HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

Polytrack is cooking up some weird results - in 34 Polytrack races last week, 8 were front runners (battling on the lead or clear on the lead). But only 2 front runners won in the last 3 days of racing!
Hot and dry all week - who knows what we'll get from this Poly guy.

LAWYER RON - fastest horse since Easy Goer? Well, the Beyer Figure was originally caluclated at 128 (-10 variant) but it doesn't make sense. The time of his race doesn't make sense since it was so much faster than the Go For Wand a few races earlier.
The Beyer stands at 116.

STEVE CRIST'S SARATOGA BLOG (www.drf.com then see link on the right side of the page), is funny, entertaining and loads of people are writing in about the time of the Whitney.

  GREEN FOR GOULDINGS

He possibly could have been the champion older horse in Canada
last year except that he didn’t make enough required starts in Canada.

He won the Seagram last year over the inner-dirt (no small feat)
and was getting the hottest jockey at Woodbine right now.

GOULDINGS GREEN, a 6yo entire horse, is his name and he blew
past champions TRUE METROPOLITAN and PALLADIO in the stretch
yesterday to win the Seagram again, this time on Polytrack.

The Eugene Melnyk son of Charismatic, bred in Kentucky, was a
$260,000 yearling purchase and now he’s won 9 of 19 and over $610,000.

His Beyer Figure of 101 was one of his best and the Seagram was
that all important, often key, 3rd race off the layoff.

On paper turned out to happen on the track as Fuhrever Dancing softened
up the seemingly unbeatable TRUE METROPOLITAN and then PALLADIO moved
way too soon on the turn, quickly to clear off the turn
but Husbands was sitting pretty and just waiting.

Here’s more from the Woodbine press office:

 **Melnyk Racing Stables Gouldings Green reminded

Woodbine of his tremendous versatility in Sunday's $150,000 Chinese

Cultural Centre Seagram Cup Stakes.

After winning the Grade 3 event last year over the temporary inner-dirt

track, the Tony Reinstedler trainee successfully defended his title in

its inaugural edition over the Polytrack. 

Jockey Patrick Husbands guided the son of Charismatic outside nearing

the top of the stretch and he closed with a fury to overtake Eclipse

Stakes winner Palladio. Three-time Canadian champion Judiths Wild Rush

finished third.

With the victory, his first of 2007, the white-faced chestnut increased

his earnings to $621,066. He completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.73.

Dominion Day Stakes winner True Metropolitan, the 4-5 favorite, lacked

his normal late punch after he and longshot Fuhrever Dancing

 established

ambitious fractions of :46.63 and 1:11.49. The pair finished fourth and

fifth, respectively. 

Husbands, meanwhile, settled six-year-old Gouldings Green 6 1/2 lengths

behind the fast pace.

"He broke pretty sharp," said Husbands, who won Saturday's Wonder Where

with Melnyk charge Sealy Hill. "I just gave him his head. He made a

 move about the five-eighth's pole. I didn't really want him to move yet. I just sat
patient and bided time until the quarter-pole. When I asked  him down the lane,
he gave me 110 (per cent)."

Meanwhile, up the backstretch, Gouldings Green, now a nine-time winner

in 19 starts, and runner-up Palladio, ridden by Richard Dos Ramos,

 raced as a team at the rear of the five-horse group. 

Husbands watched Dos Ramos make a bold move on the second turn, stating

after that he was concentrating on not making a premature move.  

"I didn't really want to go to the quarter pole and (have to) take a

hold. I was watching Richard (Dos Ramos) and I was hoping he would move

a little early. I got there at the right time to wheel to the outside.

He got the first run, but I got the best down the lane."

Husbands had received simple instructions from Reinstedler via a phone

call from agent Gary Kemplen.

"He tried to get a hold of me. Just before they went to the paddock, I

called my agent. He called (Tony) and he said 'Everything is in your

hands. Don't screw up,'" laughed Husbands.

The Seagram Cup is the second victory over a synthetic surface for

Gouldings Green, who won last September's Grade 3 Turfway Park Fall

Championship.

Gouldings Green returned $12.40 and $4, combining with Palladio ($3.10)

for a $33.30 exactor. Show and triactor wagering were not offered. 

Soul Rebel was scratched.

THREE-BAGGER FOR ATTFIELD

MORE SUNDAY WOODBINE

While Husbands may be the hottest jockey going – RED JOHNSTON
is cleaning up in the training department.

He won again yesterday with a newcomer to his barn –
the Illinois-bred filly UNREAL ROCKET who came via 
Arlington for MES Stable Inc. and her 3 previous grass
attempts were at routes and she had one top-three placing.

Yesterday, the Unreal Zeal 4yo dropped a bit in class
– her first time for a claiming price ($50,000) – and shortened
up to 7 furlongs on turf and she led all the way earning a
lifetime best Beyer of 81.

Pinhooker TONY BOWLING bought CIANO NIGHTS (Ciano Cat – Gold Lined,
by Numerous) last year at the Woodbine sale for $18,704 (US) and
entered him in a 2yo sale this spring in Ocala only to withdraw him.

After 3 starts for trainer Dan Vella, the 2yo had Beyers of 48 and
47 in his last 2 starts and seemingly was in need of a class drop
from maiden allowance.

Wrong! The colt came from nowhere to win the 4th yesterday for Ontario-sired
2yos – purse $60,000 – and he was 42 to 1 under the leading rider, Tyler Pizarro.

He was 12 lengths behind favourites Drunken Love and Sand Cove in his last
start but when those 2 plus 3 others got together for a ridiculous pace
duel, the table was set for a closer.

Speaking of going too fast on the pace, the somewhat rank BALLADO DANCER
\went 22 and 44 4/5 in the 5th race, had a 6 length lead and was caught
late by the old-timer CREASE INFRACTION, who was winning for the 2nd
consecutive time in his 62nd start. The 9yo Ontario-bred by Friendly Lover
has 17 second-place finishes and now has earnings of over $600,000.

His owner is Dominic Triumbari and his trainer (his 3rd since last summer)
is Sam DiPasquale.

 It has been a long time since trainer Roger Attfield pointed out
MORE TO PROVE as a good one in his barn. She’s a 4yo now and has
raced 5 times. She won her maiden in her 5th attempt (and it was
her first top 3 placing) in her 2nd turf attempt and first at the
marathon distance of 1 ¼ miles. The With Approcal filly was bred by
Kinghaven Farms and is owned by Attfield and Bill Werner.

 Attfield could have stayed in the winner’s circle since he won the
next race too with Harlequin Ranches’ CALLWOOD DANCER, the Irish
bred 3yo allowance filly who was winning for the 2nd time in her
9th start in the 1 1/16 mile turf race. She’s by Danehill Dancer.

Eight-year-old MY LUCKY STRIKE won his 9th career race in his 53rd start
when he came from far, far back to win the 6 ½ furlong 9th race,
an allow/optional claimer and he was offered for the $60,000 tag.

It was only his 2nd start of the season and he was moving from
turf-to-Polytrack for K K Sangara and trainer Lorne Richards.
His Beyer was a 90 – he raced the distance in 1:16 4/5.

And Roger Attfield and Charles Fipke got together to win the
finale with the $12,500 maiden claiming filly SMART EXPLOITS
who was ridden by Julia Brimo.

 JAMBALAYA NOMINATED TO MELBOURNE CUP

From the Herald-Sun, Australia

By Adrian Dunn

The Melbourne Cup's global expansion continues to reach new borders with the news Canadian stayer Jambalaya has been nominated for the $5 million race.

While the Melbourne Cup has previously attracted entries from the United States, Jambalaya is the first Canadian horse to be nominated.

Jambalaya, a five-year-old by northern hemisphere time, was a Grade 1 winner at Gulfstream Park, Florida this year.

Entries close for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cup as well as the Cox Plate at noon on Wednesday.

Already, Japanese stablemates Delta Blues and Pop Rock, who provided last year's historic Cup quinella, have been entered.

So, too, has Japanese Cox Plate candidate Shadow Gate and Tosho Knight, another Japanese horse taking aim at the Melbourne Cup.

Racing Victoria international scout Leigh Jordon expects a strong European contingent headed by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Yeats, while Dermot Weld is expected to nominate recent acquisition Bellamy Cay.

Jambalaya won the Gulfstream Park Breeders Cup Stakes (2200m) on February 24 and he also boasts a head second behind Better Talk Now, a multiple Group 1 winner, who was second top weight in last year's Melbourne Cup.

Trained on the Woodbine racecourse in Toronto by Catherine Day-Phillips, Jambalaya has won seven of his 20 starts with a further seven placings.

He won a Grade 3 race over 2400m at Gulfstream Park on March 31, ensuring he has passed the ballot clause.

Jambalaya has been placed at both runs this campaign, most recently a two-length third in the Grade 2 Northern Dancer Stakes (2400m) at Woodbine on July 22.

RVL's American spotter David Bernsen said he had provided a detailed briefing about the Cup to Day-Phillips.

Bernsen said Jambalaya was a "premier horse, up with the top three or four stayers in the state".

"She's pretty enthusiastic," Bernsen said.

"The horse is owned by her family and the horse doesn't race on medication."

Jordon expects entries from US trainers, possibly including the Michael Dickinson-trained Marsh Side.

Marsh Slide has form through Jambalaya. He split Jambalaya and winner Sky Conqueror in the Northern Dancer Stakes.

(THOROUGHBLOG NOTE – JAMBALAYA does race on the Lasix medication)

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, MUSINGS

Readers have been making good observations lately concerning
the Ontario Racing Commission, Polytrack etc.

One thing that must be pointed out, however - THE ONTARIO RACING COMMISSION

runs racing at Woodbine and the ORC stewards DO NOT work for Woodbine. Decisions made
by ORC stewards cannot be disputed by Woodbine (WEG). Let's not get these 2 groups
confused.

As for viewing MIKE FOX (1:04 2/5) and ALEZZANDRO (1:16 3/5)
in their turf works – these eyes did not see that but will get a report soon.

Speaking of workouts – 45 2/5 for four furlongs by Giant Act
on the grass (training) yesterday??

 More jelly cable was added to Polytrack and now, here we are
after the draw for the card of racing for AUGUST 1 and the
track is as confusing as ever.

Speed runners are having a terrible time and yes, BALLADO DANCER
ran a huge,huge race yesterday – I wish some of the horses would
try and slow down a bit in the early stages – it’s not quarterhorse racing.

Thank goodness for grass racing, slightly easier to handicap.

 Being a track announcer is not the easiest job in the business,
I’ve attempted it. This corner will mention that announcers
who discuss horse’s form, history, etc. in conversation behind
the gate and during the race is very unnecessary and annoying.
Too much talking, too much talking. This corner also says Woodbine’s
announcer Dan Loiselle is one of the best in the biz - he calls the race, that's it.

 One way to get an overlay on the horse you like is to combat
the ‘hype-horses’ – the PAPI CHULLO’S (see Whitney result)
of the world.

At Woodbine, there have been many of these – most of them way overbet:
i.e. claimer COOL SELECTION in the Bold Venture Stakes last weekend,
SANS SOUCI ISLAND in the Wonder Where Stakes – class and experience
still prevail in the big races.

 NEW MEXICAN-BRED PEPPERS PRIDE (Desert God) is 11 for 11 in her
career and ran her best Beyer Figure of 88 yesterday in the Lincoln
Handicap at Ruidoso.