Powell’s All-Graded Stakes Pick 3 for Woodbine Mile Day

Johnny Bear (orange silks) and Hawkbill battle it out in the 2017 Northern Dancer Turf (c) WEG/Michael Burns Photography

by Dick Powell

Woodbine has a big weekend of racing coming up and a juicy Pick 3 with three graded stakes race later on Saturday afternoon.

The first leg is RACE 9, the Canadian Stakes (Can-G2), a 1 1/8-mile one-turn turf event for fillies and mares.

NEW MONEY HONEY (#5) finished last year with two dull efforts, at least compared to what she had done the previous 12 months. Trainer Chad Brown brought her back at Belmont Park against allowance foes and, in a slow-paced race, she outkicked the competition to win by a neck. The winning time was not that great but all it was a prep race for the Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. There, she had some traffic going into the first turn before settling in on a wide trip. When the running got serious, she was no match for the top two but I think that she still has improvement and catches the right group today with Javier Castellano.

INFLEXIBILITY (#3) is the “other” Chad Brown trainee and the daughter of Scat Daddy has enough pace to get involved for the long run down the backside. She loves this course and takes off eight pounds from her last start.

STARSHIP JUBILEE (#6) was a good third in this race last year and comes in off a fast prep race.

Leg A: 3, 5, 6

RACE 10, the Bold Venture Stakes (Can-G3), is on the Tapeta main track going 6 1/2 furlongs.

PINK LLOYD (#3) is an amazing horse for the course who has won 16 of 19 starts here. The Canadian-bred won a Grade 2 over the track last year going six furlongs and scored in a Grade 3 two starts back. Last out, he rallied from off the pace to get up by a neck as the heavy favorite in the Kenora Stakes and he only picks up one pound off that win. I like that he shows a bullet workout on the Tapeta here last week. 

SWEET LITTLE MAN (#10) has been racing well on the turf in his last four starts but shows a good record on the Tapeta in the past. The eight-year-old gelding should be able to get a clear, stalking trip from the outside with Luis Contreras.

YORKTON (#9) just missed in a high-class allowance event three starts back, then showed good speed to be fourth going seven furlongs on the turf against Grade 2 company. Last out, he took an early lead and held well for second behind the top choice and drops six pounds off that Grade 3 effort.