Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto, Ontario has an interesting card on Thursday. The Canadian horse racing track offers up excellent turf events. We handicap three of those turf races and also make free picks for each. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Woodbine Racecourse for Thursday, July 2. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Woodbine Racecourse Horse Racing Picks
- When: Thursday, July 2 at 3:45 pm ET
- Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Weather: Mainly Sunny
Trainer Zeljko Krcmar moves 5-year-old mare Bel Tempo up $10,000 dollars from optional claiming $15,000. Ah, but that’s the thing, right? Optional claiming $15,000 may be a higher level than $25,000 claiming. It depends, of course, but it’s definitely not much lower than $25,000 claiming. If Bel Tempo repeats the last effort, she wins.
San Nicola Storm could get into the exacta. From 4 races at the distance, Nicola has a win and a second. She has a win, place, and show from 6 races over the lawn. A work on June 22, 5 furlongs in a minute, signals that she’s ready.
9/5 on the morning line Spring in the Wind looks like a stand out. The Anthony Quartarolo trained 6-year-old mare takes a significant drop from $23,000 allowance company into this claiming event. But she’s never won racing over the grass while Quartarolo is 0-for-36 going dirt to turf. We’ll use in the trifecta but that’s it.
- Win: Bel Tempo
- Place: San Nicola Storm
- Show: Spring in the Wind
Jhlor Jan could upset the field at 6/1. Trainer Kelly Callaghan put a nice move into this one after she finished seventh in her debut. That race was a $123,000 maiden special weight event going 6 furlongs over Woodbine’s turf. Because Gio Ponti sired her, Jhlor Jan is bred to go longer. She can upset the field.
Big Cheeks showed little in her first over the grass. She finished tenth by 11 lengths. We’re going to forgive that effort. It was in a maiden special weight $50,000 over Gulfstream’s turf. Plus, she hadn’t run since last November. Trainer William Theranos has 3 wins and a second from 8 entrants so far this meet. Big Cheeks could ensure Theranos stays hot. So, consider for the top spot.
Trainer Jamie Attard puts the saddle on first-time starter Nicali’s Discovery. The Conquest Curlinate sired 3-year-old filly is bred to enjoy the turf. Jamie wins 21% with his first time starters. That makes Nicali’s Discovery a contender for the win money.
- Win: Jhlor Jan
- Place: Big Cheeks
- Show: Nicali’s Discovery
Trainer Norman McKnight is winning at 24% at the current Woodbine meet. McKnight trained Wyatt’s Town will offer less than the 2/1 morning line, but can we shun for the win slot? McKnight wins 24% second off a layoff, 31% claiming races where he’s got an entrant, and 24% going all-weather to turf. So the answer to the question is, “no”.
It’s tough to back 12-year-old geldings to get into the exacta, but Occasional View is no normal 12-year-old gelding. The Silver Deputy sired runner as a 9-4-6 record from 24 races over Woodbine’s turf. View has the best chance of upsetting Wyatt’s Town.
Trainer Robert Tiller drops Fast Negotiations from a $67,500 allowance race into this $25,000 claiming event. The last time Tiller did that, Fast Negotiations finished second by 3 lengths with a massive speed rating. This 6/1 on the morning line runner could get into the trifecta even though it hasn’t raced since July 2019.
- Win: Wyatt’s Town
- Place: Occasional View
- Show: Fast Negotiations
