Woodbine's September Turf Tilts - And the nominees are...

The long weekend is upon us but the news keeps on coming as nominations for five of Woodbine's stellar September turf events were made public. The big news is that both Gio Ponti and The Usual Q.T are on the list for the Woodbine Mile.

2009 Woodbine Mile winner Ventura


You can read the full announcement, on the Woodbine website:

A total of 30 horses were nominated to the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile, which takes place over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on September 19.

Among the top American-based runners on the list are multiple Grade 1 winner Gio Ponti and turf phenom The Usual Q. T. Possibly defending home turf in the one mile event are Play the King hero Smokey Fire, Charles Fipke homebred Society's Chairman and Sam-Son Farm charge Grand Adventure.

The nomination box closed on September 1, 2010. An owner may supplement a horse to the Woodbine Mile at a cost of $20,000 at the time of final entry.

Grand Adventure will try and clean up in the 2010 Woodbine Mile


2010 WOODBINE MILE NOMINATIONS

Alexandros (GB)
Audacity of Hope (GB)
Auteur
Boots Ahead
Courageous Cat
Court Vision
Emerald Commander (IRE)
Famous Name (GB)
Fifty Proof
Gio Ponti
Grand Adventure
Invisible Man (GB)
Jimmy Sims
Jungle Wave
Krypton
Poet’s Voice (GB)
Proviso (GB)
Rahy’s Attorney
Riviera Cocktail
Secrecy (GB)
Signature Red
Skysurfers (GB)
Smokey Fire
Society’s Chairman
Straight Story
The Usual Q.T.
Victor’s Cry
Violon Sacre
Woodbourne
Zifzaf

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Also posted on the Woodbine Stakes Nominations page are the lists for the G2 Canadian Stakes, the G1 Northern Dancer Turf, the G3 Natalma Stakes and the G3 Summer Stakes.

Key nominees in these events are:

September 19, 2010 G2 Canadian Stakes - ONE MILE AND ONE EIGHTH(TURF) TO BE RUN SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010
Ave, Mekong Melody and Miss Keller - Roger Attfield's travelling turf trio
Forever Together - Multiple G1 winner is entered in the Glens Falls at Saratoga on Monday September 6th.
Gypsy's Warning - 3rd in the Beverly D.
Latin Love (IRE) - Recent stake winner at the Curragh for trainer David Wachman
Points of Grace
Queen Martha
Unbridled Essence - G3 Matchmaker winner

Will Ave wake up in the Canadian Stakes?


Northern Dancer Turf - Presented by Vtech (Grade I) ONE MILE AND ONE HALF(TURF) TO BE RUN SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

Al Khali - 3rd in the Sword Dancer for Bill Mott
Bourbon Bay - has won three G2 turf events on the trot at Santa Anita for Neil Drysdale
Campanologist - Runaway Group 1 stake winner in Germany for Godolphin
Cavalryman, Holberg, Kitewood and Cutlass Bay - four more Godolphin nominees with Group victories in europe
Grand Couturier - winner of nearly $1;5M lifetime
Just as Well
Marsh Side - the returning champ
Musketier, Simmard, Spice Route - another trio of Attfield turfers
Redwood
Telling - the G1 Sword Dancer winner
Treat Gently
Winchester
Windward Islands

Marsh Side loves the E.P Taylor Turf Course


Natalma Stakes (Grade III) ONE MILE(TURF) TO BE RUN SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

A Brilliant Idea - Stake winner at Monmouth
After Later - Big Biancone winner by Orientate
Cambina - Irish turf winner trained by Tommy Stack
Charismatically - Improving Ian Black turfer
Chinook Wind - Raced twice in Ireland now trained by Roger Attfield for Harlequin Ranches
Excited - Saratoga turf winner for Pletcher
Ghost Mistress - Vella trainee ran away and hid by seven last out
Kitten Love - purred to two victories at Arlington Park
Master Shade (ITY) - Shipper from Italy for trainer Peter Schiergen
More Than Real = Bobby Flay owned Saratoga turf winner
Roxy Gap - Three starts, three wins for Casse trained Melnyk prodigy
So Belle - Ben D.A Cecil graduated last out at Leicester
Street Chimes - Street Cry filly won only start on slop at Saratoga for Pletcher

2009 Natalma victor Bay to Bay


Summer Stakes Presented by TVG (Grade III) ONE MILE (TURF) TO BE RUN SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

Forum - two turf starts at Saratoga, won one and lost the other by a nose for George Weaver
Machisa - Won the Fasig-Tipton Dash at Calder
Pluck - Finished second in a Monmouth Stake last out; was disqualified and placed fourth
Powhatan Country - Moved up from 4th to 3rd in same Monmouth stake as Pluck
Ronin Dax - Maiden breaker first out at Del Mar
Running Tap = A third Weaver trainee and one who broke maiden in good time at Saratoga
Sensational Slam - Vandal winner
Silverleo - two turf starts resulted in wins for Greg de Gannes trainee
Stormy Rush - another solid Attfield starter
Typhoon Slew - Maker charge broke maiden by ten...but who did he beat?
Wide Reciever - Presque Isle shipper could not be caught in first start.

Stormy Rush will be in a hurry to win the Summer Stakes


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One of my favourite Woobine runners, Bogue Chitto goes to post on Monday in the Turf Monster Handicap at Parx - formerly Philly Park:

Race 10 - 5F (Turf) - Turf Monster Handicap
PP Horse Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Wild Geese (FL) 9/G L F Pennington 114 J C Guerrero 10/1
2 Towzee (NZ) 8/G L J Bisono 115 R Allen 20/1
3 Yield Bogey (KY) 6/G L J Samyn 117 P J Kelly 12/1
4 Chamberlain Bridge (KY) 6/G L J Theriot 123 W B Calhoun 3/1
5 Stradivinsky (FL) 7/G L C C Lopez 119 R E Dutrow, Jr. 9/2
6 A Unique Treasure (FL) 5/G L E Coa 117 J Cibelli 6/1
7 True to Tradition (KY) 8/G L K Carmouche 116 S A Lake 12/1
8 Hold the Salt (KY) 8/G L R Alvarado, Jr. 116 J A Dodgen 20/1
9 Bogue Chitto (FL) 6/G L G K Gomez 116 P Shavelson 15/1
10 Elusive Gift (VA) 5/G L H Karamanos 116 A W Dutrow 5/1
11 General Perfect (NJ) 7/G L S Elliott 118 F Costa 10/1
12 My Summer Slew (CA) 5/G L* A Quinonez 117 C Dollase 12/1

You can read more about Bogue Chitto in a profile I penned last year entitled, The Remarkable Climb of Bogue Chitto

Multi-surface monster Bogue Chitto!


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There are a few familiar faces on the nominees list for the $250K Presque Isle Mile raced at ONE MILE (ALL WEATHER) TO BE RUN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010. To see the full list of nominees click here:

EYE OF THE LEOPARD b.c.4 Sam-Son Farms Neil J. Howard
FORGETTHESTORM dk b/.g.3 Donver Stable Josie Carroll
GOLDEN MOKA ch.c.3 Good Friends Stable Brian A. Lynch
STUNNING STAG dk b/.g.6 Janice Attard Sid C. Attard

2009 Queen's Plate winner Eye of the Leopard

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As always, keep track of the latest goings on in the world of horse racing by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter.

Photo Essay: Gierkink Picks Four as Smokey Fire Sizzles in Woodbine's Play The King

The daily grind of selecting winning racehorses for a living is a thankless task. Pick a favourite and the public rolls their eyes. Tip a longshot that loses and it's viewed as desperation. Get a few races right and chances are no one notices. Well, on Sunday August 29th, a pretty special handicapping moment occurred when the Daily Racing Form's Ron Gierkink nailed Woodbine's late pick four which paid $3,467.65 for a buck.

Pick Four - These exact four...


Gierkink's quick look into each race provided several valuable nuggets of information. Regarding Race 7 winner, Believe the Fox, Gierkink offered, "She possesses the highest last-out Beyer in this OS allowance by a wide margin, and figures to take some catching...". Gierkink figured correctly as Believe the Fox zipped out of the gate and never looked back to win by three and a half lengths.

Race eight was the highly competitive Play The King Stakes raced over a speed-favouring turf course. Of the seven starters, five went to post at odds of 5-1 or less with Signature Red a mild 5-2 favourite. In his vision, Gierkink scrawled, "Smokey Fire struggled on the dirt last time in a fast G1 stakes at Saratoga, and is meeting much easier in this prep for the G1 Woodbine Mile." While it was hardly easy, Smokey Fire did get up in time under a masterful ride by Jono Jones. Check the last line of Gierkink's Smokey Fire prediction for some excellent insight.

Smokey Fire added flavour to a profitable pick four payout


The third leg of this quartet was the most impressive as the 'capper scored with 14-1 shot Trajectory's Dream. Perhaps watching so many Woodbine races paid off here as Gierkink noted, "Trajectory's Dream fought three-wide for the lead and was able to put the other speed away before tiring late in a recent maiden special on the lawn." The eventual assesement that Trajectory's Dream might have finally found an easier group, and less of a fight for the lead, was correct and paid $29.70.

The Pick Four concluded with a tough ten-horse MSW on the turf. Gierkink's selection was Halton Gully, a Eugene Melnyk owned gelding, who was taking on a tough Roger Attfield trained foe in Perfect Cherokee but the selector did not waver stating, "Halton Gully is a full-brother to multiple turf stakes winner Sterwins, and obviously has a license to handle the grass, over which he's worked several times." It might have been obvious to Gierkink but not the betting public as Halton Gully went to post as sixth-choice at odds of nearly 6-1 and was ridden out by two lengths under a confident ride from Patrick Husbands.

The $1 Pick Four paid $3.467.65. The Pick 3 was worth a cool $877.15 and even the late double generated a $278.60 payout. Sometimes it pays to read the form!

* * *

And now for a few photos from the Woodbine weekend, starting with Sunday's Play The King won by Smokey Fire.

As always, double-left click on the photo to enlarge the picture and use your "Back" button to return to the photo essay.

Field Commission is looking forward to cool September weather


Fatal Bullet stretches out in the paddock


Jungle Wave signals hello


Porter's Gate would be looking for an opening late


Signature Red did not get the green light on Sunday


Smokey Fire has his eye on you


Closer Southdale wasn't happy with the speed-favouring course


Smokey Fire surges to the lead


At the wire it's Smokey Fire!


He won by this much!


Fatal Bullet gets a well-deserved bath after setting the pace


Happy connections pose in the winners circle


Amateur firefighter Sid Attard puts out the blaze


* * *

Saturday's feature at Woodbine was the Ontario Colleen as a full field of fashionable fillies hit the turf running but only one would take the spoils.

The happy end of the (Barracks) Road


Chantal Sutherland and No Explaining offered no excuses after a good performance


Sharp Secretary has her eye on a little something frilly for the office


Luis Contreras and Crescenda head to the track


Eurico Rosa da Silva focuses on the task at hand


Exclusive Love, actually


Justin Stein prepares to fly up, up and away aboard omni-surface star Hunter's Tiger Paw


Emile Ramsammy and Lucy Ring


Jenny's So Great was the pick of the paddock


Miss Lola - la, la, la, la lola


Win some, lose Somme


Jose Ferrer is pretty good and Jenny's So Great


A thoughtful Jimmy Mac focused on Exclusive Love


Barracks Road wins


Photo Finish for show!


It was almost a TRIPLEDEADHEAT!


Corey Fraser celebrates aboard Barracks Road


Mark Casse pats an appreciative Barracks Road


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As always, keep track of the latest goings on in the world of horse racing by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page.

Weekend Recap: Not Quite The Two Minute Sports Reel

By 6PM on Sunday night, and after having watched countless graded races across North America, I was more tuckered out than a beaten (yes, that's word play) Rachel Alexandra. Over the course of some 48 hours, racing fans were treated to a breathtaking photo finish in the Travers, a masterfully timed ride by Mike Smith aboard Richard's Kid in the Pacific Classic and the shock of watching Rachel Alexandra put away Life At Ten in the Personal Ensign only to discover that our heroic mare hits the wall at nine furlongs.

Meanwhile, Woodbine patrons were treated to a speed-favouring turf course that allowed a 9-1 Barracks Road to wire the Ontario Colleen on Saturday and more of the same on Sunday when Fatal Bullet set the pace, was engaged by Jungle Wave, only to give way at the wire to Smokey Fire

It's not quite the two-minute sports reel, but below are videos from as many of the weekend's races as I could find, with just a few bullet words for comment.

Smokey Fire crowned in Play The King


* If Jungle Wave lets Smokey Fire jump first does the former win this race?
* Add closers Southdale and Field Commission to your watch list. They didn't stand a chance on this speed-favouring course.
* Smokey Fire becomes the first Stakes winner of the day for stallion Smoke Glacken (see below.)

Barracks Road wires the Ontario Colleen


* Watch the #6 horse, No Explaining, as they are pushed w i i i i d e turning into the stretch. Not saying that they were going to catch Barracks Road but when the temporary rails get moved back in, this horse will win at better odds.

El Brujo earns BC Sprint berth with win in Pat O'Brien


* A front-running El Brujo becomes the first Ontario-bred to qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on November 6 at Churchill Downs.

Afleet Express noses out a gutsy win in the Travers


* Afleet Express was on the rail and headed and still had enough heart to fight back for one last lunge to the wire and won a head bob.

Persistently stunds Rachel Alexandra in the Personal Ensign


* Everyone I know was wagering against Rachel Alexandra in this event. From a handicapping perspective, there was no reason to believe she could get ten furlongs. However, nobody I know had money on Persistently.

* Peristently's victory marked the second Stakes win in less than an hour for stallion Smoke Glacken. Congratulations to Gainesway Farm!

* I believe that Sid can take his blog from last year, Was Rachel Alexandra whipped too much in the Woodward?, scratch out Woodward and type in Personal Ensign.

Richard's Kid repeats the Pacific Classic


* Mike Smith takes a lot of flak on the interweb for his wide rides but you have to give credit to the jock for his sense of timing in nailing this race.

* Mike Smith has ridden Richard's Kid just twice - both times resulting in a win in the Pacific Classic. Quipped Smith after the win, "I just want to ride him once a year."

Discreetly Mine dominant in King's Bishop


* Sometimes you realize that some trainers are handicappers at heart and check out this little nugget from an excellent David Grening column regarding Discreetly Mine's win over a speed-favouring Saratoga track:

Pletcher didn't want Discreetly Mine to have to go gate to wire, but with the track so favoring speed - all races to that point had been run in front-running fashion - he felt he had no choice.

"It's nice when you can adjust and do it either way, you hate to force one to go 21-and-four, 44 when you're going seven-eighths," Pletcher said. "It looked a little too risky not to try it that way."

Dynaslew's 'em in the Ballston Spa - Miss Keller up for show


* Roger Attfield had a perfect ITM% through four starts going into the Ballston Spa and while Miss Keller got up in time for show, Mekong Melody let the trainer down finishing last. You can't win 'em all, though it sure seems that way sometimes when Attfield is in a stakes race.

Rightly So just so in the Ballerina


* The filly ran .58 of a second faster than Discreetly Mine to win the Ballerina and is likely headed to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint next.

Del Mar Mile Enriched with positive performance


* Enriched earned an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile through the "Win and You're In" program, but the 5-year-old gelding was not nominated to the program as a young horse. Chances are, we won't be enriched with his presence at Churchill this November.

The next couple races lack video but were equally interesting:

Champ Pegasus wins the Del Mar Cap. For more, click on the link above for a report by the North County Times:
The only better outcome for trainer Richard Mandella than winning Sunday's Grade II Del Mar Handicap with Champ Pegasus ($5) would have been finishing first and second.

However, the photo finish camera showed Buenos Dias, trained by fellow Hall of Famer Ron McAnally, edged the Mandella-trained Worth Repeating for second place.

"It still looks like he got second," said Mandella in the winner's circle while watching a replay of the race. "Friendship only goes so far. I'm also happy for Ron."

But Mandella was beaming about his 4-year-old colt, who was making just his seventh career start and winning his first graded stakes race.

"I'm pretty happy about the way he's come around," said Mandella, who didn't start Champ Pegasus until last December due to a variety of minor ailments.

"You have to expect them to learn and get better at this."

Milwaukee Appeal third in Molly Pitcher won by a retiring Just Jenda. Click the link above for more from the BloodHorse.Com:

Terry Thompson drove Just Jenda to victory for trainer Cindy Jones, who owns the bay filly with her husband Larry. Just Jenda, who pulled a shoulder muscle when she finished third behind Malibu Prayer in the Lighthouse Stakes at Monmouth June 26, made her final start.

“What a way to go out,” Cindy Jones said. “She was on top of her game and the race just worked out perfectly. She didn’t have to chase the speed today, but could sit back and relax. This was a real tough field and we couldn’t be more proud of her.”

The final time for the Molly Pitcher was 1:43.52 on a fast track in the 1 1/16-mile test for fillies and mares. Malibu Prayer, the Ruffian Invitational Handicap (gr. I) winner ridden by Garrett Gomez, finished second, with the closing Milwaukee Appeal third with Stewart Elliott aboard.

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Fort Erie Racetrack will be hosting a legends day on Tuesday, August 31st where fans will have the opportunity to meet several legends of Canadian horse racing!

Racing fans of all ages will have the opportunity for an autograph session and a meet and greet with some of Canada’s finest horsemen. Beginning at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, August 31st, sixteen racing legends including the great Sandy Hawley will be in attendance at Fort Erie Race Track for a special promotion known as “Legends Day.”

Retired jockeys Sandy Hawley, Larry Attard, Robin Platts, Hugo Dittfach, Jack Lauzon, Sam McComb and Paul Souter will be on hand to autograph a caricature poster drawn by injured rider Chad Beckon. A larger than life autographed photo of a young Sandy Hawley which originally hung in the Garrison Inn will be raffled off with tickets selling for $1 each. Proceeds from both the posters and the raffle will go to aid in Chad’s recovery.

Hall of Fame trainers Roger Attfield, Lou Cavalaris Jr. and Gil Rowntree will also return to the site of some of their greatest wins. Other legends include; Gus Schickedanz, John Cardella, Glenn Magnusson, John Calhoun, Mort Hardy and Fort Erie’s own Frank Passero Jr.

The legends will sign a special commemorative racing program which includes bios and photos. Programs will be on sale for only $2.00 as a part of the tracks Twilight Toonie Tuesday promotion.

This historic session will begin at 3:30pm and continue until 5pm. Fans are encouraged to bring racing memorabilia for the legends to sign.

This is the final twilight program for the 2010 racing season. Live racing begins at 4pm.

Meet Sandy Hawley at Fort Erie!


This is a great opportunity to enjoy a day at the track and also help support the talented Chad Beckon. I'm fortunate to have one of Chad's unique caricatures hanging in my room. Don't miss out on a chance to get one for yourself!

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Nicole Umiker's Empire Stable invites the local racing community to attend their Open House TODAY Monday August 30th from 12:30PM to 4:30PM. Empire Stable offers breaking/training/layups in a "private, secluded facility just 25 minutes north of Woodbine Racetrack."



Empire Stable is located at 2019 Hwy. 50, 5KM North of Hwy 9, (East Side). RSVP 416-889-5739

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As always, keep track of the latest goings on in the world of horse racing by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page. I'll have photos from the Woodbine weekend posted later this week.

Who Will Be Crowned in Woodbine's Play The King?

Sunday's G2 Play The King S. at Woodbine provides a tough handicapping exercise that could reap great benefits for those punters that can find the right exotic play.

Will Field Commission earn his first win of 2010 in the Play The King?


Trainer Sid Attard sends out a trio of turfers as an uncoupled entry (Jungle Wave, Signature Red, and Smokey Fire) to take on a pair of champion sprinters (Field Commission and Fatal Bullet). The field is rounded out by the G3 Eclipse S winner Southdale and Eugene Melnyk's Porter's Gate. It's worth noting that Melnyk won Saturday's turf stake, the Ontario Colleen, with Barracks Road.

Woodbine's turf course is very firm at the moment and the temporary rail is set at 60 feet to protect the course for the upcoming Woodbine Mile and other events in the Fall turf championship series. There were three races on the turf on Saturday and there was a noticeable inside speed bias for front-runners that could get away on the lead. Both New Normal (click here for video and Barracks Road (click here for video) took advantage of the bias and shrewd handicappers were rewarded with 9-1 odds on the stakes score by Melnyk's filly. The third turf event was won by Sangore (click here for video) who was always within two lengths of the lead.

With that bias in mind, let's take a look at the field for Sunday's Play The King Stakes.

$200,000 Play the King Stakes (Can-IIT, Race 8, 4:35 p.m.), 3 & Up, 7 Furlongs (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Field Commission (ON), E Ramsammy, 121, D J Vella
2. Fatal Bullet (FL), E R Da Silva, 119, R Baker
3. Jungle Wave (KY), P Husbands, 121, S C Attard
4. Smokey Fire (ON), J C Jones, 119, S C Attard
5. Porter's Gate (KY), S Callaghan, 117, M Pierce
6. Signature Red (KY), C Sutherland, 123, S C Attard
7. Southdale (ON), J McAleney, 121, I Black

A closer look:

1. Field Commission (ON), E Ramsammy, 121, D J Vella 4-1
Champion sprinter Field Commission is winless in five starts this season. The five year-old son of Service Stripe had the unenviable task of chasing Hollywood Hit in a pair of races to open his campaign (2nd and 4th) before moving to the turf course. That first turf start of 2010 was a memorable one in the G3 Connaught Cup, going seven furlongs, as jock Eurico Rosa da Silva closed well to finish second just a length behind much improved Grand Adventure and in front of Jungle Wave.
In his next start, Field Commission would finish fourth as the favourite in the G2 Highlander won by Signature Red - a race run at just six furlongs. The versatile fella moved to a polytrack route his most recent start finishing third in the Seagram Cup to Sand Cove. Trainer Daniel Vella had Field Commission put in a 2F blowout work on Friday and the seven furlong distance of this extended sprint suits.

Field Commission loves the Woodbine grass


2. Fatal Bullet (FL), E R Da Silva, 119, R Baker 5-1
The five year-old son of Red Bullet is a devastating six furlong sprinter on the polytrack and his inclusion in this race is puzzling. Fatal Bullet finished off the board in his lone turf start and there are no recent turf works to mention. While leading jock Eurico Rosa da Silva retains the mount, apparently over the opportunity at other options here, this race does not seem to suit the resume of Canada's 2008 Horse of the Year. This is the only horse in the race seemingly capable of taking advantage of the speed bias, however, I'm looking elsewhere today but will note that Fatal Bullet will likely have the key turf-to-poly angle at play in his next start

Can Fatal Bullet steal the Play The King on the lead?


3. Jungle Wave (KY), P Husbands, 121, S C Attard 3-1
Like those listed above, Jungle Wave is winless in 2010 but don't let that discourage a wager on the returning champ of this event. Jungle Wave defeated Field Commission by three-quarters of a length in last year's Play The King and his improved with each start in 2010. Draw a line through a puzzling opener and you are left with three excellent efforts including a third in the G3 Connaught, third in the G2 Highlander and a trying second last out to the solid Utterly Cool. Jungle Wave has been in the money in seven of his nine starts over the E.P Taylor course and he appears to enjoy the firm going. Patrick Husbands gets the call.

Jungle Wave defends his crown in the Play The King


4. Smokey Fire (ON), J C Jones, 119, S C Attard 7-2
The five year-old son of Smoke Glacken returned from a long layoff to win the Bold Venture S. on the polytrack at Woodbine on July 17th. Next out the Sid Attard trained gelding travelled to Saratoga for the G1 Vanderbilt finishing last over a surface the horse clearly did not enjoy. For his third start of 2010, Smokey Fire moves to yet another surface but this time it's one the horse has proven form on with a win and a trio of place finishes in four starts. The concern here being that the four turf starts do not match the calibre of competition of this group. A recent bullet work on the poly in 1:00 (best of 80) leaves me thinking this is the second entrant that might be better suited to a poly sprint. Turf-to-poly angle to be in play next time out.

Smokey Fire returns to his favoured Woodbine on Sunday


5. Porter's Gate (KY), S Callaghan, 117, M Pierce 20-1
The Melnyk entrant opens at 20-1 and deservedly so off a campaign that includes two wins, a second and a third from six starts against either N3X Allowance or claiming competition. The four year-old son of Victory Gallop is a turf specialist with no apparent preferred distance though he hasn't won since opening his campaign with a pair of wins at 5.5F at the Fair Grounds. Hard to recommend but those searching for a long shot might want to take a closer look at his last race, a third place finish behind Utterly Cool and Jungle Wave at 6.5F on the turf, to gauge this guy's chances at seven furlongs this afternoon.

Utterly Cool defeats Jungle Wave and Porter's Gate in the prep for the Play The King


6. Signature Red (KY), C Sutherland, 123, S C Attard 5-2
The lukewarm favourite enters this race off a pair of victories including a rousing finish to defeat Heros Reward in the G2 Highlander on Queen's Plate Day. The four year-old has only three lifetime starts on the turf but has won his last two tries over the E.P Taylor course, earning back-to-back 100+ Beyer figures - and both those wins came on firm going. Signature Red has been freshened since the Highlander win and his form shows a steady stream of workouts. The only cause for concern is that the Highlander victory is the only "class" victory of reference and it came on an excruciatingly hot day early in the campaign. If Field Commission and Jungle Wave have improved in the interim then this could be a susceptible favourite. Chantal Sutherland retains the mount.

Signature Red hopes to sign off on a graded victory this afternoon


7. Southdale (ON), J McAleney, 121, I Black 8-1
*Extreme bias alert* - I am a huge fan of Southdale. Having followed this guy through his 2009 Queen's Plate trail, which was derailed by injury, I have thoroughly enjoyed his adventurous 2010 return to the races which includes a six furlong win, a G3 win in the 8.5F Eclipse Stakes and a third place finish in the 10F G3 Dominion Day Handicap behind Hold Me Back and Pool Play. In his most recent start, Southdale tried the turf for the first time finishing third in the 9F G2 Nijinksy S won by Windwards Islands. The turf was yielding on that day and I believe that Southdale will enjoy the firmer going this afternoon. If you must have proof of that statement, then check out the 5F work in 58 and 3 over firm going on the training turf course on August 15th. Southdale has won at sprint distances previously and the son of Street Cry will have no fitness issues based on his recent races.

Southdale to make a splash in the Play The King?


The Picks

1. Signature Red
2. Southdale
3. Field Commission

Ultimately, I will be boxing the top two in an exactor and keying them in triactors over Field Commission and Jungle Wave.

* * *

Check back tomorrow for photos and videos from stakes events at Woodbine and a recap of a multitude of graded races across the continent including the incredible finish in the Travers Stakes won by Afleet Express over Fly Down.

Don't forget that Rachel Alexandra and Life At Ten do battle this afternoon in the tenth race (5:56PM EST) at Saratoga in the G1 Personal Ensign Stakes. Also, Woodbine's Milwaukee Appeal takes on Queen Martha and Just Jenda in the G2 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park in Race 11 (5:43PM).

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As always, keep track of the latest goings on in the world of horse racing by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page.