Woodbine Pick 3 Play into the King’s Plate

A challenging three-race sequence, concluded by the $1 million King’s Plate S., will be offered at Woodbine on Saturday.  

Wager

60-cent Pick 3: 1,3,4,12 with 2,7,8,12,13 with 2,3,7 ($36)

Race 9 – Optional Claiming

The 1 1/16-mile event on the turf has attracted 12 in a demanding opening leg of the sequence. I have to spread with multiple horses since the morning-line favorite, #4 Never Surprised (5-2), has not won since 2021. 

I’ll use him as he is a classy sort coming off a nice effort on the course last time out, but I’m not overly confident in him at an expected short price. 

#1 Classic Mo Town (8-1), #3 Lord of War (8-1), and #12 Rapid Test (12-1), will be on my ticket. 

Race 10 – Catch A Glimpse S. 

Thirteen juvenile fillies will go postward in the 6 1/2-furlong dash on the green in the middle leg. 

#7 Bullet (2-1) is the sure one to beat for conditioner Mark Casse. This War Front filly has dominated two stakes fields to begin her career and is a must-use with Patrick Husbands riding. 

However, there are too many other interesting ladies in the field to single here. 

Casse’s #2 Will Reign (4-1) was a fast-closing second at Saratoga on debut and will be in the mix with another forward move. Kaz Kimura will guide the War of Will miss. 

Stakes heroine #8 Shezafunkydrummer (8-1), Graham Motion’s #12 Warming (6-1), and My Dear S. third #13 Carlisle Bay (15-1), who could be leading the field turning for home, will also make the ticket. 

Race 11 – King’s Plate S. 

A baker’s dozen of Ontario-breds will travel 1 1/4 miles on the main surface in the feature. 

My top pick is #3 Essex Serpent (2-1), who is coming off a measured tally in the Marine S. (G3) on the oval last time out. One of two major players in this one for Casse, the Honor Code gelding gives the impression of a horse who will excel at longer distances. 

Casse’s #7 My Boy Prince (7-5) dons a 6-5-1-0 mark on the oval and will be a tough beat with his best effort. The Cairo Prince colt is no sure thing at this distance, but he’s simply too good to ignore. 

#2 Rafaroo (8-1) was a smart runner-up in the Plate Trial S. while making his second career start. An improvement could find the Hard Spun colt in with a chance late at a nice price.