PTF here! Wild weekend in Del Mar with my computer screen deciding it had had enough late Thursday night. Fortunately, various members of the ITM team — spearheaded by Mike Pribozie — managed to step up and get all the work done that I couldn’t do while I was in tech limbo. Our newest contributor, Chuck Lucas, is kicking in with a Woodbine analysis for today — huge day up there with the Plate Trial and Oaks. Want to reming folks that both TVG and Xpressbet have great promos today you can use to bet Woodbine, include a Money Back Special at TVG. Make sure you check out their betting platforms and opt in to any Woodbine promos. Do not miss this opportunity to be handed free money!
Take it away, Chuck!
Good morning from Toronto, Ontario. Canada. Let me introduce myself. My name is Chuck Lucas and I will be your special guest handicapper from Woodbine Racetrack for Sat. July. 20th. 2024 giving my handicapping choices for In The Money Media (ITM) for today’s late pick 5.
If you are not aware, well this weekend is a big day in Canadian thoroughbred racing with the first big step in Canada’s Triple Crown and the biggest race of the year, the 165th running of the “Kings Plate” happening August 17, 2024. To start to climb that ladder, top 3 Yr. contenders will begin their journey with connections preparing for what they will hope to achieve and that is North America’s longest running race. 7 horses compete in this one.
What also adds excitement to this important race on today’s card but we also just happen to have the biggest race for our 3 Yr. Old filly combatants “ The Woodbine Oaks” presented by Stella Artois going 1 ⅛ with a stacked field of 15 horses scheduled to run. Squeezed in between these two races on the card, the Gr. 3 Trillium Stakes for fillies and mares 3 Yrs. old going 1 1/16 and up and finally The Bet 365 Gr.2 Connaught Cup going 7 furlongs on the one of the best turf courses in the world the E.P Taylor.
To finish up the card, we have two large fields. First, the 10th race, an excellent optional claiming event going 6 Furlongs on the grass and to finish up hopefully an exciting profitable day for all those punters including myself a 6 Furlong sprint for maiden optional claimers on the all weather track. I will put forth a 0.20 cent pick 5 ticket which I will be playing and a couple of quick comments to help you and the loyal following of In the Money.
R#6 (3,4,5)
-#3 Jokestar: Is peaking for a 3rd Start of the Cycle and is the closer here and although My Boy Prince will be singled all over the place, she is my value player here
-#4 Piper’s Factor: Is my main choice, In her return of layof ended up a beaten favorite in the G3 Marine and fattened out in the stretch. I think she is ready to return to that 2 Year Old form back in the Coronation Futurity and with time to mature I think she is logical to possibly be the challenger of My Boy Prince.
-#5 My Boy Prince opens at 2/5 and she has shown no faults. She makes it look easy, she owns the speed and pace fgures. I am just not completely sold on the 1 ⅛. If she proves me wrong, then we know why I put her on the ticket.
R#7 (1)
-#1 Five Towns: is 6/1 M/L and I love when G. Motion ships in and he does it for a reason. She got stuck behind a real soft turf back at Pimlico and followed Flufy Socks to fnish a nice 2nd considering Flufy Socks came back to run in the G1 Diana. So steady works at 5 Furlongs of a freshening Motion goes to R. Hernandez: My single.
R#8 (4,8)
#4 Ironstone: 10/1 M/L and my outsider looking for value here and the one reason I have him here is because he just missed last out and the cutback to 7F and was beaten by Flag of Honor but with that 3F. Blowout of 34 Breeze, I think ftness and 7F is right.
-#8 Saratoga Flash: Shipped in for the Hillander G2 and the comment line does no justice as he was bounced twice at the break and today gets the outside post. Safe kept her in Toronto, Great chance here.
R#9 ( 1,9,12,13)
–#1 Inudation: Ran a fat line type of race in her opener this year and has put two nice works in since then. Blinkers with ground saving she has a chance at a price.
-#9 Bah Dee Ya: Comes in of a dull opener from Prairie Meadow but can not help to not leave her out considering she ran into Thorpedo Anna back in the Kentucky Oaks prep G2 Fantasy at Oaklawn and the 1:01 in the mud and the :48 in change at Churchill and the fact that T. Amoss brought her up to New York with him makes think she is pointed here.
–#12 A Little Frisky: 3rd Start of the layof and beaten favorite and a 10/1 M/L has me very interested. Josie Carrol stretching her out although Pedigree does not scream 1 ⅛ I am taking a shot because I love horses 3rd start of who have lost ground back to back at 2nd and 3rd Call. It tells me..time to run.
-#13 Lunch with Bernie: Similar to A Little Frisky going from 2 sprints to a route and another 3rd of the cycle. Mr. Casse always known to have them ready. A nice :59 in change back on July 3rd. Interesting.
–R#10 (4,10,12)
-#4 Flowers’ N Berries: 20/1 M/L is lovely. Best Avg Speed in the race. In good form.
-#10 Michelle M. 12/1 M/L and showed early speed two back followed with a relaxing race. Stepped up a class claiming level and ran even, hopefully she is ready to romp.
-#12 Red Samurai: 5/1 ML She opened the season in stakes company and hit the board as an overlay came back at a route in G3 and faded. Back to sprinting and dropping in class could be to her liking.
“Lets Go WiretoWire”
Chuck AKA “Coupled Entry”
Good picks!