We head a bit north this weekend, to Woodbine Race just outside of Toronto Canada for their Sunday stakes race card. Four stake races on their legendary turf course and polytrack racing surface. I had the opportunity a few years back to attend the races at their beautiful racing facility. It was on closing weekend in 2000, unfortunately the races came off the turf, but the course is unique because the main turf course is the first track outside the rail. Most racetracks, the turf courses are inside the dirt or polytrack courses. In the grandstand, the upper deck seating is like a balcony over hanging the E.P. Taylor turf course. It is one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world and tomorrow's races have a big impact on the upcoming Breeder's Cup at Santa Anita.
The first race comes in the 5th - the Canadian Stakes going a mile & a eighth on the turf. Nine are entered, with no clear cut favorite. My top selection is on the far outside post; Kapitale (#9). Her last start was at Arlington Park in the grade I - Beverly D. Stakes racing a mile & three sixteenths on the weeds. She rallied for 4th at 25-1 with a late charge shipping in from Europe . Today she meets an evenly match field and gets the call. For 2nd, All Star Heart (#5) has been holding her own with a fine record Southern California just missing in her last start at this distance for Hall of Fame trainer; Ron McAnally. Horse to use underneath in the exotics are; Laughing (#2) & Barefoot Lady (#4) .
Race #7 is the Ontario Derby for three year olds going a mile & an eighth on the polytrack surface. My exacta box pick here is a pretty well known duo from this year's Triple Crown trail here in the states. Prospective (#6) and Steelcase (#7) both saw action during this year and Prospective is a perfect 3 for 3 over the Woodbine surface. Steelcase is the uncoupled entry with Prospective and came out of the grade I - Travers Stakes in his last start. Horses to use underneath my top two picks are; River Rush (#2) & Any Given Royal (#9).
The next two stake races are both on the rich Woodbine turf, first up is the mile & a half Northern Dancer Turf Stakes race #8. Top pick here is Wigmore Hall (#7) who recently race again here stateside in the Arlington Million and was no factor. He won this race a year ago as the favorite. For 2nd, the local 10 year old gelding; Musketier (#6) who loves this marathon distance. Exotic & multi-race runners to use underneath; Scalo (#4) and old reliable; Al Khali (#4).
The feature race of Sunday's Woodbine Stakes card is the one mile turf test, the Woodbine Mile. A major prep race for this year's Breeder's Cup Mile on the grass. The prohibited favorite and my top selection is Wise Dan (#3) who was brilliant in the Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga by five lengths on a yielding course going this distance. For 2nd place, European invader; Cityscape (#7) gets the call and possibly at a price from his off- form overseas efforts. Horses to use in your exactas, triples and superfecta plays are; Hollinger (#8) and Big Band Sound (#5).
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