How to bet the 2022 Wonder Where Stakes

A total of six Canadian-bred sophomore fillies will run 1 1/4 miles on the Woodbine green in Sunday’s $250,000 Wonder Where S. #5 Whimsical Dance (8-5) left quite an impression of herself when drawing off to a 4 1/2-length victory on the course in her debut offering and gets top billing while making her first stakes run on Sunday.

Trained by Gail Cox, the three-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor was near the back of the pack early on in her initial try on Aug. 21 but more than made up for her tardy beginning in the stretch when decimating her foes. The Sam-Son homebred has two stakes-winning siblings from two to have run, and she looks to be next in line with Declan Carroll retaining the mount atop the bay.

I don’t feel as #4 Devil’s Bit (8-1) can win the affair, but her improvement with the combination of the move to the turf, and the removal of blinkers, last time out has left me intrigued. Conditioned by the always dangerous Roger Attfield, the Daredevil filly ran easily the best race of her career in her latest assignment and could peak in her third run off the bench, as well.

The bargain $7,000 purchase is taking a hefty class rise up from the maiden claiming ranks, but I trust this outfit and expect the Ontario-bred filly to give a good account of herself in this spot with David Moran inheriting the ride.

#3 Sister Seagull (9-5), from the barn of Catherine Day Phillips, has yet to run on the turf but has been in very good form on the All-Weather leading up to this grassy debut. Second in the Woodbine Oaks two back, which preceded a game score in the Bison City S. most recently, the Hard Spun chestnut will thrive getting more ground with which to work with in this offering. She put in a brisk half-mile drill on the green last weekend and seems poised for a top-three run beneath Antonio Gallardo.

Wonder Where Wagers

• $15 trifecta key: 5 with 3,4 ($30)
• $2 superfecta: 3,5 with 3,4,5 with 3,4,5 with all ($24)