Best Bet – (1) SMART BIRD – Race 5
Spot Play – (5) LUMBERJACK – Race 4
Today's play: LATE Pick 4 ($1.00, Races 7- 10) : 1, 5 / 2, 6, 7 / 3, 4, 8 / 10 =$18.00
*Selections done for turf
Race 1 — Scheduled for one mile on the grass, this maiden 2-year-old race is headed by (3) DAY TRIPPER who goes on Lasix and comes out of a two-turn Tapeta race where he set a really fast pace and still hung on for fourth. He is bred for grass and handled it okay second time out. (1) BE LIKE CLINT has been well bet in two Tapeta sprints and moves to grass, a surface his sire loved. He is also a half-brother to a grass winner. (4) BARTICA was a smart third at long odds first time out in a turf sprint and he tries a longer distance. (2) MORNING THOUGHTS has a strong grass pedigree and debuted on the surface in New York, landing on the edges.
Race 2 — This is a wide open maiden 2-year-old race for claiming and (7) SPIRIT BODY SOUL is back in two weeks after trying a longer distance, and he was in the battle for the lead to the stretch run. Beginners (8) CALM DOWN and (1) SPIGETINMTZABALLS are worth a look. The former's sire Java's War had a nice debut winner at a short distance recently in Indiana. The latter is working in good clockings. (2) I'M A CHI TOO loses the blinkers and will try to carry his speed better.
Race 3 — If this race stays on the turf at 7 furlongs it appears (6) ZIA MO will be tough to beat since she has been 4
th and 5
th in a pair of grass events to begin her career. (1) LA PRINCESSA POLLY was very wide off the turn in her grass debut when not far behind the top pick at the finish. (3) SILENZIO has speed and adds Lasix so perhaps she will stick around for a share. (5) TREASURE QUEST was overbet at 8 to 5 last time off the layoff for a turf sprint and she is up a bit in class.
Race 4 — The Pick 4 begins with an inner turf race and whether it stays on turf or is moved to Tapeta it is a tricky handicapping puzzle. (5) LUMBERJACK is listed at 8 to 1 and is interesting as he won his maiden on the grass and this would be his first turf outing since that victory. (8) DR. GREEN won his maiden on the inner turf and then had a rough trip at a longer distance last time. (1) TOURIST'S DREAM was easy to like last time when he added blinkers and speed to his maiden win around one turn on the main turf. (6) PRINCE OF THIEVES did not have much of a chance last time when wrangled off the slow pace and he has come back with a fast workout time.
Race 5 — (1) SMART BIRD stumbled badly at the start of her latest on the turf and still finished well for fourth. She was third in a maiden allowance before that and should have an edge on these gals despite her rail post. (9) TOPOFTHEGLEN, by Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, has a winning sibling and the 3-year-old from the mare just missed at Churchill Downs recently. Her workout times have been decent. (8) SHELLY THE ROCKET, previously named House Targaryen, is the first foal of Old Valyria, who won her career debut by 7 lengths in 57 for five furlongs. (7) DIXIEWISH had a long lead very late in her most recent but was passed just before the finish.
Race 6 — Two-year-olds at five furlongs on the turf and beginner (5) RAPID RELOAD is bred to be quick as a half-brother to Marten River and by a good juvenile debut sire. He is also bred for grass. (1) SILENT FAREWELL probably should have won his career debut but his trip was very troubled. He came back 20 days later and was far back in a stakes race so he has to regroup. (3) AFIKOMAN is a good sized, flashy fellow who worked fast in Maryland for a juvenile sale and he is a half-brother to seven winners. (2) BIG BROWN BREWSKII shortens up to just five furlongs following a speed try and good effort in his debut.
Race 7 — The late Pick 4 starts here and this is a competitive claiming turf race (unless it is moved to the Tapeta). (5) STOP THE HUMBUG was my pick last time at 21 to 1 as he was coming off a very troubled trip. He ran a winning race last time, led late but was passed by two rivals late. The winner went on to win the Toronto Cup Stakes. (1) MAVERICK MAN beat some of these in a slightly longer grass race when coming off his maiden win. (6) CARL G is a pace threat, although the distance might be past his best. (3) FIFTH SEASON was claimed for this $25,000 price in August and was not far behind the top pick.
Race 8 — (6) HITTERS PARK has been odds-on in three straight races since his season opening win and has been unlucky not to have won again. He has tons of speed to run at. (2) EXECUTIVE SIGHT will love cutting back to five furlongs and he can contend on turf or Tapeta. (7) RED FROG could be the 'speed of the speed' and is one to respect. (5) BRASS COMPASS likes grass and maybe the surface switch will perk him up.
Race 9 — (3) BETTER BOOGIE adds blinkers and has had lots of fast workout times since he was claimed from a race like this. He did not fare well that day but a previous run behind Secret Reserve was solid. (4) BEYOND MY DREAMS went from worst to first, winning his maiden impressively last time after a drab run. (8) UNLIMITED TALENT exits a quick race and he is improving. (2) OVER THE HILLS was just behind Unlimited Talent in his first race off the maiden win.
Race 10 — (10) PERSEVERANCIA was my pick when she won at 8 to 2 on July 25 and I liked her again in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen and she just missed third place at 14 to 1. She dips into an allowance race. (9) SANSA'S VOW shortens up in distance and is overdue to get her second win. (1) SARATOGA VISION loves grass and has been meeting so much tougher in a few races this year. (3) A LITTLE VOODOO has been sharp in two races this year including a recent race on turf when she was very strong early on the pace. (4) SILENT CAUSEWAY comes off a win on the main turf at this route distance.
*
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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