Player Quick Picks: Woodbine for 4/20/2014

TwinSpires offers bonuses on Exactas, Trifectas, and Superfectas every Sunday in April at Woodbine: 5% on Exactors (Exactas), 10% on Triactors (Trifectas), and 15% on Superfectas. (click here for terms & conditions)

by Ryan Dickey

Woodbine 1 | 1:00 pm ET Maiden Claiming (40-37.5) for 3yo F going 5.5f (A)

MOST PROBABLE WINNER:  1-Sky Kisses

The morning line favorite in the opener at Woodbine today is a Sky Mesa firster from the Mark Casse barn.  Installed at 8-5, the Debby Oxley-owned filly out of Kisses for My Gal (who is by Unbridled) has the pedigree, the Woodbine debut trainer, and the right post to wire this field.  Don’t be surprised if the horse is even-money (or less) at post-time, because there’s plenty to like here.  However, we’ll be trying to beat her.

VALUE HORSE:  2-Declansnumberone

When you look at the past performances of this filly’s two year old campaign, you’d never think of playing her here, even with the juicy 20-1 m/l odds, and the prospect of those going even higher by post-time.  Trainer Michael Doyle has positive ROI off the layoff, on synthetic, in sprints, and in maiden claimer races.  This horse has no doubt matured since last November, and in a six-horse race at 5 ½ furlongs, she represents great value, on top and underneath in exactas.  Not guaranteeing a stunning longshot victory, but the play here looks like a 1-2 exacta box.

WAGERING OPTIONS FOR $20 PLAYERS $5 WIN/PLACE 2 ($10) $5 Exacta box 1,2 ($10--total $20)

WAGERING OPTIONS FOR $50 PLAYERS $20 WIN/PLACE 2 ($40) $5 Exacta box 1,2 ($10--total $50)

 

Woodbine 8 | 4:25 pm ET Woodstock Stakes for 3yo going 6f (A)

MOST PROBABLE WINNER:  1-Go Greeley

Go Greeley is the class of the race.  His last start was a third place finish in the $150,000 G3 Grey Stakes.  That third place finish (in a field of only four) represented the worst finish in this horse’s six race career.  He’s had four wins, one place, and that third-place finish in the Grey.  He’s been off since that race on October 6 of last year.  A deserving favorite, but we’ll try to beat him here as well.

VALUE HORSE:  3-Puntrooskie

Again, this is another short field at Woodbine.  This horse has the speed figures to match the top two choices (Go Greeley and #5 Jose Sea View), and isn’t coming off the long layoff like they are.  Yes, he’s coming off his maiden win, and has yet to try stakes company, but trainer Nicholas Gonzalez has a tremendous ROI in stakes races, as well as a positive ROI on synthetic surfaces and coming off a win.  The works have been good, and there’s no reason to believe Puntrooskie can’t be driving towards the wire like he has in his last three races.  A better betting option than the top two choices.  Play on top in exotics and in multi-race bets

WAGERING OPTIONS FOR $20 PLAYERS $5 WIN/PLACE 3 ($10) $2 Exacta 3 over 1,5 ($4) $1 Trifecta box 1,3,5 ($6--total $20)

WAGERING OPTIONS FOR $50 PLAYERS $10 WIN/PLACE 3 ($20) $8 SHOW 3 ($8) $5 Exacta 3 over 1,5 ($10) $2 Trifecta box 1,3,5 ($12--total $50)

MULTI-RACE BETS WOODBINE RACE 7 $1 Pick-3 2,8 over 3 over ALL ($20)