Quills Picks Winners – Sunday 6/28 – Woodbine Race 9
After a tough day at Churchill Downs with my selections both on Also Eligible as well as here on Quills Picks Winners, we head north to Woodbine for today’s race. We have ten three-year-old fillies sprinting six and a half furlongs in the Alywow Stakes.
Woodbine Race 9 – Alywow Stakes
Favored in the Alywow Stakes is the 1 Mony Mony (5/2 morning line). She comes in from Churchill Downs where she finished third in an allowance race. She returns to Woodbine where she went gate to wire in the Star Shoot Stakes here back in April. Although she has the rail here, there should be challenges on the front end early.
The 5 Happy Destination (3/1 ML) was hounded from the start when she went for the lead in her debut three weeks ago. She pulled away with an impressive win that got her this opportunity today. If she can sit at the hip of the favorite here today, she could get her photo taken in the winner’s circle for the second time in two tries in her young career.
The 6 Slippers (8/1 ML) closed from well out of it to win an optional claiming race two weeks ago here at Woodbine. She quickly returns for her second race after a three-month layoff. Those races at Gulfstream are not that had considering she did face some tough company at Gulfstream over the winter.
The 3 Wooten Warrior (12/1 ML) closed well to win on the grass here at Woodbine three weeks ago. After getting bounced around at the start, she was able to close well to get up in time to get her nose down for the win in an optional claiming race. She steps up today but also will run on a synthetic surface for the first time.
Joe’s Pick
I watched the debut for Happy Destination and we saw a determined filly that made sure no one was passing her three weeks ago. But today she has a faster filly in Mony Mony on the rail.
I think this will set up for the closers, and I’ll take Mark Casse’s “other filly” Slippers today. She looks like she can get the set up here and fly home just like she did two weeks ago.
I’ll call this race 6-5-1-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 6. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle.
