By Jennifer Morrison
Friday’s Best Bet: 2- TREBUCHET – Race 2
Friday’s Longshot Play: 8 – FOREST VIXEN – Race 8
RACE 1: 1- UNABLE; 7- SILVER BULLET LADY; 5 – LADY IN RED; 6 – GOLDEN TRAIN
Showing good speed in her season opener, Unable was then carried out on the turn of that race and that cost her some momentum. She might be quick enough to scamper away from her six rivals on the class drop. Silver Bullet Lady ran well in her first career race last May and did well against better fillies last season so she is a danger.
RACE 2: 2- TREBUCHET; 7- CHUNKY MONKEY; 3- PETTINARI; 5 – I’M NO SLEEPY JOE
This 5 1/2 furlong maiden race has a number of older fellows who have had a number of chances to get their first win. Trebuchet is one of those and he has had any number of good workout times this spring and may like this distance off the layoff.
RACE 3: 3 – SOLO ALBUM; 4- INDY CHAMPAGNE; 2 – MILAGRE DE SOL; ELLA FRANCES
A pair of well bred fillies by top sire Curlin could dominate this 1 1/16 mile maiden special weight. Solo Album, a $535,000 yearling purchase adds blinkers for the first time and she was second in her latest in February at Gulfstream. Indy Champagne almost won her maiden late last year in a race against the boys.
RACE 4 : 7 – SNEAKY REBEL; 4 – MURDER HORNET; 3- HOT OMELET; 8- SHELLY THE ROCKET
The Pick 4 wager starts here and if Sneaky Rebel saves a bit more energy for the late stages of this sprint than she did in her season debut, she will be tough to beat. A pair of gals for owner Bruno Schickedanze – Florida-raced Murder Hornet and layoff runner Hot Omelet – are factors.
RACE 5: 6- CLEOMENES; 5 – STERLING SPEED; 1- SYSTEMATIC; 7- VERY SAVVY
I am not convinced 5 1/2 furlongs is far enough for Cleomenes off the layoff but this mare has a good stretch kick and she ended last year with a victory. Sterling Speed ran a good race against the boys off the layoff on April 23.
RACE 6: 1 – SWINGING MANDY; 4 – SACRED DANCER; 5 – ANAM CARA; 6 – AMERICAN GAMBLE
Stakes winner Swinging Mandy is quick out of the gate and she has won first time out in her first two seasons of racing. Sacred Dancer was an impressive winner on opening day and Anam Cara, a stakes winner at 2 last season, had a sizzling workout in May 5, 46.20 for half a mile.
RACE 7: 4- CATICHE; 1 – MILLIE GIRL; 2- LADY MOONSHINE; 7- NOVEMBER FOG
US trainer Jonathan Thomas has a string of horses at Woodbine and Catiche was here last year for a big win and a close second in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes. She comes off a long layoff, however. Millie Girl ran well in all four of her races to begin her career last season.
RACE 8: 7- DAWN PHAROAH; 3 – HEKLA’S AURA; 8 – FOREST VIXEN;4- SPEED CHESS; 6 – SOCIAL DRINKER
Dawn Pharoah drops in class for this maiden dash and she ran well enough in her races last year to be considered the tough one. If the top pick gets mixed up in a pace battle then Hekla’s Aura had a good stretch kick in her season debut.
