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View from the Booth by Robert Geller

May 15, 2018

TORONTO, May 15, 2018 – Each week, track announcer Robert Geller comments on some of the performances that caught his eye, highlighting horses to key in on for upcoming races at Woodbine.

WATERKLOOF (Friday, May 4 – Race 7, No. 7, 2nd)

Wind, wind and more wind. Not the easiest of conditions under which to debut yet that was the case for three-year-old Kentucky-bred colt Waterkloof, who finished a solid second at the mile and a sixteenth to hot favourite Strike Me Down. Settling toward the back of the field early, Waterkloof continued to gain solid ground on the winner to get within a neck at the wire. By Quality Road from an Unbridled’s Song dam, this Mark Casse newcomer has the look of a coming winner next time out.

GIANT STORM (Sunday, May 6 – Race 7, No. 9, 2nd)

In a highly contentious finish, Giant Storm produced a valiant stretch bid to close within a neck of plucky stablemate Bayerd, who kicked near the rail to score. Giant Storm relaxed back in the 11-horse field early, swinging five-wide into the stretch and closing the best of all.  Runners in third and fourth, Thor’s Rocket and Butterfly Dance were opponents with back-class. Seven furlongs remains the pet distance for this now five-year-old, who strung together three on end at that distance last season to rise up the class ladder. Giant Storm appears to have started off where he left off and the combination of trainer Norm McKnight and jockey Eurico da Silva never gets old. If his first run back is any indication, Giant Storm is in store for another fruitful campaign.

Follow Geller on Twitter @WoodbineGeller​​​ for more insights on racing at Woodbine.

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