix Park  6-1 C.Landeros/J.J.Toner
4.   Christina’s Journey 5-1  M.Mena/D.Romans
5.  Pangburn 9/2  J.Rosario/K.McPeek
6.  Frolic to the Wire  10-1 J.Castanon/M.Wolfson
7.  Rachel’s Ready  8-1 S.Bridgmohan/D.Vance
8.  Take Charge Brandi 7/2  C.Lanerie/D. Wayne Lukas
9.  Milehigh Butterfly  15-1 B.Hernandez Jr./W.Connelly
10.  True to You  6-1  M.Pedroza/T.Amoss