Best Bet – (2) CORRELATE – Race 9
Spot Play – (9) CHOOSE HOPE – Race 4
Today's Play: Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 4-7): 4, 6, 8, 9 / 1, 3 / 1, 4, 7 / 1, 5, 7 = $14.40
*selections done for turf
Post time 1:10 p.m.
Race 1 — (3) MONASTERY LANE should be all set in this third race off the layoff with the move out to 1-1/16 miles on turf for trainer Lorne Richards, whose horses have been heating up lately. She was beaten a neck in a stakes race on turf at a route distance back in 2019. (4) TRISH THE DISH was a winner on the Taylor course when claimed and then on the edges on the inner course in her latest. She is improving. (7) CALL HER JOEY has been in good form in claiming races on turf and she drops out of a tough race. (6) SILENT CAUSEWAY ran well in her first route distance last time and moves to grass, a surface that she may be able to handle.
Race 2 — (5) HELL BENT gets a sharp drop in class and returns to the Tapeta, the surface on which he won his maiden last fall. He shortens up in distance but does not have many tough ones to get past in this long sprint. (3) CASH ADVANCE makes his second start off the layoff and he won his second race of 2020 with a similar turf-to-Tapeta move. (1) PARTY OF NO comes off his maiden win at a route distance but that victory should give him confidence. (4) PUGIN is the possible pace runner and that gives him a chance to stick around for a share.
Race 3 — (6) SANSA'S VOW has had a lot of starts and stops in her career but her recent outing was strong behind a good winner. She should be quite okay at 10 furlongs on the turf with blinkers on. It is hard to go against (3) BELLA NINA who is three-for-three this year on the grass. She is meeting tougher as she tries 1-1/4 miles, but might be able to keep the streak going. (2) RAVIR is an invader for trainer Michael Stidham and she was a turf winner this winter at Tampa Bay Downs. (4) DICTATE makes her second start of the season and she has been idle since a Tapeta outing in July. She likes the turf best and is a pace threat.
Race 4 — (9) CHOOSE HOPE drops in class for her second race of the season and if she gets some pace to run at she should be rallying for a good prize. (4) ELEANOR POWELL is up in class off a narrow loss in a sprint but she enjoys a longer race and she may be able to match up that 64 Beyer Figure against this tougher field. (6) JUSTLEAVEITALONE is a possible pace runner and she drops to a new low level as she tries to get back into better form. (8) MIA AT MIDNIGHT also drops in class and she tries the Tapeta for the first time. Her sire Midnight Lute has had many foals like the surface.
Race 5 — (1) BROADWAY LADY made an impressive debut at Woodbine with a good charge to be second by a neck on the inner turf course. She tries a one-turn route race on the Taylor course and could upend the favourite, (3) LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE. The Champion 2-year-old filly of 2020 won both races last year including the Grade 1 Natalma and finally returns from an injury. (4) GOTE GO will benefit from some pace up front and she appears to be coming up to a peak effort. (5) CHART won the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes last year. She made one start in March on Tapeta at Turfway and returns from a layoff.
Race 6 — (7) AMI'S LINK has chased the same, tough winner in her two outings this year (the streaking Antigone) and she is down in class for what should be a peak effort. Note the bullet five furlong workout since her latest. (1) CRUMLIN TIME will have blinkers on for her return to the main track, the surface on which she has won all her races. (4) BIONDETTI'S CHOICE is a steady mare who has been in the top three seven times in seven races at this distance on the main track. (3) MOONLIGHT RAIN continues her class slide for the Mark Casse barn.
Race 7 — (5) VIANI has placed well in both of her starts for maiden $10,000 claiming on turf. Shortening up to 6 1/2 furlongs and having just one turn to negotiate should work well for her. (1) TREASURE QUEST has not raced since June but that was against slightly better fillies and she was not far off the winner. (7) NICE COMPANY ran well in her season debut in a turf sprint and while her past pair of starts were dull, she goes on Lasix. (9) TOP PRIZE GAL could wake up with the class drop after a troubled debut.
Race 8 — (4) SPEEDY LYNN eked out her maiden win last time but might get a nice trip behind some quick ones in this five furlong dash. (5) HIGH SOCIETY GIRL is one of those forces on the pace in this dash and she is in good form. (3) SEAMIALAUGH will have to hurry and have a pace duel set things up for her rally. (6) LINDA LOVES LACE will like cutting back to five furlongs.
Race 9 — (2) CORRELATE was third in a maiden turf race two starts ago against slightly better. He had some traffic delays last time. (1) AFLEET EDDIE plunges in class but two starts ago was a troubled third on the turf and could have been closer. (7) SEA SCOUT gets back to grass for the first time in a year and he was a good third in his first try on the surface. (12) GRAND ALLIANCE is a first time starter with a wide post but he has strong turf leanings and quick turf workout Aug. 21, 58 4/5 for five furlongs. For the High 5 consider (5) RIGHT TO STRIKE who returns to grass off the claim.
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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 CanadianThoroughbred.com, Blood-Horse and is the simulcast handicapper for Ajax Downs.
Photo by John Watkins
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