Best Bet – (4) FIFTH SEASON – Race 7
Spot Play - (1) BIG TIME GIZMO – Race 8
Want to play the Pick 4? ($1.00 races 4-7) : 3, 4, 8 / 2, 3, 7, 8 / 1, 5 / 4 = $24.00
Post time 4:50 p.m.
Race 1 – (8) CANADIAN SECRET halves in claiming price and is back in 12 days since he was one-paced in his season debut at this 6 1/2 furlong distance. (5) FRAT PARTY is one of two in the field for the Darwin Banach barn and he ended 2020 on a high note with this maiden win under this rider, Kazushi Kimura.(2) PRINZE OF VIOLENZE won his maiden at a route distance in his third career race. He took a big class drop for that win and is at the same $5,000 claiming level for this return sprint but note he is not offered for the claiming price. (4) SAVVY LAYLA was outrun in a turf sprint off the winter and spring vacation but lands the bottom claiming level.
Race 2- (3) ANITA GRIGIO is logical is she can run back to her season debut just 13 days ago. She squeezed in a short, quick workout since her opener also.(5) SIMPLE SOUVENIR reeled in the speed to take her maiden win her season debut by inches but she has less yardage to work with. (8) KOZY KAT makes her second start since July 2020 and her first ever outing on Tapeta. She has good speed and may go a long way on the pace. (6) ROLLING SLOAN also has early speed and she was good when she was fresh last summer.
Race 3- The Colebrook stable has started well in 2021 and (4) BACHELOR PAD had two straight wins last fall with Beyer Figures of 63 and 66 according to Daily Racing Form. He makes his first start at the bottom claiming level of $5,000. (5) AGNELLI dropped to this level for his 2020 finale and for fun. He has been working quickly coming into this opener. (1) DANCING DEREK own his only race in 2020 and he is very quick but a question mark at 6 1/2 furlongs. (2) TAHANA has not done much in the last two seasons but worked a cullt half mile on June 15 and he can hit the tickets.
Race 4- (4) CHASING VINNY returns at the same class level where he was doing good things last fall when in the top three for his last three starts. His stablemate (8) ICOMEFROMDOWNTOWN also looks good and both have pace to run in this sprint. (3) BLIND TRUST is dropping in class for his three-year-old debut and he has been flaunting his speed in morning workouts. (1) BARILKO has some proving to go on the Tapeta but his workout times have been good.
Race 5 – (7) BADJEROS BOY is a nine-year-old who had a light campaign in 2020 and he drops to the bottom claiming level for the first time. (8) SLIP KID is one of two 10-year-olds in the field and this classy old guy makes his second start of the year and second start for Robert Tiller. He should go forward off his return race.(3) TWO TIMING was blanked in eight races in 2020 as he started the season at a high level. He did better when he landed at this $5,000 claiming price in September and the most encouraging news are all of those sizzling workout times on the very fast Tapeta surface. (2) VICTOR'S DESTINY got a bit tired in his first start of the year after forcing the pace but he drops to the bottom claiming level.
Race 6 – This is a turf race at one mile and two guys who have won on this E P Taylor turf course are (1) STRIKE THE TOP, who comes off a turf win in Florida in April and (5) LUCAS N' LORI who drops in class for his return. Note that this guy won his 2020 season debut at one mile on the grass. (13) MATINEE won his maiden on the inner turf last fall with a 75 Beyer Figure and can contend if ready to go. (4) SHANGASSAH did some nice improving last fall and likes turf.
Race 7 –Some of these maiden fellows have had a few chances to win their first race but somebody has to win. (4) FIFTH SEASON had some bad luck in the fall but also has to save a lot more for the last furlong of his races. (9) FINAL ECLIPSE drops a bit in class and he is listed as a gelding for this return and also adds Lasix. (7) ARTIE MY BOY placed in some sprints last year for owner Gary barber and he figures to be a front runner as he stretches out in distance. (6) STRIKE A BEAT gets his blinkers back for his first strat as a six-year-old and he will get there one of these days.
Race 8 – At 12 to 1 in the morning line odds (10) BIG TIME GIZMO looks interesting for trainer John Ross who won the last race on Thursday. He ran a winning race in his career debut way back in 2019 but had a bit of a down year last season. He has had some big time workout times. Just as Ross's Thursday winner had. (13) SOUPER BEST BET ran well on the Tapeta at Turfway Park in March and is the most logical runner in the field. (7) BIRCHMOUNT ROAD is back quickly, six days after his season debut at a distance that was likely too short. He drops in class and can do better. (6) HIP TO YOUR TRICKS makes his second start of the season and adds Lasix. His trainer Ron Sadler and rider Keveh Nicholls struck with a second time-out runner on Thursday.
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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 Mr. Will Wong
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