A CLOSER LOOK at Woodbine races on 9/23

First four races of the year were pretty good but she seemed to have found things a little difficult last time after a big race in the Victoriana; looks as if she bounced or whatever descriptive phrase you select to describe a bad race following a pair of good ones, alias, in this case a double top, and a rebound could occur or she could go way off form; it might pay to note that many of her wins have come in soft-paced situations; it's your money so you decide...we're looking elsewhere.

Cia

Second and closing half of the uncoupled entry; she finally managed a win here last fall and the big concern about her is the infrequency of her races which is exceeded only by the greater frequency of the layoffs; she is not as fast as some of the others and she will need her best to have any chance to make the board; an iffy betting proposition at best.

With the Wind

Won her first two turf outings and then came apart; she has raced sparingly since the wins; turf may be a positive but off her last she may need more than a few interim works; she will have to prove that she belongs.

Love Kiss

Is one who is running in a higher condition than is necessary and if she was unable to win in NW2x company how will she fare against better? she has speed and is competitive; maybe she can improve enough in her second start back and after racing sparingly to make her mom look good by improving today.

Deadly Vices

Has one win from two turf races and was never really in the Victoriana after chasing the pace; she split the field in her last which came on the dirt and it will take a top effort for her to be a legitimate factor...especially if a few of the others do show up.

Press Exclusive

MTO races irregularly but generally gives a good accounting of herself; many time claiming winner could even get the speed trip she needs starting from the outside, but if in one must first know who else is running and how the track is playing; until those are "knowns" he remains in the mix.

-Steve Zacks

This fast colt is also entered in the Swynford Stakes but you'd have to think he will elect this spot as it is so much easier; he reportedly gets Lasix after a 2 1/2 month layoff and his workouts have been fairly regular; he impressed at the local 2yo sale in June and has fulfilled that promise so far; big shot.

Holiday Pal

Improving gelding was let go as an overlay last time but that didn't matter to him as he dueled 3 wide and then powered away to a handy score; these are tougher and faster as two of his inside rivals have displayed big speed; minor share.

Embattle

$110,000 2yo purchase showed impressive professionalism in his debut despite drawing the rail and breaking 9th of 11; he rated in mid-pack on the inside and then started to motor on the turn and he closed fast in the stretch to win in decent time; he stretches out and might not be as far back in this smaller field; likely favourite and major player.

-Jennifer Morrison

Dipped into a high maiden claiming race for her latest and woke up in a big way as she rallied for 3rd at big odds; she tries tougher but is going in the right direction.

Sheza a Nine Plus

Comes off a 2 month layoff and she showed good speed to the turn in her 2 turf starts but she needs to work on her stamina in the stretch; she has been working steadily in recent weeks and one of the leading riders has been lured.

Ma Kitty

Gets her first turf outing of the season and comes into the race off a good try at 10 furlongs on the main track when she was just edged by the favourite; she has some grass breeding and note that he only turf outing led to a layoff last year; consider.

Foolish Kiss

Has run well in all 3 of her races including 2 on the grass; she closed from far behind 2 starts ago to fill the triactor and she had a similar outing last time on the dirt when she wore blinkers; she had a fast workout since her latest and looks primed and ready.

Clubay

Loved her chances in her latest when she was back in a maiden race but she was under a strong hold early and was steadied a few times down the backstretch; once she was asked for her bid in the stretch she was a bit flat and the final result was disappointing; perhaps the longer distance will work in her favour.

Paylita

Looked like grass is her best surface and she had a spirited late rally in her most recent and had a good ground saving trip along the way too; she gets more distance and should be a contender.

Indy Queen

Half-sister to millionaire Free House tried grass in her first local start but she was outrun and she's had more time off for training; the barn has been red-hot in recent weeks but this is a competitive field; adds blinkers.

Princess Condo

This is an Also Eligible and she is by a sire who has low numbers with debut and turf winners but the mare has produced 2 turf winners including the good earner Wide Release.

Paddy Drew

Also Eligible entrant is by a good grass sire who is below average as a debut sire and the mare's 3 winners include stakes winning turfer Kaydee Classic.

-Jennifer Morrison

Had an excuse in her debut when she broke slowly but a bit more was expected from her last time and she faded; the fact that she is listed with Lasix for the first time (according to the overnight) suggests she may have bleeding in those races; there are only 2 winners in this race.

Werewoofy

Raced against a mild speed bias in her debut but didn't show much of anything and she reportedly gets Lasix; the added distance should be good for her according to her breeding; this is a wide open stakes race (restricted to sales graduates) and any improvement could get her a share.

Seventh Choice

$60,000 2yo purchase is by a sire who is above average as a debut sire and one of his 2yo's of this year is SW El Soprano; this gal's dam has produced 2 winners including a 2yo winner; she made an impressive appearance at the local 2yo sale when she worked in :36.40; exotics?

Missadryanaatto

$30,000 purchase at the 2yo sale worked in 23.80 for that auction and looked very good in that prep; her sire is below average as a debut sire but the mare has produced 3 winners, 2 juvenile winners including a debut winner; can't be dismissed in a wide open event.

Fancy Me Yours

Worked in a very speedy :34.60 for the 2yo sale in June and she was bought back for $39,000 that day; her sire is decent with debut winners and this is the first foal of a placed mare; worth a look.

Deputy Mary

Half-sister to the speedy stakes winner swamp Line won her debut over a very modest field but she did so in fine fashion; she was subsequently well beaten in a stakes race for sales graduates and is looking to regroup.

Cellular

One of 2 winners in the field and she looked very good in her maiden win as she rallied very wide off the turn and was up in time to win over a favourite; the fact that she is experienced at winning makes her a contender.

Hagley's Quest

$33,000 2yo buy worked in :37.60 for that sale and she was quite 'green' in that prep but displayed a long stride; she is by a sire who is regarded as a turf sire but the mare was a stakes winner at 2 and 3 and she has produced 3 winners including a 2yo winner; the beginners look very good in this race.

-Jennifer Morrison

Steady gelding has had a good 2001 campaign and his early speed is what makes him tough; he likes to go very fast in the early stages so don't be surprised to see him 'open up' early as he tries a tougher class at this track; he seeks his first Woodbine score.

Fire Fox

Hot stable got this guy to win his maiden 2 starts ago over a modest group but his first outing into the winner's category was okay; he stalked a very fast pace in that event and finished evenly while the winner predictably came from last place; Ocean Front won again on Thursday; threat.

No Comprende

Had a couple of months off and switched from turf to dirt and that resulted in a lopsided maiden score, but who could have predicted he would have been pounded down as the favourite?? Husbands appeared to have several other options and he takes this guy; contender.

Sophie's Bold

He's been doing well in turf sprints but now stretches out in distance and moves back to the dirt and those moves pose a couple of big questions for him; he could supply some speed but look to others for top three finishes.

Big Bully

Went from being favoured in his debut to winning as a longshot to being well bet on turf and then a longshot last time; hard to know what to expect from the bettors this time but he is bred to love the extra distance and he closed nicely in his latest.

Norlos

Hot gelding didn't appear to be a true route horse but won easily last time after a fast pace played out things perfectly for him; he moves up to the allowance class and could get a minor share.

Bronson

Won his maiden on the main track last fall and we're approaching those months of the year; he comes off a 2 months layoff and his workout times have been solid but let's watch him this time.

Alfaari Gold

Grey gelding had a great trip in his first start of the year as she stalked the pace while 'covered up' but the leader took off in a surprising effort; he would be very, very tough on a repeat if you don't think he'll regress at all after the tough race following the layoff.

-Jennifer Morrison

One of 2 entered in the race by Casse so perhaps one will not race; this guy didn't take long to win his maiden as he defeated the highly touted Dance to Destiny in the slop in his win but the longer distance of his latest was too much for him after a ferocious pace duel; could rebound with the turn back.

Nowyouseeit

Don't expect this one to race in this spot as he has also been entered in the Juvenile Stakes (colts division) and that spot is a lot easier that this field; he is a fast colt but his speed would be tested by 'Friends.

Movewiththemaestro

Rushes back into action 5 days after his first start for new interests and once again, he was a bit green in his approach but he had some late run; there is a big difference between those maidens at the Fort and this field but he has speed to chase and could grab a piece of the purse if the fast ones falter.

Rare Friends

Aptly named because of his owner and trainer and this gelding was a bargain yearling purchase; he has done little wrong except for a fuss-attack at the gate last time but he has led at every call of every race and he beat a good field last time; very strong.

Grimer

Ran a big race in his debut when he pressed the pace and made Open Concert work for that win and some people thought the 3rd place finisher was the most likely winner that day; didn't like the way this one was going in his latest when hard ridden to the lead and he stopped badly.

Pat's Expectation

Seeks revenge on 'Nicholle' who beat him with a 3 wide bid last time and this guy tried to go with that one while 4 wide but could not get past; he has worked quickly since that race but both Pat and Nicholle have a 'rare' foe who will be tough to catch; threat.

-Jennifer Morrison

Prefer to shy away from those with lots of starts and not many wins on the turf, as so many races on the lawn have closer finishes; his best turf race came at a longer distance and while he is dropping for this his recent form is so poor there is a real question about how much effect the drop will have.

Baronetcy

Is one of the dual turf winners though he has had 20 tries at it; he is back in with conditioned company and is probably capable of winning with a top effort but at 5-1 or less would rather take a chance on another hoping to find one to surprise and can always save with him.

Bad River

He did break his maiden on turf and after a good race in the slop has fallen on hard times; he has shown enough in his last couple of starts to look reasonably interesting in here; don't know what the offering price will be but he should make a race of it after the two starts, an interim work and running for a tag for the first time.

Misquote

He is one for 19 on grass for his only win; his latest was not bad and whether he can run a little better with the drop in for a tag will determine just how well he finishes up today; maybe not for the win but he might land a spot on the board following a couple of works.

Solicitation

He is another of the two-time turf winners and generally gives it a good try even if he usually comes up a bit short; he gets to try conditioned claimers for the first time and that could put him in the right spot; can handle the distance and might get that third win dropping and stretching.

Lathe

Has come around recently winning two of his last three but on dirt; he is in the logical class here but his turf record raises some doubts; maybe with his confidence up he can run better on the grass and some of his losing efforts were in some pretty fast races where he had little shot; be interesting to see what the claim does here after a half-mile work; a possibility.

Dancing Wager

Claimed again, laid off again, he is from a stakes placed winner who is not from a turf family nor has she produced a turf winner from the two to try the grass; he could be interesting if he can translate his recent form to the turf and that is a game this outfit likes to play; he might have been reclaimed with the turf in mind and the turf work supports that thought ... care to play along?

Materofcutness

Just graduated last time and so is running one condition higher than necessary; that was an easy win but with easier and with a slow pace and final time; inclined to seek others in this situation.

Surrounded

Tried the turf and a longer distance for the first time off the layoff and for a new barn and was within range through most of the running, not bad considering; will need a best effort if he is to win or be competitive as he goes with conditioned company.

Ridge Racer

AE has not run for six weeks and while his last race was better, just how ready he would be with one work during the time off is one of the questions to answer; would not be impossible if he did run close to his best, depending upon how well some of the others do.

Twistingbythepool

AE has a couple of dirt seconds with after winning an allowance at FE and back in for a tag he is worth a look; it will be about how well he can transfer his form from dirt to turf; there is not a lot of support from his pedigree for turf; a possibility with good current form.

-Steve Zacks