North.....to Woodbine!

This weekend we turn our racing attention, north of the border at Woodbine Race course just outside of Toronto and the three stakes they have carded for tomorrow on grass. These races will play a pivotal role for the upcoming Breeder's Cup Turf races at Churchill Downs on November 4th & 5th. The Woodbine turf course is one of the finest in North America . Today's races are for filly and mares going a mile an a eighth, a mile and a half for older horses and a mile on grass; the Woodbine Mile which is sponsored this year by Ricoh.



The first of the stake races is in the 5th; the grade II - Canadian Handicap for fillies and mares going a mile and an eighth. The winner of the Diana Handicap at Saratoga is my top pick from post #13; Zargora. She comes off that victory in fine form for trainer; Chad Brown and should have no problem negotiating the same distance she won at in her last start. Woodbine based trainer; Mark Frostad has three runners entered here and one is my second selection; #3 - Magic Broomstick. She has only one start this year and it was a eight and half length victory in allowance company going a mile on yielding turf. You may get a square price on her in this field of 14. Horses to use underneath and in your exotic plays are; #6 - Bay to Bay, #8 - Shared Account & #9 - Never Retreat.



Older colts go in the 8th race; the grade I - Northern Dancer Stakes at a mile and a half. This is a prep race for the Canadian International on October 16th. My top selection here is #4 - Wigmore Hall. This European import recently raced in the Arlington Million where he rallied for 4th going a mile and a quarter. Today he stretches out a quarter of a mile more and faces a little softer field here. For second, I'm going with the California invader; #2 - Bourbon Bay . This consistent runner has six victories in 12 starts the past two years and in the money four other times. Exotic and multi-race runners are; #6 - Seaside Retreat and #8 - Al Khali.



The feature race of the day is the 10th; the Ricoh Woodbine Mile going the classic distance on the grass. My top selection here is coming off a grade I win at Hollywood Park and has been pointing to this race. Courageous Cat #4 - trained by Bill Mott has only made two starts this year, but won both as the odds-on favorite. Today a victory puts him the "horse to beat" possibly for the Breeder's Cup Mile. For 2nd, I'm going with the "classic" turf miler from Europe , #9 - Side Glance. This consistent runner has finished no worst the 3rd in his last nine starts. Horses to use underneath my top two selections are; #5 - Right One, #10 - Kara's Orientation and #12 - Court Vision, last year's winner and goes out first time for new trainer; Dale Romans.