Best Bet – (8) A GERSHWIN TUNE – Race 2
Spot Play - (8) YOU CAN'T CATCH ME – Race 9
Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 4-7): 2, 3, 5, 10 / 1, 3 / 3, 6, 7 / 1, 4, 6, 10 = $19.20
Race 1 – (1) SHE'S A DREAM loved the grass in her first try on the surface, that was in a one-turn sprint on the main course. She tries 2 turns on the inner course and note that she has had two nice workout times since her victory. If race comes off turf she does not look as enticing. (3) MISS ARIEL comes from a hot barn that is rolling with its horses who have made a couple of starts at the meeting. She has won on the inner course and is stakes placed on the main turf. (4) PEARL HEIST is also from a hot barn and she showed closing power in her latest in a much shorter race on the main track. She is improving but is a question on turf. (6) COMIC KITTEN is 1 for 17 on grass but ran a nice race on this course two starts back.
Race 2- (8) A GERSHWIN TUNE has performed well in all three outings this year at this maiden $9,500-$10,000 level. He had some ground loss in his latest when quite wide on the turn and gets a bit more distance at 6 1/2 furlongs. (2) MR. TODD is a wake-up prospect as he ran well in his career debut June 26 in a sprint but he has been on turf and in a route race since then. (11) GIVE ME AN EYE had a super rally in his debut and he drops in class seeking to return to that effort. He does have just one eye, on the inside so this outside post is better for him. (3) CAPTURE THE RIDE deserves one more chance on the drop in class. He had a couple of good efforts late in 2019 but has been on grass and in tougher races this year.
Race 3- (3) STEPITUPSTEPHANIE is a first time starter in this maiden 2-year-old filly race for $25,000 claiming. She is by first year sire Ami's Holiday and his foals have shown speed and the mare produced a debut winning juvenile. (7) WELL YOU STARTEDIT had speed in her debut but was overtaken by her stablemate who won by 6 lengths. This gal stayed on for second. (8) FEDERAL COURT was a clear second in her most recent outing and has since been sold. She adds Lasix. (1) CIGARILLO was well bet in her first career race but was a bit slow from the gate. She is bred to have speed so give her another look.
Race 4 – The pick 4 begins in this race, a large field of maiden fillies for $9,500 claiming and (2) HASN'T HIT ME YET finally got away from grass racing and led for a long time in her latest on the Tapeta. She is headed in the right direction. (5) ADORE ME gets a big class drop after fading in a route race but her 54 and 51 Beyer Figures from her first two outings of this year put her in the hunt .(10) MISS MATILDA has been a close second in two straight outings at this level and just needs a finishing kick. (3) O LA LA raced 5 days ago in a route race and tired but she has stayed on better in sprints and has been well bet in her races.
Race 5 – (3) KEEPME IN THEGAME adds blinkers for her third race off the layoff and second outing on the Tapeta. Her first try on the main track was super, one of the best of her career and she has had 3 good prep times since then. (1) SARATOGA VISION was second in a Grade 3 stake at 84 to 1 on July 25 and came back to be a close 5
th in another graded stake Aug. 29 on turf. She is back with maidens and is very logical. (7) L'AMOUR TOUJOURS will wear blinkers for the first time in her second race of the year and her best race so far came in a turf-to-Tapeta move in November. (8) GLORIANNA tries the main track for the first time after a troubled grass race Aug. 23 that ended an 11-month layoff.
Race 6 – (7) MOON MAGIC should go forward from his season debut Aug. 27 when meeting much tougher. He won two of his last four outings of 2019 and drops to a better level for him. (6) WILLY'S CASTLE was odds-on when he won at this class level recently and he comes out of a fast grass race. He should be one of the choices. (3) FOUR KNIGHTS has been doing well since he got some class relief and he can sit just off the other speed. (5) BE VEWY VEWY QUIET gets a big class drop and tries a route race on the Tapeta. The distance is a question but he can stick around for a share.
Race 7 – (4) SHANGHAI KIMMY gets a slight nod as she lost a tough one last time at this maiden level, squandering a huge lead in the stretch. If she can save a bit of that early power for the last furlong she can get it done. (6) TRAIL BLAZING ESSA was far behind the rapid pace set by the top pick last time and that worked out okay for her as she rallied for fourth. (10) ALOHA WILKO drops sharply in class for her 2020 opener after long vacation. She has had some above-average workout times. (1) LOST CORSAGE didn't do as well as I expected last time but she was too close to the hot pace. Perhaps jockey Wilson can get her to save more for the late stages.
Race 8 – (4) DAY DAYENU followed up her impressive maiden win June 14 with a good run against winner last time and the 2
nd place finisher has come back to win. She tries 1 1/16 miles for the first time and is by Into Mischief, the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. (1) ETERNAL PEACE won off a long layoff in April on the grass at Gulfstream Park followed by a good showing in allowance company. This is her first Tapeta outing and her workout times on the surface for trainer Roger Attfield have been sizzling. (6 VESPOLNA was re-claimed by Ross and Brenda McKague last time when she was a closing second on turf. She tries blinkers and a 2 turn distance on the main track and is a hard trying filly. (3) FOREST HALO stretches out from two sprints that began her season and she should be prominent early and could stick around for a top three placing.
Race 9 – (8) YOU CAN'T CATCH HER likes the grass and she returns to the surface for the first time in 5 starts. She continues to have sharp workout times in the morning and if she runs her best race in this return to turf, a 60-65 Beyer Figure effort is possible. (2) MUSKOKA DANCER won her maiden in a grass sprint last year and she drops and shortens up for her turf return. (6) BOATLOADOFNERVE just won her maiden in a turf sprint, running to her super turf breeding. (9) SHOTANABEER has been away for a year but won her maiden on turf in her last appearance.
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 CanadianThoroughbred.com, Blood-Horse and Toronto Star and is the simulcast handicapper for Ajax Downs.
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