Best Bet – (8) HIDDEN IDENTITY – Race 3
Spot Play – (5) H C HOLIDAY – Race 9
Today's play: LATE Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 7- 10) : 2, 5, 6, 7 / 2, 4, 5, 7 / 7 / 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 = $16.00
*Selections done for turf
Race 1 — (4) LOADED SNIPER dips one class level for this maiden dash and the best thing for him may be turning back from route races to 6-1/2 furlongs. He has done okay in longer races but his speed looks better in this shorter race. (5) KARAKONTIE PAT drops from maiden allowance to maiden claiming and he beat half the field in his latest on turf. (2) GREYSHOTT gets blinkers and returns to Tapeta and he was third in a shorter race the last time he was sprinting on the main track. (7) BEST AND FINAL has been showing signs of improvement,
Race 2 — (2) TRACKING GOLD makes his third start off the long layoff and he should go forward off the first two outings at this class level. He had no pace to run at last time and was wide, but was a clear second. Rafael Hernandez takes over. (1) SECRET PATH just missed two starts ago with a 67 Beyer Figure and that winner, Self Inflicted, was a winner again on Friday. The class drop should get him back on track after a flat outing last time. (9) SYNCHROMESH won his maiden at this distance on Tapeta but has been at Fort Erie lately and placing on turf. (5) GENDRAGON just won his maiden and came back with a fast workout time.
Race 3 — (8) HIDDEN IDENTITY had that sensational debut win for bottom claiming and then a troubled outing when claimed for this $25,000 price. She has been on turf and in a route race since then and gets back to a main track sprint. (3) HIGH SOCIETY GIRL is very quick and she led late in her most recent at this level and distance. (2) SIMPLE SOUVENIR has plenty of speed to run at and may be able to get into the top three. (1) THATSMYKINDANIGHT is consistently good and she drops in class but has to avoid getting caught up in a pace battle.
Race 4 — This race is scheduled for one mile on the turf but there is rain in the forecast. He's a 4-year-old first time starter but (6) MILANO, a $1.3 million purchase two years ago when he worked in 21 second for 2 furlongs (out in 45 flat), is a stunning-looking colt by top sire Into Mischief. He had workouts from May 2019 to May 2020, missed time and started back working again this January. (8) TALE OF MINESHAFT ran well in his first two starts on Tapeta and has been off for almost three months. He is bred for turf too. (3) MALIBU EDGE has been second or third in his last five races, all on turf. (4) OPUS NORTH is making his third start off the layoff and handles Tapeta or turf.
Race 5 — Two-year-olds go 6 furlongs and the outside trio are all trained by Kevin Attard. (7) SPANISH PRINCE ran well in his debut despite a bit of a slow start. (8) MIGHTY SEA is a first-time starter by the high percentage juvenile debut sire Maclean's Music. This guy looked good in a workout for a sale in June. (3) CLASSIC LEGEND looks fast based on his fast workout at the April Ocala sale and he has worked fast locally. (9) HICKSY was a head behind the top pick first time out and he gets Lasix.
Race 6 — This is a tricky race and a big field of juvenile claiming fillies. (9) LEGS LIKE SHACK was third in her debut despite an awkward start from the gate. (10) GAV'S DREAM GIRL is a good-sized filly who worked 2 furlongs in 22 flat in a June Florida sale. She is by the impeccably bred sire Jess's Dream. (7) DEVIL IN HER HEART had a messy second start when at this class level but was still fourth. (6) MISS NAHA TE has experience and a good career debut outing that earned her a 61 Beyer Figure. She has not been as good since then, drops to claiming and apprentice Michael David gets a turn.
Race 7 — (6) ARTIE had a sensational career debut, winning by more than 9 lengths with an 89 Beyer Figure, and that was despite some trouble early. It will be exciting to see what he has to offer against winners in this turf sprint, and if the race is moved to Tapeta that should be okay. (1) IMA PHAROAH is the question mark in the field. This regally bred son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has been away a year but is fast and he has talent on turf and dirt. He has had good workout times on Tapeta. (3) LUCKY SCORE is a sharp Ontario bred for Ralph Biamonte with a turf sprint win and a fourth recently. He has speed to run at. (2) DECIMATOR is a consistently good sprinter on turf or Tapeta.
Race 8 — The late Pick 4 begins here and this is a wide open nine furlong starter/optional claiming race. I am going to follow leading rider Kazushi Kimura who has ridden several of these and he landed on (5) MOON OVER MONTANA, an ultra-consistently good horse who has tactical speed and he loves Woodbine. (2) GUITAR GEORGE got a confidence building class drop and won last time and he is 3 for 6 at this distance. (7) REDOUTE'S LIGHT is in good form for owner Sarah Sullivan and he handles the Tapeta okay. (6) SOLAR drops in class and he has done well on Tapeta from limited opportunities.
Race 9 — The 131
st Breeders' Stakes, worth $400,000, wraps up the Canadian Triple Crown and it is 1-1/2 mile on turf. (5) H C HOLIDAY, officially still a maiden, was third in the Queen's Plate and fourth in the Prince of Wales, each time with trouble, His sire Ami's Holiday won this race and this could be the coming out party for this colt. (4) SAFE CONDUCT won the Plate with great grit and his speed and stamina and love for turf makes him the logical favourite. Should there be a lot of rain on Sunday he might not be fond of that surface. (7) BREAKING ALONE had a super return to the races on Sept. 5 against older horses and his freshness has to be respected. (2) RIPTIDE ROCK tries hard no matter what surface he is on, but his two wins were both in sprints.
Race 10 — The Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes will be the third start of the year for (7) BOARDROOM and she seeks her third graded stakes win. She crushed some of these in the Seaway at seven furlongs and she shortens up. (1) AMALFI COAST was third to the top pick in the Seaway and she always comes with a run. (6) BETWIXTING is 4 for 4 this year and comes off a fast stakes win at Presque Isle. (2) SUMMER SUNDAY is a champion who got back on the winning track in a restricted turf sprint last time.
Race 11 — (2) FOUR BOUNCE led for a long time in his latest maiden try and he gets a class drop and should be a strong factor. (7) SUIGU STAR may be better on grass but he has a good stretch rally. (6) UNDEFILED woke up with the class drop last time and he led late before two rivals passed him. (5) I HAVE HOPE flew through the stretch and just missed last time in his 34
th attempt at the maiden win. (8) NORTHERN CONQUEST is another class dropper and he is in the mix.
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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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