Society's Chairman tough on drop

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Society's Chairman takes a huge class edge into Friday's Woodbine feature, and should be the prohibitive favorite in the second-level allowance for Ontario-sired runners, which is scheduled for a mile on the grass.

Society's Chairman, a 5-year-old trained by Roger Attfield, had a variety of ailments during his formative years, and did not start until March 12, when he won his maiden at 25-1 in an $80,000 claimer at Gulfstream.

Society's Chairman reappeared in a first-level allowance in April at Keeneland, which he won comfortably while receiving a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. Attfield then jumped him up to the Grade 3 Connaught Cup Stakes here May 25, and he wound up a close second to Rahy's Attorney, with a 100 Beyer.

Society's Chairman ran his first clunker most recently over yielding ground in the Grade 3 King Edward BC Stakes. He seemed uncomfortable pressing the pace along the inside in that 1 1/8-mile race, and faded in the stretch to finish six lengths back in seventh.

Society's Chairman breezed five-eighths in 1:00.80 over the Polytrack on Sunday, which should prepare him adequately for the drop to restricted company.

Ciano Nights's lone turf try in the June 11 Bold Ruckus Stakes was solid. He rallied wide from five lengths off a slow pace in that six-furlong sprint, and finished second to favored Stuck in Traffic.

Ciano Nights came up empty as the 4-5 choice most recently in an allowance on the Polytrack, and a mile seems beyond his optimum distance.

Power of Attorney took his game to another level when he tried the turf for the first time June 13, winning a first-level Ontario-sired allowance with an eye-catching wide bid.

Power of Attorney wasn't as sharp in a subsequent allowance that was taken off the grass, but he managed to salvage third. His owner-trainer, Henry Palecki, is undoubtedly hoping that Friday's engagement remains on the turf.

Orna is making his belated season debut for the hot Mike Doyle barn. Orna has finished third in two turf stakes, most notably in the Grade 3 Summer Stakes in 2006.

One Card is trying the turf for first time, and has a low turf Tomlinson number.

Cool Hand Duke, who won 2 of his last 3 starts, is also experimenting on the grass with a pedigree better suited to the Poly.