Quills Picks Winners – Tuesday 5/12 – Assiniboia Downs Race 6
It is opening night at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg and what appears to be our Tuesday summer track has returned. They will be under the lights for their featured race this evening.
Our featured race is the finale of a six-race card. A field of seven which has never won two races will sprint five furlongs in today’s featured race.
Favored in today’s featured race is the 4 Classico (6/5 morning line). He is a three-year-old facing elders for the first time today. He was privately purchased last winter and raced two more times at Santa Anita before moving to Canada. His best races have been on the grass, but there is no grass course here. Despite that, he might have some excuses in his two dirt races, especially the debut which was loaded with Kentucky Derby contenders.
The 2 Mighty Mikee (5/2 ML) races for the first time in 2026 like many of the horses on the AsD grounds. Technically, this gelding should not be eligible for this race as he is a three-time winner in a non-winners of two races lifetime race. But we have seen horses like this running in the past that don’t conform to conditions here. He is bred for the shorter distances and should be able to handle the distance tonight.
The 1 Witt’s Ten Touch (6/1 ML) weakened in the two-turn, six-furlong Baxter Stakes at Fonner Park in April. Previously he finished second in a claiming race at Sam Houston. He completes his northernly migration for tonight’s race and looks to bounce back. He draws the rail but it appears there is two horses that are better than the rest of the field here.
The 7 Complete Overhaul (12/1 ML) is an intriguing play today. He comes in from Oaklawn Park where he trailed throughout and was claimed. He comes north with new connections and will be second race off of a four-month layoff. If he can show his form from when he won in December at Remington Park, he should be able to stalk or close from that outside post.
Joe’s Pick
The races at Assiniboia can be tough and to compound things, we have a card where many of these horses are racing for the first time since last year’s meet. Some horses are running in these sprint races that start off the meet to get a race under their belts which do not fit the races they have shown that they like to run.
I think Classico has the potential of being a monster on the AsD grounds this summer. But he is bred for longer distances. He has the turf to dirt angle, but I think he will want longer than tonight’s five furlongs.
Give me Mighty Mikee in tonight’s race. This horse is more of a sprinter than the favorite. Look for this gelding to get to the lead and win this race over the favorite who has to prove that he can run on dirt.
I’m calling this race 2-4-7-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 2. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
