Chirstmas At Woodbine....(for me)

I LOVE International Day at Woodbine. It's by far the best day of the meet. Horses and jockeys from across the world assemble in Etobicoke, Ontario and put on a world class show of horse racing. It's such an event for me that I have a hard time sleeping the night before.

Last night I spent hours pouring over the Form, while girlfriend Amy fervently flipped the pages of World War Z.

International Day features FOUR top-flight turf races, and this year they are all part of the "Win and You're In" extravaganza:

Summer Stakes - Juvenile Mile
Nearctic - Turf Sprint
E.P. Taylor - Filly and Mares going a mile and a quarter
International - Mile and a half marathon!

If you haven't been to Woodbine, you need to make the journey to see the E.P Taylor turf course. It's lush, green and wide...stretching right up to the front of the grandstand. When the horses come thundering down the lane your chest rumbles and your teeth rattle. There's nothing quite like it.

For those of us that are passionate about the game, it's a chance to head to the paddock and see some G1 stars up close and personal and also to sit back and enjoy the wildly different riding styles of european jockeys. It's a total counter-clash.

While I prefer to write more anecdotal reports on racing, I'm so excited about today's events that I'm going to post my initial thoughts on the four races which are conveniently set up as a Prime Time Pick 4 to be televised on ESPN.

SUMMER STAKES - 1 mile for Two-year olds.

Utterly Cool (#7) is going to be the favourite in this mile event after winning on the front uncontested in his first two races. However, this is much stiffer competition and my personal bias says that the long Woodbine stretch is going to pay dividends for closers today. Jess Not Jesse (#6) is in from Saratoga where he closed from the back of the pack to win a 5 1/2 furlong event, earning an 83 beyer, to break his maiden first time out. Garret Gomez is here to ride.
Another late running option is Skipadate (#1) who raced twice at a mile and sixteenth this summer at Saratoga, winning the first one and just missing by a head in the With Anticipation - both races coming from the back of the pack. Patrick Husbands rides for Mark Casse.

As a longshot, I like the filly Freyga (#5) who has raced three times and steadily improved each time out with Beyers of 45, 66 and 78. Her last outing on the turf was at a mile on a very soft Woodbine turf course in the G3 Natalma where she just missed catching C Karma at the wire. C Karma is a solid Exchange Rate progeny who has done good things at Woodbine this year.

USE: 6-1-5

NEARCTIC STAKES - Six Furlongs
The favourite is the returning champion, Heros Reward, and the six year old looks very strong having two wins and a second on his three outings here at Woodbine. Local horses Just Rushing and Starticus are going to take a lot of money at the totes but I'm looking elsewhere today as Starticus is jumping up in class and Just Rushing is a 7 furlong specialist.

Odds and class will come from Hellvelyn (GB) with Bravo in the irons. Four of his last five races overseas were solid Group 1 efforts. After arriving at Saratoga, he put up a 101 beyer losing by a head in the Quick Call after a hockey game broke out at the starting gate. If Bravo can steer the horse clear then I like the look of an 8-1 morning line.

As a longshot, 20-1 local The Great Caruso as the benefit of Patrick Husbands and a brilliant second place finish to Heros Reward back in June at Woodbine at this same distance.

USE: 2-8-12

E.P. TAYLOR - 1 1/4 Fillies and Mares

Check out the jockey list for this race: Bravo, DETTORI, Gomez, Fortune, Castellano and a slew of talented locals. This race is going to have a furious stretch drive.

The likely faavourite is talented Pletcher trainee J'ray (#2) who won the G2 Canadian here last month at a mile and an eighth. Folk Opera (Ire) (#4) was demolished by freaky Zarkava in her last outing, but has Group 2 class, wins at the distance and Dettori in the saddle. She likes to lead the way, but I think Dettori will use her in a stalking spot here. Hostess (#9) has Castellano up and has posted 100 and 101 ratings in her last two - she won a GS at Saratoga last time out at a mile and three eights, and just missed in the G2 New York to the brilliant Mauralakana. I like the form on this one, which is littered with G1, G2 and G3.

As a longshot, local filly Callwood Dancer (Ire) (#7) will be ready thanks to local legend trainer Roger Attfield. Jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva will likely try to steal this one on the front end, but in her latest she just lost at the wire to J'Ray after trying a stalking trip. Da Silva is a smart jockey who knows this course well and I expect he will take what's given and could hit the board if she can make the distance.

USE - 9-2-4 -7

INTERNATIONAL - mile and a half

Local hero Marlang has been training like a champ all summer, nothing but bullets and near bullets while winning the Breeders (local) at the distance and then stealing the G3 Saranac at Saratoga. However, he's not seen the likes of Group 1 winner Doctor Dino (#3), Lucarno (#9) and Quijano (#4.)

The Doctor has wins at the distance and Dettori at the helm. Quijano loves the Woodbine turf and lost by a nose to Champs Elysees (GB), last time out here at Woodbine and has been training here since then. My pick though, is four year old Lucarno who has been a little over his head recently against Group 1 competition including a start against Kamsin who is in the Arc de Triomphe tomorrow. If this colt looks good in the paddock, I'll be hoping the 8-1 morning line sticks. The addition of Lasix and the 126 pound weight will help. All the euros listed here have been carrying 133 or more all summer long.

As a longshot, take a look at Mourilyan (Ire) (#1), who was posting great ratings in Dubai back in March and has been training towards this race. He adds Lasix and has room for his late kick here.

USE: 9-3-4-1

Well, I hope there's some gems in there. I can't wait to get to the paddock and see the action!

Pictures and stories tomorrow.