BEST BET: Race 7 – #3 BOTTA SWING
LONGSHOT: Race 4 – #6 FASCINATION STREET
Race 1: 7 – IRON PRINCESS; 3 – BAMBOO’S BABE; 1 – SLOANS SKY; 5- HOBBIE CLASS
Welcome back! Day 1 of the 129-day Woodbine season begins at 1:10 p.m. Saturday!
Trainer John Mattine had his horses in early and working 5 furlongs as early as late March. Iron Princess has not shown much in a sporadic career but on Dec. 14 she had some early speed and she begins 2024 with blinkers added.
Two gals from northern California, Bamboo’s Babe and Kindofbluekitten offer value. Bamboo’s Babe makes her debut and she had a lot of workouts in 2022 and a few last year. Her dam won 16 races and was a 4 1/2 furlong specialist. Apprentice Cheyenne Kerr is aboard.
Trainer Barrington Siddo (Sloans Sky) won the 2023 opener with Silver Tunes.
RACE 2: 6 – SUMMER SNOW; 1 – MORE SAVVY; 4 – MI TORMENTA; 5 – NATASHA’S BIZNIZ
RACE 3: 3- TAPPING OUT A TUNE; 4- BIRTHDAY MUNNINGS; 5 – FRAC CITY; 6 -MIAH SAID
Kentucky-based trainer Kelsey Danner will have a few horses at Woodbine this year and this maiden fellow was an expensive 2-year-old in 2022, certainly in part because of a flashy workout and his beautiful stride. His career began roughly but he appears to be figuring things out.
RACE 4: 6- FASCINATION STREET; 5 – ROCK TO FAME; 7 – COUNTRY LIVING; 2- CRIMINAL INTENT
Blinkers on the Frank DiGiulio/Robert Tiller fellow Fascination Street who competed against tougher in two outings as a juvenile. We usually see Tiller do well right off the bat. Speedy Rock to Fame, making his first start for newest Outstanding Owner Gary Barber, has champion apprentice Vives on board.
RACE 5: 1 – WOODSPOINT; 5- ESSEX SERPENT; 4 – HAPPY QUAD; 6- LUCKY ROMANCE
Godolphin’s Woodspoint broke a bit slowly in his career debut, moved up wide, was 4 wide with his run on the turn, grabbed the lead and then tired just a bit (see replay below). Trainer Michael Stidham was 4 for 18 at Woodbine last year and jockey Rafael Hernandez is his go-to guy here.
RACE 6: – 4 – LADY ONYX (IRE); 2 – FIRING BULLETS; 6- BOLT ENOREE; 7- MASTER ARAGORN
RACE 7: 3- BOTTA SWING; 7- MISS VYVYANNE; 5 – VEERY;6 – IMA BEAST
RACE 8: 5 – DANCING DUCHESS; 6- C C ROYAL; 2 – MYSTIC LAKE; 3 – SABATINI
The Star Shoot Stakes, an open sprint for 3-year-old fillies, has drawn stakes winners Mystic lake and Dancing Duchess. The former is a speedy type who ran well here last year and she is fit and ready. The latter is a very versatile miss who h as 2 stablemates to her outside. Newcomer CC won big last time and she is a Woodbine Oaks contender.
RACE 9: 5- STAR CANDY; 2- FOREST DRIFT; 4 – AMERICAN STARLET; 1 – JILL
RACE 10: 4 – TIME TO WATCH; 3- AZIEL; 7 – POWAQA; 9 – MO TWILIGHT; 2- OLIVIA’S MELODY
