I think the saying goes “if at first you don’t succeed, try again.” That is the case here today after last Saturday’s cancellation of the races at Woodbine after a deluge of rain led to problems with the track.
I won’t question anything about last Saturday anymore because I had my say on Monday’s Joe Quills Show on Twitch, X and YouTube (see links below). But we do get a second chance to pick the winners of the big races on what is now the Friday afternoon card at Woodbine.
Woodbine Race 5 – Soaring Free Stakes
We return to Woodbine 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 – 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 2 Ironstone is cross entered into the next race, the Bold Venture Stakes. On Saturday, Ironstone was scratched from this race to run in the Bold Venture. We will see if that is still the case today.
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 next 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.
Woodbine Race 8 – 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 with the previous race the King Edward. He was scratched from the King Edward on Saturday, and let’s see if that holds true today as well.
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 9 – King’s Plate
Next, we experience the Canadian rite of passage as 13 three-year-olds will hit the main synthetic track for the mile and a quarter King’s Plate for Canadian bred three year olds. One note worth mentioning is that the 10 Bedard (30/1 ML), who was scratched on Saturday because of a medication issue will run today barring anything unforeseen according to Ron Gierkink of the Daily Racing Form.
Favored in this race is the 7 My Boy Prince (7/5 ML) who beat a field of seven in the Plate Trial last month. He did have trouble at the start of the race rearing up in the gate as the gates opened, but he did settle and came on at the end to win by a length. He is usually on the lead and could be an odds-on favorite who could dominate here.
The 2 Rafaroo (8/1 ML) has finished second in both his starts but he did close well in a slowly run Plate Trial last time. He might be a maiden facing winners here, but he could benefit from a faster pace here.
The 3 Essex Serpent (2/1 ML) won the Marine Stakes going a mile and a sixteenth at the end of June and could be on the front end with the favorite if My Boy Prince returns to his normal race running. Could this open things up for the other horses?
The 4 Caitlinhergrtness (12/1 ML) just missed in the Woodbine Oaks last time out. She will get a five-pound allowance as a filly taking on the boys here. She could be right behind dueling leaders here.
The 5 Midnight Mascot (10/1 ML) made a huge move on the final turn and finished third to Essex Serpent last out. The finish could be reversed here if there is a speed duel today.
The 1 Jokestar (20/1 ML) had a mild bid in the Plate Trial and could be getting a piece of the action here at the end.
Although My Boy Prince is going to be very tough here, I think he is beatable. I think the two favorites are going to soften each other up for the rest of the field. Rafaroo should be a horse here that can run all day. Hard Spun’s offspring win on average of 7.5 furlongs, which is the best of the sires whose offspring are running today.
We are going to see who can go the distance and who cannot. I think Rafaroo has a chance to win this with his breeding and the way he has ran so far. Let’s call this 2-5-4-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 2
Woodbine Race 10 – Catch A Glimpse Stakes
As the hoopla of the King’s Plate starts to die down, we realize we still have three more races on the card, but for me, my final race of my QPW day. We have the female version of the fifth race on the card as two-year-old fillies will go six and a half furlongs here in the Catch A Glimpse Stakes with 13 juvenile fillies entered.
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 let’s hope our winners get home!
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.