Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Ron Gierkink handicaps the Monday, July 6 racing card at Woodbine, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 1.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Princess Jade (1st race)
First Race
1. Princess Jade
2. Z Train
3. Regal Affair
PRINCESS JADE was farther back than usual early after getting bumped at the break when switching to the inner turf in her dull second race off the sidelines. She is dropping to compete with a tag for the first time going 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta, her preferred trip and surface. Z TRAIN disappointed in her last few, but is lengthening out to a suitable distance while getting some class relief and could get back on the beam. Hernandez broke her maiden and is 4 for 13 at the meet for KV. REGAL AFFAIR is experimenting over a route of ground with ample stamina in her pedigree and could hit the ticket.
Here are Ron’s thoughts on the other nine races on Monday’s Woodbine card.
Second Race
1. Night Striker
2. Baltic Sea
3. Celestial Heart
NIGHT STRIKER has been a disappointment since he was disqualified from first in an inner turf tilt at this level Oct. 11. He ran a weird race last time on the inner course when third before dropping back and then came back on for third. He may have found a field that he can handle this time. BALTIC SEA is taking a decent turf pedigree into his turf debut and second career start. He had a wide trip over an inside-favoring track in his lackluster opener on the Tapeta. Longtime maiden CELESTIAL HEART is a candidate for the lower rungs of the exotics.
Third Race
1. Turbo Charged
2. My Boy Bruce
3. You’re So Lucky
TURBO CHARGED began slowly before rallying stoutly from seventh to beat $10K maidens going away in his first two-turn attempt just over two weeks ago. He’s a likely repeater in this $7.5K non-two tilt if he gets some pace to chase. MY BOY BRUCE is going long for the first time with some stamina in his bloodlines off a series of fringe finishes. Note that his trainer has some positive stats pertaining to this situation, albeit from small samples. YOU’RE SO LUCKY ran on a golden rail while checking in third over a speed-favoring track in his latest.
Fourth Race
1. Ashuka
2. Silent Knight
3. Crosby
ASHUKA stalked the pace in the two-path over a track that favored speed and inside runners when a much-improved second in his second race back from a winter layoff. Apprentice Blackett has a win and a second in three rides for this live barn. SILENT KNIGHT was protected by waiver when a distant third off a seven-month absence June 12, a race he seemingly needed. CROSBY has changed trainers since another disappointing run June 12 and woke up.
Fifth Race
1. Awesome Malibu
2. Accelerando
3. Sanhedrin
AWESOME MALIBU is worth a flyer in his second turf try. He went too fast up front before folding most recently when going a mile on the inner turf and could go slower on the lead this time with blinkers off, over a course that could favor speed with the rail in lane 4. ACCELERANDO rallied inside to finish a close third as the favorite in a similar spot June 11 when the inner turf was kind to speed. Leading rider Moran picks up the mount for Tharrenos, a solid combo. SANHEDRIN had a troubled trip in his latest on the inner turf, a race you can ignore. This third start off the bench could be an improved one.
Sixth Race
1. Decadent Danish
2. Kamasi
3. Call Me Bond
DECADENT DANISH placed in both of his outings during the spring in routes on different surfaces at this non-two class. This third race off the sidelines could be a peak one under third-leading rider Aebly, who has excellent numbers for the barn. KAMASI wired OS/$40K maidens with the aid of an inside/speed bias when dropping from maiden special company in his latest. Leading rider Pietro Moran has given him a vote of confidence. King’s Plate nominee CALL ME BOND, who had a troubled run in his comeback, is stretching out beyond seven-eighths for the first time with a blend of speed and stamina in his pedigree.
Seventh Race
1. Instant Response
2. Big Screen Boss
3. Gone Hunting
INSTANT RESPONSE is a sprinter with early foot who figures to shake clear up front in his first try around two turns in this one-mile inner turf route. With the rail in the speed-friendly lane 4, he could make all the running under regular rider Alderson. BIG SCREEN BOSS filled out the exacta in nine of 12 outings, including in a recent grass experiment over this course. GONE HUNTING and BEACH FACTOR are prospects for the lower rungs of vertical bets.
Eighth Race
1. El Capo
2. William T
3. Guerra
EL CAPO earned black type two back when third in the Woodstock Stakes and is coming off a fast (86 Beyer) maiden score going the seven-furlong distance of this non-two allowance. The huge KY-bred is making his first start for his third different trainer and could lead all the way. WILLIAM T has been knocking on the door at this level and should be along for another share. GUERRA is coming off a relatively slow (71 Beyer) maiden win where he rallied from off a fast pace to prevail.
Ninth Race
1. Purr Factor
2. Madame Obey
3. Crystal Visions
PURR FACTOR showed that she prefers racing on the lead last time in her front-running tally in a $25K Tapeta sprint. She has some positive inner turf experience and could go coast-to-coast in this 7 1/2-furlong event with the rail in the speed-friendly lane 4. MADAME OBEY came from third to break her maiden over this course and distance a month ago. CRYSTAL VISIONS finished either second or third in each of her last five outings and should be used accordingly in the gimmicks.
Tenth Race
1. Padraig
2. Rapporteur
3. Go Go Alexander
PADRAIG is protected by waiver for his first outing since a wide-closing second over a rail-biased track in a Dec. 12 contest that contained three next-out winners. He’s been working right along and probably won’t need one. RAPPORTEUR is adding blinkers off a dull comeback race, during which he went three-wide on the turn over a track that favored speed and inside runners. GO GO ALEXANDER is worth a look for the exotics with the addition of Lasix as Henandez stays aboard.
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