Woodbine preview: Sprint key to pick fours
Walkers Terrace dropping
Walkers Terrace is dropping to where he’s liable to get back on track in the sixth, an important race because it’s the third leg of the early pick four and the first leg of the second pick four.
Walkers Terrace finished third behind future Grade 3 stakes winner Sky Captain and the talented Air Blade the last time he sprinted in first-level allowance April 20. He was beaten double digits after flashing speed in two subsequent allowance routes and could be much more effective racing from somewhere off the pace in this $40,000 claimer for nonwinners of two. The 6 1/2-furlong distance should be suitable for the 4-year-old gelding, who will break from the outside post in a seven-horse field under Jesse Campbell.
Others who merit consideration in the sixth include Stevie Loves Women, Angry Moon, and Ezzthetic.
New shooters in feature
Sachem Spirit is making his first start for leading trainer Mark Casse following a 10-month layoff in the eighth, a second-level optional claimer scheduled for a mile on the grass. The highlight of his career was a runner-up placing behind future Grade 1 stakes winner Silver Max in the 2012 Arlington Classic.
Other newcomers in the eighth include Say Ow and Unbridled Fire from the United States; and the English import Flashlight, who’s going on Lasix for his first outing since winning a handicap under 133 pounds last August at Epsom.
It’s an intriguing handicapping puzzle, for sure, and Sachem Spirit is the lukewarm 3-1 morning-line favorite off some rapid works.
Bray back on Bare Is Best
Apprentice Jenna Bray will try for a unique double aboard Bare Is Best in the fifth. Bray won her first career race last Sunday on Bare Is Best, in an $8,000 claimer on the turf at Fort Erie, and she’s looking to end an 0-for-22 drought at Woodbine this year. The inconsistent 5-year-old Bare Is Best is 15-1 on the morning line.
Jabali seems poised to win the nine-furlong route for $6,250 claimers. He was a belated third when returning from a six-month absence in a $12,500 claimer June 13. His trainer, Kevin Attard, has solid numbers second time off long layoff.