'Good' Friday

Woodbine's 50th meeting continues on holiday Good Friday with 10 races but then struggles somewhat through the weekend with 9 races on both Saturday and Sunday. The saving grace are the weekend features, the Jacques Cartier and Whimsical Stakes, which are both very competitive in nature.
Keeneland, which is hosting the most prestigious meeting of the spring, also has 10 races including a pair of graded races on the grass.
Canadian Horse of the Year SOARING FREE is making a comeback in the Grade 3 Shakertown, a race he won last year and in 2004. The Sam-Son Farms gelding raced just four times last year and has not been seen since Aug. 27 when he faded to be sixth in the Play the King Stakes. Wintered at his owner's farm in Ocala, Soaring Free is perhaps a bet-against this time around as he starts from the rail post in a big field.
Consider the improving 5-year-old ATTICUS KRISTY if you are looking to bet the race.

A week after FEATHERED DIAMOND won her maiden for Sam-Son Farms, the stable's HER EXCELLENCY, a Woodbine Oaks candidate, makes her second career start, and first of 2006, in Keeneland's 5th race for maidens. The beautifully bred daughter of Deputy Minister is in post 9 in a very tough field but should be included in triactor bets since her workout times at Palm Meadows have matched or bettered some talented stablemates.

As a side note, noted trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who is currently batting at a soft 6% as a conditioner these days, sent out Grade 2 stakes winner DANCE DAILY in today's Beaumont Stakes only to watch the 3-year-old filly, who had been in fluctating form, tragically break a leg during the running. Owned by the Estate of Bob Lewis, Dance Daily was euthanized.