Woodbine Mohawk Park: Monday 7/23 Analysis
Best Bet: BATTLE STRONG (7th)
Spot Play: JMS DELIGHT (6th)
Race 1 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 4 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
PICK 5: 3,6,8/4,5,7/5,7,8/5,10/2,3,4 = $32.40
EARLY PICK 4: 5,10/2,3,4/4,6,9/1,2 = $36
LATE PICK 4: 4,5,7/3,4/4,7,8/5,8,10 = $54
MEET STATS: 220 - 635 / $1,327.80 BEST BETS: 34 - 58 / $118.60
SPOT PLAYS: 21 - 55 / $131.00
Race 1
Many of these Grassroots races produce prices and I'll side with (6) THE FIRST STEP in the opener in search of a price to kick off the Pick 5. His opener at Kawartha was good enough to suggest he could step up here. (3) CENTURY FARROH raced well enough in his opener to make him a contender here and the barn has been heating up recently. (8) DA DELIGHTFUL went a long trip last time as the chalk and still closed in 28 flat. He's another major contender here. (2) SHADOW OF A DAUT closed okay in his debut now he moves inside; consider for exotics.
Race 2
(7) QUICKSTAR BLUECHIP - a $130K Lexington purchase - is by a top sire out of an unraced dam who is a half-sister to $1 million dollar earner Solar Sister and he looks ready to roll based on his July 17th qualifier; top call. (4) MO BETTOR unleashed an impressive and devastating late kick to win a Grassroots last time and he's the one to beat off that mile. (5) CHIEFS BEACH finished quickly in both starts and he's another who could take this with a trip. (2) BIG KIZ had a decent enough debut to make him a contender here.
Race 3
(8) TWIN B JAYS was flying late after being interfered with in his debut and he can take this with a clean trip. (5) SAUBLE PLAY found this division to his liking in his first try and a repeat of that effort puts him right there with these. (7) P L MCCRACKEN is related to a few decent ones and he looks ready based on his lone qualifier; using. (4) MOONSHINE KISSES is the kind of Steacy pupil that can pop at a price in a race like this; don't discount.
Race 4
(10) STAG PARTY has proven to be the best two-year-old pacing colt in the country so far and the 10-hole didn't stop him last time. I'll stick with him here. (5) SUNSHINES FINEST was beaten by the choice last time but he gave him a good tussle and he's right in the mix again. (1) BEST IN SHOW may be one of the best-bred colts you'll see this year, but he has his work cut out in this debut; smaller share predicted. (6) BETTORS WISH was overbet last time vs. the choice but he should be good for a share again here.
Race 5
(3) ZEUS LIGHTNING bravely stuck his neck out in deep stretch last time to take another win and he is dangerous here right back; call to repeat. (4) CHESTNUT SCHOFIELD takes a sizable drop here and he should get put into play by Hensley; using. (2) UP THE ALLEY can be much more of a factor here moving inside. I'll use him on multi race tickets. (9) STAR BUSTER is interesting moving into the Steacy barn. Notice he has won 10 of his last 22 starts.
Race 6
(4) JMS DELIGHT was too far back last time, but still cut into the lead in a 28 flat final quarter. Expect a more aggressive steer this time. (6) CARLISIMO also closed well in that race and he also rates highly here. (9) B STONEY won easily at a big price in his first Grassroots try and he is another I'll use in this Pick 4. (11) FAST N FIRST is worth a look going for a barn that has been doing well.
Race 7
(1) BATTLE STRONG went a big trip to win last time and a repeat is likely here. (2) BALDER SON finished quickly in his debut and he looms as the main danger here. (6) KENNY JOE failed as the chalk, but he recovered well from an early break and he could go better here if he behaves. (9) BETTORS PRIDE got closer in each of his qualifiers and he's worth a look for Tri and Super bets.
Race 8
(9) CAVIART ROCKLAND raced a bit greenly, but he also paced a huge debut mile and he should be tough right back. (7) BRONX SEELSTER also produced a powerful effort winning his last race and this should be a great tilt between these two. (5) SPORTY MCSPORTSTER was no match for Bronx Seelster last time but he can take another share here. (4) THE REGULATOR was a closing 2nd to the choice in a good effort and he's another for use underneath here.
Race 9
(5) MITTNITE DELIGHT improved in his second start and he may jump up and win this at a price; slight nod. (4) MACHDAVID was driven like he was the best despite being double digit odds and he converted. I'll use him in the Pick 4 here. (7) AGEDCHEDAR HANOVER was first up trying to close into the fastest quarter of the race last time. He could threaten with a different trip here. (10) SPORTS CHARM drops from Gold to Grassroots and he's worth a look on that angle alone.
Race 10
(4) SPORTS HERO was ready for a big effort last time and he got pounded at the windows; call to repeat. (3) VILLAGE CHAMP goes for a barn that has won with a few making their second starts recently; using. (7) TARAGON closed a good gap in the back half last time and he should be a threat here. (6) CLIFFHANGER had an eventful trip in his debut. He could be much better here at a price.
Race 11
(4) BOYS TURN was flying late last time despite the pace accelerating; top call. (7) OK KUDO is another that was closing fast and the Steacy/Macdonald trainer/driver combo is deadly in this division typically; using. (8) KEYSTONE CONCRETE can't be faulted for his nice debut win. Toss him in the Pick 4. (6) CANT BE BETTER faces easier here after breaking while leading Gold rivals. He could wake up at a price.
Race 12
(5) MYBROTHERGEORGE lands in a spot where the late pace may collapse for him. I'll take a stab here. (8) REGIL TIGER is back in good form and he is a big threat here. (10) JENKINS CREEK excels in this class but post 10 may be hard to overcome with other expected leavers to his inside. (7) MACKTWOWILLDEW is on a roll but he leaves a hot barn; your call. (3) LIGHT FOOT RD may be able to close late to get a piece of this.
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