Best Bet – (1) BETWIXTING – Race 7
Spot Play - (12) CAT'S WHISPER – Race 6
Today's Pick 4 Play (.20 cents, Races 4-7) - 1, 4 / 1, 3, 6, 7, 12 / 5, 6, 8 12 / 1 = $8.00
Late Pick 4 Play (.20 cents, Races 8-11) – 1, 2, 6 / 2, 7 / 3, 4 / 2, 3, 8, 10, 12 = $12.00
Race 1 – (7) FARAWAY KITTEN drops in class and had a bullet 5 furlong workout on the training track for this 8
th start of the year. It has been a lean season for the rich colt but he has some early speed and could take this field a long way. (4) GIGANTIC BREEZE is making just his 3
rd start of the year and he won his season opener at this class and distance ($40,000, 1 1/16 miles) with an 83 Beyer Figure. He was in tougher last time when likely regressing a bit and he can bounce back. (1) TAOS (Fr) is making his first start at Woodbine and on Tapeta after recent marathon outings on grass in New York, earning solid Beyer Figures. (5) GUITAR GEORGE is a wonderfully consistent fellow who has won 2 of his last 3 and he tries the step up in class again.
Race 2- (4) CRAWL FROM THE BAR posted an 80 Beyer Figure when he won at this $10,00 claiming level three races ago and he has been in much tougher since then. (10) CALL ME WALLY has won two of his last 3 races and drops off a big effort against slightly tougher on turf. (7) ABAA is a 9-year-old with over $420,000 in earnings and he led for every jump but the last one in his 4
th outing of the year. (5) COURTLY MANNER could wake up in this spot as he shortens up to a sprint distance and can put in a rally.
Race 3 – The $150,000 Ontario Damsel at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta brings together the 2 top fillies in Ontario and (1) CURLIN'S VOYAGE should be back to her winning ways. She was very wide against a speed bias in the Queen's Plate and then had some trouble in the 10 furlong Wonder Where, her first try on grass. (2) MERVEILLEUX put it all together to win the Wonder Where after troubled runs in the Plate and Oaks. (3) AFLEET KATHERINE was a good second in the Oaks and Bison City before stumbling early in the Wonder Where. (5) AVIE'S SAMURAI has been a germ of consistency this year and has been freshened since the Oct. 3 Duchess. She is a pace threat.
Race 4 – The Pick 4 begins here and (1) I WONDER is finally back on the Tapeta and she has a record of 6-1-2-3 on the surface while 0 for 7 on grass. She also drops in class for this 4
th outing of the season. (4) CHOOSE HOPE is another who gets off grass and she won her maiden in her most recent outing on the Tapeta with a 68 Beyer Figure, putting her in the hunt. (5) UNDER THE EYE may try to steal away on the pace as she stretches out to a route distance. (13) BAYOU BELLE has a tough post but drops in class and had an improved run in her latest on turf.
Race 5 – (3) NORTHERN DIAMOND is experienced and had a very fast workout since her third-place finisher at this level last month. (6) GOSPEL HILL had a super career debut but has been a bit scattered since then and she gets some class relief. (12) QUIET ASCOT has been working fast for trainer Kevin Attard but drew a wide post. (7) FIRE EMOJI is by a sire who gets quality speedsters and the dam Elysian had ability. This gal has had solid workout times.
Race 6 –(12) CAT'S WHISPER lures jockey Rafael Hernandez again and this pair won in July with a 66 Beyer Figure. Toss out the latest from the Cat as he was checked and steadied early in a route race. (5) SAN NICOLA BREW drops to the bottom claiming price for the first time and switches from turf to Tapeta, his best surface. (6) ONE MORE DRIFT turned things around in a big way when he added blinkers and dropped to the bottom claiming level Oct. 31. His wining 73 Beyer Figure was a career top. (8) LUCKY STREET is fresh since he has been waiting in the wings since a nice win at Fort Erie 5 weeks ago.
Race 7- I have been waiting for (1) BETWIXTING to shorten up to 5 – 5 1/2 furlongs and while she has the rail post in a big field and raced just a week ago, she has a ton of speed to run. If she can work out a trip she has a big chance to win. (4) GELATO AMORE had a tough trip on turf last time but loves short distances and she comes from a hot barn, trainer Zeljko Krcmar. (7) BIG MISTAKE is 3 for 5 on Tapeta but all three of her races this year have been on the grass. She is very dangerous with the surface switch. (9) TAKE IT EASY has been away since July but has had a lot of workouts and she could be the quickest one of all the speed types.
Race 8 – The Grade 3 Ontario Derby brings back (6) MIGHTY HEART, the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales hero who simply was burned out in a pace battle in the 12 furlong Breeders' Stakes on turf. He has a new rider in Rafael Hernandez but has speed and stamina and huge Beyer Figures, 95 and 99, from his wins. (2) BELICHICK upset his stablemate in the Breeders', loving the long grass race on turf that was quite giving. He was 2
nd in the Plate. (1) FIELD PASS visits his 7
th track this year for top trainer Mike Maker and this multiple Grade 3 winner is a grass horse but 1 for 1 on synthetic. (3) MNEMBA ISLAND gets his first shot at a stakes race following three straight wins.
Race 9 – (7) PINK LLOYD has been waiting in the wings for almost three months since his Vigil Stakes win, his 26
th victory. He always wins when fresh and has a nice post to track his rivals. (2) RIDE A COMET came off a 2 year layoff to win an allowance race in nice fashion last month at 7 furlongs with a top 93 Beyer Figure. He has to cut back to 6 furlongs. (1) SOUPER STONEHENGE is the speed of the race and is certainly dangerous in this 3
rd sart of the year. (4) SILENT POET has had an amazing year with 4 wins, two graded stakes, all on grass. He is okay on the main track but not sure he can beat some of these on Tapeta.
Race 10 – The Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes was won last year by (4) AMALFI COAST who had a slow start to 2020 but came to life in the Sweet Briar Too, zipping up the rail to beat some of these tough gals with a 98 Beyer Figure, a new top. (3) PAINTING has been steady all season in her sprints and there should be a hot pace to run at. She could win Champion Female Sprinter at the Sovereign Awards with a win as could rival (1) SOUPER ESCAPE who loves Woodbine. (2) BOARDROOM is a very good filly and a 3-year-old meeting older gals for the first time. If she continues to improve she could contend.
Race 11 – There are many possibilities in this maiden field including (12) ANIMAL KRACKERS who missed by a nose two starts back and then had a sluggish beginning to his latest. (10) FINAL STRIKE has been gelded since his Oct. 4 and he seeks his first top three placing of his career. The filly (3) CANDY'S DREAM should have won her season debut in June but 6 races later plunges in class and has another change in riders. (8) BIG TIME GIZMO turns back in distance after an encouraging show of speed in his latest and (2) LOOKIN FLY has worked well since being purchased by Sandra Dominguez who takes the blinkers off this guy.
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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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