Don't miss Ontario Racing UNFILTERED on CTV2, Saturday, March 30th at 8:00 PM EST. Whether you're a seasoned turf aficionado or new to the sport, prepare for an unforgettable experience. Get ready to be on the edge of your seat!

Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Sunday, June 13, 2021

Bet Now > Tips from the Pros > Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Sunday, June 13, 2021

Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Sunday, June 13, 2021

June 13, 2021
By Jennifer Morrison
Jennifer Morrison’s Woodbine Thoroughbred Selections: Sunday, June 13, 2021
Best Bet –  (5) EXECUTIVE SEARCH – Race 10
Spot Play – (3) STAR SCHOLAR – Race 12
Want to play the Pick 4?  (.20 cents, Races 4-7) :  6 / 1, 2, 10, 11 / 2, 4, 6, 10 / 2, 4, 7, 9 = $12.80
Late Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 10-13):  5 / 7, 8 /2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13 /  2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14 = $24.40

 
Race 1 - (8) DEALMAKER is one of the quickest guys in this field of maiden claimers. He was odds-on to win his September finale in 2020 but he lost his rider. (1) STERLING ICE also has sharp speed for short distances and he was racing in Florida this winter. The five-furlong distance may be what he wants. (2) P S CHARLIE BROWN has not raced since 2019 and has never raced outside of Hastings in BC but he shows smart workout times and should like cutting back to 5 furlongs. (6) SWEET SYDNEY drops to a new low claiming price for his fourth career race and first since last fall.
 
Race 2- (10) SAINT'S REST was heavily favoured for his debut Nov. 5, broke a bit slowly, rallied 4 wide around the turn and then stalled a bit in the late stages. He was entered without the claiming tag by trainer Robert Tiller. (7) BORN TO BE KING is a five-year-old maiden with eight top -three placings in his career. He is overdue for his maiden win and is a good one to include in exotic bets. (6) ANOTHER BREEZE came to life in his final outing of 2020 when he returned to sprinting against maidens.  (1) ONE WAY TO WIN showed a little late run in his debut last fall and he has had some positive workout times this spring for trainer Rodney Barrow.
 
Race 3- (1) KUDURO is the morning line favourite from the rail post and he ended 2020 with his maiden win and he seemed to like returning to a sprint distance. Trainer Steven Chircop does well with layoff runner. (4) CARL G also ended last year with his maiden win at the lowest level but he did so with style. He has the best speed in this field and looks like he is ready to go. (5) CHARLES STREET won his 2020 season opener and improved during the year. He should be in a stalking position early in the race. (6) CANADIAN SECRET has been speeding around the main track with fast workout times recently and he drops in class.
 
Race 4- (6) SMALL TALK was second or third in his last four starts in Florida and New York, all around two turns on grass. He makes his Woodbine debut for trainer Gail Cox at a one-turn distance, one mile on turf, and his 80 Beyer Figure from his latest says he could win his maiden today. (3) HIT THE POINT was a big sluggish to begin his debut outing at Gulfstream in April but beat half the field. He is strongly bred for the grass and can go forward off that opener. (4) RUNNINFORCOVER had a bit of traffic trouble early in his latest at Churchill Downs but closed a gap in the stretch run for owner/trainer and breeder Roger Attfield. (9) TRUFFLE KING ran well in two starts as a juvenile for owner Derek Chin and almost won his second outing on Tapeta. His turf outing was good too.
 
Race 5 –(11) YOLA was claimed from his 2020 finale by the Martin Drexler barn which does well with new claims. This is a quick guy who will have to overcome a wide post. (10) FRANCO'S HONOUR  won his career debut on the turf in 2019 but raced just once last year and was outrun. He has been working up a storm this spring. (1) WHITE WEDDING won his maiden at this five furlong distance on turf and his best efforts in 2020 came in grass sprints.  (2) GOLDMINE CAT dropped sharply in class for his last start of 2020 and it was his best effort of the season. He handles turf.
 
Race 6 – (10) BOKERMIN got his 2021 season started at Arlington in a turf dash but he didn't have a great start. (2) JOJOMAR didn't take long to win his maiden last year as a juvenile, taking his third start when claimed by Steven Chircop. He is entered without the $25,000 claiming price and his last workout was blazing, 46 3/5 from the gate.  He should be the main pace runner as his returns to the Tapeta at Woodbine. (6) GIANT CRITIC has had some strong workout times getting ready for this seven furlong return and this distance seems to be his best. He should be rallying for a good piece. (4) HELL BENT won his finale of 2020 at a longer distance for trainer Phil Hall who is good with returning runners.
 
Race 7 – (2) ONE PUNCH CHARLIE had a nice debut outing Nov. 1 as he broke sharply and attended a hot pace with the eventual winner before getting a bit tired. He has trained forwardly this spring and is one to consider at 8 to 1 in the morning line. (9) SHAKOO MAKOO is the one to beat off his smart debut last July when third in a quick race. He gets blinkers and Ademar Santos has prepping a lot of horses in the Laura Krasauskaite barn. (4) SOUPER SIZE IT jumped up at the start of his debut last July when 3 to 1 but was always within range. (7) HOMELANDER is a four-year-old meeting younger rivals and he has shown sharp speed in races against slightly tougher.
 
Race 8 – (2) FIRE FOR EFFECT usually races at longer distances but he sprints okay and this is just his second outing at this $7,500 claiming level. Trainer Martin Drexler has a 29% win rate with horses coming off a layoff of 180 days or more. The pick does not have early speed and one of the tough front runners in the field is (9) VICTOR'S DESTINY who won three of his last five races in 2020.  (8) SLIP KID is a classy 10-year-old with 17 career wins and he makes his first start for Robert Tiller.  (3) DYNA'S GAMBLE had a big year at age three and has been burning up the track with fast workout times. He meets tougher in this return.
 
Race 9 – While he is just a three-year-old meeting older horses, (3) HADDASSAH is a contender in this grass allowance race off his strong debut win last fall and his rich grass pedigree. He is by a high percentage turf debut sire and from a mare who won seven turf races and has turf-winning foals. (11) SOUPER WATSON won two grass races in Florida, his second win with a smart 82 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form. He has had good workout times as he makes his first start since February. (5) ENGLISH CONQUEROR was third in the Breeders' Stakes off his maiden win on turf last fall and is a nice prospect. (6) HOLYFIELD won his maiden on the grass in August and he has been off since trying the Queen's Plate.
 
Race 10 – (5) EXECUTIVE SEARCH has had any number of impressive workout times since early April for trainer Nick Gonzalez and this is a nice spot for this consistently good fellow. The five furlong distance should be perfect for him to pounce on the speed. (3) FOREST SURVIVOR was second in the Frost King Stakes in his juvenile finale and he won his maiden at this short distance in July. (2) CRAFTY CONQUEST has been away for a year but is quick and he was second to the vert good older horse Chuck Willis in his June return to Woodbine in 2020. (9) HAVE A SOUPER DAY posted a bullet five-furlong workout May 28 and is an honest gelding who should have some late power to get into the mix.
 
Race 11 – Lots of good horses in this allowance/optional claiming event including (8) AVIE'S FLATTER who was second in the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales in 2019. He had a light year in 2020 and was second in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes and he may very well like returning to a one-turn, long sprint race. (7) MALIBU MAMBO spent this winter on the grass and had mixed results. He won his maiden at seven furlongs on Woodbine's Tapeta and should be happy to be home. (10) A THREAD OF BLUE, a millionaire, has his third trainer, Mark Casse, and he is new to Woodbine and the Tapeta surface. This is his third start off a layoff and Emma-Jayne Wilson has been working him in the morning. (3) CASH DIVIDEND was training at Arlington Park in Chicago recently, putting up fast workout times. He won his 2020 opener at Woodbine but he will need some pace up front to help his rally.
 
Race 12 – This is the first of a split of a maiden race at 7 furlongs with several possibilities. (3) STAR SCHOLAR beat more than half the field in his debut last fall and he should like moving out to seven furlongs. He had a good workout time in company from the gate May. 16. (8) TRIGGER'S BAY, from the same owner/breeder and trainer of Horse of the Year Mighty Heart, had a good debut last summer and he is first time with Lasix. (2) LOADED SNIPER is a first time starter by Reload who has had 5 debut winners from just 18 starters. Patrick Husbands has been lured to ride for Joey Gee Thoroughbreds. (7) ULTIMATE STORM was one of the top prices at the 2019 CTHS yearling sale and he is a half brother to the good He's a Macho Man. Leading rider Hernandez will ride for Stuart Simon.
 
Race 13 – There are many first time starters in this field at the tricky distance of seven furlongs so perhaps four-year-old (7) POUND GREEN, a half brother to Horse of the year Lexie Lou, will be a strong factor with his experience. (8) NORTHERN CONQUEST is an impressive-looking colt who made his debut late last year and was not far beaten in a very tough and quickly-run race. (2) VATICAN MOON looked good in his workout for a juvenile sale last spring. He is a half brother to three winners including a debut winner. (6) LUCKY LUKE debuted in a driving snow storm Nov. 22 and had a mild rally and he makes his first start for trainer Josie Carroll. Also consider (14) TOOK A WRONG TURN who almost won his maiden in his finale last year and (11) SUN DADDY, a first time starter and full brother to debut winner West Paw.

*
 
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 is the simulcast handicapper for Ajax Downs.

Photo by Mr. Will Wong 

 

More Tips from the Pros