The huge weekend at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet continues into Sunday where Saratoga, Del Mar, Ellis Park, and Monmouth Park have stakes races, but the biggest card is north of the border. That’s right, it is Woodbine Oaks Day in Toronto and we have our second opportunity at a Hit & Split in two days. Hopefully, some of you scooped your share at the Jersey Shore and are ready for the 2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points up for grabs in the late Pick 4. The sequence offers strong field sizes and three stakes. Just as always remember to register for the promotion.

Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.


Race 7: Connaught Cup (G2)
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 8 Cruden Bay
Backups: 1 Northern Invader

Forecast: The pace should be contentious in this 7-furlong affair over the sod. I am hopeful #8 Cruden Bay is ready to take advantage. The Big Screen gelding won this race last year, but had a start under his belt over the surface in preparation. He has the right running style to take advantage of the probable race shape, but comes in not having competed in the afternoons since last August. Hopefully, trainer Donald MacRae has him fit and jockey Fraser Aebly can work out a trip on this 7YO, who lacks speed, but can certainly finish.

#1 Northern Invader cuts back to seven-eighths of a mile after a wire-to-wire score against lesser in Kentucky. He is unlikely to make an easy lead today like he did at Churchill Downs, but the rail draw is advantageous. If no one comes rolling from the back, he is the likeliest to get to the wire first.


Race 8: Plate Trial
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 4 Sedburys Ghost; 10 Notorious Gangster
Backups: 2 Scorching

Forecast: The morning line favorites #10 Notorious Gangster and #2 Scorching merit serious respect in this 9-furlong test over the all-weather for 3YOs foaled in Canada. Notorious Gangster comes in off a win in a 7-furlong state-bred event over this same surface. He showed he can handle the 1 1/8-miles last year and is the clear one to beat. Scorching also makes sense, but has come up short in both tries going long. He attracts John Velazquez and gets a favorable inside draw, but is more of a backup for me in this spot.

I am going to take a swing though with #4 Sedburys Ghost. The son of Shaman Ghost finished off his 2YO season with a win going away to break his maiden and then returned off a near year break to win even more impressively in his first try versus winners. He took on a route of ground for the first time last out in the Marine (G3) and was in between horses throughout. This never allowed him to truly get comfortable, which was enough to take the starch out of him late. He should take a big step forward in this one after gaining the invaluable two-turn experience last month. At his 10-1 morning line, he is a Win bet for me in the 2025 Plate Trial Stakes!


Race 9: Woodbine Oaks
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 9 Crystal Visions; 10 Aristella; 7 Reveler’s Row
Backups: None

Forecast: The featured event for the ladies drew a field that contains a lot of fillies that want to be on or near the front end. This includes the morning line favorites #5 Shifty and #11 Winterberry. The Mark Casse duo bring strong resumes in, but have yet to prove they can get in a battle early and still get to the wire first. I will try to separate from the public with a trio that should be finishing with energy.

#9 Crystal Visions goes two sprints to a route for trainer Stuart Simon. The Bee Jersey filly added blinkers last out resulting in a career best run and should be set for a move forward in the biggest race of her career. The same is true for #10 Aristella. The daughter of More Than Ready also has two 7-furlong races under her belt off the bench and has the right running style to take advantage of a contentious early pace. Rafael Hernandez gets the leg up. Finally, I will throw in #7 Reveler’s Row. The lightly-raced daughter of Mucho Macho Man won on debut sprinting and then finished second beaten just half a length in an allowance race where she lost to a 4YO that already had 11 starts under her belt. Hopefully, she can relax early and avoid getting caught up in an early tussle.


Race 10:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Gas Me Up; 1 Niagara Skyline
Backups: None

Forecast: The card concludes with a second-level allowance for turf sprinters where I am not overly creative, yet am willing to fade 5-2-ML favorite #10 Arabian Prince. The 7YO is just 3 for 37 in his career and even when he wins it comes with little room to spare evidenced by his nose and neck wins over the last 12 months. He is capable, but not the kind of horse worth swallowing the chalk on. I will use two other logicals instead.

#1 Niagara Skyline makes his third start off bench after a pair of even efforts against better. If he can relax in the pocket and finish, he will be tough to beat. However, the value should be stronger with #2 Gas Me Up. The Hard Spun gelding has had trouble putting races together, so it is encouraging he races back shortly after his even fifth-place finish in a two-turn race on June 1. Hopefully, he can put in the run like he did last June to win over this course going 6.5-furlongs on the turnback.