Gierkink's preview: Turf races might be moved to Poly

Wednesday, Aug. 13, preview

Two turf races scheduled

Heavy rain Tuesday could force the two turf races on the card to be shifted to the Polytrack. Lane 1 will be used this week, which will culminate with Sunday’s $500,000 Breeders’ Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on grass.

Woodbine recently began to incorporate a TurfTrax GoingStick measurement into its daily track-maintenance commentary. The device offers an objective assessment of the condition of Woodbine’s turf course at each sixteenth of a mile. An average of the readings is taken, and a rating on a 15-point scale is given, from 15 for very firm to 0 for very soft.

The reading last Sunday on firm ground was 11.3, on a card that featured turf-stakes scores by Lexie Lou in the Wonder Where and Kaigun in the Grade 2 Play the King.

Traditional course conditions will continue to be announced by Woodbine to complement the data from the GoingStick, which has been used in England and the United States.

Jackpot Hi 5 carryover rising

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover is $173,488 heading into Wednesday’s eighth race. Solo Player is the 5-2 morning-line favorite off a fast (77 Beyer Speed Figure) tally over $7,500 opposition on dirt at Fort Erie. He only got a 64 Beyer for winning his previous race against bottom $6,250 stock here on the Poly, but the abundance of speed in this six-furlong dash for $8,000 claimers might benefit his closing style.

Other off-the-pace possibilities include Go Wes Go (8-1), Lip Singer (4-1), and the popular 10-year-old Ronaldino (3-1).
Horse to Watch

LOCKOUT
Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: Aug. 10, 6th
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
He had a wider trip than his victorious stablemate, Kaigun, in the seven-furlong Play the King, in which he ran the race of his life to finish a clear second while leaving some accomplished rivals in his wake. The Grade 2 stakes was a prep for the $1 million Woodbine Mile, and he shouldn’t be out of his league in that Grade 1 fixture.