Woodbine Connaught Cup: Favorite Shirl’s Speight Draws Outside Post

Woodbine Thoroughbred will feature a grade 2 turf event on Saturday. Shirl’s Speight is favored from the 14 post in the Connaught Cup on the Woodbine lawn.

Woodbine- Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM ET; $108.7k Allowance Optional Claiming going about 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 6

• #5 SWEET SERENADE (5-2) gets the top selection. She seems to fit this race like a glove. She will be tough to beat.
• #3 PEACE SEEKER (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Nosowenko and Flores.
• #2 BARKIN (2-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Day-Phillips and Kimura. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 NANTUCKET RED (9-2) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She may get the absolute dream flow of the race in this spot.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 2 – 6

Woodbine- Race 2

Post: 1:30 PM ET; $64.3k Maiden Optional Claiming going 5 1/2 furlongs on all weather track; Entries: 7

• #2 SILVER BULLET LADY (7-5) gets the top selection. She has the perfect run style for this type of race and may just get the perfect trip here.
• #5 BABY FADE (6-1) is a reasonable alternate. She goes out for the Minshall barn and gets Wilson in the irons. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #7 MUSKOKA SUMMER (3-1) looks like a viable win candidate in this race. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #6 CRIMSON SKY (4-1) seems like she is running for the minor placings. She is well bred for this spot and may find the right trip to be involved at the wire.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 7 – 6

Woodbine- Race 3

Post: 2:01 PM ET; $49.7k Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 7

• #6 GABBY SQUARED (2-1) gets the top selection. She has the perfect run style for this type of race and may just get the perfect trip here. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #5 SHES THE NORTH (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She should be in the right spot to be in with a chance late.
• #7 VERY SAVVY (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. This one goes out for the Villeneuve barn and gets Flores in the irons.
• #1 OLD SECRETS (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. She shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance.

Selections: 6 – 5 – 7 – 1

Woodbine- Race 4

Post: 2:33 PM ET; $123.2k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/4 miles on turf; Entries: 11

• #9 READY FOR THE LADY (3-1) gets the top selection. He may get the absolute perfect run of the race in this spot. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #7 OPUS NORTH (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 RALPHIE BOY (20-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has races good enough to beat this group. The pedigree is a big plus.
• #4 GO TAKE CHARGE (12-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He seems to fit well enough here on speed figures.

Selections: 9 – 7 – 1 – 4

Woodbine- Race 5

Post: 3:10 PM ET; $101.2k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 10

• #7 AMAZIN QUEEN (10-1) gets the top selection. This one has the top overall power rating in the group. Her speed figures make 10-1 an absurd price.
• #3 MOQADAMA (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #10 GOOGLY EYES (15-1) should be competitive in this spot. She could get the right setup in this race. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #9 GLORIANNIA (12-1) could be in with a shot in this race. She looks to be the class of the field. I would expect her to outrun her odds.

Selections: 7 – 3 – 10- 9

Woodbine- Race 6

Post: 3:43 PM ET; $126.8k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 11

• #1 CAIRO CONSORT (8-1) gets the top selection. She comes into the race in really good form. This one should be in the right spot to be in with a chance late.
• #2 FILM (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She should be in the mix as the horses turn for home. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 WITCH HAZEL (3-1) could be in with a shot in this race. She goes out for the Vassilieva barn and gets Bahen in the irons. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #11 MISCHIEF LILY (9-2) isn’t without hope. She goes out for the Casse barn and gets Patrick Husbands in the irons.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 5 – 11

Woodbine- Race 7

Post: 4:17 PM ET; $112.5k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on all weather track; Entries: 8

• #3 IT’S GAME KNIGHT (10-1) gets the top selection. He has the perfect run style for this type of race and may just get the perfect trip here.
• #1 CASH DIVIDEND (8-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one could get a really advantageous pace scenario.
• #4 RIPTIDE ROCK (9-5) appears to be a major player in this race. The speed figures make this one an obvious contender, but he seems vulnerable here.
• #5 HARLAN ESTATE (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. The speed figures aren’t that far off the favorite and the extra value is a great plus.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 4 – 5

Woodbine- Race 8

Post: 4:51 PM ET; $175k Connaught Cup Stakes going 7 furlongs on turf; Entries: 14

• #14 SHIRL’S SPEIGHT (3-1) gets the top selection. He makes sense on speed figures. This one shouldn’t have trouble with the 7 furlong distance. The outside post is a bit concerning.
• #13 AVIE’S FLATTER (10-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This is a value play as the 13 post is only slightly better than that of the favorite.
• #12 OLYMPIC RUNNER (15-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He should be in the right spot to be in with a chance late. This one seems to fit well enough here on figures.
• #9 SILENT POET (8-1) rounds out the top 4. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Gonzalez and Stein. This one has been good at 7 furlongs in the past which can be a bit of a specialty distance.

Selections: 14- 13- 12- 9

Woodbine- Race 9

Post: 5:25 PM ET; $123.2k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 miles on all weather track; Entries: 6

• #4 LADY MOONSHINE (2-1) gets the top selection. She may get the absolute dream flow of the race in this spot. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #1 ANYQUIST (5-2) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #6 HUSHEMUP (5-1) seems like she is running for the minor placings. She comes into the race in really good form.
• #3 MARDENE (7-2) has to be considered. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. The morning line suggests there is some buzz, but on paper this one looks 4th best.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 6 – 3

Woodbine- Race 10

Post: 5:59 PM ET; $60.3k Optional Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 10

• #2 MITZI (3-1) gets the top selection. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Bell and Kimura.
• #4 SILVER MAGNATIZED (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She looks to be the class of the field. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #10 ABSOLUTE JEWEL (8-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to put up a big performance.
• #8 KEEP IT NEAT (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. She seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 10- 8

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