Best Bet – (7) CEFALO – Race 4
Spot Play - (4) BETWIXTING – Race 8
Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 4-7) - 2, 3, 7 / 2, 3, 4, 6, 10 / 4, 5, 8, 9 / 5, 8 10 = $36.00
Late Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 7 – 10) – all / 4, 7 / 8 / 3, 5, 7, 10 (13 if she draws in) = $19.20
Race 1 – (4) RING IN SILENCE has been third in both of her 2020 outings including one at this class and distance. (7) MUSKOKA LADY may be able to win her maiden with the class drop and move to 1 1/16 miles for Conrad Farms. Back in 2018 she was third in her only route race try on Tapeta with a 60 Beyer Speed Figure. (8) DANCE THE SKY AWAY got primed well for for this longer race with a second-place finish in her season opener. She ended last season with a good effort at this route distance. (6) NAKED ILLUSION is worth a look at the 1 1/16 mile distance as her sire was a stakes at 1 3/4 miles.
Race 2- You will need your sharp handicapping skills to sort this low level claiming race on turf out. It is the first leg of the Pick 5 and there are many possible contenders. One gal who should have won last time is (6) FRESHIEINTHEFOREST who was bottled up late on the turn on the inside and when she finally got clear, she closed fast. (1) I LOOK INCREDIBLE was burned out in a mad pace battle off the layoff July 23 and the blinkers come off and she drops on class level. (4) MAMITA'S CHICA broke slowly in her first race since Nov. And then made an early move into contention before stalling. (7) CLAIRESSENCE is better in one turn races on Tapeta but she is in good form and had a fast recent workout.
Race 3 – Will it be three straight for (7) WESTLODGE INTRIGUE? She has won at this class level in her last pair, so happy to be back home and on turf and this field is once again very reachable for her.(1) BELLA FIGURA was taken out of a 7 1/2 furlong turf race for $23,500 claiming Friday to go shorter against easier and her barn is hot. (3) REXDALE drops in class for her third start off the layoff and she likes a turf sprint and showed progress in her latest. (8) NORTHERN RUBY is unbeaten in two main track races, both last fall. She has modest turf breeding but some super workout times on Tapeta.
Race 4 – The Pick 4 starts here, a maiden race sprinting on turf and (7) CEFALO looks logical despite never having tried grass. She is by a son of Tapit and her dam has produced two turf winners. Blinkers go on and Hernandez sticks with her after another second place finish. (2) LOST CORSAGE is by a decent grass sire in Old Forester and she is second time with lasix, dropping in class and she had a decent return race on Tapeta. (3) STARONTHEHHORIZON is by a sire who loved grass and her dam is all turf. This gal was the pick last time on Tapeta off the layoff but she went too fast on the pace. (8) STRIKING RED is by a high percentage debut sire whose foals like turf too and she showed plenty of decent workout times for this debut.
Race 5 – Two-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs on the Tapeta and most are first-time starters. (3) FOREST DRIFT will take betting support based on so many bullet workouts and her mum was a very fast gal who won first time out. (6) EASY ACCESS is a Louisiana bred by first year sire Runhappy, a sprinting star and the mare has produced a juvenile debut winner. (2) CARPE HORSESHOE led for a while in her debut and while another blew past her, she was well clear of the third horse. (10) HI HONEY is beautifully bred, mostly for grass, but this long-reaching gal worked one furlong in :10 3/5 for that Florida sale and she was bought for $90,000.
Race 6 – (4) FEELING FUNNY, a daughter of American Pharoah, has been beaten in maiden races four times in five races but today could be the day for this $875,000 purchase. She is very quick and comes out of one of the best maiden races on the Tapeta of the year, won by Boardroom, who has come back to win big again. This gal is back on turf. (8) BUNCHKINS is seemingly a fast learner and she had a realyl fast workout since her second start, a good runner-up placing from off the pace. She has some grass breeding. (9) LOTS TO LIKE is a half sister to Grade 1 winning millionaire Hard Not to Like who loved grass and this is her first turf try. (5) JUMPING JILL FLASH had worked so well heading into her season debut and led all the way only to be caught but a gal who has won again.
Race 7- The second Pick 4 begins here and these is a wide open maiden 2-year-old race. (8) IL MALOCCHIO (Evil Eye) has been working right along with good stablemate Nero Davola and she may offer betting value. (5) MORE SAVVY finished well in a tough maiden race second time out and is now offered for claiming for the first time. (10) SECRETLY was favoured first time out and broke slowly but was up for third in a good effort. (7) LEAVE IT WITH ME is bred to have speed and has some good prep times for trainer Robert Tiller.
Race 8- (4) BETWIXTING closed fast in her season opener in a turf sprint but then was going way too fast in a pace battle last time on the Tapeta. Still has to prove herself at 6 furlongs and this is a long stretch run so she needs to wait to make her move. (7) SHORT SUMMER DRESS closed ground in her latest when Betwixting was third and this gal had trouble at the start. She won't want to be in the pace mix as there is a lot of speed in the field. (2) ROMAN D'ORO had some trouble in her 5 furlong turf race that started her season and is capable of improving as long as she doesn't get caught up in a pace battle. (3) FACT CHECKING usually races at 5 or 5 1/2 furlongs and she rarely runs a bad one. She seeks her first turf win.
Race 9 –(8) SALTINI was the first winner and first starter at Woodbine for trainer Phil Hall and this guy won a turf sprint on the Taylor course. He returns to grass and tries the inner course and gets a class drop. (1) BE VEWY VEWY QUIET has won not since 2017 or on turf but he has hinted that a win is coming and the pace set up just didn't work for him in his July 10 season opener. A longshot play.(3) FLORIDA WON is a graded stakes winner of over $540,000 but 1 for 14 on turf, He did just miss by a nose at this distance on the inner turf recently. (7) EPILOGUE loves grass but he was in too tough last time.
Race 10 – This race offers a mandatory payout of the Jackpot High 5 wager so let's try to pick the top 5 finishers. (13) CITY FASHION needs a scratch to draw in for owner/trainer Mark Casse. She has worked like the wind, is well bred and offered for just $40,000 claiming in this debut. (3) MARJORIE'S DREAM was my pick last time at 18 to 1 off quite a good run in her debut and she ran hard to be a clear second in a key race. Won't get those odds again. (10) LA BESTIA has had trouble coming out of the gate well in both starts on turf but rallied well in her debut and was fanned 7 wide last time. She should enjoy the Tapeta. (7) TRADING BAY gets Lasix and gets off the rail after she was swallowed up early in her season opener. (5) WORDS OF GOLD gets blinkers and a drop to maiden claiming and could go better. (8) COULD BE FATE rushed wide from far back to go fast on the pacein her debut before fading and would do better saving something for the late stages.
Photo by Mr. Will Wong
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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 Toronto Star and is the simulcast handicapper for Ajax Downs.
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