Horse Betting World

Tons of Talent on Turf

By Joey Adams

This is a big weekend of turf racing at Woodbine. Five graded stakes will be run, at a variety of distances for both males and females, and all age groups will be represented. Saturday the juveniles will take the stage in the $250,000 Summer Stakes-G3 and $200,000 Natalma Stakes-G3, and then Sunday older runners will get their chance in the $1,000,000 Woodbine Mile-G1, the $750,000 Northern Dancer-G1 and the $300,000 Canadian-G1.

Today we’re going to look in on Saturday’s stakes action.

RACE 6 – WOODBINE … ONE MILE (TURF) … $200,000 NATALMA-G3 … 2YO FILLIES

As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge this is a “Win and You’re In” race, with the winner receiving an automatic starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. A field of nine has been entered, and all eyes will be the big morning-line favorite 1-ROXY GAP (7/5). This Eugene Melnyk homebred is unbeaten in three career starts, winning by a combined 13 ¾ lengths. After easily winning her career debut, and then the $152,000 Shady Well Stakes, over polytrack, she made a successful transition to turf, drawing off to win the local course and distance prep. Showing her versatility, she has won front off the pace and in wire-to-wire fashion. In three starts she has earned three Beyer Speed Figures better than anyone else in the field has ever run. She figures tough once again. 7-MORE THAN REAL (2/1) was an impressive debut winner going two turns over turf at Saratoga last month. Since that race she has been switched from trainer Chad Brown to Todd Pletcher, who is 4-for-7 with stakes starters at Woodbine this year. She has continued to train well and capped off her preparation with a bullet move five days ago. Garrett Gomez, aboard for the debut win, makes the trip north to retain the mount. 4-SHEBA’S SECRET (9/2) is still a maiden and she finished nearly five lengths behind Roxy Gap last time out. That being said, she is from the barn of top local trainer Roger Attfield and she will be running with blinkers for the first time – a 31% angle for this barn. 3-DOS LUNAS (10/1) has run well in both starts on turf, including a debut win over the boys at Churchill Downs. A headstrong filly, she figures to have her sights on the early lead, where she could face pressure from 5-NEW NORMAL (8/1). This gal had a rough trip in her debut (finishing behind Sheba’s Secret) and came back 26 days later with a wire-to-wire score as the betting favorite. Losing her rider Patrick Husbands to the favorite, but picks up a more-than-suitable replacement in Javier Castellano.

RACE 9 – WOODBINE … ONE MILE (TURF) … $250,000 SUMMER-G3 … 2YO’S

This race is also part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, with the winner receiving a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Unlike the Natalma-G3, there is no heavy favorite in this race, making this a good race for bettors. 5-STORMY RUSH (5/2) trails others in here from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint but he has done nothing wrong so far, winning both starts by daylight – and both times he was the betting favorite. He easily won his debut going six furlongs over turf, and followed up with another easy score at the same distance over polytrack. Since that race he has trained exceptionally well, firing a pair of bullets over the local lawn. Jono Jones, who has ridden three runners in this field, elected to stay put on this colt. 7-RONIN DAX (10/1) trailed the field early as a 12/1 outsider in his career debut at Del Mar, but showed a strong turn-of-foot and drew away late to win at this distance. His stock rose when the runner-up, Acaffella, came right back to break maiden by six lengths against stakes company at Golden Gate Fields. Pat Valenzuela makes the trip from California to retain the mount, a positive sign. He just might be good enough to put a scare into these at a nice price. 8-FORUM (3/1) has taken his game to a new level since switching to turf and stretching out around two turns. Got up late to beat maidens at Saratoga last time out, earning a field-best Beyer Speed Figure. The main concern is that today’s race is a one-turn mile, and he may simply prefer something a bit longer. 4-PLUCK (2/1) goes the strong team of Pletcher and Gomez. He too has dramatically improved since switching to turf. Finished in a dead-heat for 2nd last time out at Monmouth, only a neck behind the winner, but was subsequently DQ’d and placed 4th for interference in the stretch. He has little margin for error against this bunch. 2-SILVERLEO is unbeaten in two starts on grass, both coming here at Woodbine. He won the local course and distance prep, scoring by a well-measured length at the 2/5 betting favorite. Headed in the right direction but needs a big effort today.