Stein can take advantage of inside bias

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Track announcer Dan Loiselle was one of the first to notice that Woodbine's inside path was much livelier than usual last Wednesday night, when he proclaimed that jockey Justin Stein won his third race in a row by coming up the rail to take the fifth aboard Opening Remark. That eight-race card had four rail winners, which is atypical for the Polytrack, where the outside is seemingly the place to be most days.

The inside produced more winners than usual last week, especially on Saturday, when 16-1 outsider Shadowless won the Kennedy Road Stakes under Stein after breaking from the 1-hole and running in the 2-path. Stein will ride a contender in Wednesday's 1 1/8-mile feature, Pauliff's Pride, who could have an inside trip after breaking from post 3 in a second-level allowance route for Ontario-sired fillies and mares.

Pauliff's Pride was claimed for a bargain $12,500 in September by trainer Abraham Katryan, who then sent her out to finish fourth in a $20,000 conditioned claimer. She is coming off back-to-back seconds at this Ontario-sired level, beaten three-quarters of a length on both occasions.

Stein has scored twice from 10 mounts at the meeting for Katryan, who has 20 wins here this season.

San Nicola Whiskey has crossed the wire on top in three consecutive Ontario-sired events, but remains eligible for this nonwinners of three condition because she was disqualified from her Oct. 4 win because of a positive drug test.

San Nicola Whiskey earned a career-high 73 Beyer Speed Figure when she defeated Pauliff's Pride after a three-wide pace-pressing trip Nov. 7.

Greg Cox inherits the training duties from Earl Barnett on San Nicola Whiskey, who will be ridden by Slade Callaghan.

Regal Lodge set soft fractions and never looked back when she prevailed in an entry-level allowance Oct. 23, but she could only manage third as the favorite in San Nicola Whiskey's last triumph.

Tenjectory captured the restricted La Prevoyante Stakes over a mile on the grass Sept. 13, upsetting heavily favored Authenicat. She hasn't been an impact player in each of her two outings on Polytrack since then, including in the Classy N' Smart Stakes.

Mia d'Cougar and Six Roses dead-heated for the top spot Nov. 14 in a first-level allowance at 1 1/8 miles, which is the distance of Wednesday's feature.