Endurance The Key to $100,000 Birdstone Stakes

The $100,000 Birdstone Stakes, a true marathon event, attracts a compact field of six with the Todd Pletcher trained Micromanage installed as the 4/5 morning line favorite.  Micromanage has found the winner’s circle just once in his last eleven starts, but did win the Grade III Skipaway at Gulfstream in March.  In his last start, Micromanage finished a disappointing seventh in the Grade II Suburban. 

Don Dulce tries to break through

Don Dulce, trained by Jason Servis, is the second choice at 7/2 despite managing just one win in his last twelve starts.  Handicappers will take note of Don Dulce’s “seconditis” tendencies as he finished on the bottom half of the exacta in six of those starts and ten times in 37 career starts.  Irsal (4/1 ML) has shown better form than the top two winning two of his last three starts albeit against allowance competition. 

Turf to dirt for Slim Shady

Slim Shady is an interesting item for trainer David Jacobson at 8/1 on the morning line.  Strictly a turf horse throughout most of his career, Slim Shady is a multiple graded stakes winner on the grass and proven at longer distances.  If he takes to the dirt, Slim Shady could prove to be the wild card in a lackluster field.  Seton Hall (15/1) and More Hundred Acre (20/1 round out the field.