How to bet the Soaring Free S. and Catch a Glimpse S.

Racing at Woodbine. (Photo by Michael Burns Photography)

August 20th, 2021

A pair of 6 1/2-furlong turf stakes for juveniles will take place on Saturday at Woodbine, and they serve as local steppingstones toward the Natalma S. (G1) and Summer S. (G1) next month.

The fields look competitive, so let’s play both races on a $50 budget and aim to turn a nice profit.

Race 3: Soaring Free S. (2:07 p.m. ET)

Half a dozen runners will face the starter, with #5 First Empire (2-1) the logical, morning-line favorite.

Trained by Mark Casse, First Empire finished fifth in his debut over the Woodbine Tapeta course, but showed significant improvement when switched to turf Aug. 1. After he carved out quick fractions, the son of Classic Empire battled on to win by three-quarters of a length.

But runner-up #3 Silent Farewell (6-1) might have been the best horse. In his first run under colors, Silent Farewell spent most of the race buried behind and between runners. Even down the lane, he had little room to maneuver, ran up on the heels of First Empire, and split horses late to finish less than a length away from victory.

There is plenty of pace in the Soaring Free field, so with a clean trip Saturday, Silent Farewell can turn the tables on First Empire and prevail at an enticing price.

$20 to win on #3 Silent Farewell
$5 exacta: 3 with 5

Race 6: Catch a Glimpse S. (3:42 p.m. ET)

#2 Diabolic (2-1) is undefeated in two starts. She won her debut over the Gulfstream Park turf, then shipped to Woodbine and nabbed the My Dear S. on Tapeta. The Casse trainee is a logical favorite under hot turf jockey Antonio Gallardo, though My Dear S. runner-up #1 Curlin Candy (3-1) can’t be dismissed.

Curlin Candy faced a tough task in the My Dear S. The daughter of Curlin made her her debut in the stakes and dueled for the lead from an outside post. She led past the eighth pole but succumbed to finish just 2 1/4 lengths behind Diabolic.

If Curlin Candy improves at all with the switch to turf for her second start, she can vie for victory. Curlin Candy’s dam, Caren, won the Ontario Colleen S. (G3) and Wonder Where S. over the Woodbine turf course.