Day 6: A B-I-G Day At Woodbine!
Finally, a big day in Toronto, and it could not have come at a better time considering how "off" my selections were yesterday. In the first two races I didn't have any strong feelings or angles to play, so I passed. Short priced winners took the opening two - the first I didn't like the chalk, but he dominated, and in the second I listed the winner as my second choice, but didn't think he could hang on wire-to-wire....he did by a diminishing nose! My first bet was in the third race, the co-featured Ontario Debutante for 2yo fillies. The favorite was listed at even money in the program, Amira J based on her last out 87 speed figure. But (a) that came when loose on the lead, which often results in inflated speed figures, and (b) it was against maidens. I went instead with Get Rhythm who won her debut from just off the pace. For a juvenile, that's always nice to see that they can finish without having to be "taught" how to develop a closing punch. Then last time out she went to the lead in the Shady Wells Stakes where she was beaten by Caren. This was significant to me because that filly had come right back to score for me last Monday in the Nandi Stakes. I thought if Get Rhythm could revert to an off-the-pace style she had a good chance. Despite being listed as the 5/2 second choice on the morning line the crowd let her go off at a big 9/2. She sat behind a trio of front runners as they spun out of the turn, one of which was Amira J. As they hit the furlong marker Amira J edged to the front but there was no where for Get Rhythm to run, so the rider swung her four wide into the lane and give her the cue. It looked like she'd moved too late but she found another gear and surged to the front just as they hit the wire!
The big $11.90 payoff netted me a score of nearly $60 to start the day! WHOOO HOOO! I had planned to bet the 4th, but racing karma must have intervened because I did not make the bet and my pick ran fifth at 2/1! In the fifth race two-year-olds were back on the track in a MSW sprint going five furlongs. Conquest Twitter became the first of my Woodbine 40% Club plays on the day. Sent out by trainer Mark Casse for the Conquest Stables, that's the angle that puts the barn in "the Club." She also went off at a fair price, 2/1 and sat off the pace setter until they moved to the head of the lane. Quickly she inhaled the leaders and drew off as MUCH the best. She paid a nice $6.50 and I was cashing for more than $30 on my second betting selection of the day! Somehow I just knew Indian Goddess would NOT win the 6th, but on paper she was such a standout that I bet her anyway. 4/5 at post time and a non-threatening fourth. In the 7th I passed, but my top choice won at 5/2 odds. The eighth was the co-featured Wonder Where Stakes going 1 1/4 miles on the turf. Season Ticket had earned speed figures in her last two - both against stakes rivals - that werebetter than 61 of the 62 figures earned LIFETIME by her nine rivals. She had solid human connections and had been a good second going 9 1/2 furlongs at the strong Keeneland Fall Meet. She was held in mid-pack to the turn by jockey Patrick Husbands before he moved her into the clear coming out of the turn four-wide. She wore down the leaders and edged clear in deep stretch to give me a sweep of the stakes races today!
But by far the highlight of the day was the finale. Anytime I do a "handicapping project" I always purchase Jim Mazur's handicapping book for that track. What I have found to consistently provide me with winners is his 40% Club list. But on occasion I've bought other handicapping products from him and one that is very effective is what he calls the "Blue Chip Trainer Angles." This is a compilation of multiple angles that when these unique events occur together a winner is often in the works. For the Woodbine meet Mazur has an arrangement with management that both the book an the Blue Chip angles are available for downloading FOR FREE. So I have them in my arsenal, and they paid off big-time here. Check out my analysis for Race 10 below:
Note that Executive Jester was listed at 5/1 odds in the program. As these turf sprinters broke out of the gate, Emma Jayne Wilson allowed the race to unfold inside of her as her runner got his feet under him. By the time they'd hit the far turn Executive Jester was up to challenge a 30/1 longshot on the lead while well in hand, and they were being chased by a two longshots at 20/1 and 14/1. The 4/5 favorite was buried in traffic some six or seven off the lead and I knew then that if my pick was half as strong as I thought he was I had a solid chance. They swung into the stretch as Wilson let her horse do it under his own power. He was two clear and they were almost to the furlong pole and she still had not asked. Now the closers were beginning to make up ground and Wilson asked him to run. The 11/1 closest rival flattened out to run evenly to the wire while the 4/5 chalk was too late up the rail, third. And the best part about the upset........the crowd let him go at a HUGE 7/1 price! They obviously did not download THEIR copy of the Woodbine Handicapper! Thanks Jim!
The $17.20 payoff combined with my bold double investment meant I'd cash for nearly $90 on this pick alone! So for the day I was a sensational 4-for-6 and had made a clear profit of nearly $150. A great bounce-back day after the Saturday results. I'll look forward to the first evening program of the project when Wednesday's race card starts at 6:45 pm.
Sunday's BIG DAY Video Highlights
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