*Scheduled turf races are handicapped for grass
Best Bet – (7) SUMMER LUCK – Race 8
Spot Play – (6) ZINDIGO – Race 6
Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 4-7) – 4, 5, 8, 10 / 6, 7, 8, 9 / 4, 5, 7, 9, 10/ 4 = $16.00
Late Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 7-10) - 2, 4, 6 /1, 5, 7 / 1 /all = $21.60
Race 1 – (4) NIIGON'S BAY won right off the bat in 2019 as the heavy favourite at 1 1/16 miles and she should handle this nine-furlong distance just fine. She has won two races in succession in the past. (1) CRUMLIN QUEEN had a sprint race to open her season in April and has had a lot of workouts getting ready for this longer event. She fits nicely at this class level. (2) SAILOR'S THOUGHT won her 2018 finale at this distance over stakes winner Bear Paw and she can be a player in the exotics off the layoff.
Race 2 – Scheduled for on the turf at 6 1/2 furlongs and (6) ZINDIGO is by a sire who was a stakes winner in turf sprints for US trainer Richard Dutrow. She ran well in her season debut on the Tapeta so consider her for either surface. (2) RED RIOT had brief speed in her season debut on the main track and can build off that race. Her lone outing on the grass came at nine furlongs and she led most of the way before landing third. She might do well with tactics from just off the pace. (3) TIZ PRICELSS is one of just two turf winners in the field (along with (9) DESDEMONA) and she is hoping for a return to grass off the claim.
Race 3 – That was an impressive return to the races for (1) JUNGLE FIGHTER who was making just his second career start and he won his maiden in a professional manner. He has had three good workout times since that race. (7) LORD WIMBORNE is an Irish import for Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse. He won his North American debut on grass at Keeneland then was a bit flat off that big effort last time. He raced on an all weather surface in Ireland. (5) COURTLY MANNER has had two very strong workout times since his super outing off the winter layoff.
Race 4- Seven furlongs on the turf for $15,000 claiming and if it stays on the grass (5) TREBEK has a good chance to lead from start to finish. He came up a bit short in his season debut but note the winner, Gator Spy, has come back to win again. (4) MIRIAM'S SKY suddenly woke up and won his maiden on May 31 in his third outing of the year. He is bred for turf on both sides of his pedigree. (8) FRITZIE'S BOY tumbles in claiming price and he is dearly hoping to get to the turf as that is his best surface.
Race 5- All but one of these 2-year-olds are first time starters so it is a good idea to check the tote board to see where the betting support is going. (8) WINDCHILL ZAR is by a top US sire who is average with as a sire of debut winning juveniles but the mare has produced two debut winners (both stakes winners) plus speedy 2019 stakes winner Shakopee Town. (7) MUSKOKA STORM is by the sire Violence who has a lofty mark of 21% with 2-year-old debut winners from starters and this youngster is from a stakes winning mare who was good as a juvenile. (6) MR. HUSTLE has been hustling in the mornings with plenty of sharp workout times for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield.
Race 6 – This is a 1 mile turf race for maidens for $15,000 and it is yet another tough handicapping puzzle. (4) JUST RUN WITH IT offers some value as a longshot play and his sire was a Grade 1 winner on turf and the mare was a multiple stakes winner on the grass. He improved in his second race of this year on the Tapeta when third (placed fourth). (9) STOP THE HUMBUG has some grass breeding on his mum's side of the pedigree and he drops in class for his third start of the season. Would like him on the main track too. (10) STRIKECREST has loads of grass breeding and is offered for claiming in this first start of 2019. Others to consider include (5) SPRING EDITION and (7) ZOOMER MUSIC.
Race 7 – (4) VEDDER had a lovely debut outing in May for Roger Attfield as he finished strongly as the favourite, earning a 70 Beyer Speed Figure. (6) CABERTOSS is a first-time starting 3-year0old by a Belmont Stakes winner and he is a half brother to a 4400,000 earner. His latest workout of 46 seconds for half a mile was impressive. (2) GET THE NEWS is a 4-year-old with plenty of experience. He has run some nice Beyer Figures on grass in the US. For the Late Pick 4 you can use a few more in this race as there is a probable ' key' horse in race 9.
Race 8 – The Grade 3 Trillium Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles could be the first stakes victory for (7) SUMMER LUCK who has been in so many tough races in her career since her maiden win. Her only previous outing on an all weather surface was at Woodbine two starts ago and she was gaining on She's the Berries, who will be well bet in this field. (1) TAPA TAPA TAPA could be favoured since she exits a hot Grade 2 at Oaklawn Park and after stumbling early, she set the pace before conceding to the likes of Midnight Bisou, one of the top mares in the US. (5) SHE'S THE BERRIES is an Ontario-bred who has won three straight including her season debut over a few of these gals.
Race 9 – Multiple champion (1) ARE YOU KIDDING ME dips into an allowance race off a third-place finisher in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes. He simply lays over this small field. (2) FIRE FOR EFFECT was a little too eager on the pace last time and if he can slow things down early, he will hang on for a top three finish. (5) REVVED UP comes out of a graded stakes race at Arlington, his first try on an all weather surface and he landed in mid-pack. He has worked in fast times at Woodbine.
Race 10 – This is for maidens, optional claiming $40,000 at 1 mile on turf and (9) LUCKY STREET has some positive turf form from last year and a decent outing in a sprint to begin his 2019 season for trainer Mike DePaulo. (1) CASH ADVANCE is a first time starter by the solid sire Milwaukee Brew and from a turf winning mare. (10) OVERBEARING is by a sire who won a turf stakes race and he had a nice, wide rally in his debut outing. Consider (11) INGORDWETRUST and (2) QUALITY BREW for superfectas.
Photo by Mr. Will Wong
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Jennifer Morrison has been a public handicapper for the Toronto Star, Globe & Mail and Daily Racing Form. She is currently a writer for Canadian Thoroughbred magazine, Blood-Horse and Toronto Star and is the simulcast handicapper for Ajax Downs.
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