Best Bet – (3) PRINCESSOFTHENORTH – Race 5
Spot Play – (5) LUCKY GIRASOL – Race 2
Today's play: LATE Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 8-11 ) : 1, 2, 9, 10 / 1, 7 / 8 / all = $22.40
Race 1 — Trainer Josie Carroll sends out (2) REINFORCED for her second outing since February and Carroll has a 37% win rate with horses making their second starts off long layoffs. This gal was second in her return Oct. 10. (4) BAYOU BELLE shortens up in distance for the red-hot Martin Drexler barn and her tactical speed may come in handy. (1) TEACHER'S PET was easy to like when she won last time on turf and she also likes the main track. (7) PILOT EPISODE has early speed and was not far behind the top pick in her latest.
Race 2 — (5) LUCKY GIRASOL is sitting on a big race and needs only to run back to her outing two starts ago to be a big factor. (1) SILENT RESPECT gets some class relief and she returns to the Tapeta surface on which she is a two-time winner. (8) MAKE NO MISTAKE is a steady mare who rarely runs a bad race. (2) VEIL has not won in a long time but she can stay in range for a share.
Race 3 — The $100,000 South Ocean Stakes is for 2-year-old fillies and there could be a hot pace for (7) SWINGING MANDY to win at. She is already a stakes winner this year for Dale Desruisseaux. (3) THATSITTHATSALL's maiden win has produced three next-out winners. The Mark Casse-trained pairing of (4) LOIS LEN and (5) YA MAR are both stakes placed and Lois Len is coming out of races that may have been too far for her.
Race 4 — A wide open filly race begins the first Pick 4 and morning line favourite (7) CLEOMENES gets the slight nod. She was on soft turf last time but ran a 72 Beyer Figure in her previous race on the Tapeta. (4) TRADING BAY has been hinting at a win for a few races now and she brings a quick workout into this eighth try of 2021. (6) SHES THE NORTH gets back to a one-turn race after trying a route event and she was a recent maiden winner in a good clocking. (10) MEET THE SOPRANO was third on the turf last time to Lorena, who came back to win Friday's Ashbridges Bay Stakes.
Race 5 — (3) PRINCESSOFTHENORTH was favoured for her career debut Oct. 31 but had a tough trip as she broke slowly from the rail and had to come through traffic from 12
th place to get fourth. (6) CATICHE is a $375,000 purchase by the great Arrogate (1 for 21 with debut winning juveniles from starters) and she invades for high percentage trainer Jonathan Thomas. (2) SPOOKY SPICE gets blinkers and shortens up to a one-turn maiden race for Josie Carroll, who also owns. (9) MENAGERIE is logical as she has had two solid outings to begin her career.
Race 6 — (11) GIANT ONE is well named as he is a big boy and he figured to love the longer distance last time and he did, leading until late. He needs to find a way to save some ground from this tough post. (4) JUSTIN'S WAY ran well in his debut, a key race that has produced three next-out winners. He is bred to love the longer distance. (2) REPEAT THE HEAT was only a neck behind Giant One last time and this guy will add blinkers. (7) POINT TO THE STARS has been second or third in three straight races.
Race 7 — Here is a probable 'key' horse in the first Pick 4 as (10) H C HOLIDAY, third in the Queen's Plate, returns to a maiden race for the first time since he actually 'won' his maiden in June. This nice 3-year-old had that win taken away (it is still under appeal) and he has been racing in the Triple Crown since then. (3) FREE SHIPPING is offered for a claiming price for the first time and he has a series of 70+ Beyer Figures. (7) SKI PATROL is a shipper for the high percentage barn of Jonathan Thomas and he has worked fast on the Woodbine Tapeta. (1) FIFTY THREE, a big guy, had a super career debut and will enjoy the longer distance.
Race 8 — The second Pick 4 of the day starts with a competitive optional sprint for fillies and mares. (1) SILVER DAHLIA is overdue to win this year and this could be her day as she dips a bit in class. (10) SILENT CAUSEWAY has been working like the wind for a month and she gets blinkers on for her return to sprinting. (2) STARLIGHT RIDGE ran a winning race two starts back with a 74 Beyer Figure in a seven furlong dash. Her latest at six furlongs went too fast for her early and she can bounce back with a bit more distance. (9) IMA BEAST is quick and could get the lead to herself but the distance is a question.
Race 9 — The $100,000 Frost King Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs could go to (7) CLASSY WHISPER, who will take lots of action based on a hefty 77 Beyer Figure from his maiden win. Owners T and T Racing Team seek its first Woodbine stakes win. If you believe in déjà vu then you may bet (1) SIR FOR SURE, a first time starter whose half brother My Silencer won the Frost King Stakes in his debut for Heste Sport and Mark Casse. (4) LUCYS CHILD showed grit to win his maiden and he has speed to run at. (5) GATLING GUN is quick and has to avoid getting into a pace duel.
Race 10 — This is a nice maiden race and (8) CAPE COD switches back to the main track after floundering on the soft turf last time. He can bounce back. (5) ABISKO is interesting as he will be saddled by new trainer Robert Landry, champion jockey at Woodbine who is racing manager for the owners, Chiefswood. This 4-year-old gets a late start to his career but he was working through January at Fair Hill and he has impeccable breeding. (1) BEYOND BORDERS has been second in four of his last five races. (7) GRANDSON has worked fast since his debut and he gets Lasix.
Race 11 — A big field for low claiming will have bettors scratching their heads as this is a tough race to decipher. If (15) POLYDEUCES draws in from the also eligible list he is worth a look as it would be his first race at the bottom level and he would be switching from turf to Tapeta. (12) JOJOMAR also drops to $5,000 for the first time, adds blinkers and the leading rider. (11) US ARMY CORPS has speed and he drops in class. (6) DIAMONDBACK is a lightly raced fellow who did okay in his return to Woodbine and the shorter distance helps. (9) PARTY OF NO is back in a week for his 18
th start of the year.
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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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