Bonny South Headlines Thanksgiving Day Card

Horse racing betting markets are available for the Thanksgiving Day card.

Cox Eyes Stakes Victory

Bonny South has the form on the board with numerous recent placings, including one in the Spinster Stakes and Personal Ensign at Grade I level.

The Brad Cox-trained 4-year-old has yet to finish worse than fifth from 13 starts, in what has been a remarkably consistent career.

Despite not owning a Grade I victory, the daughter of Munnings owns two stakes victories and Cox would dearly love another.

Her effort in defeat at Keeneland behind Letruska is a fine form guide and Cox believes he has picked out the best race for her.

“We kept her here at Churchill since the summer and pointed her to this race after the Spinster,” Cox told Bloodhorse. “She ran well last time at Keeneland against Letruska who went gate-to-wire. I think this is a good spot for her to cap off this year’s campaign.”

She has attracted most of the early money with the sportsbook. She has firmed into 9-5, which isn’t a surprising move. Florent Geroux takes the ride and she is a big-race winner in the making.

We don’t think it will be long before the Juddmonte Farms-raced filly scores a statement win, and taking out the Falls City Stakes is a step in the right direction.

Army Wife in Contention

The biggest threat to Bonny South in the Falls Stakes is Army Wife, who scored consecutive victories earlier this year.

She won the Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico before adding the Iowa Oaks to her impressive record. Her last two runs resulted in third placings in the Grade I Alabama Stakes and Grade I Cotillion, which came behind Malathaat and Clairiere.

There is nothing wrong with that form and the Michael Maker-trained filly is on the second line of betting at 5-2. We’re not surprised by the betting support, and she could firm closer to Bonny South on race day.

Army Wife has had two starts at Churchill Downs for a win and a placing. She broke maiden grades on this track last year, so she enjoys the surface.

Single Soul Gets Stakes Attempt

Graham Motion’s Single Soul has yet to race at stakes level, but the 3-year-old filly gets her chance in the Red Carpet Stakes at Del Mar.

The daughter of Dubawi owns two wins and two placings from six starts, so she has been right around the mark. Her win at Belmont last start was enough for Motion to test her ability at this level.

Assistant trainer Alice Chapman believes she should be fine with the travel from New York to California.

“I haven’t heard anything about the work, but (Motion) must have been happy with it or he wouldn’t have entered her,” Clapham said. “I’ve been around her before and she’s a really sweet filly. She hasn’t traveled before but she seems quite sensible, so you’d think she will be OK with it.”

Facing only a field of five should help her cause, so betting online markets are correct in having her well-backed to score.

Her biggest threat is likely to come from Nicest, who looked the goods in Europe before running fourth in the QE II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

The 3-year-old filly ran third in the Irish Oaks behind Snowfall, which is the highest rating effort in this field. She also owns placings in the Cheshire Oaks and Ribblesdale Stakes, so we expect Nicest to be right in the thick of the action.

Bettors shouldn’t leave out Luck, who is a former French runner that finished second in the Rodeo Drive Stakes behind Going to Vegas last start.

She is another quality import that should be putting in the big bounds late in this staying contest.