It may not be a graded stakes, however Sunday’s operating of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Offered by Budweiser at Woodbine is an occasion racing followers and bettors gained’t need to miss.
Held over 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta, the Woodbine Oaks serves as the primary leg of Canada’s “Triple Tiara,” a Triple Crown-type collection for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies. However simply as usually, the Woodbine Oaks serves as a steppingstone for gifted fillies to organize for a showdown in opposition to male rivals within the $1 million King’s Plate Stakes at Woodbine, a race previously generally known as the Queen’s Plate.
Certainly, the final dozen years have seen Inglorious (2011), Lexie Lou (2014), Holy Helena (2017), and Moira (2022) sweep each races, whereas Marvel Gadot (2018) parlayed a runner-up end within the Woodbine Oaks into victory within the Queen’s Plate. Thus, historical past suggests there’s a robust probability one of many 14 fillies entered within the 2023 Woodbine Oaks will show gifted sufficient to beat males when the King’s Plate is contested on Aug. 20.
There are many promising fillies within the Woodbine Oaks area, however the most probably winner seems to be #11 Ticker Tape House (5-2). The beautifully-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was produced by the Warfare Entrance mare Journey House, winner of the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes on turf at Del Mar.
Ticker Tape House has gained on turf, and he or she’s additionally tried filth, nevertheless it’s clear racing on Tapeta is her sturdy swimsuit. Her first begin over the floor got here in opposition to males within the seven-furlong Show Stakes at Woodbine final fall, during which Ticker Tape House set the tempo earlier than battling on to complete second by half a size.
Ticker Tape House lately returned to the Woodbine Tapeta for the Fury Stakes, a seven-furlong dash for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies. The consequence was spectacular, as Ticker Tape House led each step of the way in which to trounce #3 Elysian Discipline (12-1) and #14 Me and My Shadow (6-1) by 4 lengths, incomes a career-best 93 Brisnet Pace ranking.
Not one of the different Woodbine Oaks entrants have earned a Brisnet Pace ranking increased than 88, so Ticker Tape House is available in because the quickest filly on paper. She set a fast tempo within the Fury, and her front-running velocity ought to lend her a tactical benefit in Sunday’s giant area, serving to her keep out of hassle. The 1 1/8-mile distance is a doable query mark since Ticker Tape House has faltered in her three begins operating farther than seven furlongs, however one was on turf in her second begin final summer time, one was the Suncoast Stakes on filth, and the final was the Grade 3 Florida Oaks on turf. Stretching her velocity on Tapeta whereas dealing with fellow Canadian-bred fillies needs to be much less of an impediment.
Ticker Tape House’s human connections cement her standing because the filly to beat. She’ll be ridden by sizzling jockey Patrick Husbands and Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse, who’ve teamed as much as win the Woodbine Oaks 3 times with Kimchi (2006), Sealy Hill (2007), and the above-mentioned Lexie Lou. For good measure, Husbands additionally rode Curlin’s Voyage to victory in 2020.
So how ought to we wager the Woodbine Oaks? Because of the massive area dimension, Ticker Tape House figures to supply a good value within the win pool, so in case you’re enjoying on a small price range, you must have each probability to catch a pleasant payoff by betting Ticker Tape House to win.
However when you’ve got a bit extra capital to spend, why not spend money on an exacta, which affords the potential for bigger payoffs? The exacta requires deciding on the highest two finishers within the right order, so if we key Ticker Tape House on prime, we’ll have to search out a number of fillies to make use of for second place.
One apparent contender is #2 Massive Brass Mattress (7-2), a daughter of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist conditioned by four-time Eclipse Award-winning coach Chad Brown. Since 2018, Brown has saddled two horses over the Woodbine Tapeta, recording one win and one third. The victory got here by way of Turf King within the Grade 3 Marine Stakes for 3-year-olds earlier this month, whereas the third-place end got here courtesy of Sahlabiya within the 2022 Woodbine Oaks.
Sahlabiya entered the Woodbine Oaks with out a single victory to her credit score, having positioned in a pair of turf maiden particular weights at Belmont Park to begin her profession. Massive Brass Mattress enters with a extra achieved report, having prevailed by 2 ¾ lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden particular weight at Monmouth Park. The runner-up, La Pachanga, got here proper again to win the same race at Monmouth, flattering Massive Brass Mattress’s type.
Massive Brass Mattress adopted up with a rallying fourth-place end in a $62,500 allowance non-compulsory claimer racing 1 1/16 miles over the Belmont turf course. Switching to Tapeta and tackling a area restricted to Canadian-bred fillies may be all Massive Brass Mattress must vie for a top-two end.
The opposite filly we’ll use within the exacta is #10 Wickenheiser (8-1). She ran fourth within the Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes over the Woodbine turf course final 12 months and lately kicked off 2023 with a rallying runner-up end in a $50,000 allowance non-compulsory claimer racing 1 1/16 miles on Woodbine’s Tapeta. Wickenheiser is eligible to enhance in her second begin of the season, and it’s value noting she’s educated by Kevin Attard, who has gained the final two editions of the Woodbine Oaks.
Wagering Technique on a $10 Funds
$10 to win on #11 Ticker Tape House
What to say on the betting window: Woodbine, tenth race, $10 to win on #11 Ticker Tape House
Wagering Technique on a $30 Funds
$18 to win on #11 Ticker Tape House
What to say on the betting window: Woodbine, tenth race, $18 to win on #11 Ticker Tape House
$6 exacta: 11 with 2,10 ($12)
What to say on the betting window: Woodbine, tenth race, $6 exacta 11 with 2,10
Good luck, and benefit from the race!
