by Al Cimaglia
June 15, 2024
Woodbine Mohawk Park has a 13-race card loaded with big money stakes. The main event is the Pepsi North America Cup that rolls in Race 11 and has a hefty $1,000,000 purse. Comments and selections for the stake races below are based on a fast track.
Race 5-Armbro Flight Purse-$233,000 (8:12 PM EST)
6-M MS Dream (4/5)-Not going to try to beat the chalk, she has been too good. This will be the 3rd start since May 11 and joined the Burke barn then as well. Took a 3-week break, then won both races Wbsb and might be better acclimated tonight than in the previous 2 starts. David Miller will do the steering and this mare appears to be a fair trip away from making it a perfect 5 for 5 in 2024.
$20 Exacta-6-M MS Dream (4/5) over 4-Refined (6-1)
Total Bet=$20
Race 7-Goodtimes Final-Purse $225,000 (9:00 PM EST)
6-Highland Kismet 6/5-There is nothing negative to say about this 3-year-old who has won 2 straight and has made it look easy. Using in exactas but not keying on top, feeling like there could be an upset.
$5 Exacta Box-1-Pick Pocket (10-1) and 6-Highland Kismet (6/5)
$5 Exacta Box 3-Private Access (9/2) and 6-Highland Kismet (6/5)
Total Bet=$20
Race 9-Fan Hanover Final-Purse $425,000 (9:50 PM EST)
6-My Girl EG (3-1)-The Burke trainee has come off the bench locked and loaded. Won her Elim from post 7 with a big mile after finishing 2nd in a stake race at the Meadows from post 7 in the slop. The 2nd morning line chalk should offer a fair price.
$20 to Win 3-My Girl EJ (3-1)
Total Bet=$20
Race 10-Roses Are Red Final-Purse $305,000 (10:15 PM EST)
4-Twin B Joe Fresh (8/5)-The Chris Ryder 4-year-old wins on large and small ovals. Expecting her to be bet hard after a dominant Elimination win. Has won her last 2 starts by a combined 11-lengths and has banked over $1.5 million in 30 races. My take is there is more in the tank, and it would take an awful trip to beat her. Dexter Dunn knows this talented mare really well and will key her on top in a straight exacta.
$20 Exacta 4-Twin B Joe Fresh (8/5) over 3-Always B Naughty (9/2)
Total Bet=$20
Race 11-Pepsi North America Cup-Purse $1,000,000 (10:48 PM EST)
The NA Cup should be a great race to watch and there are multitudes of trip scenarios that could decide the outcome but are very difficult to predict. In last week's Eliminations Funtime Bayama was impressive. What was noticeable beside the determined surge near the wire to outbattle Legendary Hanover, was the way the Richard Moreau pupil won. Sylvain Filion had the pedal down off the gate and got the lead as usual but then sat in the pocket. Actually, at the top of the last turn Bayama was in 3rd place behind Mirage Hanover who came first over.
Funtime Bayama looked relaxed racing in a hole, and that is the key because my guess is he won't wire this field. Filion provided a perfect drive and didn't use the 3-year-old throughout the entire mile. Others last week, appeared to be working harder, and that could matter tonight. Bayama has top notch connections in his corner as well as drawing the choice 6-hole.
Filion could capture the top prize without leading every step of the way. Not going to spread out in this race, but will use Captain Albano who might not be hurt starting from post 2. Todd McCarthy could work a cozy trip and be right there at the wire. Chalks often don't shine bright in the Cup. My guess is Funtime Bayama won't be the favorite and will go off at 3-1 or 4-1, with Captains Quarters and Nijinsky attracting more betting interest.
$10 Exacta Box-2-Captain Albano (4-1) and 6-Funtime Bayama (3-1)
Total Bet=$20
$40 to Win on 6-Funtime Bayama (3-1)
Total Bet=$40
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