Gierkink's preview: 149,227 reasons to play
149,227 reasons to play the Jackpot Hi 5
The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover is $149,227, which makes the ninth race worth taking a long look at for those who normally wouldn’t give this tricky wager a passing glance.
This nine-furlong route for $12,500 non-winners of two is wide open. Off a pair of sprint preps, Wales End figures to secure the early lead under 10-pound bug Jenna Bray, who’s seeking her first win. Wales End seems capable of leading all the way, in the manner of her Sept. 22 maiden victory going 1 1/16 miles. Her trainer, Don MacRae, was 6 for 16 at the meet heading into this week.
The wild card is Take a Pitch, who has been sidelined since landing on the edges in back-to-back Ontario-sired allowances last spring. His trainer, Lisa Burry, recently scored with Kay’s Grace, who was returning from a seven-month layoff under Matt Moore, who has the call on Take a Pitch.
Back to the grass
Turf racing was scrapped Wednesday night due to violent rainstorm on Tuesday. With the temporary rail in lane 2, most of the course will be used on Friday, and the ground shouldn’t be as hard as it was last week.
Netti Sioux merits top billing in the second, a six-furlong maiden special, off her good 2-year-old form last August. She hit the board in a pair of turf races then, most notably a second to Appreciating where she left future Grade 2 Natalma Stakes winner LLanarmon in her wake. Netti Sioux is making her first start with Lasix, a 17 percent angle with trainer Brian Lynch over the past five years ($1.73 return on investment). She is an inviting 3-1 on the morning line behind the favored Amethea, who’s trying the grass for the first time without much breeding for the surface.
Ontario-sired maiden females go a 1 1/16 miles in the fourth. The Colebrook Farm entry of And I Did and Rare Affair should be well backed, but longshot Blushing Amour is in with a chance in her first turf attempt. A full sister to the stakes-placed grasser Attitude Included, Blushing Amour missed the break before racing wide over a rail-favoring Polytrack in her dull comeback for trainer Ross Armata, who has excellent numbers second time off the shelf.
Horses to watch
CRAFTY GIZMO
Trainer: Nick Nosowenko
Last race: June 18, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 64
This attractive 3-year-old filly, who was live on the board at 4-1 in her debut, got sandwiched between rivals at the break before rallying four wide. The daughter of Giant Gizmo is bred to be a late developer, and might welcome moving out to a long sprint or 1 1/16 miles.