ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Smart Surprise had raced 10 times and was a maiden when she came to trainer Josie Carroll's barn here last summer.

But, starting with a win in her local debut last Aug. 24, Smart Surprise has turned into a winning machine, with a 6-for-9 mark heading into Sunday's $150,000 Ontario Matron.

"What can you say about her?" said Carroll, who has sent out Smart Surprise to win three stakes here on Polytrack and another over sloppy going at the Fair Grounds.

"She's just an incredibly honest horse."

Dandy Dora, Lemon Pepper, and Tricky Temper are the main players in the $50,000 Northlands Oaks on Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile feature drew a field of nine.

If any of the four Alberta-breds in the field win, they would receive an extra $32,520 from the Alberta-bred bonus fund.

Dandy Dora, the highweight at 122 pounds, is the class of the field with three stakes wins, including a decisive five-length romp over Tricky Temper in the 6 1/2-furlong Chariot Chaser Handicap on June 27. Trained by Greg Tracy, it is expected her usual rider, Rickey Walcott, will put her on the lead.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - E.T. Baird's hands never have been in question. It's his head that sometimes has gotten in the way.

Baird won for the 2,000th time in his career Friday at Arlington Park, guiding favored Bond Street to victory in the second race, a $10,000 claimer.

"I should be closer to 4,000 if I hadn't taken so much time off," Baird said last Saturday evening.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Apprentice jockey Geovanni Franco should start riding better horses at Hastings. Franco, 18, began his career at the Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City this year, where he won three races before he left. Franco didn't arrive at Hastings until the meet was well under way, on June 28, and it wasn't surprising that it took him a while to get going. Last weekend, he booted home two longshot winners: Solidago at $27.90 on Friday and Wanna Be Notised ($22.50) on Saturday. So far, he has ridden 16 horses at the meet.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hollywood Park will request four fewer days of racing during its upcoming fall meeting than originally allotted by the California Horse Racing Board, track president Jack Liebau said Friday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Tam Lin won an overnight stakes Thursday at Belmont Park to get Godolphin Racing off the duck.

It was the first win at the meet for the stable that is usually a prominent presence. The barn was winless in 10 tries until Tam Lin broke the ice.

As Belmont winds down, things are starting to look brighter with Saratoga getting underway on July 28.

MIAMI - The Florida Stallion Stakes's loss will be Saratoga's gain after owner Paul Pompa Jr. privately purchased D'Funnybone from trainer Joe Calascibetta for an undisclosed sum earlier this week.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - A competitive second-level optional claiming race is Sunday's feature at Louisiana Downs. The 7 1/2-furlong turf affair drew a field of nine, including probable favorite Cashinmywranglers and the consistent Sligo Joe.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Well-prepared horseplayers still welcome the annual headfirst dive into Del Mar. But things are different now in California.

It seems sharks are everywhere. Whether splashing around in the Pacific Ocean or betting horses nearby on the main track at Del Mar, it is a good idea to stick a toe in the water before jumping in all the way. These days, there is always a surprise.

Barry Abrams