Keeneland Select Pick of the Day | October 31, 2020

Race 7 at Del Mar | Saturday October 31 | Post Time 6:30 PM Eastern/3:30 Pacific

Kathryn Crosby Stakes | Purse $75,000 | One Mile on Turf | Fillies and Mares, Three Year Olds and Upward

There is no doubt in my mind what the early pace scenario in this race will look like. It will be contested, and likely much faster than average, as all five career wins by Ellie Arroway (1) and She’s Our Charm (4) have been earned leading from start to finish. Add Cordiality (6) to the mix, as her last three wins have been earned leading from the start, and possibly add Qahira (7), who is stretching out to two-turns for the first time and who has lead from the start in both of her recent sprints.

That only leaves a few to pick up the pieces at the end – Never Be Enough (2), Proud Emma (3) and Colonial Creed (8).

Never Be Enough (2) ships in from Golden Gate in Northern California off a pair of strong wins at this mile trip, on the all-weather surface. She imported from England this past winter after racing 21 times in the U.K., winning twice, both on turf. She can transition back to the grass just fine and the 104 Equibase Figure earned in her win one before last on August 28 is as good as any of these have earned in similar restricted stakes so she fits there as well. Likely to be in a great spot saving ground in the early stages as up to four of the others expend too much energy trying for the lead, Never Be Enough could win her third race in a row and post the mild upset in this race.

Proud Emma (3) won the similar Tranquility Lake Stakes at a mile, but on dirt, in August at Del Mar. She had returned from a lengthy nine month layoff prior to that and finished second before taking that nice step forward to win. Overmatched in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes last month, this drop is just what she needs to run back to that August effort which earned a 105 figure and it helps her chances greatly Flavien Prat gets the mount.

Colonial Creed (8) rallied from sixth to win by a head at this mile turf trip one before last in June and previously she had rated in second or third early and run well twice on the grass. She took three and one-half months off after that race and finished third in the similar Swingtime Stakes earlier this month behind Cordiality, who led from start to finish. With it being likely Cordiality, and other “early” pace types won’t be allowed to cruise alone on the front end, and likely to be more fit second off the layoff, Colonial Creed could have a much better impact than she did earlier this month.

Betting Strategies-

Consider win bets on BOTH Never Be Enough (2) and Proud Emma (3) at odds of 2 to 1 or more.

Exactas: Box Never Be Enough (2), Proud Emma (3) and Colonial Creed (8).

Optionally, play an exacta consisting of Never Be Enough (2), Proud Emma (3) and Colonial Creed (8) over ALL.