Best Bet – (2) ARTISTICO – Race 2
Spot Play - (3) FANCYSOUL – Race 7
Today's Play: Pick 4 (races 4-7): 3, 5 / 1, 4, 7/ 3, 4, 5 / 3, 9 = $36.00
Race 1 – (2) ABBAA is the guy to beat as this tough 10-year-old has 14 career wins and he worked hard on the pace in his return to Woodbine at a longer distance. He is 5 for 14 at the shorter distances. (7) CHEEK TO CHEEK just won his non-winners of 3 lifetime class with an off-the-pace run at this 5 1/2 furlong distance with a 69 Beyer Figure from Daily Racing Form. He meets some tougher ones but he should have clear sailing to rally at the speed, a style that was very successful last week. The filly (6) GIZMO FLASH is back home after a successful stay at Penn National in which she won two races on dirt. She has good speed. (4) LENCHES GIMME, a mare, comes off a good effort at Fort Erie and is rounding into form.
Race 2- (2) ARTISTICO is a classy 8-year-old with more grass wins than any other guy in this 1 1/16 mile inner turf race. While the distance is a bit shorter than he would prefer, he has not raced for this low a level on grass in some time. (1) THE MIGHTY JUDGE won big at Fort Erie in his Canadian debut for Steven Chircop and he has been known to win back-to-back events. (7) PROLIFERATE won his third start off the layoff May 29 at Gulfstream at this $20,000 claiming price for leading trainer Mark Casse. (6) HALLIE'S HERO was outrun in a fast sprint in his season debut and will be better suited to this longer turf race.
Race 3- (6) R U WATCHINGBUD had the lead late in his 9-year-old opener but was caught and landed third. He does not win often but this race has speed runners in the mix and it should set up well for him. (5) BADJEROS BOY won for $5,000 claiming in his season debut and he won big. He steps up in class and is the one to beat. If you throw out all those races on dirt in New York and at Penn National of (3) HURRICANE DANCER, he looks a lot better in his return home. (2) OUR ZUMA returns to the class level at which he was claimed last summer and he could pick up a share. (
Race 4- (3) QUEEN BEACH has run well in both starts off the layoff and shortening up from seven to six furlongs should work well for her as she tries to win her maiden. (5) JUNGLE GODDESS gets a sharp class drop and switches to Tapeta. Jockey Kazushi Kimura, who is off to a great start at the meeting, has been lured. (6) BORN TO BE GOOD is logical as she is often thereabouts in her maiden outings and she will be closing ground late. (8) BEARTHESTORM had a good rally in her opener against slightly easier and trainer Dave Cotey has had a super start.
Race 5 – This could be the day for (7) QUEEN LICIA who was third in a very fast maiden race at this class in her season opener. She was used up in a pace battle in her latest but Rafael Hernandez sticks with her for a class drop and note she has blinkers removed. (4) LET'S GET IT DID drops to a new low level for owner/trainer Mark Casse and has a license to wake up. (1) BRING DA FUDGE improved in her second start of the season and she might be okay at the longer 6 1/2 furlong distance. (10) CURT'S ANGEL had a slow beginning to her career debut but the pace was so fast early and slowing late that she was really rolling through the stretch.
Race 6 –(4) OZAYA ran a winning race first time out in her career June 27 on the turf but missed by a nose on very fast time. She moves to the Tapeta and she had a sizzling workout on the main surface July 15. (3) AMALFI SKY gets Lasix after going too fast in a pace battle in a longer sprint off the layoff. (5) IN MY OPINION lost all chance in traffic in her season debut and she was favoured that day. She will appreciate the return to the main track. (6) BIG GINGER has been second and third in her two outings this year and is sitting on her maiden win.
Race 7 – (3) FANCYSOUL switches to the main track and a route distance and her career debut in 2020 was solid in a similar race. She can go forward off her turf opener. (9) SKY OF DREAMS was a good second in her finale of 2020, her first try at this 1 1/16 mile distance. Following two sprints this season, she stretches out in distance again and is a top contender. (2) JOCASSEE is a full sister to Woodbine Oaks winner Neshama and she comes from a hot barn, that of Don MacRae, (8) RELENTLESS RUBY is another first time starter and she is a half sister to 10 winners and shows good workout times.
Race 8 – (8) DAD'S MISSY had her best outing of 2020 at this 6 1/2 furlong distance and she had a solid season opener. (6) MERINO WOOL got the kinks out in her season opener July 8 and she figures to improve with that one under her belt. (2) SEA LILY went too fast on the pace last time and now she has to tackle a bit more distance. (10) GEA drops in class and sprints on the Tapeta, which is something different for her as she usually races long on the grass. (9) SADIE IRENE has been i the top three in six of her last eight races.
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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.
Photo by John Watkins
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