Best Bet – (3) DENMARK – Race 1
Spot Play – (6) THE NEWFIE EXPRESS – Race 10
Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 4-7): 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 / 1, 4 / 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 / 3, 9 = $20.00
Late Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 8-11): 1,2, 3, 6, 9 / 6 / 1, 2 / 1, 5, 6, 7, 10 = $10.00
Race 1 – (3) DENMARK has had 11 chances at the maiden win but this guy has not had many chances racing 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta and his best finish came in such a race last fall. (1) CASH ADVANCE was on grass when third for his season debut and he has run well on the main track. (5) GOLD VENTURE plunges in class for his second race of the year and first try at the route distance. (4) TARA CITZEN is at a new low class level and showing improving form.
Race 2- (3) WHAT'S THE RUSH was recently third in a turf sprint for $40,000 claiming and now races for $14,00 claiming and anything near the 50 Beyer Figure she posted makes her a leading contender. (8) TYPICALLY is 0 for 30 but she has been in the top three 5 times in 12 turf attempts. (5) CAPTURE THE MOMENT is a 4-year-old who is by a good grass sire in Trappe Shot and she could grab a share. (2) SHISHKA has had 18 chances at her maiden win and this is probably too far a distance for but she likes turf.
Race 3- (6) WORA is a first time starter with a litany of fast workouts for four furlongs and he was a $510,000 yearling purchase last summer by John Oxley. He is from the first crop of Upstart, who won his career debut as a juvenile and the mare was a 4 1/2 furlong specialist. (5) MOUNTAIN KING is an Ontario bred who has worked bullets at Ellis Park on dirt and arrives from US trainer Steve Asmussen. (7) THREEFIFTYSEVEN comes out of a key race as the winner won a stakes race and the runner-up won last weekend. (2) EXELLORATOR is by Kentucky Derby winner Orb and shows light but quick prepping.
Race 4- The first leg of the Pick 4 is a big field of $7,500 claiming guys at 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf so the trip will mean a lot. (1) PERLARANA comes off a good effort on the Fort Erie turf and the winner was millionaire Kaigan. This guy has run well on the inner turf at Woodbine. (5) GATOR SPY is 4 for 6 on turf although he has not tried this inner course at Woodbine yet. Barn had a 25 to 1 winner last weekend. (3) STATION ROCK has run two good races on the inner turf going shorter and only this distance would seem to be a possible stumbling block. (4) KISSOFFIRE is 2 for 2 this year, both wins on Tapeta but he handles turf.
Race 5 – The Gary Barber/Eclipse Thoroughbreds 4-year-old SHENNAN (Ire) is interesting as he ran three nice races in very long turf events in New York last summer but goes just 6 furlongs in this return. He is now a gelding and he is a a 4-year-old meeting younger fellow. (1) READY SOUL is working fast for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield. This guy was third in his lone start as a 2-year-old on Tapeta and he is bred for turf. (2) THY KINGDOM is a beginner by Animal Kingdom (Kentucky Derby, also loved grass) and this guy has had big workout times. (7) CHECKERBOARD FLOOR has fast workout times for trainer Robert Tiller and he is bred for grass.
Race 6 – (9) TRIGGER'S BAY is a first time starter who has had some good workout times for trainer Josie Carroll and owner/breeder Larry Cordes. He is bred to like a bit more distance and grass but is worth including in wagers. (5) CUMPELANOS (Birthday) has also had some nifty morning moves and his dam won a stakes race first time out by 5 lengths. (3) PINK GELATO ran a big race first time out when third beaten a neck. (7) TOOK A WRONG TURN is by good debut sire Souper Speedy and he has had lots of gate practice.
Race 7 – (3) CONSTANTINO is an amazing 10-year-old won won his season debut in a turf sprint and he is back on grass after a soft outing on Tapeta. (9) SLIP KID, the stablemate to the pick, was brilliantly ridden to victory in a race just like this last time when the pace was hot. (1) BAY OF RUM is in top form as is (20 BEN LOMOND.
Race 8 – (6) FOXXY BELLE was given a chance to try a pair of graded stakes races since she had been on a wild winning streak but the competition was too tough. She is in for $60,000 claiming and is mighty tough. (5) SWEET YARE N DIRA is rapid and she's won two turf sprints since she was claimed n Florida. This is her first try on a synthetic dirt track. (3) HELL N WILD was second to the top pick in June and she has had 4 workouts since that opener. (7) MISS SAVVY is a steady mare who can get a share as she did behind these two starts ago.
Race 9 – (1) DANCING DEREK was claimed from his finale in 2019 and he has worked fast for the Martin Drexler team. He is 1 for 2 on the grass and he is quick. (2) AMNESTY returned to action just 9 days ago and put up a good pace battle in a longer sprint on Tapeta. At one time a $650,000 juvenile purchase, he was bought by Bear Stables and the switch to grass is a nice move. (3) VICTOR'S DESTINY began the year with three dull races but suddenly woke up up in his latest. He will like the move to turf. (4) CAPTURE THE MUSIC was a well regarded fellow before his May 2019 debut but he missed 13 months and recently came back and won his maiden at Fort Erie.
Race 10 –(6) THE NEWFIE EXPRESS has had a lot of chances to win his maiden but he has never been in for $15,000 maiden claiming. He is also back on the grass and some of his best races have been on the turf. (1) ANIMAL KRACKERS makes his third start off the layoff and ran well enough at this level last time on Tapeta to give him a long look. (7) GIVE ME AN EYE, who has just one eye, had a wonderful career debut when he closed 13 lengths to be a close third. He could take to the grass. (1) ANOTHER BREEZE tumbles in class and tries grass and could wake up and get a piece.
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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