Best Bet – (8) WINGS OF VICTORY – Race 8
Spot Play - (1) FIVE DAYS IN MAY – Race 5
Pick 4 Play (.20 cents, Races 4-7) : 5, 7, 11 / 1,6, 7, 12 / 2, 6 / 1,2,3,4 = $19.20
Late Pick 4 Play 9.20 cents, Races 6-9): 2,3,6 / 1,2,3,4 / 7, 8 / 6,8, 9 = $14.40
Race 1 – (7) SEEMEE worked hard to be third in his latest at this distance for $9,500 claiming and now drops to $5,000. The Ontario-bred 4-year-old will have to try and stay close as the pace figures to be slow. (1) AM PREPARED has been racing on grass all season and it his his best surface but the drop to the bottom claiming level gives him a chance to contend. (6) TRULY ELITE was my pick last time when he returned to a main track route race and he put in a late move to land behind the top pick. (2) PRISON PADRE switches back to Tapeta after a turf try and he can pick up a share.
Race 2 – She has the fastest most recent race and a quick recent workout so (2) SHOWBIZ LADY looks likely to repeat even if she cuts back from 6 1/2 to 5 1/2 furlongs. She is lightly raced this year with a win and two 2nds. (6) SIMPLY MYSTERIOUS lands at the lowest claiming level for the first time and she has picked up fringe shares in her last pair at this distance. (7) DOCUMENTED is 1 for 2 on the Woodbine surface but has not been here for some time. She has been in good form at Fort Erie. (1) WARNING BELLE stayed on for third when at this level in her latest.
Race 3- (8) BLIND TRUST gets blinkers off the claim and he just missed in his career debut on the Tapeta and is bred to handle a turf dash. (6) PASSTHEPUDDINPLEAZ sped to a clear lead when he had blinkers for his second career race and he tired but held 2
nd. He has some grass breeding and had a good workout time since his latest. (2) ABSTEMIOUS makes his career debut off some good workout times for trainer Ian Howard. (1) EXECUTIVE GIANT debuted just 11 days ago and he chased the eventual winner through quick fractions.
Race 4 – The Pick 4 begins here, a route race for $5,000 claiming and classy stakes winner (7) WHERE'S THE WIDGET, earner of over $600,000 just won for $7,500 claiming and he has been known to double up. (11) BLACK SEA has 7 top three placings in 10 races on synthetic dirt and he tumbles in class for his third start of the year.(5) BOLD ANIMAUX is a front runner was stayed on for second behind a big winner last time and that one came back to score again. (2) GUNNER BEN has had many chances at the 1 1/16 mile distance, mostly on grass, and he is probably an off-the-pace sprinter. Still, he has been in good, closing form recently.
Race 5 – (1) FIVE DAYS IN MAY was well prepared to win her maiden last time after getting some time off following that scary incident when she lost her rider in July. Trainer Robert Tiller brings her right back at the same class level and when his horses win, they win right back 29% of the time (last 2 years). (7) BONNIE LEE is the quickest gal in the field and will try to lead from start to finish. (12) FINEST JEWEL is a major contender and would be higher up in the picks if she did not have the widest post in a big field. (6) GRATEFUL PRAISE had a well timed move to win her latest for $23,500 and she drops to $15,000.
Race 6 – (6) FINALIST just won at this class level for the Mark Casse team and that was just his second try on grass. He has other speed to contend with as he moves to the inner course.(2) TRICKY MAGICIAN has been consistently good this season and he now starts for a new barn off the claim. He loves grass and handles the Tapeta too. (3) LUCAS N' LORI is usually putting in a late move on the turf, his preferred surface. (7) DOCTOR UPTOWN brought his good Fort Erie turf form to Woodbine for the first time and finished a super 2
nd at 42 to 1.
Race 7 – If the race stays on the grass then (2) SKY DRAGON can break her maiden even with the sharp cut back to a sprint distance. (4) SECOND GRACE drops in class for the Mark Casse team and she exits a key race on turf. (3) WIDE AWAKE is by a super grass sire in The Factor and she has been improving in recent races. (1) LA BESTIA has ability but has to find a way to save more power for the stretch run.
Race 8 – (8) WINGS OF VICTORY should be able to fly to his maiden win for owners Cowgirl Up With Green as he drops in class. This guy won hi s maiden first time out last October but was disqualified and he has been trying to get that win back ever since. (7) AMERICAN DRIVEN has been in the top three 7 times in 10 grass starts and only his habit of stalling in the stretch run has cost him the win. (1) PRINCE MARTHEUS is a half brother to Cup & Saucer Stakes winner Master Spy so a route race on grass works well for him. (3) KUDURO ran his best race at Woodbine in his latest and he going in the right direction.
Race 9 – (9) JOAN'S CHRISTINE looks most likely in this large field of maiden fillies competing for just $5,000 claiming. She woke up with a class drop last time, edging (6) MISS MATILDA for second place. The latter is overdue for her maiden score but 7 furlongs is a bit of a stretch. (8) SIX PACK GIRL gets blinkers for what could be a peak race, her third outing of the season. (3) BUSINESS CLASS gave grass a shot last time bt didn't move up on it and she can do better with the surface switch.
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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