Spot Plays for Deauville Aug. 24

Although the prestigious August session at Deauville extends to next weekend, this Sunday's program is the last to feature Group 1 competition. In fact, fans and bettors will be treated to two such top-level features, including the important Prix Morny (G1) for two-year-olds.

I'll just be watching the Morny, but partaking in an undercard pattern race for two-year-old fillies as well as the other Group 1, for older fillies and mares.

Race 2: Prix du Calvados (G2), 8:33 a.m. ET

This field of seven juvenile fillies includes a trio of British raiders, but I'll stick with the home team in this straight seven-furlong test, specifically #6 Arkansas (7-2).

From the second crop of French Derby (G1) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Sottsass, Arkansas turned in an eye-catching debut win at Chantilly July 20, picking up smartly and scoring in a manner that suggested she could be competitive at this higher level.

Although conceding experience to others, both in quantity of starts and in stakes, Arkansas' upside is an intriguing factor in her favor. Hopefully, she can give her sire an overdue first winner at Group level.

Race 6: Prix Jean Romanet (G1), 11 a.m. ET

American bettors will be familiar with the strong favorite in this 1 1/4-mile test, Cinderella's Dream, but I don't view her as a slam dunk. Intriguing at a better price is #1 Survie (8-1).

Although her signature win in last year's Prix de Mallaret (G2) was over ground much softer than she will encounter in the Romanet, I like the fact Survie is taking a notable drop in class off her first two starts of the season. 

Survie opened her season account finishing second in the Prix Corrida (G2) to Aventure, runner-up in last year's Arc and still France's top older mare. Last time, in the Pretty Polly (G1) in Ireland, Survie finished a respectable third behind Whirl and Kalpana, both of whom are far superior to everyone in this field bar Cinderella's Dream.

If the favorite isn't quite up to snuff in her first attempt over French turf, Survie might be the one to capitalize.