Best Bet – (7) BIG EXECUTIVE – Race 5
Spot Play – (8) FRITZIE'S BOY – Race 3
Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 4-7) : 1, 3, 6, 7, 13 / 7 / 1, 5, 6, 8, 9 / 1, 5, 8 = $15.00
Late Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 8-11): 4, 5, 7 / 3, 5, 8, 9 / 2, 8, 9 / 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 = $36.00
Race 1 – On the main turf for this $10,000 claiming race and (4) COLTON'S CORNER won easily enough 3 weeks ago on the big class drop on the inner turf to give him a look again. He has tactical speed and retains hot riding Justin Stein. (8) GATOR SPY ran a big race second time out this year when back on the grass and he won twice on the E P Taylor turf course last year. (6) STREET LEGAL is back in 9 days after winning at this distance on the Taylor course with a big class drop. (1) COASTAL HIGHWAY is 2 for 6 on the grass and he came off a very long layoff Aug. 9 and was not far behind the top 2 picks.
Race 2- (8) MONEY RIDE is very quick in a race loaded with speed types but he was second to a good one last time in his Woodbine debut. (6) CONQUISTADR changed hands following his latest when he was passed in the stretch by Sandy Bay in a longer sprint on turf. He had a big workout time since that race and could enjoy a shorter race on Tapeta. (2) SANDY BAY is 2 for 2 in 2020 after missing all of 2019 and he comes off a career best effort/Beyer Figure in a turf win and he will have to adjust cutting back a furlong to 5 1/2 and switching back to the Tapeta. (9) NEVAEH'S DREAM sped to a huge win last time putting up an 86 Beyer Figure, a vast improvement over previous performances. He is speed from the outside in race that has plenty of quick types.
Race 3- (8) FRITZIE'S BOY is just getting his first start of 2020 but he has had plenty of preparation and he was doing well on the grass last summer and almost won at this level in his season finale. (4) FRIGHT NIGHT makes his grass debut and has some turf breeding on both sides of his pedigree. He was claimed from his second Woodbine outing and second outing of the year which was another good effort on Tapeta. (5) WHISKEY VICTOR . At one time a $500,000 yearling purchase, makes his 3
rd start of the year and drops in class again to a new low level of $14,000. (6) SPRING EDITION returns to a better class level for him and he likes grass.
Race 4- The Pick 4 begins in this race and it is a 6 1/2 furlong maiden race with many contenders. (1) YZERMAN has drawn the rail post in this large field and that is not ideal but he had two decent outings to begin the year in Tapeta sprints against slightly better. (7) CAPTURE THE RIDE is worth a look since he has not sprinted on the Tapeta since two very good outings in Nov. And Dec. And he drops in class. (6) KING OF THE RING shortens up to a sprint distance for the first time since his good runner-up performance in his season debut. (13) ANIMAL KRACKERS has a wide post but comes off 2 runner-up placings (he was disqualified from a rough outing last time) and he has to be kept on the short list. Toss (3) LOOKIN FLY in exotic wagers.
Race 5 –This is a maiden race scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs on turf and (7) BIG EXECUTIVE appears to be a very tough favourite as he has been 3
rd in all 3 career races including one on the grass. If you don't want to to put all your Pick 4 eggs in the pick's basket you could consider (1) DIXIE GIANT who has worked well since an improved second career race and he has a bit of grass breeding. (2) WINGS OF VICTORY 'won' his career debut on the grass last fall but was disqualified and he is trying to get his groove back. (9) MR. COOL is by a sire who was a graded stakes winner on turf and the mare has produced grass winners and this beginner has some nice workout times.
Race 6 – Speed will be on display in this allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs and the quickest of them all is (8) SPANISH BALLERINA who went 20 4/5 and 434 1/5 in a recent turf win at 5 furlongs. Is she just getting that good or is she better on turf? Hard to say and it is curious that her rider Emma Wilson has left her for Coach Lori but this gal will make it tough for another speed horse to win. (6) COACH LORI was expected to win a Tapeta sprint 2 starts back but she could not keep up to the quick pace. She had a mild run on the turf last time. (1) GOLDEN VISION makes her first start of the year and she runs well when fresh. (5) BETWIXTING should be better in this Tapeta dash if she stays off the pace.
Race 7 – (8) NASHTRICK might be able to get his second career win in this turf sprint as he has tons of pace to run at. He looked like he was a winning spot last time off the big 84 Beyer Figure in his June 14 race but he wilted in the late stages. (5) JERSEY DIAMOND was a big maiden winner last time and he tries turf and a longer distance. (1) PRINCE OF THIEVES roared through through the stretch and almost stole the win in his first outing on the Woodbine grass. (2) FOUR ACES HIGH won on the grass two starts ago and that was a key race.
Race 8 – The Simcoe Stakes for Canadian sales graduates is worth a whopping $250,000 and (7) DRAGON'S BREW, a homebred for Goldmart Farm, earned a good rating from his debut win when he rallied wide at 8 to 1. (4) TOO LEGIT, a $25,000 purchase from the local sale, won his debut the same day and just 2/5 of a second off the time set by the top pick. (5) STEPHEN has been to many sales and was bought back as a weanling for the local mixed auction. He has worked fast on many occasions and is by a high percentage 2-year-old debut sire. (10) FOREST SURVIVOR ran the fastest race of any youngster in the field when he won his maiden at 5 furlongs and was claimed for $25,000.
Race 9 – The Muskoka Stakes is for juvenile fillies and also offers a big purse of $250,000. (8) HOWMUCHISTOOMUCH, an Alberta-bred bought back the breeder, won her debut at Prairie Meadows at 2 furlongs in 21.19 and galloped out well out in front wanting more. Daughter of Giant Gizmo has to tackle 6 1/2 furlongs but meets just 2 other winners. (3) FLAWLESS PINK won her debut from well off the pace at 5 furlongs and has been awaiting this rich race. (5) HOLY LIGHTING topped the yearling sales in Canada last year at $240,000 and she was 3
rd to Flawless Pink in her debut. She will like the added distance. (9) FOR MY ELBI was a good second in her second career race with a solid 59 Beyer Figure.
Race 10 – The $135,000 Algoma Stakes for 3-year-old fillies is at 7 furlongs and (2) MARJORIE'S DREAM is very fast and posted a huge 84 Beyer Figure in her maiden win at 5 1/2 furlongs. She will have to manage her speed as she stretches out in distance. (8) SILENT CAUSEWAY ran an 80 Beyer Figure when she won her maiden and she was back on the Tapeta last time and led late, only to be nabbed on the wire. The one that beat her (9) WAKE UP MAGGIE is a steady filly who rarely runs a bad one. (1) QUEEN'S SPEED is a stretch runner who can take advantage of a possible pace battle.
Race 11 – The Elgin Stakes for 3-year-old males is worth $135,000 and there could be a lot of pace in this 7 furlong event. Topping the field on Beyer Figures is (4) FORESTER'S FORTUNE who led late in the Greenwood Stakes last time on turf. The distance is a question. (3) HAVE A SOUPER DAY is adding blinkers and switching to Tapeta for a quick return to action but he does have some late power. (6) GOLDMINE CAT had a botched beginning to his season debut but had some closing power and that boides well for him to get a piece. (2) WAVE BABY is a maiden who is learning quickly and the distance should be okay for him.
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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