Seven of Canada’s best 3-year-old fillies will face off in Sunday’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois. It’s the kickoff leg of the “Canadian Triple Tiara,” a Triple Crown-style series of three races for fillies foaled in Canada.

Contested at a distance of 1 1/8 miles over Woodbine’s all-weather Tapeta track, the Woodbine Oaks boasts an impressive roster of winners. This year’s edition appears ripe for conquest by #7 Luster, whose near-perfect 3-for-4 career record includes a 2-for-2 tally in route races (those measuring one mile or longer).

Luster (right) wins the Selene. (Michael Burns/Woodbine)

Luster opened her career with a pair of decisive wins on turf. She was especially impressive in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Keeneland, dominating by five lengths.

Luster then switched to Woodbine’s Tapeta for the Ruling Angel Stakes sprinting seven-eighths of a mile. The distance was perhaps too short, as she finished third by 1 ¼ lengths. But then she stretched back out over 1 1/16 miles for Woodbine’s Grade 3 Selene Stakes and pounced from third place to score by 1 ¾ lengths.

Tackling 1 1/8 miles for the Woodbine Oaks should only help Luster’s chances. She’s posted a fast half-mile workout since the Selene and should be set for another strong performance. We’re confident Luster will deliver a victory in the Woodbine Oaks.

Depending on whether you’re betting on a small budget ($10) or a larger budget ($30), we recommend playing Luster on top in the trifecta (which requires selecting the top three finishers in order) and perhaps the superfecta (which requires selecting the top four finishers in order).

For second place, use #1 Piper’s Gift. She’s unbeaten in four starts over the Woodbine Tapeta track, including a 4 ½-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes last fall. She recently returned to this track to win the Fury Stakes sprinting seven-eighths of a mile, and she should be set for a competitive run while stretching back out in distance.

#3 Katie’s Grace, runner-up to Piper’s Gift in the Princess Elizabeth and to Luster in the Selene, is a logical contender to finish in the top three. So too is #2 Dixie Law, who finished only a nose behind Katie’s Grace when third in the Selene. This Tiz the Law filly won the Ruling Angel Stakes over Luster and took the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes last fall, so Dixie Law consistently performs well at a high level.

Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget:

$5 trifecta: 7 with 1 with 2,3 (total cost: $10)

What to say at the betting window: Woodbine, 10^th race, $5 trifecta, 7 with 1 with 2,3

Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget:

$11 trifecta: 7 with 1 with 2,3 (total cost: $22)

What to say at the betting window: Woodbine, 10^th race, $11 trifecta, 7 with 1 with 2,3

$4 superfecta: 7 with 1 with 2,3 with 2,3 (total cost: $8)

What to say at the betting window: Woodbine, 10^th race, $4 superfecta, 7 with 1 with 2,3 with 2,3

Good luck, and enjoy the race!