The return of track-record-setting debut winner BOTTA SWING highlights the opening day card of the 2023 Woodbine Thoroughbred season, Saturday, April 22. The fast Ontario-bred filly, owned by Hoolie Racing and Bruce Lunsford and trained by Barbara Minshall, has post position 9 in the 5 furlong 6th race, a $111,000 allowance/optional claiming dash. Two-time Sovereign Award winner Kazushi Kimura rides the daughter of Not This Time – Lady of the Glen by Purim, who won her debut May 1, 2022, racing 4 1/2 furlongs in 50.94 over a very fast Tapeta surface.
This weekend’s two days of racing to kick off the 133-day meeting came up light in entries, not unusual for early spring, especially when the overall horse population is light.
Opening day attracted 68 entries but three of those were scratched to compete on Sunday, making for a 55-horse, eight-race card.