Best Bet – (2) NORTHERN CONQUEST – Race 8
Spot Play – (7) RELENTLESS RUBY – Race 3
Today's Play: PICK 4 (.20 cents, Races 4 – 7): 3, 5, 6 / 2, 6 / 1, 6, 9 / 1, 5, 6, 7 = $14.20
*Selections done for turf
Post time 4:45 p.m.
Race 1 — (5) SEA SCOUT ran his best career race in a 5 furlong turf maiden event last year. He comes off a troubled run when second on the Tapeta. (4) LACOUGRA, a filly, has been off since a chasing run in a short Tapeta dash. She is out of a mare who was a stakes winner on the turf. (2) STEEL WOOL is a turf lover and one of his best races came in a race like this – 5 furlongs on turf. (1) BULLET SPEED is quick from the gate and his sire loved grass.
Race 2 — (3) TOP PRIZE GIRL was a surprise winner of her maiden last time when trying a route distance on Tapeta for her third career race. The victory was so decisive she might be able to come right back and win. (7) IF SIX WAS NINE is consistently good and she drops in class and is the main danger. (5) BIG CHEEKS has been sprinting for the most part and comes with a rally often. She is bred to handle the longer distance. (6) SAN NICOLA STAR likes to race close to the pace, and she has been in good form since stretching out in distance.
Race 3 — (7) RELENTLESS RUBY improved to a third-place finish in her third career race with Justin Stein riding. The pair move out to 1-1/8 miles for maidens and drop in class. (2) BLU SKY SUNRISE stretches out from sprints in which she was closing in those races. Her trainer is good with horses moving out in distance. (4) JOLENE JOLENE ran a nice race at a route distance two starts back, grabbing the lead in the stretch only to be passed late. (5) BORN TO BE GOOD experiments with this nine-furlong distance after many top three placings in sprints.
Race 4 — (6) THRU THE VINE has not been seen since February when he won his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs and then just missed in his first try against winners. He has been working steadily and seems well spotted. (5) MUSKOKA GIANT seems to be in a spot now to end a winless streak and the Mark Casse barn has certainly been on a roll. He does not have much early speed, but closed some ground in his latest against better. (3) SUN DADDY was behind Muskoka Giant in his latest at this 1-1/8 mile distance. (9) AMMUNITION almost led all the way at 35 to 1 last time when adding Lasix.
Race 5 — (6) VICTOR'S DESTINY has been 3
rd or 4
th in four races since he was claimed for $5,000 in June by Mike Dunslow. This gelding drops back down to the claimed price and is a solid factor. (2) IN A TWIST drops to a new low level and returns from a short layoff. He has a good edge in Beyer Figures. (7) AGNELLI was second to a big winner two starts back and that guy came back to win in fast time in his next race. (4) LETTHEBIGHOSSROLL shortens up to 6 furlongs and can rally for a share.
Race 6 — (6) MONASTERY LANE just won at this $40,000 claiming level in an off-the-turf race and she has done well on the turf also. (1) DANGER is good form and was claimed from her latest on turf when second by Martin Drexler, who does well with new acquisitions. (9) COREY SCORES came in from New York last month for the Mark Casse barn. She is a stretch runner who enjoys turf. (5) VERY SAVVY led late in an inner turf race against slightly easier two starts ago.
Race 7 — (5) HARD STREET looks like the fastest gal in this field and she is offered for claiming for the first time in this $40,000 optional sprint. (1) TRADING BAY woke up last time and missed by a nose. She loses regular rider Luis Contreras to Hatmaker Holiday. (6) RIDE THE WIND can take advantage of the speed types with her stalking style. (7) NO WHAMMIE comes off her maiden win on the turf, but she likes the main track also.
Race 8 — (2) NORTHERN CONQUEST should be all set to win his maiden in this 1-1 /8 mile finale. Jockey Kazushi Kimura took him off the pace last time and the colt rallied well to just miss. (9) SUIGU STAR and his rider Antonio Gallardo were off to a troubled start last time and can do better in this longer race. (8) GRAND GIZMO had a clear lead in the late stages of his most recent and was caught, but he has been second or third in his last four races and is a contender. (5) L'ETAT tries the main track again and the class drop should help him make the transition. (4) KOMUNIST is one to include in superfectas and the High 5.
*
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
More Tips from the Pros