Budget Handicapping The $150,000 Woodbine Turbo-Charged Pick Six

The Woodbine Turbo-Charged Pick Six with a guaranteed minimum pool of $150,000 kicks off on Race 5 on Sunday and I'm going to take a stab at handicapping this P6 on a budget. To assist with handicapping, I'm using the Daily Racing Form, a handy Pick Six Calculator borrowed from Del Mar's website and I will be wagering through HorsePlayer Interactive. This is the third time that Woodbine has offered the Turbo-Charged Pick Six which has been won each time it's offered. It is a difficult, but fruitful, test for handicappers.

Click here for the entries. This is a tough P6 with full fields run on both poly and turf and no real obvious singles to play. My first pass through this card "narrowed" my picks down to a $384 ticket. Granted, the June 28th P6 winner spent $576 on his ticket. I'll do my best to push this ticket under $40.

Let's get down to business on handicapping what should be a quick poly and a firm turf.

Race 5 - 2:57 PM
CLAIMING $12,500 – $11,500
Purse $20,100. (Includes $2,600 – State Bred). For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward Which Have Never Won Two Races. Seven Furlongs. (All Weather Track)

STRIKING CHEETAH - It's amazing that a race with 12 horses can appear to have a lone speed option, but that seems to be the case with the Nick Gonzalez trained Striking Cheetah. The 3YO filly has tried to wire the field in her past two starts at 1 1/16M only to falter in the stretch. Beth Wyard has the mount for Woodbine's leading trainer. (*Note - STRIKING CHEETAH HAS BEEN SCRATCHED)

ANGEL'S LUCKY DAY - On May 31st, this 4YO made her first start of the year a thriller rallying from 12th at the half to miss by less than a length at 6 1/2F. Jockey Constant Montpelier is back to ride. I'm a little worried that the late rally will not have the same speed to chase after today.

HATE YOUR MONEY - Scott Fairlie and Patrick Husbands team up on the likely favourite and there's plenty to like. Hate Your Money broke her maiden as the 2-1 favourite rallying seven wide to win by a head. Tyler Pizarro was aboard for the maiden breaker but is sticking with another in this race, Heidi's Bay, who happens to be trained by the jock Pizarro's mother.

WINDANCER'S CHARM - This 4YO broke her maiden last out at this distance nursing slow fractions from 3/4 on out to win going away. Steve Bahen sticks with this filly for trainer Tino Attard.

This is a dog's breakfast of a first leg and the most difficult race to handicap on the card. I would not be surprised to get beaten by any number of surprises in this race and will dig deep early to try and survive.

USING: Angel's Lucky Day, Hate Your Money.
REGRETS: The late scratch of Striking Cheetah means that Windancer's Charm may have a chance to repeat the slow fractions of the recent maiden breaker.

Race 6 - 3:27 PM Exactor / Triactor / Pick 3 (Races 6-7-8)
CLAIMING $32,000 – $30,000
Purse $48,600. (Includes $6,300 – State Bred) (Plus $3,600 – Other Sources). For Three Year Olds And Upward. One And One Sixteenth Miles. (All Weather Track)


RUMBLING CLOUD - Potential pace-setter for trainer Sid Attard continues his drop down the claiming ranks looking for a level. In 18 lifetime starts, the 4YO colt has only tried a route once...and won. The sprint-to-route angle is in play and if Todd Kabel takes this one to the front, he has only long shot Brigadier Rodney to hold off. Lots to like.

JACKNOWS - Patrick Husbands is aboard to try for two in a row with this 7YO who is doubling up in claiming price while others here are dropping. An 80 speed figure in latest says this one belongs in this group. This old-timer has 12 lifetime wins and 11 of them come at the distance.

SKIP CODE - Consistent performer has put up back-to-back 80 speed figures winning his most recent in a $37.5K Claimer. This 5YO vet was winning at this time last year for hot combo of Mark Casse and Patrick Husbands before being claimed to Sid Attard's barn. This gelding is at his best when near the pace and should be stalking stablemate Rumbling Cloud before swooping in the stretch.

THUNDER WOLF - The morning line favourite in this event was racing at the $12.5K claiming level as recently as last August - a race this 8YO won easily. The gelding knocked out two more wins in a row climbing the ranks before faltering late in the year. First time out this year, Rob Landry led the Wolf to a 4th place finish at the $50K claiming level recovering from a slow start at just 7F. So,is this horse dropping in class or just getting back down to his level? Four wins in ten lifetime starts is promising but this one does not hit the board if he doesn't win - no places or shows to speak of.

USING: Rumbling Cloud, Skip Code
REGRETS: Thunder Wolf is a potential runaway winner but I'm looking to beat the favourite in a tough race.

Race 7 - 3:57 PM
MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
Purse $38,300. (For Maidens, Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. Six Furlongs. (All Weather Track)

PICTURE THE GOLD - Catherine Day-Phillips sends out this 3YO filly for her second start of 2009. This one has raced again tough competition previously including the excellent Tasty Temptation. The workouts are staggeringly consistent and she could improve off the latest.

BOOM TOWN GAL - Ian Black has two fillies in this race and this is the expensive purchase of the two. First time out, Boom Town Gal chased home two others finishing third to earn a 69 speed figure at seven furlongs. In her second start, she tried a mile on the turf and didn't seem to like that too much. Now she's sprinting on the poly and could wake up under Rob Landry.

INDIGO NORTH - Chiefswood Stable owned and bred has been in tough in three lifetime starts. Most recently you can toss our her turn in the difficult Woodbine Oaks which sent two favoured runners, Milwaukee Appeal and Tasty Temptation, to try the boys in the Queen's Plate. She earned a 77 speed rating first out at Keeneland back in April and her first try at Woodbine was excellent leading into the stretch in a 1 1/16M before faltering late to finish fourth behind two excellent fillies - Gore Bay and Soul of Nataka. Jim McAleney is aboard.

LOFTILY - Ian Black trains this one for Kinghaven Farms and I have a hard time ignoring this combination. Loftily had a difficult time in her one and only start losing her rider and going for a run. Since then, the filly has been training like a champ with a bullet work on June 17th travelling 4F in 46/4 and followed that up with a 5F work in 59/4 that was the second best try of the morning. Emma-Jayne Wilson is aboard and her experience could help this one find the wire first.

CARSON'S TWINKLE - A daughter of the prolific Carson City, this 4YO first time starter has been racking up speedy works getting ready for this debut. Trainer Malcolm Pierce is having a very good meet and this one would not be a surprise.

USING: Indigo North
REGRETS: I hate using a single on a horse well-beaten last out. Loftily and Carson's Twinkle both appear to have class and speed to win. If this bet was a $1 minimum, I'd have dug deeper.

Race 8 - 4:27 PM
ALLOWANCE
Purse $79,500. For Three Year Olds And Upward One And One Fourth Miles. (Turf)

KOENIGSBERG - 4YO raced in France last year winning once with four place finishes. One of the few in this field to have extensive turf racing experience and has tried the 1 1/4M distance with a strong 2nd place finish overseas. This will be his third start in North America, second at Woodbine and has been in the mix in the $77K Allowance level won by Reservoir who took that route to the Queen's Plate. Emma-Jayne Wilson rides for Kevin Attard and should be the favourite.

TUTTI BUONA GENTE - This one keeps trying to find the turf but has been rained out in both starts this year. Never mind, the 3YO was second in one and won the latest as the races moved over to the poly. Roger Attfield trains the son of Aldebaran and the colt looks to be heavy on grass breeding. This time he'll get his chance to shine on the firm Woodbine turf. Jim McAleney to ride.

COLD HARBOR - Jono Jones gets the mount on this one who finished just a length back of Koenigsberg two starts ago on the turf. In his most recent start, Cold Harbor finished 3rd less than a length back of the excellent local horse, Palmers.

SOLITAIRE - This one was on the Queen's Plate path a year ago and has travelled around BEL and GP breaking his maiden at 1 1/8M at Belmont. He has not raced since March 6th but has been training steadily at Saratoga. He has kept Cold Harbor behind him in the past, but it's hard to gauge where the big money winner of this field fits and 1 1/4M is a tough ask first out. Chantal Sutherland has the mount.

USING: Solitaire
REGRETS: Another single on a horse who is not so obvious. Koenigsberg was looking ready to score in most recent before being blocked and steadied.

Race 9 - 4:57 PM
ALLOWANCE
Purse $72,200. For Three Year Olds And Upward Which Have Never Won A Race Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Or Restricted Allowance Or Which Have Never Won Two Races. Seven Furlongs. (Turf)

If you thought this was going to be easy, take a deep breath, we're almost there. The late double is TOUGH. This race is a tough TURF test and in addition to the horses I've listed below it should be noted that jockey TODD KABEL is an impressive 4 for 7 on TURF mounts this season. Kabel rides 20-1 long shot AP VALOR who has been ineffective in four starts this meet.

RIVER HEIGHTS - Polite gelding puts others first with 7 place and 9 shows to with a lone win in 32 lifetime starts. In two turf starts this year, River Heights found 6 1/2F to be a little bit short and 1M to be just a bit too long. Perhaps 7F will be just right. Chantal Sutherland is aboard.

BEAR ALWAYS - Trained by Mike DePaulo for Bear Stables, this 3YO gelding came alive in latest to win a 6 1/2F turf event after being steadied and checked. A quick near-bullet work of 4F in 48/1 suggests that he's ready to fire again. Emile Ramsammy is back to ride.

LITE THE CIGAR - Patrick Husbands rides for Mark Casse as they look to avenge a sixth place finish as the beaten favourite last out. This 4YO gelding has two wins and has been in the money five times in eight turf starts. Most recently, he closed from ninth to be beaten less than four lengths.

IT's RIDICULOUS - Trainer John Mattine does well with turf runners (one win and two seconds in five starts) and this one missed by a nose last out posting an 87 speed figure at a mile. It was an impressive first try on the turf but this is definitely going to be a class test as he jumps up from $37K claiming level. Sutherland has chosen River Heights so Plate winner Eurico Rosa Da Silva gets the mount.

GONE TRAJECTORY - Drops in here after two Stakes events on the poly - fifth in the New Providence at 6F and most recently fourth in the Steady Growth at a 1/16M. This 5YO gelding has two second place finishes in three lifetime turf starts. Worked 5F on June 27 in 1:00/3 and should be ready to make a late charge for Emma-Jayne Wilson.

USING: Gone Trajectory, Lite The Cigar
REGRETS: Bear Always could be on the way to a distinguished turf career.

Race 10 - 5:27 PM
MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
Purse $60,000. For Ontario Sired Maidens, Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. Six And One Half Furlongs. (All Weather Track)

MOONLIT BEAUTY - A disqualified winner in her most recent returns looking for revenge with Chantal Sutherland back aboard. A tough inside position in this race for a horse that doesn't show early speed might be a bit much to overcome.

PLAYME OR TRADEME - a 5YO mare stands out in this maiden category with only three lifetime starts. Owned and trained by Sue Leslie, this girl has been second each start and tries today for the first time since December of 2008. A consistent string of works and the fact that she's run well in three well-spaced starts puts her in the mix. Rob Landry will ride.

SAFORICA - Patrick Husbands at odds of 15-1 is a rarity and I like the most recent workout of 5F in 59/4 which was the second best work of the day on June 28th. Two seventh place finishes in two career starts is nothing to write home about, but based on the above points, I'm considering.

WAKE UP COREY - High percentage trainer Josie Carroll sends out this 4YO who has three shows in eight lifetime starts. Most recently, she was fourth behind a runaway 9 length winner in Lady Elena. This is the third start of the year and could be rounding into form under jockey Jim McAleney.

Yonge's Harbour - This one finished second in the race won by Lady Elena and was two lengths in front of contender Wake Up Corey. Yonge's Harbour has three second place finishes in four starts in 2009 including an impressive outing on the turf that garnered a 74 speed rating. Emile Ramsammy gets the ride.

Using: Yonge's Harbour
Regrets: Playme or Trademe is a tough one to figure out. If she's ready, she could be a winner. Wake Up Corey might wake up to create an easy headline beating my ticket.

The Final Verdict
I will be playing a $16 Pick Six Ticket of:
Angel's Lucky Day, Hate Your Money
Rumbling Cloud, Skip Code
Indigo North
Solitaire
Gone Trajectory, Lite The Cigar
Yonge's Harbour

Best of luck to everyone playing from home. If you're giving this one a try, why not leave your picks in my Comments box. A full review to follow after the card is completed.