If it's Friday, it may be peculiar

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - For some strange reason, in recent years Friday cards at Woodbine often have yielded perplexing results. A typical freaky Friday occurred last week, when an outside bias aided several huge longshot winners, and helped create a $671 superfecta in the finale with the numbers 12-13-11-14.

With a four-day break heading into Friday's 10-race card, it's anybody's guess as to how the track will play. The outside paths, however, often provided better footing than the inside during the first month of the meeting. Such a bias would likely boost the chances of Oye Yoye Yoye in Friday's ninth race, a 5 1/2-furlong optional claimer for older $100,000 runners.

Oye Yoye Yoye, a consistent Bob Tiller-trained 4-year-old, finished third at this level in his lone appearance this year. He won his second start here last spring by coming from just off the pace, so a peak race could be in the cards for him Friday.

David Clark will break Oye Yoye Yoye from post 5 in the six-horse field.

San Mont Andreas, a speedster who drew the outside post, is debuting for trainer Mike DePaulo following an extended layoff. A 4-year-old colt by Friendly Lover, San Mont Andreas is three-time restricted stakes winner on dirt and turf with $274,992 in the bank.

"He had a problem with his suspensory ligament and a quarter crack," said DePaulo, explaining San Mont Andreas's absence from competition.

San Mont Andreas could hook up in a pace battle with Balancethebudget, who has been saddled with post 1. Balancethebudget gave heavily favored Wake at Noon a run for his money when he ran second in the opening day feature, the Briartic Handicap.

Balancethebudget was a "bouncing" second to current rival Colebrook Ruckus when up against $100,000 opposition in his lone subsequent outing. Mike Wright Jr. trains Balancethebudget for owner Richard Englander.

Colebrook Ruckus has won both of his starts at the meet for trainer Warren Wilcox, who claimed him for $32,000 last summer.

Colebrook Ruckus blew out three-eighths in a bullet 36 seconds on Monday, and would appear to have retained his sharpness.

Sam Lord's Castle is the classiest member of the group. Trained by Josie Carroll, he won the Victoria Stakes at 2 and the 2001 Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds, but was a well-beaten fifth in his lone start this year, the five-furlong Briartic.

Completing the ninth-race field is turf specialist Hoptuit Bud, who captured an $80,000 optional claimer over a good main track here in October for his trainer, Peter Berringer.

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