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Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Saturday, October 23, 2021

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Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Saturday, October 23, 2021

October 23, 2021
By Jennifer Morrison
Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Saturday, October 23, 2021
 Best Bet –  (7) POINT TO THE STARS – Race 5
Spot Play –  (6) GRATEFUL PRAISE – Race 8
Today's Play, Pick 4 (.20 cents, races 4-7):  2, 5, 7, 13 / 7 /  1, 3, 6 /  all = $24.00
 
*Selections done for turf
 
 
Race 1 —  (6) SOUPER PRONTO gets the slight nod to win the opener, a maiden race for juveniles at 1-1/16 miles on Tapeta. This guy trailed on an all-weather surface at a sprint distance first time out but ran well when a close third on turf last time at Delaware when adding Lasix.  (3) SUPER BREW stretches out to a route distance after a sprint opener and he should enjoy the longer trip.  (4) THELONIUS tries a route distance and may be able to improve with the added yardage.  (1) WHEN WE CONNECT is back in two weeks after a second straight good effort.
 
Race 2 —  (5) SECRETS TOLD missed winning a race just like this maiden turf sprint by a nose in August. She was used up in a tough battle on the pace last time.  (3) PROTECT has been away since late August when she was outrun in her second career try. Her debut in a turf sprint was good as she just missed third place after a wide trip.  (2) COASTING AWAY, a stablemate of the top pick, was wide in a long turf race to begin her career and she has been given time for more training.  (6) SHAN'S TIGER ran a much better race last time, closing ground at five furlongs on the Tapeta, but was the shorter distance the key?
 
Race 3 —  The Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes for filly and mare sprinters has a small field with little speed in the mix.  (2) OUR SECRET AGENT gets blinkers for the sharp turnback in distance. This filly worked fast recently and seeks her first stakes win. One of the current leaders of the division is (6) AMALFI COAST who is in top form. She won the Ontario Fashion in her latest and there was not much pace in that event.  (3) BETWIXTING had bad luck in the Fashion when a very nice filly was injured in front of her and she had to check.  (4) TOFFEN has good speed and just won on the grass but her local debut on Tapeta was not great.
 
Race 4 —  The Pick 4 starts with a one-mile turf race (unless the races continue to be taken off turf because of rain) and this is a tricky race to gauge. There are many possibilities depending on the surface of this race but maybe (2) IVY'S STAR could pop up in this spot. She would look better on the Tapeta but the route distance suits her.  (7) SWEET SHADES has not done much of anything, but she is finally getting a chance to try a different surface other than the inner turf and perhaps she can wake up.  (5) FORTY SMOOTH made a big form reversal winning her maiden last time with a 69 Beyer Figure. She then had a workout 10 days later and is back in a race 16 days later.  (13) ELEANOR POWELL is a main track contender only but she has a wide post.
 
Race 5 —  This maiden 2-year-old race has a number of contenders including (7) POINT TO THE STARS who tipped his hand in his first run for maiden claiming, leading late before landing third.  (8) TIMMINS is an interesting longshot play with the return to a sprint distance.  (2) PERFECT PICTURE edged the top pick for second place last time and is logical.  (3) I AM RESILIENT beat half the field in his debut and trainer Krista Cole-Simpson has a high rate of winning with second time starters.
 
Race 6 —  This is a 5 -1/2 furlong maiden 2-year-old race, another tricky handicapping puzzle and (6) VERDEJO has been getting close to her maiden win. She was a clear second in a quick race last time.  (1) VIOLET JESSOP looked super in her workout for a sale in May in Maryland and she has continued to work fast at Woodbine. Her half sister Big Big Plans won her career debut at age 2.  (3) LOAD ABROAD missed by a head in only her second career race and she gets blinkers for this shorter race.  (5) SILENT GHOST gets a big class drop from maiden allowance and she comes off a two month freshening.
 
Race 7 —  The $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes is the premier race for Canadian-born 2-year-old fillies and (8) BAKSHEESH, easy winner of the Muskoka Stakes at a sprint distance on Tapeta might be good enough. Toss her latest in the Grade 1 Natalma on the squishy grass.  (3) INTO TOURING, like the top pick a Mark Casse trainee, has come a long way from Del Mar where she won her maiden at a route distance on turf. She likely came to be able to get Lasix.  (6) SWINGING MANDY is a good-sized filly who rolled to victory in the Victorian Queen to win her maiden, and that was at a route distance on turf.  (1) BROKEN PROPOSAL had a nice debut outing with a steady rally on turf and can be in the mix.
 
Race 8 —  This race is scheduled for 6-1/2 furlongs on turf and (4) GRATEFUL PRAISE has been consistently good this year and she dips in class. Speedy (6) SAMURAI QUEEN was outrun in her grass debut, and the distance might be a challenge, but she might be tough to catch.  (3) MAKE NO MISTAKE is back in just nine days after she led by a long margin late in a Tapeta race but landed third.  (1) BAYOU BELLE won big on the class drop in her latest and will try to return to sprinting after many route races.
 
Race 9 —  (3) KODIAK MAMBA has been third in recent turf sprints but did okay in his lone try on Tapeta. He needs a bit more closing kick but is logical in this wide open maiden race.  (8) LOADED SNIPER beat everyone but the runaway front runner who scored by 8 lengths last time.  (2) HULLABALOO led late in his most recent when adding blinkers and, while these are a bit tougher, he is in the hunt.  (5) IN ALL ALONE has good speed and he shortens up after fading in his season debut.
 
Race 10 —  Will go longshot shopping in this maiden race with (4) I'M EXCEPTIONAL, my pick when she debuted on Oct. 1. She blew the break that day and lost all chance so she tries again. There is no gate work since then but I will give her another shot.  (9) ASHBURY's latest, a 71 Beyer Figure on turf, was super and that was just her second career race. She will try to duplicate that on Tapeta.  (8) TAQUANYAH was just behind Ashbury in her latest and is improving.  (1) ALLURING MEG drops from maiden allowance to maiden claiming and may improve. Also consider (2) BLAZING SKY in exotic wagers.
 
 
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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 simulcast host for Ajax Downs.
 
 
 Photo by John Watkins
 

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