Woodbine Picks: Hallie's Hero the class on July 7

Woodbine's Thoroughbred track is in business with an 8-race card. That will make for some excellent wagering opportunities, and you will not want to miss out on the all-weather contests on the docket. At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action! It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Thursday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Today, we have a pair of handicappers that have picked the Woodbine card. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter ... Horseracing_USA !!!

Most Likely Winner: (Race 6: Menagerie #4, 7/5):

HOF trainer Mark Casse wins at Woodbine at a high-rate, and that trend will probably continue as he sends out this filly by Violence. She is in-form, and has the ability to rate nicely. Kimura Kazushi is as good as ever, but last time aboard he was not able to catch the frontrunner. An earlier move might assist this time around. If you could get 7/5 on this runner, then that qualifies as value, in my book. This one is as sure a bet as you will find.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #4

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 8: Laila’s Charm #2, 8/1):

Trainer Randy Thompson is dropping his filly by Giant Gizmo down into this spot. This is clearly a class relief move, and it should result in a score. Maybe they have just tried too hard to get this one to hit-the-board, and sometimes you need to drop back and proverbially punt. Jeff Alderson is a jockey with very average numbers, but he has a shot here to make a difference. His mount has shown a proclivity for breaking well from the gate … that will be “key” in a spot like this one. There is a good chance she will be double-digits on the tote come post time, and that is just fine by me.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #2 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 7: AW, 6½, OClm15k, 3+):

On this Thursday card, we have 7 that will be sprinting fast down the backstretch … going fast … that matters … Breaking down a race like this one, I think that looking to the inside is best. This could be viewed as a 2-horse race between Martin Drexler’s Dr. Shane #1, and Denyse McClachrie’s Hallie’s Hero #2. The former ships in from Gulfstream Park, and should be well-backed at the windows. With Kimura Kazushi in the irons, the venerable 9-yr-old gelding could be a winner based on his recent form. I am more interested in McClachrie’s new claim. Another gelding, this one by City Zip, has the experience on the tapeta at Woodbine. In 8 starts, he was in-the-money half the time. I like the choice of using Justin Stein once again, and even though he hasn’t won since last fall, that could change here. Sometimes a barn switch is just what a horse needs, and this could prove profitable with a well-timed wager. I probably will be betting this one to “win” also, especially if his price hovers around 3/1 … nice and juicy, I think.

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Exacta Cold, 2/1

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Enjoy some racing from Canada! Best of luck on another run during a Woodbine Summer!