BEST BET: KITTEN’S FINEST – 4TH RACE 2-1
LONGSHOT PICK: SERENGETI CAT – 5TH RACE – 8 – 1
RACE 1 – 4 1/2 fur.; maiden special weight, 2yo fillies
4-2-6-1
4 – OWLETTE is the lone juvenile in the field with a race already as she debuted at Keeneland for noted 2yo trainer Wesley Ward. She was 2nd in that quick race and more than 7 lengths clear of the 3rd place finisher. She is an Ontario sired gal from the first crop of Frac Daddy, who was a graded stakes winner on the Woodbine all weather surface.
2 – SOCIETY’S STORY seems to be precocious with a trio of works at Keeneland in April including a gate prep on April 23. Her sire Society’s Chairman has had 4 debut winning 2yos from 10 debuting 2yo starters.
6 – WICKED ACT is from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Wicked Strong, who made $1.9 million on the track and won races such as the Jim dandy at Saratoga. Wicked Strong already has a 2yo debut winner from his first 2 starters.
RACE 2- 7 fur; maiden claiming $7,500
2-4-1-3
2- CALAIS COVE has had more chances at the maiden win than any other gal in the field but she also raced in Florida this winter and picked up some purse money in longer grass races. She should be plenty fit for this long sprint as she drops to a new low claiming price.
4 – EXCOMMUNICATE was sprinting well on all weather surfaces at Presque Isle and Woodbine for a stint last fall. Her trainer can have one ready off a layoff.
1 – MYSTERY DAY has had many workouts this spring and plenty of good clockings. She was racing at much higher levels last year as a 2-year-old sand will find this group much easier to handle. Her sire has Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby.
RACE 3 – 6 fur., starter/optional claiming
4-6-2-3
4 – DRINK IN MY HAND returns to his home province after a winter in Florida where he traded barns a couple of times and now resides with Tino Attard. The flashy 8-year-old was in super form at Gulfstream Park just over a month ago.
6 – FORT WISE TREATY ended 2018 on a winning note with Eurico da Silva riding (and he rode 6 winners last Sunday). Gelding fits with this group and his workout times have been super.
2 – DAYLIGHT BREEZE won his first start if 2018 with a blazing speed style but his habit of breaking slowly from the gate messed up the rest of his season. He might run well as a fresh horse again.
RACE 4 – 1 1/16 miles, maiden special weight; fillies and mares
3-1-7-5
3- KITTEN’S FINEST is coming to hand quickly for trainer Gail Cox. She is one of several gals in the field who raced in Florida in the winter and she was 2nd in her latest on the grass and 4 lengths clear of the 3rd place finisher.
1 – NIIGON’S SPIN is a first time starter for the Sovereign Award winning owners Chiefswood Stable. She is by the classy US sire Hard Spun and she has had loads of workouts in Florida and in Kentucky. Stuart Simon has a good record with beginners.
7 – AMBITIOUS MOON is another Chiefswood Stable runner and she is a lightly raced 5-year-old. She missed by inches in her next-to-last outing last season on the grass and will win her maiden soon.
RACE 5- 6 1/2 fur.; maiden claiming $25,000
6-5-3-7
6- THEREGOESJOJO raced against maiden allowance types at Woodbine last year and in 2017 and picked up some shares. He had a modest stint in Florida but two recent grass runs were trouble-filled. He’s fit and his barn is off to a good start.
5 SERENGETI CAT is making his 3rd start off the layoff after runs at Parx and Aqueduct. He added blinkers for his latest and had pressing speed while very wide.
3 – IN A TWIST was beaten the tiniest of noses in his Dec. 2 run at this class level at 6 furlongs. The barn sent out a quick one to win on opening day also with Luis Contreras riding.
RACE 6- 5 fur.; Claiming $20,000
6-7-5-1
6 – UNSEEN ANGELS is an 11 time winner from 27 races and she is 3 for 5 at this short distance. She is working fast for Norm Mcknight for her firstrace since December.
7 – MADISON WAY is dropping to below the claimed price for her season debut. She rarely runs a bad race and she did well in a 5 1/2 furlong opener last April 22.
5 – WESTLODGE INTRIGUE has not won in a couple of seasons but was in the money 4 of her 8 runs in 2018 and she has been working a lot this spring for Mike Mattine.
RACE 7 – 6 fur.; claiming $10,000; fillies and mares
7-1-6-5
7- DANZIG RAINBOW won 4 of 8 races last year, always well spotted and she maintained beautiful form. She comes off a well deserved rest and has a nice post to stalk the inside speed.
1 – MISS FORESTER was given the call to win her season debut on opening weekend but she weakened late while on perhaps the tougher part of the track (the inside). She draws the rail with speed to her outside so this trip might not be much better.
6 – LIGHT MY PATH is back at her favourite track after a disastrous 3 race run at Parx and Penn National. Trainer Scott Fairlie had a longshot winner last week with a filly who had similarly poor dirt form.
RACE 8 – 7 fur.; maiden claiming $15,000
3-2-1-7
3 – KEEP YOUR SILENCE is one of several fillies dropping inc lass for the return to racing off a winter layoff. She goes without Lasix and beat more than half the field in her first career race. Breeda and John Hayes are 1 for 1 at the meeting.
2 – SUGATI has had a lot of workouts which can help at this long sprint distance. She loses the blinkers and drops in class.
1 – JADE’S JOURNEY is another class dropper and she only raced twice last year, both times at 5 furlongs. She didn’t show much but could go better at this class level.
7 – TRICKERATION has stamina and that can come in handy off the layoff at this distance.
