POLYTRACK IS SLOW

TURF TO POLYTRACK

Thursday’s races dominated by this angle

ONLY IF SPLIT, FORBIDDEN IMAGE, KNIGHTLY ATTIRE, THAT’S OUR LUCK, *YOUSAIDIDO, U R ENERGY

Those winners yesterday at Woodbine (6 of the 9 on the card) were ALL making the switch to Polytrack from the turf for their scores yesterday. Of course, all 6 were favoured or one of the favourites but it’s interesting that the Polytrack was perhaps the slowest it has been in a long time yesterday, day 2 since the final installment of the Jelly cable was added. The times were very slow even considering the weak card of racing (no grass races were cadred either).

The two Ontario-sired allowance races were the features.

Stakes winner Only If Split, by the hot One Way Love, managed to steer clear of the loose Flashy Pink, who lost her rider Robert King Jr. when she stumbled at the start, to lead all the way. (Flashy Pink led the field, went wide and then rallied to cross the finish line in front).

Trainer GREG DE GANNES won races 1 and 3 with CAUSE AND EFFECT, a class dropper from $40K to $20K and FORBIDDEN IMAGE, also dropping big-time in class and who took a ton of betting support (10 to 1 in the m/l, went off at 9 to 5).

KNIGHTLY ATTIRE, bred by Auchamore Stud, won a key maiden race on Poly 2 starts ago, tried the grass and had tons of traffic trouble, and then bounced back yesterday for the Hat Trick and Double Eagle Stables and trainer Ian Black.

One Way Love (did I mention he was a hot sire), was represented by first-timer GROM GRAY TO GOLD, a C.E. C. Farms filly who won her debut for $20,000 claiming at 5 ½ furlongs for 2yos. The John Carey bred out of Greyorgrey, the winner is trained by Scott Fairlie.

THAT’S OUR LUCK, trained by Michael Reavis, led most of the way to win the 7th races at 1 1/16 miles for $40,000 claiming – non-winners of 2 – and looked like he was always going to get passed in the stretch but he never did. He had been 2nd on turf at the same level in his previous start.

YOUSAIDIDO, bred for grass, bombed in her turf outing last time out at the allowance level but the Broken Vow filly won a 1 1/16 mile Poly race yesterday with a drop from allowances to $60,000 claiming for 3yo fillies.She didn’t keep the win, however, as she wiped out HILTON TERRACE at the start and was later disqualified. The winner wound up being WHISPER LOUDLY, for trainer Ralph Biamonte.

And, if you still had money left during the day, there was just one turf-to-poly runner in the last race – U R ENERGY (Bold ‘n Flashy) – who always looked like she was going to relinquish the lead from the turn to the finish but managed to hold on to win for Gaspare Garisto and trainer Mike Mattine. The filly raced 5 wide around in a pace duel but was dropping from allowances (on turf) to $20,000 claiming for 3yo fillies.

SANFORD’S SON

Like his daddy did, READY’S IMAGE (yes, apparently he is the “spitting image of MORE THAN READY, his sire), scampered to a big win in the prestigious Sanford Stakes at Saratoga yesterday. The colt was under a bit of a scrub on the turn as the bizarre-looking FED WATCHER was leading but he went past that one in early stretch and then took off as Fed Watcher drifted out and stopped. (The latter is a chestnut with a blonde mane, a full, white bald face and a blue eye).

Charles’ Fipke’s TALE OF EKATI rallied wide to be 2^nd beaten 4 lengths in a good effort.

SPA DOINGS

Look out for the Phone Trick 2yo BLUE FLIGHT in race 2 today.

New York-bred with very slow prep times. But wait - he worked in :21.00 for that 2yo sale in Ocala in March. Trainer Bond used to be good with firsters.

Worth a look anyway.

AND RED BIRKIN, SILKY SMOOTH at the SPA TODAY

(From BRISNET.COM)

Multiple Grade 3 victress RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) will go for her fourth straight win on Friday in the $100,000 Lake George S. (G3) at Saratoga. The Christophe Clement-trained sophomore's only official loss to date came in the Appalachian S. at Keeneland in her 2007 bow, though she did finish second by a neck in the Boiling Springs S. (G3) last out before being placed first when the winner, RED BIRKIN (Belong to Me), was taken down by the stewards.

Friday's 8 1/2-furlong turf test is shaping up as something of a rematch between the top three finishers from the Boiling Springs. Red Birkin interfered with both Rutherienne and SHARP SUSAN (Touch Gold) in the stretch of that grassy 1 1/16-mile event, which resulted in the stewards placing Red Birkin third while moving the second and third-place finishers up one position.

"It was kind of a riding error but those things happen," said Red Birkin's trainer, Roger Attfield, of the disqualification. "To win, she just has to run the same race and go straight."

Besides Rutherienne and Sharp Susan, eight other sophomore fillies who will be doing their best to prevent Red Birkin from getting that win in the Lake George, including GOOD MOOD (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) and DASHES N DOTS (Aptitude). Those two will also be renewing a rivalry after Good Mood captured the Regret S. (G3) with Dashes N Dots two lengths back in third. The latter miss set the pace in that nine-furlong race before missing on the line and will try to use the slight cutback here to hold all the way to the wire.

Good Mood drew the rail and will share 122 pound top-weight duties with Rutherienne and Sharp Susan. Jockey Edgar Prado will be returning to the saddle aboard the Patrick Biancone trainee, who is listed at 9-2 on the morning line.

Just to her outside will be Red Birkin, Javier Castellano, 116, 6-1; Dashes N Dots, Robby Albarado, 116, 15-1; BEES (Rahy), Ramon Dominguez, 116, 15-1; MISS TIZZYNOW (Tiznow), Jeremy Rose, 120, 20-1; LADY ATTACK (Mutakddim), Calvin Borel, 116, 12-1; Sharp Susan, Kent Desormeaux, 5-1; CLASSIC NEEL (El Corredor), Elvis Trujillo, 116, 6-1; AWESOME ASHLEY (Unbridled's Song), John Velazquez, 116, 10-1; Rutherienne, Garrett Gomez, 3-1; SILKY SMOOTH (Mr. Greeley), Patrick Husbands, 120, 30-1.

TODAY AT WOODBINE

Victoriana prep

The 3^rd race is the $87,900 prep for the Victoriana Stakes (Ontario-sired) and the prep is not restricted.

Financingavailable won the Victoriana last year over SHEER ENCHANTMENT, bred by Allison Westrop, who is making her 2nd start of 2007 in the prep today (if it doesn't rain).

Curiously, Paul Attard trained Sheer Enchantment last year to 2 wins in 5 starts but the mare was returned to Abraham Katryan after her latest race.

As a stretch runner, the Archers Bay mare will have to hurry but there is lots of speed to chase in the forms of Bobbi Sioux, Vestrey Lady etc.

TORONTO’S STUART HYMAN BUYS 3 (ALL BY STORM CAT)

-FOR MANITOBA DERBY

By SCOTT UNGER – Winnipeg Sun

Nominations closed yesterday morning for the $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby -- the most prestigious race of the summer at Assiniboia Downs. When the final list was announced, it was a who's who of three-year-olds from Manitoba and beyond that could be gunning for the top prize.

The biggest news of the day came when Shyman Farms and its trainer in Winnipeg Martin Drexler announced that they have purchased three horses that could possibly run in the Derby.

"My owner just wants to win the Manitoba Derby and then move these horses to Woodbine and then maybe down south to run them for the winter," Drexler said yesterday evening after the deal was completed to purchase the horses from Overbrook Farms.

"It turned out this year that I really didn't have much in my barn that panned out for the derby."

Big Chief, Weather Warning and Great Discovery will be the names to watch when the field is announced next week, but it's likely only two of the three will run. Drexler said Great Discovery is a sprinter and could be used elsewhere, while Weather Warning was the most expensive horse in the sale and Big Chief set a track record in Chicago.

All three horses came from Kentucky sire Storm Cat, one of the world's best right now at pumping out top race horses.

Drexler also has Barak and Sharp Shooter nominated for a total of five horses that could go in the derby, but it looks at though they may take a backseat to the Illinois Invaders.

As for the horses that have been running at the Downs all summer, Sylvester Ollivierre's Sir Officer and Country Humor will both go into the race as strong contenders. Sir Officer is a Manitoba-bred horse and it's rare to see a Manitoba-bred horse of his calibre. Ollivierre has Storm Patrol that might go as well.

In Emile Corbel's stable, he has Western Deed raring to go come August long weekend. He also has Gold and Blue Box nominated.

"We'll run him a couple times in the next few days and make a decision next week," Corbel said yesterday of Gold and Blue Box.

And don't forget about Derby Trial winner Rage Till Dawn, who strolled past Country Humour and Western Deed in the final turn of that race to claim victory. Rage Till Dawn was claimed for $32,000 at Hollywood Park last month and is expected to be the morning line favourite when the field is announced next week.

It should be noted, however, that Country Humour and Western Deed were on long layoffs heading into the Derby Trial.

Of the 23 horses nominated yesterday for the Derby, only 12 will run. If more than 12 horses are entered, those horses with highest lifetime earnings will take precedence.

AND SPEAKING OF NOMS

Sixteen (16) Canadian-foaled 3yos were nominated to the BREEDERS’ STAKES, a Canadian classic with a rich history but a race that gets lost in the shuffle if the 3^rd leg of the Triple Crown is not hosting a possible Triple Crown winner.

ALEZZANDRO and MIKE FOX (who will work on the main Woodbine turf SUNDAY morning) head the weak list of noms – very weak.

There are 8 maidens in the list of 16.SEALY HILL, the Oaks winner, races this weekend in the Wonder Where so she likely won’t run either.

Of course, if Alezzandro had just held on in the Plate, he would be going for the Crown. This is a fast improving, large colt who is bred for turf and has big flat feet.

And Stuart Hyman, see above, has a couple of noms to the Breeders’ including live longshot TOP SPEED, by Chester House.

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FROM ESPN.COM and BILL FINLEY

BETTORS (and tracks) TAKE NOTE - PLAY LAUREL'S 10 DAY MEET!

For 10 days in August, every horseplayer in America ought to focus their attention on and dedicate their betting dollars to Laurel Park. It doesn't matter that Laurel will be competing against Del Mar and Saratoga or that some of its fare might include cheap races for hopeless maiden claimers or other races where quality and, maybe, quantity, is an issue. With the lowest takeout rate in the sport, Laurel will be the one place in the country where, for the horseplayer, the pari-mutuel wars will be a fair fight rather than the typical bloodbath. Horseplayers everywhere have an obligation to support this product.

The management of the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Laurel, announced recently that the takeout for all wagers at Laurel's 10-day summer meet, which runs from Aug. 10 through Aug. 23, will be just 10 percent, plus a legislated 1.4 percent that goes to the Maryland Million Fund. Laurel's takeout rate will be about half that of all other major racetracks running at that time.

At prior Laurel meets, the takeout on some bets has been as high as 25.75, the rate on trifectas, the superfecta and the pick six, and rates that are comparable to those at most tracks. That's higher than the 17 percent many tracks take on win, place and show bets, but even that is a takeout rate that all but guarantees the player has no chance to win. Exorbitant takeout rates have made betting on horses an unbeatable proposition, which is one of the primary reasons the sport's business is stagnant. Broke horseplayers do not make for very good customers.

From many corners, there have been constant pleas to address this problem, and every credible study ever conducted on takeout rates has concluded that a significant reduction will eventually cause a dramatic increase in handle because people will churn or re-bet their extra winnings many times over. That's already happening at Ellis Park, which has instituted a pick four with a 4 percent takeout. Handle on the wager is frequently triple what it was under the old takeout structure.

With reduced takeouts, tracks may be getting a smaller slice of the pie but the pie will be much bigger, and the result will be an improvement in the bottom line for tracks and horseplayers.

Yet, few racetracks have been bold enough to tread into somewhat unknown waters, opting instead for the short-term benefits derived from fleecing their customers. Now, Laurel has taken a step that could have a major impact on the industry. But horseplayers have to come through; otherwise the wrong message -- that horseplayers really don't care how much money is in their pockets at the end of a day of wagering -- will have been sent.

"I really don't know what to expect," Lou Raffetto, Laurel's chief operating officer, said. "I am hopeful this will be supported by the players. If all the simulcast outlets take us and we don't see any movement from the players then people will say, 'See, they don't really care.' Maybe they don't care, but at the end of the day they are going to have more money in their pockets."

That's a given. The payoffs on trifectas and superfectas at Laurel will be about 20 percent higher than they were under the old takeout structure. That means what was a $200 trifecta will become a $240 trifecta. Anyone playing Laurel is bound to be better off at the end of the day than anyone playing Saratoga, Del Mar, Arlington or anyplace else.

Raffetto instituted the change because he wanted to draw some attention to a short meet that gets little notice during a period when there are several strong simulcast signals out there. He's already accomplished that. Now, the goal is to prove that players will respond to a lower takeout. The handle has to go up by 30 percent off track and 10 percent on track for this to become a break-even proposition.

Though a 10-day experiment may not be long enough to get a definitive answer on the effects of a significant takeout reduction, Laurel will nonetheless provide the rest of the industry with a test case that is sure to be watched closely. That's why it is so important that this succeeds.

Suppose Laurel's all-sources handle increases by 50 percent. Maybe then the Maryland Jockey Club will go with the 10 percent takeout structure at one of its longer meets or perhaps Laurel's parent company, Magna, will take a serious look at slashing the take at Santa Anita or Gulfstream. Maybe other track managements will be encouraged to try similar experiments. Maybe this can be the start of something that will ultimately improve not only the health of the average horseplayer, but the game.

Bill Finley is an award-winning racing writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today and Sports Illustrated. Contact Bill at wnfinley@aol.com.