Assiniboia Downs Race 6
After a successful trip to Hastings in Vancouver, we had to the Canadian plains and Assiniboia Downs for today’s race, which is an optional claimer going six furlongs on the main track. We are pushing towards some readers’ bedtimes as this race will go off at 10:40 pm Eastern time.
Favored is the 2 Exacting (9/5 ML) who won his Winnipeg debut at Assiniboia Downs drawing off to win by 9 lengths at the end of May. He is going to be at or near the front, but with drawing the two hole tonight, I think he has an opportunity to go gate to wire here.
If there is a horse that will challenge the favorite on the front end tonight, it could be the 6 Runtoday (12/1 ML). He won a match race two weeks ago here at Assiniboia, and though that race does not tell me much, he is a horse that has run his best races on the front end. He could be in front of the favorite early on here.
The 4 Fast Traffic (8/1 ML) did not show much in the Free Press at Assiniboia Downs last week, and though he was first time at AsD, he was not coming off of a layoff but still needed that race to get used to the new surroundings. Though it is a very short turnaround, this might be a sign that his connections think he came out of the race in good order. He should be stalking and ready to pounce here in the stretch.
The 7 Gallant Oak (3/1 ML) looks like the stone cold closer of this group. He just missed last week in this game type race and could be closing yet again here. He could be dangerous, especially if a speed duel develops.
Exacting does look like a horse here that will go for the lead but does have a history of tiring, even if that last race tells you otherwise. Maybe he’s found a home that he can take advantage of the competition right now. But I am going to take a chance at my fourth win in a row here by going with the 4 Fast Traffic as he looks like he will be not that far behind the favorite and potentially run today. Let’s swing for the fences tonight and call this 4-7-1-6 and my play is $20 to win on the 4. Good luck everyone!
QPW Update Desk
- The Bleacher Brothers’ “adopted” horse Uncle Ernie is entered in the 9th race at Parx on Wednesday. He drew the 6-post in a seven furlong race on the main track which will go off around 4:20 pm Eastern Time. I am planning to be at Parx on Wednesday for the race barring anything unforeseen.
- There are numerous big races around the country this weekend. Horseshoe Indianapolis has the Grade 3 Indiana Derby on Saturday amongst a stakes laden card. Prairie Meadows has the Iowa Derby, also on Saturday. Aqueduct has the Belmont Derby Invitational and Belmont Oaks, just to name a few of the bigger races around the country.
- Delaware Park has a big weekend with four stakes races on Saturday, including the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. Sunday is their signature race, the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap.
Check out my show “Also Eligible” on Saturday mornings at 10 am Eastern/7 am Pacific on the Bleacher Brothers’ Facebook, X, Twitch and YouTube accounts as AJ Johnson and I discuss the big races, the latest news in horse racing and much more!