Best Bet – (7) TALLESTOFTHETALL – Race 1
Spot Play - (7) SUPER PATRIOTIC – Race 3
Pick 4 Play (.20 cents, Races 4-7) - 2, 5, 7, 10 / 4, 5, 7, 10 / 7, 8, 10, 12 / 4, 10 = $25.60
Late Pick 4 Play (.20 cents, Races 8-11) – 5, 6, 9 / 1, 4, 10 / 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 / 2, 7 = $18.00
Race 1 – (7) TALLESTOFTHETALL ran a big race against a tough speed bias on Queen's Plate day to rally from well back to be third in just his first race on the Woodbine main track. He is up in claiming price as he looks set to have a peak effort in this third start after a short layoff. His stablemate (3) GREEN FLEET crept up to a 73 Beyer Figure on the main track with a good run two starts ago and you can toss his latest on the grass. (1) DANCER'S GHOST came off his nice maiden win in a sprint to almost win a 9 furlong grass race last time at 15 to 1 with a hefty 80 Beyer Figure, Can he duplicate that race in a 2 turn Tapeta event? (6) CRYPTIC GRIP was only a couple of lengths behind the top pick on Plate day and he also rallied wide from far back against the bias.
Race 2- (1) BELLA NINA likely needed her Sept. 6 outing when closing to be 5
th in a turf sprint. That was her first race since December and she figures to go forward off that race. (8) LEON AZUL won a fast turf dash at Fort Erie in July and has been racing on dirt since then. She has three straight bullet 5 furlong workouts at her home track and heads north to try Woodbine turf for the second time. (11) MAKE NO MISTAKE was in too tough last time, Sept. 12, in a turf allowance and she also was burned out in a tough pace battle. As long as she can bounce back from that race she will be in the hunt against her own kind. (3) PLUIE D'AVRIL is in super form on the inner turf and should be quite okay returning to a one-turn turf sprint.
Race 3 – (7) SUPER PATRIOTIC is a 4-year-old meeting many younger gals and she makes an ideal distance change from a route to a sprint for this 3
rd race off the layoff. She has been second 7 times in her 13 career races but she is one of the top contenders in this 7 furlong allowance. Her stablemate (8) SKYGAZE was a top 2-year-old here last year but has been out of sorts in 2020. She comes off a 3 month layoff and has good workout times. (5) PSUEDONYM came to Woodbine by way of Florida to race in Bison City Stakes but she curiously showed no speed and the track was strongly favouring front runners. (9) JUSTLEAVEITALONE has changed owner and trainer since she raced against the bias in the Bison City.
Race 4 –This is a big field of maidens on the grass and a tough opening leg to the Pick 4. (7) JACKIE MILTON is one of likely ones since she drops from $23,500 claiming to $10,000 and her last turf sprint attempt saw her finish 3
rd. It is best to consider a few others for the Pick 4 such as longshot (5) BUSINESS CLASS who debuts on turf and is by a super grass sire. She is improving slowly now. (10) MISS MATILDA is bred for grass on both sides of her pedigree and she has been 2
nd or 3
rd in her last four races. (2) MY SUGAR PIE has been my pick a few times on grass and has not got it done but maybe she will like the shorter distance.
Race 5 – Maiden optional for 2-year-old fillies and there are plenty to like in this field. Will take a flyer with first-timer (10) BALINESE, a sizy bay filly who worked 2 furlongs in 21 3/5 on synthetic dirt in the summer for a sale in Ocala. Her sire was a top 2-year-old and the mare produced stakes winner juvenile Uncle Benny. (4) GOSPEL HILL had a really nice debut outing against much tougher. (7) JILLI MARIE has had some nice workout times getting ready for her debut and she has plenty of speed in her breeding. (5) GAMBLE'S SILVER adds blinkers, might be better than where I her pick as she comes into her third career race.
Race 6 – (7) ANGELOU was second to eventual Grade 1 winner Lady Speightspeare in her debut and was 6 lengths clear of the 3
rd place finisher. The 5
th place finisher from that race has come back to win. (12) MRS. FRANKEL is in town because Lasix is not permitted with 2-year-olds in New York and she may have bled as a result of her latest. Before that outing this well bred miss was 2
nd to a filly who went on to win a stakes race. (10) IN MY OPINION is learning quickly and she has tons of grass breeding as she is from the immediate family of Horse of the Year Arravale. (2) MISS FLOKI carries the famous silks of the late Bill Graham and she is a well bred filly with solid prep times.
Race 7- At just 5 furlongs on the inner turf, these inexperienced 2-year-olds will have to be straight and strong. I picked (4) STEPITUPSTEPHANIE first time out at 14 to 1 and she had a clear lead nearing the wire but was nabbed. She is bred for turf. (10) BRING DA FUDGE has a lovely smooth galloping stride and she worked fast for that July sale, 10 4/5 for one furlong. Like the way she has worked her too. (1) QUEEN RHONDA comes out of a key race (3 next out winners), drops in class and has the inside post in a large field.(13) HAUTE has super workout times and speed breeding so include her if she draws in from the AE list.
Race 8- The $100,000 Toronto Cup is an easier spot for exciting sophomore (6) SHIRL'S SPEIGHT who bit off more than he could chew in the Woodbine Mile but the good news is, he is right back in action. (9) CLEAR DESTINATION must avoid regressing off his latest but what an effort that was when a close third against older horses in sizzling time. (3) DUKE OF CARTHANIA won his Woodbine turf debut in impressive fashion and was going too short last time. ((5) LUCKY CURLIN has been away since July when second to the top pick in the Marine Stakes on Tapeta. He should handle grass.
Race 9 – (10) BOARDROOM is an exciting filly and one of three entered the $100,00 Duchess Stakes for trainer Josie Carroll. This gal beat boys 2
nd time out but then had a rein break in the Ruling Angel Stakes and she still managed to be third. Of the 5 fillies trained by Mark Casse pre-entered in this sprint maybe (1) FLY SO PRETTY will start to settle down soon and save more energy for the stretch run. She has ability but has also been tough to handle. (4) OWLETTE gets her blinkers back and it was surprising that she lost her latest at Presque Isle when returning to a sprint. She is 4 for 6 at Woodbine. (7) TWO SIXTY has been in good form since she arrived at Woodbine and is a graded stakes winner this year.
Race 10 – Trip handicappers will be all over (9) STRIKE A BEAT who was in a jackpot in traffic late in his most recent and still finished well to be a close fourth. (2) FIFTH SEASON rode the rail for half of his latest and then rallied outside to get third by a nose over the top pick. (3) WINGS OF VICTORY should have more to offer since he 'won' his career debut last October with a nice Beyer Figure but he was disqualified. (5) CURLIN'S THRILL came to life with the class drop last time and is improving now.
Race 11 – (7) RED STORM RISEN is back at Woodbine where he was a good third in a 9 furlong Tapeta race in August. He has since been 2
nd in a key race at Kentucky Downs; the winner came back to win an allowance race with a 95 Beyer Figure, the 3
rd horse won back with a 77 Beyer and the 5
th place finisher won Thursday at Belmont Park. Blinkers on and a bullet 5 furlong workout recent add to rosy picture. (2) AIM FOR THE SKY has been second beaten a neck and ahead in two starts and his stablemate who beat him last time has come back to win again. (4) IN ALL ALONE is by a young sire who was a Grade 2 winner at 2 and the mare has 9 winners including stakes gal Lisa's Boob Trap. This one is working in sharp times. (9) WINDCHILL ZAR had a messy trip last time when cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs but he showed some late power.
Photo by John Watkins
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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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