We head north of the border for one of Woodbine’s biggest days of the year as it is King’s Plate Day as Canadian three-year-olds will start their rite of passage to potential glory. A good race track will have supporting races that will bring interest during the day as they do today with four stakes races on the earlier portions of their card today. We will take a look at some of those and then check my article for the big race, the King’s Plate.
We will take a look at races six through eight and then the tenth race on their big day. If you’re playing most of the card today from Toronto, the first race is at 12:25 pm Eastern time, while the first of the races in our spotlight is set for approximately 3:03 pm.
Woodbine Race 6 – Soar Free Stakes
We begin with two-year olds going six and a half furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf course, which you may know from a recent article is the European-style course that is on the outside of the main synthetic track.
The 5 Mensa is the 2/1 morning line favorite and won very impressively on the front end his first try at Woodbine. He has already won on the dirt at Gulfstream as well as he did in his debut in April. He could be tested if others go for the lead with him today.
The 2 Test Score (4/1 ML) was cut off by another horse in the stretch but was still closing at the end of his debut race at Saratoga. He may like that long stretch today if a speed duel develops.
The 4 Coolcollected (8/1 ML) won his turf debut in June at Woodbine at huge odds closing well taking advantage of the long stretch. Having experience over the track will help this colt today.
The 6 Cairo Caper (3/1 ML) may stalk the favorite if the 7 Dream On (10/1 ML) or the 9 Homie (6/1 ML) do not go for the lead. Cairo Caper should have first crack to pass the front runners as they turn for home.
The 2 Test Score had some troubles that some handicappers may not see. I’ll take him to win over the favorite here, calling it 2-6-5-4 in the Soar Free Stakes with a $20 win wager on the 2.
Woodbine Race 7 – Bold Venture Stakes (Grade 3)
We have a field of seven here for the Bold Venture, and the 2 Ironstone (8/1 ML) is cross entered for the eighth race. I haven’t seen which race we will run in as of yesterday.
The 3 Patches O’Houlihan (7/5 ML) is favored here and came back after an eight-month break doing gate to wire in the Pink Lloyd stakes three weeks ago at Woodbine. He could be challenged on the front end by First Empire (#7, 12/1 ML) who tired in a race that he needed after being away for a little over a year.
The 6 Playmea Tune (4/1 ML) is two for two lifetime after winning an optional claimer last month here at Woodbine. He might be stalking behind the favorite here as we will see how his gelding reacts to being in stakes company for the first time.
The 5 I’m A Gambler (6/1 ML) won in an off the turf race last time out in his first try on synthetic. He should be closing if he takes to the surface again today.
The 1 Capture the Lion (15/1 ML) dropped back on the turf last time out. He may have to go for the lead here, but he has shown the ability to rate in his first two races at Woodbine this year.
I think Patches O’Houlihan will be too tough here on the front end. I’ll call this 3-6-5-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 3.
Woodbine Race 8 – King Edward Stakes (Grade 2)
We are back on the turf for the King Edward going a mile on the turf. We have eight horses entered, and the heavy favorite is the 8 Filo Do Arianna (4/5 ML) who stretches out to a mile after winning the Hillander fairly easily here at Woodbine at the end of June. He won this race two years ago on the front end and should be on the front end again today.
The 6 War Bomber (5/1 ML) was caught in deep stretch last time out in the Connaught Cup by the 1 Cruden Bay (7/2 ML) who is a stone cold closer. They may have a hard time closing into the favorite here as he could be lone speed I this race.
The 2 Ironstone (12/1 ML) may run in the previous race, but he could get on the board here. He got pinballed at the start last time out and did just miss two back going this distance.
I think Filo Do Arianna will be too tough here with a shorter field and no real speed to go with him. I’ll call it 8-6-1-2 with a $20 play on the 8.
I will also add a $5 pick 3 (starting with the 6th race) of 2&6 with 3 with 8. That ticket will cost me $10. If there are any scratches, I will update on my X and either give an updated pick-3 or declare it null and void.
Woodbine Race 10 – Catch A Glimpse Stakes
We are back on the turf in the race before the main event of the day with the female edition of the sixth race, as the Catch A Glimpse is for two-year-old fillies going six and a half furlongs on the turf course. But unlike the boys’ race in race 6, this race has a large field of 13 juvenile fillies.
The 7 Bullet (2/1 ML) is favored in this race and she won her Canadian debut last month taking over at the top of the stretch to win going away impressively. She also won her debut in juvenile stakes company at Gulfstream Park. She is going to be tough no matter the surface though this race will be on the turf.
The 12 Warming (6/1 ML) will be on the outside but should be ready to pounce as they turn for home. He broke his maiden at Aqueduct and should be ready to go here after working up to this race at Fair Hill in Maryland.
The 2 Will Reign (4/1 ML) finished runner-up in her debut at Saratoga on the turf. She was six-wide but just missed. She might not have to be that wide but will be tough here.
The 4 Shifty (15/1 ML) could be worth a look at a huge price here. She finished fifth which may not be that appealing, but she started slow and finished well against the boys. Cairo Caper is in the sixth race, and if you believe in transitive properties, if he wins, then you might want to play Shifty at huge odds.
I’m going to try to beat the favorite here. I think Warming had a nice debut and will be looking to pounce as they turn for home. I think she will be holding off Shifty and Will Reign. I’ll call this 12-4-2-7 and my play is $20 to win on the 12.
Best of luck everyone and be on the lookout for my King’s Place article!
Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9 pm Eastern on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up; and catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.