Best Bet – (7) MIDNIGHT CHOIR – Race 3
Spot Play - (10) FINDING PERFECTION – Race 8
Today's Play: Pick 4 (races 4-7): 6, 7, 10 / 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 / 10 / 1, 5, 6 = $12.20
*Selections done for turf
Race 1 — (7) SOUPER SMART is the wild card in today's opener as he has not raced since July of last year when competing for $62,500 claiming. He returns for just $10,000 off sharp workouts and he runs well when he is fresh. (2) BARILKO is very quick, and he began the season with a sharp win and he drops in class. (9) DANCING DEREK ran a super, but very hard, race just a week ago off the layoff so he could be in a position to regress a bit. (3) KEEN SAMURAI comes off his second win of the year at this class level.
Race 2 — (3) SWEEPIN HARD continues his class descent and he has had two good efforts in succession for the Dan Vella barn, which has been doing well. (10) BOCELLI has been absent since late June when he came off a layoff for his Woodbine debut which he won. He drops in class after more time off for the Mark Casse barn, which won nine races last week. (8) JEGOS FIRE is a possible wake up horse with the class drop. His lone try on the Tapeta surface was okay, he is still working fast and he should be prominent fromm the outset. (5) CONQUER HIM came close to winning two starts back with a steady rally, and if he gets some pace to run at he could better this placing.
Race 3 — (7) MIDNIGHT CHOIR comes from the Jonathan Thomas barn that has won with four of its nine invaders at Woodbine. This gal tries Tapeta for the first time off a runner-up showing in her Woodbine debut which was dominated by a front running rival. (2) KARAKONTIEPARADISE came off a layoff for a two-turn turf race and was fourth behind the top pick. She ran well on the Tapeta when she began her career. (5) EMMELINE ran hard in the first two legs of the Triple Tiara, finishing second in those big races. She faded in the 10 furlong Wonder Where 12 days ago and will try to get her maiden win now in a Tapeta sprint. (6) HARD EDGE had a good speed try in her debut in September when second.
Race 4 — Maiden fillies for $25,000 claiming begin the Pick 4 and (10) STENCIL surely will go better with the class drop to maiden claiming, She was favoured for her debut which was a decent outing. (7) NINJA PRINCESS had a good enough debut outing on turf to give her a slight nod. She broke a bit slow that day but was quickly in a three horse pace duel, so she's a speed threat. (6) JOKERS RUN was eliminated late in her most recent back in mid-August when shut off. She has had limited workouts since then, but is logical. (2) CORA stayed on well to be second in her latest and she seems to be improving.
Race 5 — (6) HIT ME UP is an interesting first time starter in this 2-year-old filly race for $25,000 claiming. She is a half-sister to two juveniles who won first time out and her sire Noble Mission had 2-year-old stakes winner Marie MacKay last week. (9) DISTORTED SUCCESS was in tough in her debut, which was a fast race, and she is well bred and drops to maiden claiming. (3) SHELLY THE ROCKET was one of my picks when she debuted at 23 to 1 and was second. She is from a mare who was very fast. (8) LELAWALA has had good prep times at Fort Erie and has speed breeding on her sire's side.
Race 6 — (1) MAKE NO MISTAKE just won at this starter allowance/optional level in August as the odds-on choice. She is tough when she gets in a winning mode. (8) ANITA GRIGIO can be excused for her latest which was not only a quick race but she had some traffic trouble, She was second to the top pick the last time she was at this class level. (6) VALLEY GIRL loves the grass and she gets a bit more distance after a good effort behind the tough mare Dancing Doll. (9) COOL SOCIETY probably wants more distance but she has been in good form for most of this season.
Race 7 — (6) LOOKINATAMIRACLE could post a mild upset in this tough, $40,000 claiming race. He is lightly raced this year and dips in class after two good efforts. To win he will have to run down the fleet (1) MARTEN RIVER who returns to the Tapeta surface for the first time this year and comes in with his usual fast workout times. (5) CIRCLE OF FRIENDS is a classy fellow who drops in class, meeting his easiest group of rivals in quite some time. (2) SOLIDIFY bounced back from a drab run to just miss last time.
Race 8 — (10) FINDING PERFECTION has been getting bits and pieces all season, and you can ignore her latest when she went to Fort Erie to tackle boys and the race went in near-track record time. (11) FRESH DREAMS plunges in class to the bottom level and has been away since July so she is a bit of a wild card. (4) QUEEN BEACH has won two of her last three races and she handles the main track also. (8) SADIE IRENE has also been on the edges in recent races and she fits with this field. (3) MIZZONA gets a class drop and she did well in her most recent try on the Tapeta.
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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 and is the simulcast handicapper for Ajax Downs.
Photo by John Watkins
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