Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 8/15 – Woodbine Races 8 & 9
It’s King’s Plate Day at Woodbine near Toronto and we are taking a look at a couple of the undercard races before we look at the big one this afternoon. Both races that we will look at will take advantage of the two turf courses on the Woodbine grounds.
First, we head to the inner turf course for the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes as fillies and mares will travel a mile and a sixteenth. Then we will head to the newly renovated E.P. Taylor (or outer) turf course for the Catch A Glimpse Stakes as juvenile fillies go six and a half furlongs.
Woodbine Race 8 – Canadian Stakes (Grade 2)
Favored in the Canadian Stakes is the 6 Proctor Street (2/1 morning line). She comes up from Saratoga where she had all kinds of trouble last month in the De La Rose Stakes. She had to steady near the back of the pack approaching the first turn. This mare has run well on the grass this year including several graded stakes but still is winless in 2026.
The 1 Lupa (3/1 ML) finished second going longer on the main synthetic track in the Grade 3 Trillium Stakes, getting caught in the final strides of that race. She appears to be lone speed here this afternoon and may be able to take this field gate to wire.
The 3 Awesomesauce (6/1 ML) won the Vivacious Stakes at Belterra Park last month closing from the back of the pack for the win. She might need someone to challenge Lupa here to help her with her strong closing kick.
The 4 Eponine (5/2 ML) won an allowance race at Saratoga last month closing from mid-pack. She was wide heading into the stretch and closed strongly for the win. Like Awesomesauce, she may need a duel up front.
Joe’s Canadian Stakes Pick
I admit that I am concerned when I like horses that are on the lead. But I am pretty confident that Lupa can return to the grass successfully and take this field gate to wire. Things could get hairy near the end, but I expect her to hold on for the win.
I’m calling this race 1-4-6-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 1.
Woodbine Race 9 – Catch A Glimpse Stakes
We go from the inner turf to the outer turf, known locally at Woodbine as the E.P. Taylor turf course as ten juvenile fillies will go six and a half furlongs. The 8 Humble and Kind and the 9 Mrs D are cross-entered into race 6, the Soaring Free Stakes, but there is no indication where they run today.
Favored in this race is the 5 Ghost Me (5/2 ML). She was bumped some down the backstretch in the My Dear Stakes and closed strongly on the rail for the win. She also won on the turf at Aqueduct with a front-end score. I am liking the versatility she showed in her two races so far and the resiliency after having some trouble at the start of the race.
The 3 Meloni (3/1 ML) broke her maiden at first asking with a front-end score. She does have a strong work on the grass leading up to this race but there is other speed in this race.
The 2 Royal Foxtrot (4/1 ML) finished second on the inner turf here at Woodbine last month and just missing. She should be able to handle the transition from the inner to the outer here today and should be moving late today.
The 9 Mrs D (10/1 ML) was a part of the bumping in the My Dear Stakes last month and finished second to the favorite that day. She defeated the boys in her debut in May easily and if she can take to the turf she can be dangerous.
Joe’s Catch A Glimpse Pick
It looks like Ghost Me could get a great trip, but it may be the first time she may not have a rail trip. I don’t think that matters much, but she did have the fortune of riding the rail in both races.
I’ll go with the maiden Royal Foxtrot here. She fired a bullet here on the turf at Woodbine last week and should be able to come home late this afternoon for the win.
I’m calling this race 2-5-3-9 and my play is $20 to win on the 2. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
