DEL MAR, Calif. – Bettors may wonder why graded stakes-winning sprinter Ventana is entered in a grass race for the first time in his 20-start career Wednesday at Del Mar. His trainer wonders the same thing.

“I don’t know if he is a turf horse,” Bob Baffert said. “I’m hoping it rains, and they’ll take it off the turf.”

However, it never rains in summer at Del Mar. The $85,000 Green Flash Handicap will go as scheduled – five furlongs on turf. If he starts, Ventana will be trying grass for the first time and Baffert admits Ventana was entered as a “last-minute thing.”

Prairie Meadows’ Thoroughbred meet finished with a 5.7 percent increase in average ontrack wagering, but had a 2.7 decline in total betting because of a decrease in wagering from simulcast outlets.

The 66-day season that ended Saturday averaged $57,403 in betting per day from fans at the track, up from $54,321 in 2010. Simulcast wagering on Prairie Meadows’ races dropped 3.6 percent, though, to $491,200 per day. That resulted in overall betting of $548,603 per day, down from the 2010 average of $563,786

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Impossible Time, defending her title in the Victoriana Stakes, capped a 3-for-3 day for trainer Roger Attfield here at Woodbine last Sunday.

“A perfect day is always okay, and it had been kind of slow for a while,” said Attfield, who also sent out Smart Penny to win her maiden and Mobilizer to score under second-level allowance terms to run his record to 5 for 8 here for the week.

Attfield conditions Impossible Time, who is a 6-year-old mare, for her owner and breeder Chuck Fipke.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Miser just missed in her last start at the facing Ontario-sired runners in a first-level allowance and may be ready to break through in Wednesday’s third race at Woodbine, in a six-furlong sprint on the grass.

Miser was a fading fourth behind future stakes winner Bear It’s Time in her lone 2-year-old outing on closing day of the 2010 meet. Following a winter break, she finished second in Ontario-sired maiden special company on April 22. A month later, she graduated at that level traveling five furlongs, while earning a respectable Beyer Speed Figure of 70.

AUBURN, Wash. - After collaring a couple of tiring speed horses on the far turn, Class Included dug in bravely to hold off fast-closing longshot Playful Argument for a neck victory Saturday in the $65,000 Washington Oaks at Emerald Downs.

AUBURN, Wash. - Jebrica realized his vast potential at a most opportune time Sunday, racing to an emphatic victory in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby as a 10-1 outsider.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Forget Cozi Rosie’s troubled second in the Grade 3 Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park in late June. Luck was with Cozi Rosie in Sunday’s $250,000 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar.

Closing along the rail under red-hot jockey Garrett Gomez, Cozi Rosie ($10.40) caught pacesetter Wasted Tears in the final furlong and held off a late threat from Malibu Pier to win her first stakes since February in the Grade 2 John Mabee.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – In what turned into a two-horse race, Northern Causeway scored a narrow front-running win over heavily favored Commander in the $50,000 Richmond Derby Trial at Hastings on Sunday.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Wild Jacob, stepping up to face older horses for the first time, collected his third straight stakes victory in the $50,000 John Bullit Stakes at Canterbury Park.

The 3-year-old Wild Jacob tracked off an early pace set by longshot El Poppie, made a three-wide move on the turn for home, and thundered down the center of the racetrack to take the 1 1/16-mile race by a length in 1:43.05.  Even-money favorite Stachys finished fourth and never threatened.

Welcome to Spa Babies! I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile contest at the meet and hope for a tidy profit.

In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy.  In order to streamline the content, this year's Spa Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile race.  Each analysis will include relevant statistical information.  Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.

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