ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine officially entered the Polytrack era just after 6:50 p.m. Wednesday evening, when Demi Song won the first race on the new surface for trainer George Newland and jockey Emile Ramsammy.

By the time the seven-race card finished at about 9:50 p.m., the reviews were unanimously positive.

"We asked for feedback, and it's all been positive," said Chris Evans, Woodbine's vice president of Thoroughbred racing. "There's some kickback, but it's less than some other Polytracks."

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Strike Softly should be the favorite under turf ace Todd Kabel in Saturday's $125,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes, a one-mile event for 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Strike Softly was a useful dirt runner until trainer Mark Frostad put her on the grass for the July 9 Ontario Damsel, which she won from just off the pace going 6 1/2 furlongs.

Strike Softly established a moderate pace last time out in the $252,800 Wonder Where Stakes, and finished a close second to Like a Gem.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Like a Gem turned in one of the quicker works to date on the new Polytrack surface here at Woodbine, going five furlongs in 1:00, the best of 41 works at the distance when the surface opened for training last Sunday.

"She worked awful well, and did it quite easy," said Danny Vella, who trains Like a Gem for owner-breeder Garland Williamson.

On Saturday, however, Like a Gem will run on the turf in the $125,000 Ontario Colleen, a one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Trainer Justin Nixon possesses an astonishing win rate of 57 percent at the Fort Erie meet. Eight of his 14 starters have returned with the gold.

With two prospective starters this holiday weekend, the Nixon outfit may boost its percentage even higher.

"I hate to predict, but I think we may have a good weekend," said Natalie Brinda, a Nixon assistant. Brinda said that if Rudnick Bear draws into Saturday's lone turf race off the also-eligible list, "I think he'll win. He's doing very well."

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Three-year-olds get their last stakes chance of the meet in the two divisions of Saturday's $40,000 Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Stallion Auction Stakes. The Laddie and Lassie stakes will both be run at 6 1/2 furlongs and are restricted to runners who are the progeny of stallions whose service was sold at the MTA Stallion Auction in December 2002.

Ten Ohio-bred distaffers will match strides over 1 1/8 miles in the $75,000 Rose De Bartolo Memorial Stakes at Thistledown on Saturday.

Certain to draw a great deal of support from the betting public will be Bright Pyrite, Patti's Clown, and Bold Passage.

Bright Pyrite finished 11th in the Vivacious Handicap on turf at River Downs in her last start Aug. 12, but before that she strung together three wins - two in allowance races and one in the 1 1/16-mile Petro Memorial here June 24. She has tactical speed and will be tough to beat if she runs her race.

A field of nine 2-year-old fillies has been assembled for the $50,000 Temptress Stakes at Great Lakes Downs on Saturday. The Temptress is a six-furlong dash for Michigan-bred fillies and is the first juvenile stakes of the season. It is the fifth race on the card, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

There is no Kentucky Oaks winner, no Grade 1 stakes filly in the $50,000 Alma North at Timonium, and that should come as a relief to trainer Michael Gorham and as class relief for his mare Dance Fee.

Caruso, Custom Cart, Barley Beliveable, and Scary Thoughts were all authoritative winners of their debuts this summer at Arlington Park. Whoever is best among those four undefeated Illinois-bred 2-year-olds will be decided in the $40,000 Troy Our Boy Stakes at Fairmount Park at six furlongs.

Four-time defending national champion trainer Paul Jones is primed for a lucrative weekend with fastest qualifier No Secrets Here in the Grade 1, $1.9 million All American Futurity, six qualifiers to the Grade 1, $389,908 All American Derby, and Wave Carver leading Jones's qualifiers in the Grade 1, $228,950 Golden State Derby.

Sunday's All American Derby and Monday's All American Futurity, each at 440 yards, are at Ruidoso Downs. The 400-yard Golden State Derby is Saturday at Los Alamitos.