2017 Play the King Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G2 Play the King Stakes goes down this Saturday, August 19 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Horses three years old and upward will chase the winner's share of the $175,000 purse when they take to Woodbine's turf track and race seven furlongs.

A field of eight turf sprinters will take to the track in the Play the King Stakes - race 8 on Woodbine's Saturday schedule. Post time is 4:47 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all eight combatants for this G2 stakes.

2017 Play the King Stakes Entries at Woodbine Racetrack

Tower of Texas 2-1

Defending runner-up ion this race - Roger Attfield trained gelding has five wins, eighth seconds and four third place finishes in 22 career starts - 20 at Woodbine. He enters off an OK third, a half-length back in the G2 King Edward Stakes here July 2 which followed a career-best effort - a win in the G2 Connaught Cup here June 3 and an ugly tenth in the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in October. Before that were three straight runner-up finishes - just a half-length behind Tepin in the G1 Woodbine Mile and the 2016 King Edward Stakes included. He was away from the track for 10 but prior to that had three wins and two seconds in summer 2015 here - a 2 3/4 length score in the 2015 King Edward Stakes and the runner-up finish in the 2015 edition of the G2 Play the King are among the impressive results. He has placed in 11 of his last 13 starts and hopes to keep a roll going from post 5 with Eurico Rosa Da Silva aboard the 123-pound highweight and morning line favorite.

Calgary Cat 3-1

2014 outstanding sprinter in Canada has been up and down the last two years - 10 wins, three seconds and three third place finishes in 21 starts. He enters in decent form - a second last time out in the G2 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine July 2 followed a third in the G2 Connaught Cup here June 3, a sixth in the minor Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont Park April 29, a fourth at 41-1 odds in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and his best result in some time - a win in the G2 Nearctic Stakes here October 16. He struggled before that however. Other results include an OK third in the G3 Bold Venture Stakes last July 23, a nice win by 1 1/2 lengths in the minor Achievement Stakes June 18, 2016, a second in the 2015 G3 Bold Venture and a pair of impressive minor stakes scores here in 2015 - the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes and the Achievement Stakes. He also won the 2014 G2 Kennedy Road Stakes. Calgary Cat now has 12 wins, five seconds and four third place finishes in 31 career starts and tries to snap a four-race losing streak from gate 6. Luis Contreras has been tabbed to ride the morning line second choice.

Bet Woodbine Racetrack Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

Tombelaine 7-2

Has placed in nine of 12 career starts for trainer Chad Brown - four wins, four seconds and a third-place finish. He was OK in Europe to start his career including a in in a minor stakes in May, 2015 and runner-up finishes in a pair of Group 3 races in 2014. He has been decent against lesser company since - an Allowance Optional Claiming score last time out at Belmont Park July 14 followed a second in a similar race on that track June 4, another Allowance Optional Claiming score there May 7 and another second in a similar race at Gulfstream in February. Tombelaine has been competitive lately in Allowance company and looks ready for his step up Saturday. Alan Garcia will be in the saddle from gate 2.

Dowse's Beach 6-1

Brad Cox trained gelding has seven wins, four seconds and three third-place finishes in 23 career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday on the heels of a two-race win streak - both Allowance Optional Claiming races at Belmont Park this summer. Before that was a fourth and a pair of runner-up finishes in Allowance Optional Claiming races also at Belmont Park. Dowse's Beach steps up in career-best form with Rafael Manuel Hernandez guiding him from post 3.

Conquest Panthera 10-1

Mark Casse trained gelding has three wins and three third-place finishes in nine career starts. He arrives off an OK third in the G2 Wise Dan Stakes June 17 and an eighth in the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic May 6 - both at Churchill Downs. Before that were consecutive thirds - the G2 Maker's 46 Mile at Keeneland April 14 and the G3 Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream in March and two straight Allowance scores this past winter. Conquest Panthera has been decent in his career so far and chases a first stakes score from post 7 Saturday. Patrick Husbands rides.

Glenville Gardens 12-1

Defending champion in this race - Sid Attard trained gelding has nine wins, two seconds and a third-place finish in 18 career starts. He won the minor Labeeb Stakes here November 6 and has been up and down in two starts since - a seventh place finish in the G2 Connaught Cup Stakes on this track June 3 was followed by an Allowance Optional Claiming score here July 22. Other results include a third in an Allowance here October 14, a seventh in the G1 Woodbine Mile on this track in September and a three-race win streak - the 2016 G2 Play the King Stakes, an Allowance last July 29 and a Starter Allowance July 8, 2016 - both here. In 2015, he had a nice three race win streak as well - all on this track including the minor Labeeb Stakes, an Allowance Optional Claiming and a Claiming. Glenville Gardens has won five of his last eight starts overall and will be looking to repeat in this race Saturday. Gary Boulanger gets the call from gate 4.

Hootenanny 15-1

Wesley Ward trainee was terrific in his first six career starts - four wins, a second and a third-place finish including a great win on the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He has been just OK since. Last time out was a second, just ahead of Tower of Texas in the G2 King Edward Stakes on this track July 2 which followed a fourth in the G3 Hanshin Cup at Arlington May 13, a fifth in the G2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita October 8 and an Allowance score at Belterra Park in September. He failed to place in three of four starts prior to that. Hootenanny has shown some serious form in races around the world and hopes to regain his early-career form when he departs from the outside gate 8 with Jesse Campbell guiding him.

We Deer You 20-1

Lightly raced Michael Trombetta trained gelding has six career starts with three wins and a second-place finish. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished a respectable second in the G3 Vigil Stakes on this track July 16. It followed a two-race wins streak - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont Park June 25 and an Allowance on this track May 27. He failed to place in his previous two starts. We Deer You has certainly been trending upward ahead of this weekend and could be in the mix for his first stakes win. Emma-Jayne Wilson has been tabbed to ride the intriguing longshot from the rail.

2017 Play the King Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 8 on Woodbine's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:47 PM.