2022 Eclipse Stakes Exotics Plays at Woodbine

The Sunday feature at Woodbine is the C$175,000 Eclipse S. (G2) contested over 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track. A total of six will go postward in the tilt, and while the field lacks quantity, it more than makes up for it with both quality and competitiveness.

#1 Special Forces (4-1) has won or placed in 11 of 12 local tries on the course with the lone blemish coming when unplaced in a 1 1/2-mile contest while making his 2021 finale. Trained by Kevin Attard, the excellent late runner ran one of his better races at this distance last campaign when defeating classic winner Sir Winston in the Durham Cup S. (G3).

The gelded son of Candy Ride has run well off the break in the past, and I expect him to do the same in this endeavor. Special Forces dons a 9-4-2-3 mark at 1 1/16 miles and will be difficult to fend off late after a ground-saving trip under Justin Stein.

#4 Riptide Rock (9-2) missed by a head in the 2021 Queen’s Plate on the surface and commenced this season with a sharp allowance tilt on the oval for conditioner Sid Attard. The Point of Entry gelding turned the corner since moving to the synthetic, and the chestnut has every right to move forward while making his second start of 2022, as well. Ontario-bred four-year-old shows a pair of solid morning drills in advance of Sunday and I expect him to be a major player in the lane with Rafael Hernandez taking the reins.

Josie’s Carroll’s #3 Mighty Heart (9-5) is the one to catch and beat under Patrick Husbands. The Dramedy five-year-old is a four-time local winner with a world of back class, and he is another who will move forward second time off the shelf. The dual classic winner will be the target turning for home and is a very logical inclusion as the morning-line choice.

Eclipse Exotics Wagers

• $10 exacta 1 with 3,4 ($20)
• $3 superfecta 1,4 with 1,4 with 3 with all ($18)
• $2 superfecta 1,4 with 1,4 with all with 3 ($12)