Race 2: #9 Lulu’s Lullaby (6-1)
Most of the main contenders are drawn toward the inside and they all have an abundance of speed, but face major questions in the final furlong. I’m hoping with them all being drawn alongside one another, they’ll go way too fast early and this race will set up for the best closer in #9 Lulu’s Lullaby (6-1). This filly has the best late pace figures in the race and is really the only runner that has proven she can consistently pass rivals. I don’t think her last race was that bad as she was wide and against the race flow at a distance that’s probably shorter than her best. And then two back in her one synthetic start she didn’t run great, but it was a productive race as three runners that finished in front of her that day have already returned to win. Kimura climbs aboard for the first time and 6-1 seems like a fair price.
Race 3: #5 More Money Hunny (12-1)
This feels like one of the better maiden races I’ve handicapped at Woodbine this year so I’m going to have my eye on how this race turns out down the line. This race seems similar to the previous one where the main contenders are drawn alongside one another on the rail and all seem to want to be forward. Throw in #6 Why Em Sea Ay (great name!) who has shown speed, and the blinkers going on #8 Inittowinit, and this pace could get hot. I think we haven’t seen the best of #5 More Money Hunny (12-1). She took a bit of money the first time out and didn’t have the best start so she tried to rush up along the rail, but that move backfired and she had to take up and ended up towards the back of the pack. After that she really didn’t do much running, but I also don’t think she was really persevered with and she had a huge gallop out after the race. Seemed to me like she was just in for a spin after the troubled start. She hasn’t missed a beat in the mornings (some quick ones too) since that race and it is encouraging that Kimura bothers to show up on a runner that would seem like an outsider at first glance. Her pedigree screams turf so I would be more than happy to take 12-1 on this filly to pull off the upset.
Race 4: #1 Anselmo (8-1)
The pace scenario of this race really puzzled me as there is really no speed in this race. Almost by default I wanted to look towards one of the inside runners that maybe will be hard used to hold the inside position. I settled on #1 Anselmo (8-1) to pull off a minor upset. It’s strange to me that he’s been somewhat tactical in one turn races lately, but is typically even further back in slower paced two-turn races. He showed plenty of tactical speed last fall so I’m hoping that he’ll get back to that today with the rail draw and murky pace scenario. I really liked his last race when he was facing slightly tougher foes and was completely against the race flow, but did well to pass a few rivals and split the field. He seems to be racing himself into shape and he actually has some of the best Beyer figures in this field. Those competitive figures make him a major contender, but it also means he’s likely to get bet down from this morning line. I think around 7/2 is still fair value if you can get it.
Race 5: #7 Twisting Pistons (7/2)
This seven furlong distance is always a challenge and that’s especially true for lightly raced two year olds. I like a filly that should have a major fitness edge (and class edge?) in #7 Twisting Pistons (7/2). This will be her fifth career start (nobody else has more than 2) and she’s cutting back from a two-turn race so she should be equipped to handle this configuration. She had a tough go of it last time when she stumbled at the start, rushed up and endured pressure between rivals for the duration of the race, and tired in the stretch. Not a bad effort, and she was running better around one turn against some pretty competitive fields. This is a much easier spot as she drops out of maiden special weight company and she drew a cozy outside post where she should enjoy a pace pressing trip in the clear. This filly also has the best speed figures in the field by a comfortable margin. Of course, her fellow two year olds can always improve leaps and bounds in a hurry, but that’s yet another thing she has going for and 7/2 would be a very appealing price.
Race 6: #6 Lucys Child (6-1)
I’m hoping Kimura is on his game today from off the pace because I like yet another one of his mounts to come from the clouds in #6 Lucys Child (6-1). There seems like a lot of suspect speed in this race, including the likely favorite #1 Lake Shore Drive who had no excuses last time after he was left alone on the lead. Sure the pace was fast, but he was up there unpressured throughout and you’re supposed to get the job done with that kind of trip when you’re 7/5. There are several in here who are coming out of that race, including the top choice Lucys Child. He had the worst go of it, as he was at least 5 wide through the entire turn and was only beaten less than two lengths by the rivals that return today. And he was on even terms with those rivals until the last sixteenth when the ground loss really took its toll. I thought he didn’t get the best trip two back either when he dueled between rivals early, had to take back, and came on again to run an okay fourth while being against the race flow. He ‘s making his third start off a long layoff today so theoretically he’ll be primed for his best effort. If he can work out a trip, I see no reason why he can’t come running lat
