September 11

An EXCELLENT Start To Woodbine Mile Week

Because of the holiday racing card on Monday there was no racing Wednesday night, so we are on an abbreviated schedule at Woodbine this week, but it is the highlight of the meet and my Woodbine Handicapping Project when on Sunday the Woodbine Mile is run while I'm in Toronto.  But first, the racing began today.  On the nine race card I had five selections, but one of them scratched.  The first play came in the second where I liked Articulate to upset the favorite.  In her most recent she was running in open $40K runners and ran into Obeah Woman who was winning her fourth from five local starts.  She was also coming off a three month break.  Today she was dropping into 3-lifetime $10K runners and I thought, especially the exit from a KEY race, she loomed large.  As they hit the far turn to two betting favorites were dueling and clear by half a dozen lengths.  But then Articulate began making her move.  At the furlong pole she was flying down the middle of the track, blew by the two favorites and won going away. 

 

The paid a generous $8.10 and I was cashing for over $20 to start the day.  My next bet wasn't until the fifth where Prized Bourbon was my first Woodbine 40% Club play of the day.  He went right to the front at 6/1 odds and was in clear, coasting by at least four lengths.  But as they turned for home he gave way to finish fourth.  In the sixth of the day I liked Conquest Quickdraw, my second Woodbine 40% Club play of the day.  He had debuted in November at 3/5 odds, but disappointed when second.  The on air analysts talked about how talented the winner was and that if Conquest ran to his talent he was a likely winner.  His odds hovered around 8/5 and 6/5 until they got into the gate and then a ton of late money knocked him down to 3/5.  He rated off the lead into the stretch and they ran away as MUCH the best of this maiden special field. 

 

The last play of the day came in the eighth and it was my "best" of the day I guess you could say as I doubled the bet on Aunt Els.  Until about ten minutes to post she was 2/1 and 9/5 and I thought I was going to get a fair price.  But the analysts both told the crowd that she looked not only best on talent, but she appeared to be the LONE speed of the race and would be very likely to lead this group on a merry chase from the opening bell.  Her odds plummeted and an 8/1 shot decided to set the early pace.  Aunt Els rated just off her hip into the back stretch then began to gradually get to the front.  The fractions were posted in a slow :26 opening quarter and an equally pedestrian :52 for the half.  When the field closed in around the far turn Aunt Els let it out a notch and that was that. 

 

She paid a fair $4.30, so with my double bet I cashed for over $21.  For the day I was a very impressive 75% - three for four and collected a profit of over $25!  A great start to the big week!