Best Bet – (4) YES PLEASE – Race 1
Spot Play - (4) MY SUGAR PIE – Race 4
Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 4-7) - 4, 7, 9 / 3, 4, 7, 9, 10 / 1, 7, 11 / 1, 2, 4, 6 = $36.00
Late Pick 4 (.20 cents, Races 7 – 10) – all / 7 / 4, 8, 11 / 5, 6, 12 = $16.20
Race 1 – (4) YES PLEASE came off a layoff from February for her Woodbine debut at 5 furlongs on turf and was a clear 2
nd behind the front runner who has come back to win again. Moving out to 6 1/2 furlongs on turf should be ideal for this mare who loves to win. (8) WESTLODGE INTRIGUE was happy to be back home after her winter in Arkansas as she won in fighting fashion under leading rider Rafael Hernandez. She is a threat right back. (6) HASSAH has had a big workout time since her season debut when chasing Westlodge Intrigue. (3) TAYLER'S THE BOSS has some turf breeding and her only grass race was at a route distance. She comes in from New York.
Race 2- (6) WILLY'S CASTLE has been racing at high levels since his winter vacation and in his season debut he was just 1 1/2 lengths from the winner in a big effort for $37,500 claiming. He is now in for $7,500 and looks most likely. (8) LEONARD'S BAY had a solid return to racing just nine days ago and he was delayed in traffic briefly late on the last turn and closed well enough. (1) WHO'S GOT IT is a hard trying fellow who loves the Woodbine surface and he comes off a narrow loss on turf at Fort Erie. (3) DECISION DAY is a classy old-timer making his first start since January and he won at this level and distance last fall.
Race 3 – The Grade 3 Marine Stakes is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles and while it is not usual to pick a horse to win a graded stake off one start, maybe (7) SHIRL'S SPEIGHT can do it. He had the 'wow factor going when he won his debut in a turf sprint with a huge 88 Beyer Figure and he is bred for the longer distance and has worked well on Tapeta. (1) LUCKY CURLIN got an 85 Beyer Figure from his win in his Woodbine debut June 14 and while trainer Mark Casse thinks the well bred colt could be a sprinter, his 2 turn efforts last year were okay. (3) LOOKINATAMIRACLE was my pick when he won 3 weeks ago at 4 to 1 in a sprint. He handles route distances okay and is improving. (6) UNTITLED is very quick and who knows how long he can lead this field? He has big Beyer Figures from one mile races in the winter.
Race 4 – The Pick 4 begins with this maiden claiming race at 1 mile on the E P Taylor turf and I am going to try (4) MY SUGAR PIE once more after an awful journey in her latest. This daughter of top sire Honor Code was going 2 turns on the inner turf July 4 but was close to a quick early pace and then she lost ground in traffic. (7) DANCE THE SKY AWAY is a big player with the leading rider Rafael Hernandez aboard once again. She has been 2
nd or 3
rd in her last 5 races and is sitting her on maiden victory. (9) PLAYING SMART was in a traffic jam like Sugar Pie last time and she will appreciate the return to this main turf course. (10) WILLED is a 5-year-old who had a couple of starts at Woodbine late last year on Tapeta for another trainer and her grass outings are much better. Andrew Smith has been working her regularly this summer. Also consider (13) NATURAL HABITAT if she draws in.
Race 5 – The highest priced yearling in Canada of 2019 debuts here, (9) HOLY LIGHTING, a $240,000 gal bought by Stronach Stables from Adena Springs North, has had any number of workouts in company and has had good clockings. Another one to consider is (3) NERO DAVOLA since she was going to win her career debut July 4 but something spooked her and she hit the railing. Can she beat a bigger field without regressing at all from the tough experience? (10) FIONA BAY is from the Tim Rycroft barn and she had a big gate workout recently and is by a champion 2-year-old. (4) FLAWLESS PINK had a big workout July 5, 47 2/5 for half a mile and she has plenty of speed in her breeding.
Race 6 – Maiden fillies on the turf travel one mile on the main course and (11) TIZLEGAL came off a long layoff to just miss winning at Gulfstream in May. Her latest at Belmont was okay as she was wide early chasing a stern pace set by the eventual winner. (1) CANDY'S DREAM was probably best in her season debut at 6 furlongs on turf. She has had 2 more starts since then and one was another good one on turf. (7) LILI'S SONG blew two leads in races here last fall and her latest in February on turf saw her break slowly and get into some traffic trouble. (9) BARKIN had super debut on the main track when in for $40,000 claiming and she is bred for turf. Also consider (3) PACENZA who is well bred for grass and getting Lasix for the first time.
Race 7- The anchor race for the two Pick 4 wagers is a real head scratcher. These are maidens for|$25,000 claiming going 5 furlongs and half the field are beginners. (4) DEA DEL CIELO is one of the first timers and she is by top sire Society's Chairman and from a mare who has produced multiple sprint winner Skyvision. (2) SELFLESS DEVOTION has lots of quick workout times and her mum won first time out at 5 furlongs. (6) JACKIE MILTON drops in class to a new low and in her most recent 5 furlong dash she was not quick from the gate. (1) SOLITUDE IS BLISS has some quick works and a check of the tote board is in order.
Race 8- The Grade 3 Selene Stakes should set up perfectly for the exciting (7) MERVEILLEUX, whose owners Bill and Al Ulwelling have won races on Thursday and Friday this week. The pace figures to be contested and she should be able to sit off those ones and then power to victory. (1) OWLETTE has been a wonder with 4 wins in 6 races and 3 stakes. She is fast and strong and was not beaten far in the South Ocean last fall at this distance. Interesting that she has been allowed to race without the blinkers for this race as she tries to conquer the 1 1/16 mile distance. (4) DIAMOND SPARKLES was supplemented to this race off a good local debut in a long sprint and she has closing power. (5) AMERICAN TAP is one of 3 in the race for trainer Mark Casse and she can pick up a share.
Race 9 – (11) ENCHANTED LADY was a stakes placed 2-year-old in B.C. last year chasing Woodbine Oaks contender Infinite Patience. She relocated here with the Phil Hall stable and she should love grass as a half sister to several turf winners including $500,000 earner Insta Erma, a Grade 3 turf winner last year. (8) MILLENNIUM FORCE is an Ontario bred back home after beginning her career in three States and she won her maiden at Churchill Downs last time leading all the way over 11 rivals in a 5 1/2 furlong turf run. She will have negotiate 7 furlongs for her new trainer Martin Drexler. (4) COACH LORI won her debut on turf last summer and has a pair of thirds this year on the main track. (1) FAIRYWREN won her maiden June 6 on this course off the layoff.
Race 10 – (12) RED HIERARCHY won his debut by 6 lengths in sizzling time and while it was only 13 days ago since that stunning unveiling, he could be this good (to come right back and win). He won't offer much betting value so others to look at include (6) HAVE A SOUPER DAY who is getting better with every start and (5) KEEN ARTIE who had trouble in his season debut. (3) CRYPTIC GRIP is a longshot play for the exotics and (1) COHIBA GHOST was a smart maiden winner last month.
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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