Selections and plays for the Woodbine stakes races on Nov. 13

Two graded tilts will highlight a very good 11-race card north of the border at Woodbine on Saturday.

Race 7 - Maple Leaf S. (G3)

A field of 10 will travel 1 1/4 miles on the synthetic surface in what I believe is a very competitive affair. Conditioner Mark Casse will saddle four of the contenders in the field, and I will take a shot with one of those. #9 Crystal Glacier has class and distance questions to answer against this smart field, but I expect the four-year-old to be in the mix from the opening bell with a chance late on Saturday.

By Curlin, the dark bay four-year-old has early foot in a field lacking that trait, and her running style of something of a grinder will play well on the stretch out in trip in this spot. The Kentucky-bred has never been better, and I also like that she has positive experience on the All-Weather on multiple occasions in her lifetime. Gary Boulanger has the mount.

Wagers

• $1 trifecta 9 with 1, 2, 4, 5 with all ($36)
• 40-cent trifecta 1, 2, 4, 5 with 9 with all ($14.40)

Race 8 - Bessarabian S. (G2)

This seven furlong dash on the main strip for fillies and mares is led by the unbeaten #4 Lady Speightspeare for Roger Attfield. I really like the well-bred filly in general, but I would much rather see her stretch out on the green, as opposed to cutting back on the synthetic. She is worth trying to knock off in my opinion.

#5 Ang Lutes possesses a dynamic turn of foot and will get top billing from this corner. One of two in the field for trainer Michael Trombetta, the sophomore daughter of Midnight Lute has yet to run a bad race in her lifetime, and she was very impressive when closing from next-to-last to take down stakes foes on the Belmont lawn last time out. The Kentucky-bred is stakes placed locally and looms large with Antonio Gallardo in the silks.

I also have a bit of intrigue with #1 Gidgetta, who makes her first run since the barn change to Josie Carroll. The California import has displayed ability on both turf and dirt to date, and she looked good when running down a solid allowance cast on the Santa Anita green most recently. The Fast Anna four-year-old might be a fine inclusion in the vertical exotics at an expected nice price.

Wagers

• $20 win #5 Ang Lutes ($20)
• $10 exacta 5 with 1,4 ($20)
• 20-cent superfecta 1, 4, 5 with 1, 4, 5 with 1, 4, 5 with all ($7.20)