Best Bet – (4) LENNY K – Race 5
Spot Play – (7) GIVE ME AN EYE – Race 4
Pick 4 Play (.20 cents, Races 4-7): 2, 6, 7, 10 / 4 / 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11 / 2, 8 = $9.60
Late Pick 4 Play (.20 cents, Races 10-13): 1, 3, 7 / 7 / 2, 7, 9, 10, 12 / 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 12 = $18.00
Race 1 – (1) TRADING BAY was last out of the gate in her most recent but recovered to be third and a better start puts her squarely in the picture.(4) TWIRLING FAITH came off a July to September layoff and has run identical races in longer sprints, leading most of the way only to finish second. She shortens to 6 furlongs. (7) SECOND GRACE was claimed from her maiden win by Phil Hall who has a 43% win rate with claims in the last 2 years. (2) FRAME THIS was a big maiden winner two starts back and claimed by Robert Tiller last time for $15,000 when too far off a slow pace.
Race 2- (2) KITCHEN FIRE was re-claimed by owner Bruno Schickedanz last time and this fast gelding won for the 10
th time in his 33
rd race. The owner and trainer Drexler combined to win with new claim The Boss Factor Friday. (6) HE'S MEANT TO BE is also quick and he was 4
th in a very fast race against much tougher in his latest. (5) ABBAA shortens up to a distance he enjoys and he can pounce late. (7) SMARTY RIVER PANTS is up in class off a top effort.
Race 3- (4) ROAD TO ROMANCE was stakes placed in her second career race for owner Gary Barber but off a short layoff faded as the favourite Oct. 24. She adds blinkers and shows two sharp workout times since that return outing. (2) BELIEVING gets Lasix and blinkers for her fourth career race and she just needs a bit of extra punch in the last furlong. (7) FEDALIA ran a huge race first time out behind a fleet debut winner but was in another fast race last time and changed to style, fading after a pace chase. (5) OSTRACIZE gets blinkers and her first Tapeta sprint race and will be the longer priced filly for the Mark Casse team.
Race 4- There are many maidens int his field coming out of the Oct. 30 race at 6 1/2 furlongs. (7) GIVE ME AN EYE ran well enough in that race after a slow start to give him a chance to contend for the win. (6) RANGE OF MOTION had some late power in the same race and he gets blinkers. (2) FRAT PARTY's outing in the Oct. 30 race saw him press the pace all the way and slipping to 3
rd (the running line on his record is incorrect). (10) PROFESSOR TALLY made just one start this year, in July, and that was a much tougher, key race and he plunges to the bottom claiming level.
Race 5 – (4) LENNY K has been passed by Mark Casse juveniles in both career races but he should be the boss on this maiden allowance for his owners and breeders Al and Bill Ulwelling who won two races Saturday. (2) SPITE STORE was my pick first time out and at 15 to 1 he ran big to be 2
nd. He comes back quick and must avoid a regression off that fierce effort. (7) TRAGICALLY QUEWICK comes from the red hot Robert Tiller barn and has shown a lot in both races. (9) PAPERBACK HERO has a nice stride and worked smartly for that Ocala sale in July. He is by the same promising sire as Spite Store.
Race 6 – (2) PINK GELATO had a short vacation before his latest and was a clear 2
nd behind a smart debut winner. This 2-year-old seems poised to win his maiden. (6) EXPO is a full brother to a 2-year-old debut winner and he has had plenty of good prep times getting ready. (1) LUCKY LUKE is nicely bred for speed and he had a quick workout in late October of 47 4/5 for 4 furlongs.(1) PASSTHEPUDDINPLEAZ is quick from the gate but needs more power in the late stages.
Race 7 – (8) PEACE OF EKATI led late in a 10 furlong allowance on the Tapeta but seems to be able to handle 1 1/2 miles and his Beyer Figures are strong. (2) ENGLISH CONQUEROR was third in the Breeders' Stakes on turf at this distance and the winner, Belichick, came back to be 2
nd Saturday in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby. (9) FLAME ZAPPER comes off a hard fought maiden win but should like the marathon distance. (5) BLOCKBUSTER has fallen in love with Tapeta since he got here and he moves up off the claim by Breeda Hayes.
Race 8 –(6) CHASING VINNY has been in super form for his last three races and he closed ground nicely in his latest which was a quickly run race. He gets a bit more distance and is from the hot Robert Tiller barn. (8) TALL WATER posted a 71 Beyer Figure in his latest off his maiden win and is suddenly getting very good. (3) YOLA is back at the same price for which he was claimed a month ago and he had a fast workout time for trainer Martin Drexler. He has to avoid getting burned out in a pace battle with (4) PAPA D who could lead for a long time.
Race 9 – (9) FORESTER'S DESTINY is back down to $5,000 claiming and this 9-year-old won at this level and for $7,500 recently. (8) R U WATCHINGBUD was a good 4
th in a quickly run race at this distance two starts ago. (4) STRATE REMARK is 2 for 4 at the route distance but has been sprinting for a while and he will have to control his speed to go all the way. (10) STREET LEGAL mad an early move to the lead when he dropped to this class level last time.
Race 10 –The Grade 3 Grey Stakes for 2-year-olds has some nice ones in the field such as debut winner (1) HADDASSAH who ran in sizzling time to take his debut for the hot combo of owners Al and Bull Ulwelling and trainer Kevin Attard. The stablemate (3) STEPHEN is also coming off his maiden win, in his third race, and it was at this distance. (7) HELIUM aired in the 7 furlong Display Stakes to stay unbeaten for the Mark Casse team. (8) EASY TIME was an easy debut winner at 7 furlongs and he is bred to like the distance.
Race 11 – The fillies go for $125,000 in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes and the flashy (7) SOUPER SENSATIONAL is 2 for 2 with a big win in the Glorious Song Stakes in fast time. She should handle the longer distance. (6) DESIGNER READY was an impressive debut winner on the grass and she has worked sharply on the Tapeta. (1) IL MALOCCHIO was a clear 2
nd in the Princess Elizabeth, a restricted race for Canadian-breds. (4) BATYAH invades for Graham Motion and she is a deep closer who won her debut and then was 54
th in the Grade 2 Jessamine behind eventual Breeders' Cup winner Aunt Pearl.
Race 12 – (9) THERE'S NO JOE was very impressive winning his maiden 5 weeks ago on turf that he could be considered a win candidate as he returns in a big field on Tapeta. He has plenty of speed to run at before scratches. (7) LEAD DIRECTOR beat some of these in his latest and has had a good 2020 season for owner Rolph Davis. This guy drops in for claiming for the first time. (2) PRICELESS WILL and jockey Rafael Hernandez have been a force together for three races and he should have a good trip just off the speed. (12) EXECUTIVE SEARCH is consistently good although he has been losing ground in the late furlong and perhaps shortening to 6 furlongs will help him.
Race 13 – There is a mandatory payout of the High 5 Jackpot for this race. (5) MAYITO was well bet off a layoff 9 days ago and he landed on the edges after chasing a hot pace. He stretches out to a route distance for one of the hottest trainers on the grounds right now, Zejlko Krcmar. (10) DENMARK finished with a flurry last time, following the winner who was also far back early. (12) MY LADIES MAN was close to the contested pace battle last time and stayed on well while the closers swarmed in.(2) AI I INITIATIVE finished fastest of most against some of these last time and he can be used in exotics. (6) WINSROY is fresh and he had some traffic issues when meeting some of these last time.
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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