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There is little more than a month left of action in 2025 at Woodbine Racetrack, including a good card this Saturday that not only contains a trio of graded stakes races, but also a no brainer promotion at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Just cruise over to our promotions page, register, and receive 10X rewards points for all wagers. Here a few horses I plan to build my day around in Toronto on Saturday afternoon.
Race 6:
My first play comes in this MSW event for 2YO fillies traveling 1 1/16 miles over the Inner Turf where I am willing to take a swing against 8-5-ML favorite #4 La Culasse, as well as 5-2-second choice #3 Lapin de Plage. La Culasse has burnt a lot of money already, while Lapin de Plage has had her chances. #7 Scotch Mist is lighter raced coming into this spot with just two starts under her belt. She did not show much speed from the gate in either of her first two tries, but did show the ability to finish in both efforts under jockey Jose Campos. The Volatile filly is clearly still learning like many of her rivals, but should get an honest pace to run at for a barn that has won with 24% of their starters in 2025. The Keeneland September 2024 purchase should be finishing with energy at a solid price.
Play: #7 Scotch Mist (6-1 ML)
Race 7: Maple Leaf (G3)
The first of the stakes races is for fillies and mares at 1 1/4-miles over the synthetic where there should be an honest pace given the presence of #1 Hurricane Clair, #2 For Flying, and #5 Blitz. This bodes well for #4
Long Ago. The 5YO mare gets back to the all-weather and being able to use the anti-bleeding medication Lasix after four starts without it in the States. The daughter of Roaring Lion ran two big races earlier this year with Lasix, including a 6.5-length romp over the synthetic surface at Turfway Park in March, but has failed to hit the board in her last two over the grass against graded stakes foes. Veteran jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson
should be able to draft in off the early speeds and take control before they turn for home. Trainer Billy Morey appears to have found a great spot for a mare he claimed for $80k back in June. She should be set for her best on Saturday afternoon.
Play: #4 Long Ago (3-1 ML)
Race 9: Bessarabian (G3)
My final spot play of the afternoon comes in this competitive 7-furlong dash for the ladies over the all-weather where #12 Caitlinhergrtness is no doubt the class of the field. The $925k earner has won 2 of 6 this year and earned well over $200k, but has done so in races at two-turns. The cutback by trainer Kevin Attard is an interesting decision, but perhaps she is ready to roll and this is simply the best option. That said, I cannot swallow the chalk given her lack of experience in sprints, so I will lean on #2 Les Reys. The Penny’s Picnic filly cut back to one-turn last time out and got a dream run under jockey Rafael Hernandez in her victory in the Ontario Fashion (G3). Normally, I would fade a runner coming off a dream run, but Les Reys figures to get a very similar voyage once again given her inside draw and the overall likely race shape. Hopefully, she is able to save ground in the pocket under Hernandez and use her strong late kick to out finish this solid bunch of female sprinters and make it two in a row since arriving in Canada for the Miguel Clement trainee.
Play: #2 Les Reys (4-1 ML)
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