Usual bias would aid Attiki, 'Katie'

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Wednesday night racing at Woodbine is often conducted over a speed-favoring track, and last Wednesday was certainly no exception, as all seven winners on the card prevailed on the front end.

If a speed bias surfaces again this Wednesday, then One for Katie and Attiki should have an edge in the featured seventh race, a $25,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares who are nonwinners of three lifetime.

One for Katie, a daughter of Meadowlake, set the pace before fading to fourth when she came off the sidelines May 1 in a much tougher $50,000 optional claimer. She got a respectable Beyer Figure of 71 for the race, and was good enough to earn an 81 Beyer on two occasions last year.

Trainer Abraham Katryan is taking the blinkers off One for Katie, a maneuver that could help to preserve her speed a little more. Katryan is still seeking his first win of the meeting, but 10 of his 26 starters have hit the board, and it may only be a matter of time before he snaps out of his slump.

Attiki captured 2 of 11 outings in 2003 while banking $108,383 for Knob Hill Stable and trainer John Alec Fehr. Both of those victories came in Ontario-sired company.

Attiki shook loose on the early lead in her season opener, in a five-furlong sprint at this level, but weakened in the stretch and finished six lengths behind in fourth.

David Clark, tied for leading rider at the meeting with 12 wins from 56 mounts, retains the mount on Attiki.

Also entered in Wednesday's headliner are Jules Rules, Bittersweet Rain, Tower of Honour, Lucky Dazzler, Bedazzle 'Em, Piersixer, Playing Footsie, Backinthebusiness, and Spice is Nice.

Tower of Honour also possesses speed, and could make some noise in her seasonal debut. She wired $32,000 nonwinners-of-two types in a seven-furlong race last October. In that field was Baiser d'Amour, who ran competitively in allowance company over the winter at Gulfstream Park.

Sid Attard, who trains Tower of Honour, has sent out some razor-sharp comebackers during the early days of the meeting.

Lucky Dazzler, trained by Shelley Fitzgerald, was a close second in a Jan. 7 route for $30,000 nonwinners of two at Gulfstream. She has a fine seven-furlong record, and could be an off-the-pace threat.

Bedazzle 'Em rarely misses a payday, and could complete the tri or superfecta in her first start of the season.