Betting the Woodward Stakes on a Budget
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Liam's Map looks to improve off his second-place Whitney finish in Saturday's Woodward Stakes at Saratoga. (Photo by NYRA/Susie Raisher)
The 1 1/8-mile Woodward Stakes marks the near end of a fantastic 2015 Saratoga meet. The Woodward has been run at various tracks and at a variety of distances and the race is no stranger to some pretty awesome racing records – Forego's four wins, Kelso's three, six wins by jockeys Angel Cordero Jr. and Jerry Bailey and my personal favorite, Rachel Alexandra's 2009 win, the first time a 3-year-old filly won the Woodward.
What record is on the line this year? If jockey Javier Castellano manages to win this race he’ll be the first jockey to sweep Saratoga’s biggest four races – the Whitney Stakes (Honor Code), Alabama Stakes (Embellish the Lace), Travers Stakes (Keen Ice) and Woodward.
The old racetrack adage still rings true: big jockeys and big trainers on big days. None are bigger than Todd Pletcher, who has not only led the Saratoga standings for a record five years in a row (and five other years), but also he's been the leading American trainer by money earned for the last five years. He saddles his four Woodward starters with the top four Saratoga jockeys — Castellano, John Velazquez, Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz — and he seems to have a stranglehold on this closing Saturday’s Grade 1 Woodward.
For me, the question isn’t if one his runners win this race, but determining which one finds the winner’s circle.
The steadily improving #2 Liam's Map took a major leap into the upper echelon of the handicap division with his gallant defeat in the Whitney Stakes, in which he blazed his way to a near wire-to-wire win, only to get caught at the finish line by Met Mile winner Honor Code. Liam's Map opened a four-length lead in the middle of the Whitney, earning a career-best speed figure. He’s lightly raced, has four wins in six starts with two places. He could have company on the lead in the Woodward and might not have it his own way, but with a repeat effort of last time, he’ll be tough to beat.
PROTONICO
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
#8 Protonico, another one of Pletcher’s horses, will be ridden by leading Saratoga jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Despite being out for the past four months, I think he could be there to complete a barn exacta. He should sit right off the hot pace in the Woodward. Protonico showed huge heart in his last race, in which he battled it out on the lead, got passed in the stretch and then came back to hit the finish line first.
#7 Effinex is a different horse this year, with three big-number wins in four starts. He’s a closer who will get a guaranteed hot pace to run down today, but trainer Jimmy Jerkens is ice cold this summer with only one win in 22 starts.
After being checked early and fading late in the Met Mile, #4 Bay of Plenty returned to win the Alydar Stakes in Saratoga in front-running fashion while "in hand," and he has a recent, spectacular five-furlong, 59-second flat, bullet workout (fastest of the day at the distance). Bay of Plenty and jockey Joel Rosario must avoid a speed duel, but they can't be ignored. Also, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is a having a career year and meet.
Vic’s Picks:
#2 Liam’s Map, #8 Protonico, #7 Effinex and #4 Bay of Plenty
Strategy A: $20 to win on 2
Strategy B: $5 exacta: 2 with 8,7 AND $5 Exacta 8 with 2, 4
Strategy C: $3 trifecta: 2 with 8, 7, 4 with 8,7,4
$600,000 Woodward StakesSaturday, Saratoga Race Course, Race 10, 5:47 p.m. ET1 1/8 miles on the dirt for 3-year-olds and older
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
ML Odds
1
Wicked Strong
Luis Saez
Jimmy Jerkens
Centennial Farms
5-1
2
Liam's Map
Javier Castellano
Todd Pletcher
Teresa Viola Racing Stables
6-5
3
Commanding Curve
Shaun Bridgmohan
Dallas Stewart
West Point Thoroughbreds
30-1
4
Bay of Plenty
Joel Rosario
Kiaran McLaughlin
Godolphin Racing
10-1
5
Mylute
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Todd Pletcher
GoldMark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm
15-1
6
Coach Inge
John Velazquez
Todd Pletcher
Repole Stable
6-1
7
Effinex
Junior Alvarado
Jimmy Jerkens
Tri-Bone Stables
4-1
8
Protonico
Jose Ortiz
Todd Pletcher
Sumaya U.S. Stable
12-1