Early Pick 3 Play for Woodbine Mile Day

The signature card of the 2024 Woodbine season on Saturday is highlighted by four Grade 1 turf stakes, most of which should have some Breeders' Cup implications. I'm going to begin my betting action on day with a Pick 3 play that encompasses races 2 through 4, fading the morning line favorites in the first two legs.

• $1 ticket: 5,7,8 with 7,8 with 4,6 = $12

Race 2: Maiden, 1:43 p.m. ET

Prolific trainer Mark Casse has a couple second-time starters who have scope for improvement, #8 No Time (7-2) especially. The daughter of Not This Time was bet down in her debut over Woodbine's Tapeta main track on Aug. 24, but didn't show much after encountering early trouble.

I like the switch to grass here. She's a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning turf miler Count Again, and her second dam was also a Grade 1 winner of the Matriarch (G1) back in the early 1990s.

The other Casse, #5 Tiz Her Money (6-1), is another who can improve second out. A half-sister to Royal North (G2) heroine Boardroom, she finished midpack in her debut against a tougher group at Saratoga.

For a flyer, I'll also throw in #7 Orient Beach (20-1), who showed mild late interest in her debut after a troubled start cost her well over a dozen lengths. She's by Omaha Beach and her dam, Travieza, was swift enough to capture the Unzip Me S. over the turf at Santa Anita.

Race 3: Maiden/Optional Claiming, 2:16 p.m. ET

#7 Tabei (6-1) flashed speed and was comfortably second best on debut facing similar in late July, but overmatched second out in the restricted Muskoka S. It didn't help matters that trouble at the start and a rail draw probably compromised her, too. Blinkers come off, and Rafael Hernandez regains the mount.

#8 Sil's Gamble (8-1), from the barn of Josie Carroll, is a first-time starter that offers some appeal pedigree-wise. A full sister to the stakes-placed Gamble's Silver, her dam is a half-sibling to Canadian champion Ami's Mesa and to the Breeders' S. winner Ami's Holiday.

Race 4: Allowance/Optional Claiming, 2:50 p.m. ET

#4 Whisper Not (5-2) is a solid-looking early favorite. Appeared in need of his July 28 comeback following a five-month spell, and he should appreciate the drop in class here.

#6 Luckman (10-1) is a former class horse who captured the Toronto Cup a couple seasons ago. Certainly not of that class any longer, but this is the softest group he's faced on the turf for some time.