Woodbine review: Was there a bias?

Sunday, June 15 review

Five of the nine Polytrack events on the Woodbine Oaks card were won by front-runners, but was there a powerful speed bias on the day? Probably not, since an examination of the results reveals that three of those winners benefited from setting a slow pace. Closers on the outside won races four through six if you include Dynamic Sky, who was cut off in the stretch by the leading Patrioticandproud in the fourth, before a promotion to first by disqualification. Dynamic Sky was probably going to win with a clear run.

Patrick Husbands rode Dynamic Sky along with two other winners on the card, notably Lexie Lou in the $500,400 Oaks. Lexie Lou tracked front-runner Wild Catomine until the far turn before taking control en route to a 4 1/2-length score. She is Queen’s Plate bound and could be the second choice in the 10-furlong Canadian classic behind the gifted Plate Trial winner, We Miss Artie.

In the Plate Trial, We Miss Artie had an ideal tune-up for the Queens Plate under a confident ride from 2013 Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano, who said he schooled the big colt with the Plate in mind. Based at Saratoga with trainer Todd Pletcher, We Miss Artie raced inside in midpack before angling wide for the drive and then collared the good maiden Majestic Sunset late under a strong hand ride, before being geared down late.

We Miss Artie’s nine-furlong time of 1:50.78 translated to an 82 Beyer Speed Figure. It was about a second slower than the clocking posted by Lexie Lou, who earned a 92 Beyer. The two races were run 38 minutes apart, and the quick Oaks pace seemingly contributed to the fast final time. The Plate Trial’s slow splits, which were set by Majestic Sunset, led to a final time that would have been quicker had “Artie” been asked to give his all.

Horses to Watch

SKY AMERICA
Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: June 15, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 2
Beyer: 73
She cut back in distance for the $138,000 Alywow Stakes, and was arguably best of the seven Casse runners in the 12-horse field. After racing wide through the turn in the turf sprint, she came with a big rally despite lacking a clear path in the stretch.

PROROGUING
Trainer: Bob Tiller
Last race: June 15, 11th
Finish: 2nd by 1 3/4
Beyer: 74
The son of successful grass sire Silent Name took to the turf like a duck to water in this six-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired stock. After saving ground on the turn, he closed with long strides to finish a clear second behind the gate-to-wire winner.