DANCER DRAW

UPDATE...POSTS FOR NORTHERN DANCER

Field for the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf
to be run Sunday, July 22, 2007 at Woodbine

Three-Year-Olds and Upward
One Mile and One-Half
E.P. Taylor Turf Course

FIELD FOR THE NORTHERN DANCER BREEDERS' CUP TURF

PP/Horse/Owner/Trainer/Jockey/M-L odds
1/Marsh Side/Robert Evans/Michael Dickinson/Emma-Jayne Wilson/10-1
2/Jambalaya/Kingfield Racing Stable/Catherine Day Phillips/Javier
Castellano/7-2
3/The Carbon Unit/James Long/Roger Attfield/Garry Cruise/20-1
4/Pellegrino/Gary Tanaka/Roger Attfield/Jono Jones/8-1
5/Last Answer/Gus Schickedanz/Mike Keogh/Emile Ramsammy/20-1
6/French Beret/Sam-Son Farm/Mark Frostad/Todd Kabel/10-1
7/Sky Conqueror/William Sorokolit/Darwin Banach/Edgar Prado/9-5
8/Obrigado/Gary Seidler & Peter Vegso/Neil Drysdale/Garrett Gomez/4-1

Probable Favourites:   Sky Conqueror - Jambalaya - Obrigado

Total Purse:  $700,000
Winner to receive: $420,000
2nd: $140,000
3rd: $77,000
4th: $42,000
5th: $21,000

Post-time: 5:08 p.m. ET, Race 9

TV: The Score, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET

RACE 6..


DANCE SMARTLY STAKES -GRADE 2, 1 1/8 MILES, TURF; fillies & mares

1 MAY NIGHT R. LANDRY F. SEITZ 8-1
2 ELLE RUNAWAY G. GOMEZ M. PIERCE 4-5
3 ARRAVALE J. VALDIVIA M. BENSON 4-5
4 ESSENTIAL EDGE E. WILSON E. COATRIEUX 6-1
5 SCARLET BUTTERFLY G. CRUISE M. FROSAD 8-1
6 MASSEUSE E. PRADO J. TONER 4-1

WINDY, WILD WEDNESDAY

The predicted wild weather hit Woodbine hard before race 2 last night with heavy rain, wind and lightning, taking horsemen, horses and Woodbine employees on THE SCORE broadcast off guard and sending everyone scrambling.

An awkward night all around since more Jelly Cable was added (75% mixed in now, more to come next week) and the surface was a bit slower – even with the rain – so not many knew what was going on throughout the evening.

Good features on the TV broadcast, all centring on Deputy Minster, in whose name the stake last night was run and there was some good info on the horses racing last night.

TODD KABEL continued his stakes streak with his 3rd added-money win since Saturday when he piloted DANCER’S BAJAN to the Deputy Minister score for 3 Sons Stables and trainer Robert Tiller.

Only 4 in this race for Ontario-sired guys but it was pretty cool. A slow pace duel between Bajan and ultra tough Legal Move took place until Emile Ramsammy darted FUDGETHEBOTTOMLINE up the rail inside the ¼ pole to join the duel and take a short lead. But while Legal Move slipped back (trainer Mark Casse was worried about 7 furlongs…128 pounds the colt carried, in a sprint, doesn’t mean that much folks), Dancer’s Bajan was just getting going and he stretched out his 4 white legs and drew off from Fudgie - who moved way too soon but may not have beat the favourite anyway.

Oh yes, Dancer’s Bajan carried 126 pounds.

“The race unfolded the way we wanted to, we had control of the race at all times,” said Kabel.

The Bajan was bred by Gardiner Farms and the Trajectory 3yo has won 4 of 10 starts and over $350,000, not bad for a $29,421 US purchase.

Some very refreshing, honest chat from TV types came from interview Renee Kierans who asked trainer Tiller on the jockey change from Corey Fraser to Todd Kabel:

“That was strictly a business decisions, Corey had ridden him his whole life but we weren’t winning, we were unlucky, he was supposed to be off him off the start before, we gave him another opportunity and he got unlucky. It’s not about Corey Fraser, it’s about getting a money rider who is available. Guess what, we’re in the winner’s circle right now.”

The first race stayed on turf and was a win for JIM AND SUSAN HILL of the U.S. and their colt STORM CALLER, who was beaten just 3 lengths in a Grade 3 last time out and last night was racing against allowance rivals.

Race 3 was won gate to wire by TATTI MAN, an Ontario bred by Adcat, from the breeding program of Bruno Schickedanz who has been winning races at a startling rate at Woodbine and Fort Erie.

Race 4 (still on turf)- You might think it would be a bit of a bold move to claim a horse off the claiming master Sid Attard but CHANTAL PAQUETTE and her dad’s operation, MAJESTIC THOROUGHBREDS have made it look easy with DASHING ADMIRAL.

Of course, the Admiral is as brave and game as they come and apprentice Tyler Pizarro has ridden him well – 2 starts for the Paquettes and 2 wins.

The Kiridashi gelding was taken for $40,000 and won for $62,500 last night on the grass at 6 furlongs.

It was the 10th career win for the Admiral in his 29th start. The Paquettes claimed the gelding from breeder John Pastorek.

Race 5 – taken off the turf as the rain continued on..

Maiden older fillies (not juveniles as advertised on the telecast) at the A level on the Polytrack at 6 ½ furlongs and bombs away with TWO MORE STAR, an Ontario homebred by More Than Ready out of the Thirty Six Red mare Twentytwotwnetytwo, rallying down the middle of the track late under Matt Moore (his favourite move with his mounts) getting the win in her debut at 13 to 1.

Fast workout times for this miss (47 2/5) and the first win for trainer Tom Marino.

In trouble in the race – possibly the best – was OCALA SKY from the Sam-Son Farms who was blocked late on the turn and had to split fillies late.

An overbet MOUNT ROYER dueled throughout in her debut for Eugene Melnyk but faded late.

“This filly has been a class act from day one, every breeze she’s had, she’s been well within herself,” said Marino. “She’s just a very nice filly.”

Race 6 – For maiden FILLIES, claiming 16,000 and a lovely ride by the popular Eurico Rosa da Silva got ORIENTATE THIS up to win in her first race since March when she was racing in Florida. Well prepared by trainer Pat Parente.

Race 8 - Trainer Darren Glennon had ELE MAY LARKIN ready to win off the long layoff in the finale for claiming fillies. The Whiskey Wisdom did like so many other horses did on the night - wore down the speed in the final yards...

SIRIUSLY…

THE SCORE show on Wednesday nights is offering a new contest/giveaway with regards to its AT YOUR REQUEST segment where fans request a replay of a race they would like to see (last night a fellow wrote in about Funny Cide’s appearance at Woodbine last year…although the race shows was Funny Cide’s Kentucky Derby).

It’s called SIRIUS REQUEST:

"SEND IN YOUR RACE REQUESTS TO SEE A REPLAY FROM OUR ARCHIVES AND IF

YOUR RACE IS CHOSEN AND PLAYED ON "RACE NIGHT ON THE SCORE" YOU WILL WIN

A SIRIUS STARMATE 3 RADIO (INCLUDING VEHICLE KIT) AND A 6 MONTH FREE

SUBSCRIPTION."

SEND YOUR REQUESTS TO:

SIRIUSREQUEST@WOODBINEENTERTAINMENT.COM OR CLICK ON THE LINK ON OUR

WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO MAIL YOUR REQUEST TO:

SIRIUS REQUEST

C/O WOODBINE BROADCAST DEPARTMENT

555 REXDALE BOULEVARD

TORONTO, ONTARIO

M9W 5L2

(Woodbine offers SIRIUS Radio on the in-house system during the races – of course the channel selected is soft, really old music – not exactly condusive to the new or younger crowd that you tend to see at the track these days.)

Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf Notes for Wednesday, July 18, 2007

(Heavy rain yesterday and all day today – hmmmmm, perhaps the turf might be a bit on the ‘giving’ side for Sunday’s big race.)

PROBABLE FIELD FOR THE NORTHERN DANCER BREEDERS' CUP TURF (8)

Horse/Owner/Trainer/Jockey

French Beret/Sam-Son Farm/Mark Frostad/Todd Kabel

Jambalaya/Kingfield Racing Stable/Catherine Day Phillips/Javier

Castellano

Last Answer/Gus Schickedanz/Mike Keogh/Emile Ramsammy

Marsh Side/Robert Evans/Michael Dickinson/Emma-Jayne Wilson

Pellegrino/Gary Tanaka/Roger Attfield/Jono Jones

Obrigado/Gary Seidler & Peter Vegso/Neil Drysdale/Garrett Gomez

Sky Conqueror/William Sorokolit/Darwin Banach/Edgar Prado

The Carbon Unit/James Long/Roger Attfield/Garry Cruise

CRUISE TAKES OVER FROM SHANAHAN

Trainer Roger Attfield announced this morning that Garry Cruise will

ride The Carbon Unit in Sunday's $700,000 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup

Turf at Woodbine.

Pat Shanahan, an Irish jockey, was engaged by owner James Long to ride

the dark bay Catienus horse, but is hurt and will not make the trip.

"He's been working the horse," Attfield said, of Cruise. "He's the

type of rider that will suit him."

The Carbon Unit has four wins in his 23-race career, all of which was

spent overseas prior to 2007. The five-year-old has shown ability in

his

four North American starts, but has not finished higher than fourth.

MARSH SIDE MAKES SEASONAL DEBUT IN NORTHERN DANCER

Marsh Side, winner of last year's Valedictory Stakes, will make his

seasonal debut in the $700,000 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf,

Sunday at Woodbine.

Trained by Michael Dickinson for owner-breeder Robert Evans, Marsh Side

faces a major challenge in his yearly bow, as he'll battle, amongst

others, Grade 1 winners Sky Conqueror and Jambalaya and Grade 2 winner,

California invader Obrigado, in the mile and one-half contest over the

E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

However, his connections are guardedly optimistic. "We're very happy

with the horse. He's training well, looking great," said assistant

trainer Hetta Steele, from Dickinson's home base in Maryland. "We've

been waiting for the right race to come up. We know he likes it up

there at Woodbine. It's a challenge, but we're hopeful. It's just the

way things turned out (about his delayed 2007 debut)."

Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson, who was aboard for that impressive

Valedictory score on December 10, when Marsh Side rolled to a three and

three-quarter length win over Bureaucratic and eventual Sovereign Award

winner (as Canada's top older male) True Metropolitan in the mile and

three-quarters marathon on Woodbine's Polytrack, will once again ride

the four-year-old son of Gone West.

KEOGH LOOKS A REPEAT EFFORT FOR LAST ANSWER

He's never won at 1 1/2 miles on the turf, but Last Answer does have

four seconds at the distance. The Gus Schickedanz-owned seven-year-old

will look to change that stat in Sunday's Grade 2, $700,000 Northern

Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf, at Woodbine.

A bay son of Langfuhr, Last Answer sports a record of five wins and 20

top-three finishes from 41 career starts. He's twice competed in the

Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International; finishing 10th to Relaxed

Gesture in 2005 and sixth to Collier Hill in last year's running of the

fall turf classic.

In one of his best performances, he opened up on his rivals, but just

failed to hold off champion Sky Conqueror - whom he'll face once again

this Sunday - in last year's inaugural running of the Northern Dancer.

"There are two races of his that really stand out for me," said

conditioner Mike Keogh. "The Sky Classic (September 24, 2006) where he

was third by a head to (champion) Better Talk Now and last year's

Northern Dancer, where he finished second. He ran his heart out in

both."

Last year, Last Answer posted one win, three seconds and a third from

eight starts, along with $310,290 in purse earnings.

So far, 2007 hasn't been as kind. In three starts, the Ontario-bred has

managed to finish in the top three just once, that coming on the

Woodbine Polytrack on June 8. Most recently, the lifetime earner of

$739,522 finished fourth to (Northern Dancer rival) Pellegrino in the 1

1/2 mile Singspiel Stakes, on June 24.

SUNDAY'S WEATHER REPORT

It is expected to be sunny with a high of 25 degrees Celsius (77

degrees Fahrenheit) for Sunday's Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf.

-from Woodbine media

Huge Step For Woodbine Live!

From Standardbred Canada

July 18, 2007

With the successful passing of the Woodbine Entertainment Group's rezoning application for Woodbine Live!, Trot Insider contacted Jane Holmes, vice president of Corporate Affairs, who had a significant update for the track's standardbred participants.

"The standardbred paddock will be moved because the hotel and the live, multi-purpose entertainment centre is going to be situated there," said Holmes, who also indicated that management and staff at WEG were extremely happy with the decision that came from Toronto City Council.

"There is an area directly west of the thoroughbred track's first turn where many of the large vehicles to groom the track are currently kept. With the implementation of the polytrack we don't need to utilize as many of the large track grooming machines that we used to, so that is where the paddock is going to be."

Acknowledging that the process of converting the racetrack to incorporate the sizable expansion will be quite a chore, Holmes insisted that WEG will not lose focus of its main priorities.

"Besides everything that we now face in taking the next steps forward in this whole process, we will have to make sure we figure out a way to do all of the necessary renovations on the facility without impacting our racing and racing customers, which will always remain our core product," said Holmes.

With many wondering when shovels will begin to break ground, Holmes explained that the commencement is all up to further application processes. Although, she does have an idea when the massive project may be complete and when the curtain may official drop.

"We figure that if we take an aggressive schedule that we can complete Woodbine Live!by late 2009 or early 2010 and do an official unveiling shortly thereafter," Holmes said. "We want to open all sectors of Woodbine Live! at once - you only get one chance to impress. I think a lot of people really took this for granted in its initial stages, but this is exciting for horse racing, Woodbine and the province of Ontario.

"The scope of this project is proving to be much bigger than anyone could have expected. A lot of work went into the process of getting the applications together and submitted in the proper fashion, and now we have a lot more work to come."

DEL MAR OPENS

TEN A PENNY, a half-brother to Canadian champion NUMEROUS TIMES, won one of three divisions of the Oceanside Stakes on opening day at Del Mar yesterday. The Gulch colt (the 65th stakes winner for Gulch) was making his North American debut in the one-mile turf test and he’s won 5 of 6 starts.

More from the Daily Racing Form’s JAY PRIVMAN…

DEL MAR, Calif. -- They're off and running on Polytrack at Del Mar. And running. And running. They still might be out there.

The "Polytrack era," as track commentator Trevor Denman called it when the gate opened for Wednesday's second race, began with a six-furlong race for California-bred maiden fillies and mares. This is a group that, on conventional dirt, might have run in the 1:10 to 1:11 range. But when the clock finally stopped after the race, the board read 1:13.95. It's a new era all right, for horses and handicappers.

"It's a very tiring surface," jockey Richard Migliore said after he dismounted from Peace by Peace, who finished last in the six-horse field, 11o3/4 lengths behind the victorious Special Smoke. "They're gripping it, but it's a lot different from anything they've ever been on. It's going to take some time for some of them to get used to it."

As an aside to handicappers, Migliore added, "You're going to want a horse that makes one run. You don't want a horse that's going to be fighting you."

The fractions for the race were 22.68 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.09 for a half-mile, and 1:00.29 for five furlongs. It took 26.86 seconds to complete the final quarter-mile. Special Smoke ($6.60), who had raced once previously, was favored. She was ridden by Jon Court and is trained by Ray Bell.

With the focus for Del Mar's meeting on its new Polytrack surface, the track opened Wednesday with, incongruously, a race on the turf.

The popular Oceanside Stakes, which had been split into two divisions from 1989 through last year, was split three ways this year, with the first division, worth $84,200, run as the opener.

Ten a Penny ($4.80), making his U.S. debut after winning 4 of 5 in Great Britain, rallied from fifth to first in the six-horse field to score by 1o1/2 lengths over Unusual Suspect, with Bernasconi third. Ten a Penny was timed in 1:35.51 for one mile on firm turf.

Michael Baze rode Ten a Penny for trainer Craig Dollase, who, albeit briefly, was the meet's leading trainer.

"I'll take my 20 minutes of fame," Dollase said, laughing.

The Polytrack era began a half-hour later, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony overseen by Joe Harper, Del Mar's president.

On a day when thunderstorms wiped out the card at Belmont, the tens of thousands who arrived at Del Mar were blissfully ignorant of anything outside their fair-weathered cocoon. It was a delightful summer day, with a high temperature of 76 degrees, no humidity, and very few clouds.

Del Mar's opener is one of the highlights of the Southern California racing calendar, and is one of the premier social events for those who live in and around San Diego. Befitting the day's importance, a slew of popular local athletes were scheduled to be in attendance, including Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, last year's most valuable player in the National Football League.

Others scheduled to attend included football players Drew Brees, Donnie Edwards, John Lynch, Junior Seau, and Tony Gonzalez; former basketball coaches Bill Frieder and Jerry Tarkanian - who live in Del Mar - and boxer Sugar Shane Mosley.

Traffic off Interstate 5, the Via de la Valle exit, and roads leading into the track were congested more than 90 minutes before the day's first race. On the apron adjacent to the track, scores of fans, most wearing shorts, sat in beach chairs and downed beers. A few fans who couldn't wait for the local action were gathered under a television showing the races from Santa Rosa.

At the railing adjoining the saddling paddock, fans began to congregate more than an hour before the first race. And a few yards away, near the grandstand entrance, fans in elegant hats from the Del Mar Hat Co. and self-made, curious creations lined up to compete in the track's annual opening-day hat contest. One gentleman had a faux tote board on his head, with the words "Del Mar 2007" across the front. His chiropractor was sure to thank him for the business Thursday morning.

One of the special highlights of opening day is hearing Denman, the classy track commentator who takes a vacation following Santa Anita's winter meeting. Wednesday began Denman's 24th consecutive season calling the races here.

"It only feels like it's been two," an enthusiastic Denman said as he arrived for work. "What a day."

In addition to Polytrack, there were a few more additions and changes. Del Mar has installed the Trakus system, which uses computer chips embedded in saddle towels to track runners during the race. The information is displayed on the infield video board while the races are being run, just as at Keeneland and Woodbine.

John Lies, the track announcer at Lone Star Park, will handle the bulk of the intertrack television assignments this year. Replay kiosks from Post Time Technologies are using the presentation from RaceReplays.com. And Del Mar upgraded the quality of its gift shop, renamed Silks.

One thing had not changed, though: The great anticipation that greets an opening day at Del Mar. When the horses left the gate for the opener, the crowd erupted. The party had begun.