ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The brutally cold and snowy winter in southern Ontario this year made training conditions at Woodbine much more difficult than usual.

After opening in early February, Woodbine's training track was closed several times because of the inclement conditions. The main track opened to rave reviews on Monday, and should be in relatively good shape for opening weekend, if there is no significant rainfall.

Trainer John Cardella said his horses, including five-furlong track record holder Olympian, didn't miss much training time.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Woodbine Entertainment Group has some catching up to do as it begins its 2003 Thoroughbred meeting.

A harsh winter has taken its toll both on the Thoroughbred simulcast handle, which is off by approximately 5 percent, and on backstretch construction projects that began during the off season.

Abundantly Blessed is one of a handful of contenders in Saturday's $40,000 Kissapotumus Stakes for older fillies and mares going six furlongs at Hawthorne.

Abundantly Blessed was 22-1 when she fell a neck short of catching the leg-weary pacesetter Chispiski in the Grade 3 Chaposa Springs at Calder last December.

Faxamillion turns back to seven furlongs, the distance of one of his best races at the meet, in the Spring Stakes on Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

The race is restricted to horses bred in Texas, and it has drawn a field of eight, including the quick Social Expense and Solingen.

Faxamillion also has natural speed. He used it three races back, contesting the pace throughout in a seven-furlong allowance for open company. He was beaten a neck. In his most recent start, Faxamillion was fourth in the $35,000 Jersey Village, a 1 1/16-mile race on Feb. 22.

Salty Farma returns to the distance of her biggest career win Saturday night when she starts as the 118-pound highweight in the $100,000 Goddess Handicap at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

The one-mile race drew eight fillies and mares, including local stakes winners Meteor Miracle and Prized Amberpro.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After a 10-day delay, the spring portion of Aqueduct's winter/spring meet is set to begin Friday with the opening of the main track. Originally scheduled to open March 12, the main track opening was pushed back several times because of winter weather issues. Though rain is in the forecast for Friday, it shouldn't hinder the opening of the main track, over which 31 racing cards will be conducted through May 4.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Thoroughbreds are set to spring back into action here, as a total of 88 horses were entered in 10 races for Saturday, opening day of the 2003 meeting.

Woodbine will begin its 167-day meeting on Saturday and Sunday, then will add Fridays to the schedule next week. Wednesday racing will begin May 7, with Thursdays phased in on June 5.

Despite a severe winter that resulted in the backstretch opening being set back one week to Feb. 8, horsemen were ready to answer the bell at entry time Wednesday morning.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Breezy Bullette takes a drop in Friday's featured eighth race at 5 1/2 furlongs, for older fillies and mares eligible to be claimed for $3,200.

Breezy Bullette, a 4-year-old daughter of Bull Inthe Heather who races for trainer Betty Beach, raced on the $5,000 level in her last two outings, a sharp second to Nancys Blazen Lady on Feb. 28 and a fourth to Ionix, Joy's Toy, and Smoozie on Feb. 28. She retains regular rider Flip Nollar while dropping two levels on Friday. She would be difficult to deny with a repeat of either of her recent efforts.

NEW ORLEANS - It has not been easy to fill first-level allowance races for 3-year-olds this winter at Fair Grounds, so Friday's ninth-race feature, a second-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies, could have been a rare treat.

But it hasn't quite worked out that way. The eight horses that were signed on for a turf race at about 5 1/2 furlongs are thus far a relatively undistinguished group, and the race is wide open.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Since she arrived in the United States last spring, Alozaina has started against many of the country's top turf fillies and mares. She faces a much easier field Friday in a $56,000 allowance race at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.