Best Bet – (3) SOUPER WATSON – Race 4
Spot Play – (4) PUGIN - Race 1
Today's Play: PICK 5 (.20 cents, races 2-6): 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 / 4, 6, 9, 10 / 3 / 6, 7 / 1, 7 = $16.00
*Selections done for turf
Post time 4:45 p.m.
Race 1 — This race is scheduled to be run on the E.P Taylor turf at 6-1/2 furlongs and (4) PUGIN, a turf winner earlier this year in Florida was fourth in a race like this three starts back. He had a sizzling workout on Tapeta Oct. 2, 46 2/5 for four furlongs. (10) LOWER FOR LONGER is a filly taking on the boys but she is dropping in class and her Woodbine debut, on turf, saw her finish a close fourth at a longer distance, so she fits. (11) JAMES BAY took his season debut in a turf sprint and he has been in good form on Tapeta. (1) CHASING VINNY has some grass breeding and he almost won on Tapeta at this class level two starts back.
Race 2 — (2) POOLSIDE MANNERS was bet down to even-money for her career debut Sept. 16 and she made an early move to the lead before landing third. She is well bred for the route distance and gets the slight nod in this wide open juvenile race. (4) TALLY ROAD ran her best race last time when stretching out to seven furlongs. (8) INFINITE PASSION's trainer Anthony Pottinger has a 23% win rate with horses moving from sprints to routes. (7) THANKS LAURA is experienced with five races already this season. She gets blinkers and is a speed threat in her first two-turn outing.
Race 3 — This is the final leg of the Turf Endurance series and it is a challenging 1-3/4 miles on turf. I will try a bit of a price play in here with (10) TAOS, who won the latest leg of the series with a shrewd ride from just off the pace. (9) PRIMO TOUCH will be heavily bet as he was a gallant third in the Grade 1 Canadian International last time, eight days after a win at nine furlongs. He is the pacesetter and he has a double-advantage in Beyer Figures. (4) FULL EXTREME was second in a 12 furlong turf stakes race in 2019 and he showed some late life in his latest. (6) PLEASECALLMEBACK was my pick in the most recent leg of this series but at even-money he missed by a nose for the second straight race. That was his eighth 2
nd place finish.
Race 4 — (3) SOUPER WATSON could take the first leg of the Pick 4 as he has posted three 80 Beyer Figures in succession and he should have a good trip just behind what could be a contested early pace. (2) PUNCH HARD is improving nicely for trainer Catherine Day Phillips and he shortens up slightly in distance from his latest when he fought hard all the way and just missed. (8) WIN D'ORO is 1 for 1 on all weather surfaces and he is a late runner who should have a good pace to chase. (4) BODE'S TIPSY is also in good form and if he can handle the nine furlong distance he should be in the thick of things.
Race 5 — (7) LAPOCHKA has been a monster this year on the grass, winning three of his last five races at varying distances. He moves to a two-turn Tapeta event for the first time in more than a year and he had a workout on the surface on October 3. His sharpness is hard to ignore. (6) TIMESKIP is back on his preferred surface, but he ran a nice race on turf last time behind a lone front runner (Primo Touch) and the second place finisher has come back to win. (3) POP A CHOC is one of two fillies in the field for Mark Casse and she is the most likely pacesetter. (5) ROARING FORTIES tried sprinting for a few races but he is 2 for 3 at this distance.
Race 6 — The $150,000 Shady Well Stakes is for Ontario bred 2-year-old fillies and (1) AUBRIETA was very professional in her debut win on Sept. 11 and she ran that race in quick time. (7) SILVER MAGNETIZED will have the blinkers removed and she shortens up in distance after a speed try in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes. (4) YA MAR is very quick and just won her maiden by six lengths. (5) SHANGHAI SHAMROCK won her maiden on dirt at Saratoga in August and she has prepped extensively on the Tapeta.
Race 7 — This is the $150,000 Clarendon Stakes for Ontario bred 2-year-olds and Simcoe Stakes winner (3) IRONSTONE recently came back with a wildly fast workout for 5 furlongs, 57 3/5, and he should be tough to catch. (1) SILENT RUNNER was second in the Ontario Racing Stakes at 5 furlongs on turf and he should be closing ground. (5) DROP A CARIBOU was strong in his maiden win on the turf and he has some closing power. (6) REPEAT THE HEAT had some good workouts before his debut, which came at seven furlongs, and he can improve second time out.
Race 8 — (7) CEFALO drops back to the $10,000 claiming price at which she won in August with that 81 Beyer Figure that seems a bit inflated. She also gets back to sprinting. (3) ROLLING SLOAN has been very steady this season and she should have some late punch. (1) TARA DAWN is also in good form and her first outing at this class level was solid. (8) NAITAKE comes off a win for $5,000 claiming and she starts from a new barn.
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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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