Bent Attorney back for more at Fort Erie

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Bent Attorney will make her first start since winning the $50,000 Ernie Samuel Memorial in Sunday's Rainbow Connection at Fort Erie.

The $125,000 Rainbow Connection, a five-furlong turf race for Ontario-sired fillies and mares, has attracted a field of six and is the highlight of Sunday's eight-race program. The Rainbow Connection is the second-richest race of the Fort Erie meet after the $500,000 Prince of Wales.

Bent Attorney, owned by Centennial Farms and trained by Don MacRae at Woodbine, has far more turf experience than most of her opponents and her win in the Ernie Samuel came at the same distance over this course.

Her last two Beyer Speed Figures on the grass have both been in the 90s and are well above what her rivals have recorded. Bent Attorney has won six of 25 career starts and won more than $350,000.

Tyler Pizarro will ride Bent Attorney, and is expected to rate her just off what should be a hot pace.

Trainer Earl Barnett will send out the front-running Anne's Purse, who should be the main danger to the favorite. Her only turf try to date came in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes last year. She battled throughout the 6 1/2-furlong race and finished second, beaten just a neck.

This will be Anne's Purse's third start of the year. She will be returning to the turf off a win and a second in allowance/optional claiming company over Polytrack.

Koonunga Hill has faced stakes company in her last nine races, three of which were on the turf. She has won over $200,000, including $87,064 on the turf from three starts.

Koonunga Hill is expected to show speed in this sprint. Trainer Steve Owens has named Anthony Stephen to ride.

Only If Split, a winner of almost $350,000, will leave from the inside post and is seldom headed at the first call.

Last year, the Rainbow Connection came off the turf and Only If Split was on the engine from the break and lasted for second. Her connections may be looking for rain and another try over the dirt Sunday.

Only If Split's two turf tries to date have not matched her Polytrack efforts. Rui Pimentel, the leading rider at the Fort, will ride.

Rounding out the field will be the 3-year-old filly Edamame and Bold Maneuver.

Edamame did not fare well in her only turf try and looks to be in tough here. Bold Maneuver finished well behind Bent Attorney in the Ernie Samuel Memorial and should be long odds at post time.

* Tuesday's total handle for the nine-race card was a solid $1,055,686, and it appears that the change of post time to 1:45 p.m. has been positive, particularly on Mondays and Tuesdays when there are limited alternatives for simulcast players.