WOODBINE THOROUGHBRED SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 10 2021
Best Bet – (1) GOLDMINE CAT – Race 2
Spot Play – (9) DRAGON'S KEY – Race 5
Today's play: LATE Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 8-11 ) : all / 6/ /2/ 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 = $11.00
*Selections done for turf
Race 1 — (6) GRAFTON STREET is coming around quickly and this 2-year-old was second in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes in his latest off a layoff. He is back with maidens and is first time on the Tapeta. (4) LUCKMAN, a stablemate of the top pick, was odds-on for his debut and he missed by a neck. He was seventh in the Summer Stakes but gets Lasix, maidens and Tapeta. (1) LARAQUE came from well off the pace to be a close sixth in his debut and he can improve. (5) RUM CUP, by the recently deceased Lord Nelson, edged Laraque for fifth place last time.
Race 2 — This race is scheduled for six furlongs on the E P Taylor turf but there was rain in the forecast for Saturday. Most of these guys want to be showing speed so picking which one will stick around is the trick. (1) GOLDMINE CAT is in good form for red-hot connections, and he has had two solid workout times since his latest. He can handle Tapeta or turf. (5) FOUR ACES HIGH is the speed of the speed as he tries to stretch out to six furlongs. (4) MASON'S GAMBLE was second in the fast Elgin Stakes in his latest and he has some turf breeding. (7) COMBATIVE has not won in a long time, but he has fought good battles lately.
Race 3 — The $150,000 Durham Cup has lured just five older horses including the amazing (1) MIGHTY HEART. He did not get a chance to use his great speed in the Seagram Cup last time but he should be more of a force early under Patrick Husbands. (2) SIR WINSTON, the 2019 Belmont Stakes winner, returned to racing victorious Aug. 19 and he has been freshened since then. (5) SPECIAL FORCES is hard-trying fellow who is hoping for a fast pace. (3) TAP IT TO WIN stole the Seagram Cup on the pace.
Race 4 — Tricky race starts the first Pick 4 and (9) IMAGERY is a question mark at 7 furlongs but has worked a bullet 5 furlongs since her latest when third to a nice filly in Hazelbrook. (7) PILOT EPISODE gets back to Tapeta and she will like that as turf just isn't her thing. She is probably one of the front runners. (2) SILVER DAHLIA has closed ground to be second in two straight races. (8) REINFORCED, an impressive debut winner last fall, has been off since February and she is also speedy.
Race 5 — (9) DRAGON'S KEY ran in a key race first time out, a tougher maiden race, and he had trouble into the turn and then chased through the stretch. (7) HUNTER MASTER overcame a slow start to be second in his debut and the third place finisher has come back to win. (4) UNSPEAKABLE has had any number of sharp workout times and he has a fast half sister. (10) JUSTIN'S WAY is from the red-hot Terra Racing Stable and he is by a top sire in Silent Name and his dam's first foal is a nice winner.
Race 6 — Hard to know if this race will stay on the E P Taylor turf but at 7 furlongs (10) SPEED WAY ran a nice race on Tapeta last time despite some traffic woes. He is a half brother to two turf winners. (8) POUND GREEN, a half brother to champion Lexie Lou, also had trouble last time and he is good on turf or Tapeta. (2) RITMO DE CUECA gets a class drop and three starts back on Tapeta he ran a big race. (4) READY HERO broke very slowly last time but won his maiden on the grass in his previous race.
Race 7 — This should be a sizzling dash with 11 guys going 5 furlongs on turf. Old timer (9) CITY BOY needs some luck with a trip from this post but there is a ton of speed to chase and he could just get his first win in a couple of seasons. (10) ROCKCREST may be the speed of the speed and he led until late at 44 to 1 in the Vice Regent Stakes. (6) MALIBU SECRET has been 2
nd or 3
rd in all but one of his last 12 races. (1) REAL MONEY is a good turf sprint and he comes off a nine-month layoff.
Race 8 — The $250,000 Cup & Saucer Stakes is a big race for juveniles on turf. The course was on the yielding side this week and more rain was expected Saturday. (7) STRONGER TOGETHER was likely best in his career debut when he had a bad start, was far behind and then closed with a wide rush. He is from a turf winning mare who has produced a turf winner. (3) HIDDEN HONOR should enjoy the longer distance after a good sprint debut. His dam won her grass debut and he is by the top sire Honor Code. (4) SHAMATEUR won his maiden at 47 to 1, lasting by a nose over the closers. He is strongly bred for grass. (9) BRUTALITY put in a super rally in his turf debut on grass that was on the soft side.
Race 9 — (6) SKYGAZE just won the Belle Mahone with ease over a similar field and her mate (2) CRYSTAL GLACIER was second. (3) AFLEET KATHERINE runs well when she moves back to Tapeta and (1) ART OF ALMOST can get a nibble.
Race 10 — (2) STRIBLING should be a strong one in this 5 furlong maiden turf dash (and he should be okay if the race comes off turf). He was second to the mighty Artie in his latest and that guy came back to win again with a 97 Beyer Figure. (4) JACKIE'S PRIDE gets blinkers and he is bred for grass. He had some trouble in his latest. (1) TRAGICALLY QUEWICK also adds blinkers and he has picked up a purse share in all five races in his career. (8) NIAGARA SKYLINE has grass breeding and he showed improvement in his first race for trainer Ross Armata Jr.
Race 11 — (2) HAVE A SOUPER DAY will have to hurry at 6 furlongs but there is plenty of speed to run at in this sprint and he could get there in time. (6) SATURDAY GEORGE gets blinkers again and he is quick, perhaps the fastest early in the field. (7) PARMIGIANO has had two months off since a near miss on turf and he handles the main track also. (9) EXCEED is a longshot play for the exotics and (5) BROWNING ISLAND comes off a solid maiden win.
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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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