Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Ron Gierkink handicaps the Sunday, May 17 racing card at Woodbine, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 5.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Ludicrous (5th race)
Fifth Race
1. Ludicrous
2. I’ve Got the Honey
3. Mathematical
LUDICROUS was sandwiched at the break and was in tight along the inside at the top of the stretch when a chalky fifth last time out in a slightly tougher allowance/optional claimer Nov. 30. The 4yo has worked regularly for a successful trainer who has a 24% strike rate when giving Hernandez a leg up. I’VE GOT THE HONEY was freshened after several placings over the winter on the Tampa turf. Elite sire Not This Time has gotten 13% winners in synthetic sprints. MATHEMATICAL was sold at a digital sale for $85K after checking in third in a Nov. 22 restricted stakes for juvenile fillies and has worked okay for a trainer with a 25% strike rate with new shooters.
Here are Ron’s thoughts on the other ten races on Sunday’s Woodbine card.
First Race
1. Elissa’s Macho
2. Bee Me
3. Mr. Perfect
ELISSA’S MACHO missed the break before closing from far back for second the only time she went postward in October. She’s meeting males under leading rider Pietro Moran and had a lovely half-mile breeze where she beat her company last Saturday. Professional maiden BEE ME comes off a flat third in his season opener, a race he may have needed. MR. PERFECT finished a close second at this level Dec. 5 and was fifth behind a next-out winner against tougher in his return to action.
Second Race
1. Sassagoula River
2. Clear Position
3. Bettermustcome
SASSAGOULA RIVER fought for the lead before fading to third behind a next-out winner when debuting vs. $7.5K maidens at Turfway in February. The fast-working first-time gelding is making his first start for KV, who has a 40% strike rate with new acquisitions. CLEAR POSITION was a clear second after a stalking trip over a speed-conducive track in her comeback. BETTERMUSTCOME is continuing his slide down the value ladder and might wake up in his third race off the shelf.
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Third Race
1. Hymn to Her
2. Arianna’s Tour
3. You Be the Judge
HYMN TO HER raced wide while closing from fifth to third over a speed-favoring track in her comeback. Her hot trainer has solid numbers second-time off a layoff. ARIANNA’S TOUR notched her debut last August and subsequently ran fourth in a restricted stakes for 2yo fillies in September before going on hiatus. She’s meeting older company, but can fire when fresh. YOU BE THE JUDGE, who wintered at Gulfstream, is cheapening up for the third start of her form cycle and should be used underneath in the gimmicks.
Fourth Race
1. Reach for the Top
2. Save the Date
3. Might Bee Trouble
REACH FOR THE TOP won her first two outings last summer and is certainly quite capable when fresh. She’s beginning her campaign at a realistic level and should be dangerous if she fires one of her better shots. SAVE THE DATE rode a speed bias in a decisive victory over non-two stock three weeks ago when claimed for $7.5K. MIGHT BEE TROUBLE and I’M TENACIOUS are candidates for the lower rungs of the exotics.
Sixth Race
1. Captivating Name
2. Souper Strider
3. You and Me Baby
CAPTIVATING NAME had a very wide trip while rallying for second over a track with a golden rail Nov. 20, after which he got the winter off in Ocala. He’s protected by waiver in this $15K non-two tilt and should be rolling late in his first start for the Callaghans. SOUPER STRIDER got away slowly before racing off a live rail when far back Dec. 12. He was gelded during his winter vacay and could be much-improved. YOU AND ME BABY rode a live rail in his $10K maiden tally Dec. 12. He got tired in his comeback should be much fitter for the experience.
Seventh Race
1. Princess Jade
2. Aethelflaed
3. Bound to Be True
PRINCESS JADE reached full bloom last fall when first and second in a pair of Tapeta routes. The 5yo worked nicely the other day and is a capable sprinter when fresh in the spring. AETHELFLAED shook loose up front and never looked back when taking a seven-furlong maiden special in her lone start in late October. That race contained two next-out winners and this Irish-bred could have a bright future. BOUND TO BE TRUE breezed a rapid half-mile last Saturday and is eligible to regress off her comeback score vs. non-three stock.
Eighth Race
1. Luster
2. Dixie Law
3. Lakota Lady
LUSTER went unbeaten in a pair of turf races, winning an N1X at Keeneland most recently off a long layoff with a 76 Beyer. The daughter of 15% synthetic sire Knicks Go is prepping for the Woodbine Oaks along with another talented Ontario-bred, DIXIE LAW. The latter annexed two restricted stakes last fall before a fading fourth in a fast edition of the Coronation Futurity. She wintered in Florida and the addition of Lasix might explain that last flat performance. Promising maiden LAKOTA LADY ran against a speed bias when a clear second in her first synthetic track excursion in the April 25 Star Shoot Stakes. Hernandez is sticking with Dixie Law and Vives won this stakes last year on Brindi.
Ninth Race
1. Philip Banks
2. Dewolf
3. Duckduckduck
PHILIP BANKS sticks out in this non-three dash off his fine Tapeta form last fall. He got a whopping 98 Beyer when wiring non-two rivals Oct. 18 and found seven-eighths too far when second the time before. Fast worker DEWOLF had a disappointing 2025 campaign after several solid efforts in stakes at 2 in 2024. He was gelded during the off-season and could be rejuvenated. DUCKDUCKDUCK is meeting older rivals in his sophomore debut. He overcame an inside bias with a sweeping wide rally when landing the Nov. 23 Clarendon Stakes.
Tenth Race
1. Elusive Yaupon
2. Campus Queen
3. Refinement
ELUSIVE YAUPON finished a close second at first asking on the inner turf in October and has been idle since a Dec. 3 fade job on the Tapeta. She can acquit herself well when fresh and could overcome her outside draw to win this maiden special under Pietro, who was aboard for her opener. CAMPUS QUEEN was claimed for $50K from her dull Feb. 27 debut at Gulfstream and has since worked extensively here on the Tapeta. REFINEMENT is bred to be precocious and her breeze last Saturday wasn’t bad. SUPERFLY CHICK showed promise at 2 and could join the fray in her seasonal bow.
Eleventh Race
1. Katherine’s Cub
2. Mighty Tanner
3. Rideau Falls
KATHERINE’S CUB placed behind the likes of Going Lucky, Z Train and Minimum Forty last year at 3. She could break through with the capable bug Douglas taking over for good layoff trainer KA, who’s also sending out the dropping MIGHTY TANNER. RIDEAU FALLS is another dropper from the maiden special ranks who could make some noise in her first run of the season. MONEY HEIST filled out the tri in all three of her races and could improve with the addition of Lasix.
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