Ron Gierkink's Woodbine handicapping notebook for April 18

Sunday, April 13 review

Mike DePaulo led all trainers after opening weekend, with three scores from six starters. All three of his winners wintered in Ontario, including Bears Grace, who shrugged off a challenger on the lead and then held off Angel With Class in the stretch to prevail in a five-furlong Ontario-sired allowance on Sunday.

DePaulo said a big chunk of his 38-horse stable is made up of 2-year-olds.

“I’m rebuilding, like the Leafs,” he joked, referring to the disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs, who failed to make the National Hockey League playoffs this year.

Justin Stein, who rode Bears Grace, is tied atop the jockey standings with Jesse Campbell. Both have four victories from 10 mounts after they each bagged a triple on Saturday. Juan Crawford was a surprising 2 for 5 through opening weekend, which knotted him for third with Luis Contreras, who had 14 mounts.

Perennial leading trainer Mark Casse swept the early double, with 8-1 outsider Symphony On Ice and the heavily favored Tactical Moment, who didn’t look as good on paper as entrymate Notion in the second. Notion was hard-ridden at the back of the pack while going a distance (5 1/2 furlongs) much shorter than his optimum. He checked in fifth in the six-horse field, an effort that should set him up for the stretchout.

The inside paths were preferred. Horses who ran well on the outside included Friend Dale, Tormenta Fiera, Bella’s Rebel, Sorry About That, Really Sharp, I’m Good With It and Red Fever. All merit close scrutiny when they reappear.

For the second straight day, betting on the early pick four failed to reach the $100,000 guarantee. The handle of $1.9 million was down over 20 percent compared to the second day of the 2013 meet.

HORSES TO WATCH

TORMENTA FIERA
Trainer: Mike Doyle
Last race: April 13, 2nd
Finish: 4th by 6 1/2
Beyer: 58
He lagged behind the rest of the field and then made up some ground on the outside over an inside-favoring track in this 5 1/2-furlong maiden special before galloping out in front. That race should set the router up perfectly for a two-turn engagement on Polytrack, or a one-turn race on turf.

FRIEND DALE
Trainer: Mort Hardy
Last race: April 13, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 4
Beyer: 65
He gave the rest of the field a two-length head start after breaking in the air, and then rallied wide in the stretch on a track that seemed inside-biased. He had worked quickly in preparation for that encouraging debut, and should be better for the experience.

Friday, April 18 preview

DePaulo sends out 2011 Canadian champion 3-year-old Pender Harbour in the seven-furlong allowance feature, which is for non-winners of $60,000 in the past eight months. Pender Harbour, who placed in five stakes without winning in seven starts last year, could be viewed as a vulnerable favorite in his first start since Dec. 4, although he did winter in Florida. Prefer the winter-raced runners Sniper and Chief Thundercloud, who are both in good form. The middle-distance expert Bobcaygeon wound up a distant fifth behind four next-out winners in a tough optional claimer at Gulfstream in January, and wouldn’t be any surprise.

A mere 53 horses were entered on the eight-race card, which had an average field size of 6.6 runners before scratches.
The lone pick four, which begins on race 4, is guaranteed at $50,000. There are no standouts in the sequence, but Gulfstream shipper Ray of Light should take some catching in the fourth, a $10,000 conditioned claimer going five-eighths.

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover for the eighth race is $7,018.