2021 Ontario Colleen and Dance Smartly Selections

The C$1 million Queen’s Plate will take center stage at Woodbine on Sunday, but a trio of graded races will accompany the oldest continually run race in North America. In this piece, I will give my selections and wagers for the pair of turf events for the ladies.

Race 6 -- Ontario Colleen S. (G3)

One-mile turf affair for three-year-old fillies attracted a fine field of eight running for C$150,000. I am not sure what happened to the Jimmy Toner-trained #6 Seasons (8-1) last time out when she was a distant third in the Boiling Springs S. at Monmouth Park, but I know that the well-bred chestnut is much better than she displayed on that day. Tapit filly was a nice third in the Natalma S. (G1) on the course in her second lifetime start last campaign, and I am expecting a bounce-back effort at a price from the talented miss.

#7 Speightstown Shirl (7-2) always fires and seems like an ideal exotics player in the cast for Attfield. Bay has hung on the money on a few occasions in her career, but I loved her mom, and she is too consistent to omit in my vertical plays with Emma-Jayne Wilson up.

Wagers

• $15 win and place #6 Seasons ($30)
• $2 trifecta key 6 with 7 with all ($10)
• $1 trifecta 6 with all with 7 ($5)

Race 9 -- Dance Smartly S. (G2)

Seven fillies and mares will travel 1 1/4 miles in the C$175,000 affair. I think that the trio of horses that are well-backed on the morning line will be tough to upend in the event.

#1 Blame Debbie (4-1) lacks the class of a few in the field, but the Graham Motion pupil can be very stubborn when she gets control early on. Blame four-year-old was a fine stakes vixen at Pimlico prior to being outrun over a soft course at Delaware Park last time out. I think that she will be tough to pass late under Kimura.

#5 Etoile (2-1) is the one to beat off the strength of her tally in the E.P. Taylor S. (G1) on the course last season. The Chad Brown trainee has fired two bullet morning drills in succession and will have the services of Irad Ortiz well. She is a must-use.

Christophe Clement’s #6 Mutamakina (9-5) was a neck shy behind two talented contenders in the River Memories S. at Belmont in advance of Sunday. Talented Nathaniel mare will be a major player once again with something resembling her best. Dylan Davis has the call.

Wagers

• $10 win and place #1 Blame Debbie ($20)
• $1 superfecta 1,5 with 1,5 with 6 with all ($16)
• $1 superfecta 1,5 with 6 with 1,5 with all ($8)