Acorn Stakes 2021 Entries & Post Positions

A year ago on the Belmont undercard we saw what for my money was the most impressive single race performance of 2020. That day in the Grade I Acorn - the Bob Baffert trained Gamine blitzed the field and won by 18 and three-quarters of a length. I don’t expect anything like that this time around but you never know - that is why we continue to watch.

Six have been entered and our editor has an overview of the runners.

The winner of the Kentucky Oaks won’t be running on Saturday in the Grade I Acorn but runner-up Search Results is here and is the Morning Line favorite at Even money (1-1). Chad Brown trains the three-year-old filly who has only tasted defeat once in her career - in the aforementioned Kentucky Oaks. Before that she broke her Maiden down at Gulfstream before wins in the Busher Invitational and Grade II Gazelle at Aqueduct. Considering how inexperienced she was - that second place in the Oaks should be seen as a mighty fine run.

Dayoutoftheoffice had a long layoff following her runner-up spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to Vequist last November and has only raced once so far this year - in the Grade II Eight Belles on the Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs. At 4-1 she'll certainly be on my radar come Saturday morning when I sit down to properly handicap the race for myself.

That day she was beaten to the line by fellow Acorn entry Obligatory (6-1) but coming off a long layoff - that was an encouraging run. I expect more come Saturday afternoon and I think she’s a live contender. The Timothy Hamm trained filly also has one of my favorite bloodlines of Into Mischief via Harlan’s Holiday so no surprise I’m high on her.

Obligatory did win that Eight Belles race in April and her closing speed was something to behold. A 16-1 price will not be repeated on Saturday but she is likely to be third or fourth favorite so could provide some value in the pools. Third that day was Make Mischief who also follows that Into Mischief/Harlan’s Holiday line but struggled as a juvenile. Her three-year-old campaign however has been better with three wins from five but any time she steps up in class, she struggles. Bit of a longshot and she is the fifth of six choices on the Morning Line.

Brad Cox’s Travel Column was arguably the biggest disappointment in the Oaks coming home fifth and showing a surprising lack of stamina. She already has wins in the Grade II Golden God and the Fair Ground Oaks. She also finished runner-up in the Rachel Alexandra. Moving back to a mile may well suit and she is the 7-2 second favorite.

Ava’s Grace was expected to be the outsider of the six runners but she's not in the field of six with runner-up to Search Results at the Busher Invitational Miss Brazil having been a late entry. An underrated filly who could surprise. The fact she's been priced up at 5-1 ahead of Obligatory says a lot about the daughter of Palace Malice. She's three from five in her career and seven furlongs may well suit nicely.

Here at HorseRacing.net we'll have comprehensive coverage of the action at Belmont Park throughout the week and on Belmont Stakes day itself. Our in-house handicapper will be handicapping the cards in-depth on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with our turf-man also providing his thoughts on all the Graded Stakes races throughout. They will also provide their thoughts on all the runners in the Belmont Stakes. So keep checking back with us all week for coverage of the Belmont Stakes and all the undercard races.

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