Saturday's Best Bet: Lucky Curlin looks fantastic in Ontario Derby

Saturday's 8th race from Woodbine is the Grade 3 Ontario Derby for 3-year-olds traveling a mile and an eighth on the all-weather surface (Post Time 4:58 p.m. ET).

#4 LUCKY CURLIN (6-1) is sharp, fresh, and versatile for Mark Casse. He captured a local extended sprint June 14 and that was a key race, and he exits back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Marine (G3) and Toronto Cup. Patrick Husbands knows him now and he should be grinding away in the lane.

#8 Malibu Mambo (6-1) is on the upswing for Kevin Attard but he has yet to run two alike after five starts. He definitely wants to run two turns on all-weather ground and I really like his running style versatility.

#6 Mighty Heart (7-2) went after a sweep of the Canadian Triple Crown but came up empty in the final leg at a mile and a half on turf. He might be able to get out there and control the pace in this spot, and they probably won’t catch him if he does.

#1 Field Pass (2-1) has had a long campaign and he is classy and consistent. He won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at this distance in his lone all-weather attempt March 14.

#2 Belichick (5-2) broke through with a big maiden victory in the Breeders’ Stakes at a mile and a half on turf Oct. 24. Let there be no doubt that stamina is his main asset, and he is just getting warmed up at this distance. He is lightly raced and on the upswing but I am concerned that he will run out of ground.

Wagers:

#4 to win

Exacta 4-8/1-4-8

Trifecta Key 4/1-2-6-8

Trifecta 1-2-6-8/4/1-2-6-8 

Recent Best Bet Winners

Nov. 1 - STEPHEN ($6.30)
Nov. 3 - POPIZAR ($19.00), Trifecta ($66.30)
Nov. 7 - Merneith/Motivated Seller Exacta ($50.60)
Nov. 11 - FLAT OUT BEAUTIFUL ($7.20)
Nov. 19 - Nomo Ron/Stroll Smokin/Hold Me Black Trifecta ($60.80)

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