TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

Parlay Power

Fan of the parlay? Fan of horse betting? Allow me to introduce you to emerging rookie rider Sofia Vives and the Pick 3.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack, the first three races of the day’s 10-race card went to Sofia Vives mounts. She captured race one with Different Drum (even), race two with Mi Corazon (4-1), and race three aboard Confusing (2-1).

Bettors who foresaw Vives’ early dominance may have tried their hand at a Pick 3, which can be thought of as the horse betting version of a parlay. Here, you win if you correctly pick the winners of three consecutive races.

Like any other horse racing bet, you physically select the horse, not the rider or anyone else. However, there’s nothing stopping you from riding with a particular jockey’s mounts, a la Vives on Saturday.

A $1 Vives Pick 3 returned $45.95.

Just a Name

Slow Down Andy didn’t exactly take his name to heart in this past Saturday’s $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita.

The gelding actually did the opposite, holding a strong position until the mid-stretch where he used a late surge to pull away from the pack for a 2 ¼ length victory. Slow Down Andy’s latest, and most impressive effort earned him (a $6 return on a $2 bet) his first career Grade 1 triumph.

Although the win was his first in five starts, the 4-year-old showed signs that the unfortunate streak would soon come to an end. Racing in several high-end affairs, including the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), Slow Down Andy hit the podium all but once in that five-race stretch.

The breakthrough was just a matter of time.

Baker’s Dozen

Virtual Horizon narrowly avoided an event horizon in Saturday’s Alberta Plainsman final to extend his unbeaten streak to 13.

Both Tim Can Timmy (22-1) and Blue Star Mercury (18-1) made life difficult for Virtual Horizon, with the former providing pressure through the mid-stretch and latter vaulting inside late to make things interesting.

Despite the scare, the Brandon Campbell-trainee persevered to improve his career line to a stellar 16-1-2 in 20 starts.

Unfortunately for his backers, the added excitement of a close race doesn’t increase the payout ($3.10 for the win), but it could provide valuable information leading into his next contest.

Is this a sign that he’s vulnerable and other competitors present greater value? Or is it a reminder that he doesn’t need his best stuff to win?

Decisions, Decisions…

After an out-of-character performance in his last outing, Cody’s Wish made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle at Belmont at the Big A on Sunday.

It didn’t look great off the jump, but the 5-year-old who has never once missed the podium in his 15-start career (10-1-4), quickly regained form to capture the $200,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G2).  The win also earned Cody’s Wish a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Earlier this year, in June, he clinched a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which he won last year. Right now, all indications from his connections point towards Cody’s Wish defending his crown.

As the overwhelming 1-9 favourite on Sunday, Cody’s Wish sixth career graded win returned $2.30.

On Top of the World

Irish-bred Ace Impact (5-2) cemented his status as an international powerhouse with a victory in Europe’s premier middle-distance competition.

The 3-year-old, who still remains undefeated through six career contests, put his blazing speed on display to capture the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1T) this past Sunday. For the career defining score, Ace Impact was rewarded with an all-inclusive trip to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, as part of the ‘Win and You’re In’ challenge series.

His next challenge will be his first test outside of the European circuit. While that may be a difficult adjustment for some, Ace Impact’s first-class résumé suggests that shouldn’t be an issue.