Day 1 of 128

BEST BET:    5 – ORDEROFTHEPHOENIX (IRE) – RACE 6

LONGSHOT:   2- SLOANS SKY   8 – 1   RACE 2

 

RACE 1 – 4 – PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE; 2 – COME ON BIG LOU; 5 – INDY ONE; 1 – BOB AND JULES

Three-year-old Come On Big Lou is the speed of the year’s opening dash and he may prove tough to catch. I’m going with an older maiden, People Are People, who will have to hurry at the distance but he was getting close last fall. Bob Tiller won the first race of the 2021 season with Five Days in May for this same owner.

RACE 2 – 2- SLOANS SKY;  1 – WHISKEY N ICE; 4 – GET OUT THE VOTE; 3 – FEATHERWEIGHT

Much like the first race, there is a distinct speedster in this 5 furlong dash, Whiskey N Ice, who had much trouble last year when disqualified 3 times in her last 5 races. Note the claiming price is waived, a positive sign.

Sloans Sky may offer more value and she raced on opening day in 2024 and was second. Certainly in the exactor and tri.

RACE 3:  4 – FANNY M;  6 – SULTRY SOPHIE; 4 – BUFF BAY;  ; 2 – SARATOGA EMPRESS (GB)

Hall of Fame trainer sends out his first horse for owner Bruno Schickedanz and this gal looks very good in a very weak race. The ‘other’ Tiller filly also merits respect.

RACE 4:  4 – MI TORMENTA; 7 – HOT OMELET; 3 – HARD TO CAPTURE; 6 – CEFALO

Mi Tormenta is a short distance specialist who won on opening day 2023.

RACE 5:  4- DARK DANGER; 1 LET’S GO LIAM;  6 – DEPUTY DADDY; 2 – GO KART MOZART

RACE 6: 5 – ORDEROFTHEPHOENIX (IRE);  7 – PARTY ON; 1 – NATA TROUBLE;  6- MORE MONEY HUNNY

This is the first race in Canada for Orderofthephoemix, a grey turf filly who won on an all weather track in Irish in 2024. Unraced since November, she has had tons of trouble in her races so far but she is working fast and looks the best of this field.

RACE 7:   5- MISS VYVYANNE; 1 – BREEZERO; 3 – LITTLE TEDDY; 2 – SPIRIT BEAR

The Martin Drexler pair of fast Miss Vyvyanne and US purchase Breezero are solid in this dash. The latter has had good workout times locally.

RACE 8: 6 – CHARLOTTE’S HEART; 3 – WINTERBERRY; 5 – LISTEN AND LEARN; 4 – SOCIAL CODE

The $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes is led by a Mark Casse trained pair who are hard to separate. Charlotte has late power and Winterberry, the only Canadian bred in the field, is fast and fiesty.

RACE 9:  3 – KITTY’SPEEDYSTARR; 1 – MIRAMICHI;  7 – SINCLAIRITY; 5 – ONEJABTOOMANY