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Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Saturday, September 19, 2020

Bet Now > Tips from the Pros > Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Saturday, September 19, 2020

Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Saturday, September 19, 2020

September 19, 2020
By Jennifer Morrison
Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Saturday, September 19, 2020
Best Bet –  (9) NAKAMURA – Race 7
Spot Play  -  (7) SUMERIAN BELL – Race 2
Pick 4  (.20 cents, Races 4-7)  -   1, 3, 6, 7 / all/  1,6, 8 / 9 = $28.80
Late Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 9-12) – 1, 4, 8 / 5, 7 / all / 3, 5 = $28.80

 
Race 1 – The Chiefswood Stables pair of (6) MALIBU EDGE and (5) FLAME ZAPPER have a stranglehold on the first race on Woodbine Mile day. The former, trained by Rachel; Halden was 3 wide all the way in his latest and was second by a head. He tries the inner turf course and his natural speed should help him get a good position. The latter is a slow and steady closer was a head back of the top pick last time. (2) PHANTOM DANCE gets blinkers after a drab run last time behind the top pair and trainer Gail Cox is tough to ignore. (7) WAVE BABY is  back with maidens and returns to turf and he has big speed.
 
Race 2- (7) SUMERIAN BELL looked like a live longshot last time and he ran well to close fast at 5 furlongs . He has 5 wins at this 6 furlong distance and is sitting on a win.(4) WESTERN TROUBLE has had just two races this year and he comes off a 2 month layoff. The drop to a $15,000 claiming price is a bit of a warning flag but this guy has a lot of strong Beyer Figures dating back to last summer (other than his latest on grass). (1) GASCONADE has suddenly won two races in succession and he had only won 2 races in his career coming into 2020. He just won at this level 12 days ago. (6) BLUE BELT gets a big class drop for his 3rd race at Woodbine but he has been in dull form.
 
Race 3 – The $135,000 Ontario Racing Stakes is for 2-year-olds at 5 furlongs on the inner turf and there are many quick ones in the field. New Yorker (4) AMSDEN, by the great American Pharoah, ran through a flock of geese in his debut on turf at Colonial Downs during a tough pace batle that he won. The 2nd and 3rd place finishers have both come back to win.  (5) READY TO REPEAT is already a stakes winner this year at Woodbine and he is 1st time Lasix after a 3rd in the longer Soaring Free Stakes on turf. (7) QUICK TEMPO is well named as he almost beat the track record when he won his career debut on synthetic at Arlington. (3) SKY'S NOT FALLING lost some ground in a turf stake at Saratoga last time.

Race 4 – The Pick 4 begins with this 1 mile turf race for $15,00 claiming and (3) DOOBIEDOOBIEDOOBIE is by a 12% turf debut sire and from a mare who has produced a turf winner. This guy drops back to claimed price. (7) HUNGARY is a very big guy who gets a big class drop and he will try to lead all the the way.(6) SUNDANCE HIT was out of his element in a turf sprint last time for $40,00 claiming. He won his maiden before that at this distance on this course and trainer Anthony Pottinger has a 31% win rate (last 2 years) moving his horses from sprints to routes. (1) HE'S A GIZMO won big in his second race of the year on the inner turf.
 
Race 5 – This is a big field of maiden 2-year-olds going just 5 furlongs on turf, could be a wild dash to the wire. (10) JOKERS RUN was bought in June in Maryland after working 2 furlongs in 21 4/5. Pretty bay is by a 12% turf sire and first foal of a well bred mare. (9) FORTY SMOOTH's sire has 5 debut winners from 25 starters in his first crop. This racy looking gal worked fast for that sale in Ocala. (3) BODACIOUS MISS a half sister to debut winner and multiple SW London Tower, has worked smartly on turf for her debut. (1) LADY PETROL was my pick first time out but she was sluggish and now she gets blinkers.
 
Race 6 – (8) WHO'S WHO INTHEZOO drops and returns to the main track for a barn that wins a lot of juvenile races. 6) SAVED AT THE WIRE is a top three factor in her 2nd career race, stretching out to 7 furlongs. She was in a very fast race first time out and had a mild, late run.(1) FIONA BAY was just 5 to 2 first time out for $40,000 claiming but she had an improper beginning and tried to rally wide. (2) SLASHS RED DIAMOND is progressing well.
 
Race 7-The Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes is at 1 1/4 miles on turf and I love the way shipper (9) NAKAMURA is coming into this race for trainer Graham Motion. He is graded stakes placed and making his 3rd start off the layoff plus he should love the long stretch run of this course. (7) TIZ A SLAM won this race last year when in the midst of a winning streak. This is his 3rd race of 2020 and his first run on Woodbine turf since last year. (3) ADMIRALTY PIER could have a say in the exotics as he will try to lead for a long time in his first marathon attempt. (4) STANDARD DEVIATION is another graham Motion trainee and this guy was a really good 3-year-old last year but a long journey to Qatar has delayed his return to good form.
 
Race 8-  I have been waiting for (3) STERLING SPEED to come back to her gritty maiden win from June and she did last time, Beyer Figure-wise, but that left her on the edges in a yearling sale stakes race. She has speed to run at in this slightly easier spot. (1) OLD SECRETS has been away for almost 3 months since her exciting maiden won on the turf. She adds Lasix and has some sharp workout times. (6) TAKOTA has been off since July 4 when she faded in her season opener. She meets easier off good workout times. (7) SILVER DAHLIA is back in 16 days after a good rally on the grass.
 
Race 9 – The $1,000,000 Ricoh Woodbine Mile has an intriguing group of starters and Preakness Stakes-turned Grade 1 turf miler (8) WAR OF WILL looks most likely as the big favourite. He has been freshened since his Maker's Mark win and he should sit a good trip stalking whatever pace there may be. (1) MARCH TO THE ARCH ran one of the fastest races of his career last time in the King Eddie when he had a rapid pace to run at.  (4) STARSHIP JUBILEE is 5 for 8 at the distance on grass and is back on her home course after a winning streak came to an end in New York.(3) SHIRL'S SPEIGHT is 2 for 2 and is brilliant. He missed a trip to the Kentucky Derby, was re-routed to this race and workouts include a 57 flat on the dirt. Could be this good.(7) VALUE PROPOSITION had a rough race in the Grade 3 Poker in his 2nd race off the long layoff and he is a good one for the Chad Brown barn.

Race 10 –  The $135,000 Woodbine Cares Stakes is for juvenile fillies at 5 furlongs on the turf. Lots of speed in the race and (7) ILLEGAL SMILE could pounce and win after a 3rd in the longer Catch a Glimpse Stakes last time. (5) SOUPER MUNNINGS is back in just 13 days after a maiden win on Tapeta. (3) FOREST DRIFT is bred for turf and was a smart debut winner. (6) ROCKET RELOAD could be the speed of the speed and her maiden win was a key race.
 
Race 11 – Two-year-olds on the grass and the experienced ones to consider include (1) PERFECT CRIME who is bred for grass on both sides of his pedigree and he gets rid of the blinkers (he was toasted in a wild pace battle last time).  (2) DERZKII was 4th in the Simcoe Sakes last time and his mum loved long grass races. First-timers that look interesting are (9) FREE SHIPPING, a leggy, big fellow bought in Ocala and he worked one furlong in :10.40. He is the first foal of a wonderful mare who won a pile of stakes races on grass. (12) LUCKY SCORE was bought in Ocala in July, worked 10.40 for that sale and his grass workout times have been sizzling. He has a lot of grass breeding but a nasty post.
 
Race 12 – (5) BEND IN THE RIVER did well with his new blinkers last time and he had a short delay before he made his move and he finished well. (6) YOLA comes off a layoff and he had a big workout in company on Sept. 12. (3) LAKESIDE PARK can put in a rally as there is a lot of pace.(8) GOLDMINE CAT lost all chance when he checked hard and dropped back in the Elgin Stakes. He had trouble out of the gate in his previous race and a good trip makes him interesting. Toss in (4) WHITE WEDDING as he has been closing ground in his grass sprints.

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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