Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes & John C. Mabee Handicap Odds

by Patricia Woo | Aug 9 2010

This weekend, Saratoga and Del Mar Racetracks will host the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes and the John C. Mabee Handicap, respectively.

The Sword Dancer Invitational is a 1 ½ mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up. With a purse of $500,000 and a grade 1 title up for grabs, the Sword Dancer is a lucrative stop for horses mid-season. Among the top contenders are Grand Couturier, Bearpath and Take the Points.

Grand Couturier, trained by Robert Ribaudo, has won this race twice before - in 2007 and 2008. The venerable 7-year-old will be seeking his first win of the year; so far he hasn't finished better than sixth in three races. But Grand Couturier knows how to win on this track and could repeat for the third time in four tries.

Bearpath will be among the favorites, having scored a fourth-place finish in his last outing versus turf champion Gio Ponti in the Gr. 1 Man O' War Stakes on July 10; he also excels at the 1 ½ mile distance, with two 1 ½ mile race wins under his belt. The 4-year-old son of Dynaformer is trained by Ian Wilkes and is 4-1-1-0 in 2010 so far.

Todd Pletcher's 4-year-old charge Take the Points has been steadily improving all year, most recently finishing runner-up in the Gr. 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 3. He bounced back well from his trip to Dubai in March and is due for a trip to the winner's circle.

A "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, the John C. Mabee Stakes has more at stake than just a grade 2 title and $250,000 in purse money. On Sunday, Aug. 15, a number of high-profile fillies and mare 3 years old and up, including Gozzip Girl, Wasted Tears and Gotta Have Her, will be on hand for the 1 1/8 mile event.

Trained by Thomas Albertrani, Gozzip Girl is a multiple graded stakes winner who is likely still shaking off the effects of a strenuous 2009 campaign. Yet to win this year - coming in fifth and fourth in her first two races - Gozzip Girl has the potential to turn in a spectacular performance.

Unbeaten in three starts is 4-year-old Wasted Tears, who is trained by Bart Evans. Likely one of the frontrunners, Wasted Tears won the Gr. 2 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in April after capturing an allowance optional claimer in January.

And Gotta Have Her is coming into the John C. Mabee Handicap off a win in the Gr. 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 3. The Royal Academy 6-year-old was runner-up in this race last year and will be looking to redeem that loss on Sunday.

Get all your horse racing action at Del Mar and Saratoga at the Bodog Racebook!