Gierkink's preview: Race 7 key for pick four players

Pivotal seventh race

The seventh race concludes the early pick four, which has a guaranteed pool of $100,000, and begins the second pick-four sequence. Ninja Queen (6-1) should be competitive in the Ontario-sired allowance route on grass, even though her last two efforts on Polytrack were subpar. She rallied for second in her last turf outing Aug. 8 behind upstart Zazinga, who came right back to drill Ontario-sired 3-year-old filly opposition in the La Prevoyante Stakes.

There are several entrants trying turf for the first time who are bred for the surface, including the Sligo Bay filly Hurricane Mimi (9-2). Rebel Lioness (7-2) and Rebellious Love (20-1) are both by Rebellion, who has sired turf winners Sine Metu and Butilovesyababe at the meet.

The temporary rail on the turf is in lane 3. The course was labeled “good” on Friday, and could be firm for Saturday.

How good is Pohdi Pohdi?

Pohdi Pohdi is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the $125,000 Victorian Queen, and will be making her stakes debut in the six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired juvenile fillies, off a dazzling debut score.

Pohdi Pohdi was bet down to 3-2 at first asking in a five-furlong maiden special Aug. 23, when she assumed command on the turn before drawing away to prevail by nine lengths. The 78 Beyer Speed Figure she earned then is the highest for a 2-year-old filly at Woodbine this year.

A subsequent allowance for Pohdi Pohdi failed to fill, but she has worked fast leading up to the Victorian Queen. On Sept. 8, she breezed five-eighths over a quick Polytrack in 59.60 seconds with her stakes-winning stablemate Goodoldhockeygame.

“She might be a little short on seasoning, but she’s going into the race in real good shape,” said trainer Bob Tiller, who has won the Victorian Queen twice.

Tiller also sends out Nandi Stakes winner Eff Bee Eye (5-1), who’s coming off a front-running third in the Muskoka Stakes.

Indiantown Sunrise (8-1) is making her first start for trainer Pat Parente off an easy first-out tally in a maiden special weight sprint on grass at Gulfstream. She’s one of two entrants by freshman sire and Queen’s Plate winner Not Bourbon, along with Internal Bourbon (6-1), who graduated over an impressive next-out winner Sept. 14.