Woodlawn: Storm warning

When Political Attack and Mr. O'Brien met in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland last month, they pressed each other through fast fractions, setting the race up for the late-running Flying Dash.

If those two horses go at each other again early in the $100,000 Woodlawn Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf, the beneficiary could be the D. Wayne Lukas-trained February Storm.

February Storm enters his first turf stakes with two consecutive off-the-pace wins in California. This pace figures to be even quicker than he saw in California, which should only help his late run.

Political Attack is making his first start for Erdenheim Farm and trainer Dr. John Fisher, who purchased him privately from John Hennig. He won the Mecke Stakes at Calder on turf and the off-the-turf Tropical Park Derby. After failed bids in two Kentucky Derby preps, he returned to turf in the Transylvania, finishing a decent third after dueling with Mr. O'Brien through a half-mile in 46.69 seconds. Flying Dash, who won the Transylvania, returned to romp in the Hawthorne Derby last Saturday.

Mr. O'Brien gets a rider change to Day, likely in hopes of getting the horse to relax as he did winning his first two starts.