Woodbine Racetrack will present a $40,000 guaranteed pool for its early Pick-4 Thursday evening
. The Pick-4 will kick off as usual in Race 4.
Greg Gangle of the Woodbine Entertainment Group’s media department has handicapped the four races and has offered his thoughts on tonight’s Pick-4.
Race 4 - 2, 3, 6, 9
Race 5 - 2, 5, 9
Race 6 - 2, 3, 8
Race 7 - 3, 6, 8
Total - $108 for $1, or $21.60 for $.20
To view the entries for Woodbine's Thursday night card, click here.
RACE 4
#2. Millershighlites - has been knocking on the door in her last three starts and could jump up for the win. She posted multiple wins at this level before and there's no reason why she couldn't be a threat tonight. There are about four horses that could win tonight.
#4. Yankeelicious - will likely be the post time favourite after posting two consecutive victories at this class leading up to tonight. I would expect Waples to try and engineer the same sort of trip like last week. With Post 3, he is in a great position to dictate how he would like to race this mare.
#6. Smokin N Grinin - Montini is making just his third start with the filly after finishing fifth in the final of the Niagara Stakes last week. She's a great value at 9-2 on the morning line after having won at this level on December 2. With the right trip, she could provide a mild upset.
#9. Watoozie Girl - at 7-1 morning line odds, she's the sleeper in this field I think. She has won five of her last six starts and raced primarily at this level. I'm not worried about her Post 9 start -- she can leave alertly and get spotted if Filion decides to do so.
RACE 5
#2. Barnacle Boy - got parked to the opening quarter in both of his last two starts at Kawartha Downs and still drove away to victory. I don't think that will happen tonight with a Post 2 start. Kawartha Downs certainly isn't like racing on the WEG circuit, but trainer Per Henriksen has a great reputation of bringing young horses to this circuit where they can compete. He wouldn't bring him here unless he thought he would be competitive or win!
#5. Act One - has yet to miss the board in three career starts, two of which were victories. This is the first time he will race on this circuit and he will likely be the post time favourite. His second dam is Alis Cat, the dam of Hambletonian winner Amigo Hall (3, 1:54, $1,046,905). He was another horse that trainer Blair Burgess trained and co-owned. Pedigree will be on his side when the race unfolds.
#9. Lucerne De Vie - is certainly due for a win at this level. Last week he got tired late in the stretch but still trotted a respectable mile of 1:57.4. Post 9 is a disadvantage, but he does show gate speed so Baillargeon could place him if need be.
RACE 6
#2. Racy Gal Hanover - scored an open-length victory last week with a :28.3 final quarter. Tonight she has a much better post and I'm sure Baillargeon will get her raced near the front. She will have to step it up tonight compared to last week's class, but with the right trip she could post a mild upset.
#3. Highland Dancer - has posted five wins from 20 starts this year and has WEG's leading trainer, Richard Moreau. If she can leave well and secure an off-the-pace trip, I think she would be in a great spot at the top of the stretch to score the victory over likely post time favourite Tymal Dalia. If she's on the front or gets away too far back, I don't like her chances.
#8. Tymal Dalia - I watched her December 17 start where she made an unlikely break in stride (I'm still trying to figure out what happened). If there was an issue, I'm sure trainer Jeff Gillis has corrected it. She's not a standout in this race but has been very consistent other than last week.
RACE 7
#3. Banners Legacy - won last week at Western Fair by 7-lengths after finishing seventh the week before with an awful time of 2:07. I think something happened to her two weeks ago, but she responded well to win in 2:00.3 last week. It's a step up for her this week, but she did pace in 1:54 and 1:55 earlier this year in the Whenuwishuponaeligible and nephew Jody Jamieson will handle the lines tonight, which is also a plus.
#5. Kennairn Crystal - cut the mile out last week, but faded late in the stretch. I wasn't impressed with her :30.4 final quarter, but I think Filion will work out an off-the-pace effort tonight. She also seems to be getting better with every start.
#8. Sign O The Rainbow - is due for a win at this level. She competed in the Autumn Stakes which is a much higher class than this. I thought she was the winner last week, but she didn't have that late closing kick. It will be interesting to see what Filion does with her. I'd hate to see her not positioned well in the early going.
(WEG)