All signs point to Lady Railrider

There is no longer such a thing as an easy spot for the stakes winner Lady Railrider, but she's found a softer spot than her most recent efforts in Saturday's $75,000 Work the Crowd Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. Lady Railrider has four rivals in the 1 1/16-mile race for California-bred fillies and mares.

Prior to the Work the Crowd, she ran third against multiple stakes winner Victorina in the open Campanile here, just two weeks after running second to Leah's Secret in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff.

With more time between races and facing a field restricted to Cal-breds, Lady Railrider has a lot more going for her Saturday.

"We just ran into a tough old mare," trainer Steve Specht said, referring to Victorina, who scored her 10th stakes victory in the Campanile. "She ran a good race. I wasn't disappointed.

"I knew she was coming back a little quick."

If timing worked against Lady Railrider in the Campanile, it could be working for her Saturday. She's had five weeks since that start. And the Work the Crowd should set her up nicely for next month's Gold Rush Day for Cal-breds at Hollywood Park.

She's worked well since her last start, winding up with a six-furlong bullet work of 1:12.80 last Friday.

She also has the advantage of having already beaten her primary rivals.

Stablemate Shes a Lucky Wager dead-heated with Lady Railrider in an allowance race last Nov. 9, but was third the day Lady Railrider won the Pacific Heights and trailed her badly in the Campanile.

"She's training well, and she's got to run somewhere," said Specht, who said he has been trying to find an allowance for Shes a Lucky Wager but that they hadn't filled. "Sometimes, it's almost harder on her training and not racing. She's doing well, but she comes from well off the pace and needs a perfect setup."

Film Editor finished second in the Pacific Heights, with You Lift Me Up fourth in that race. Warm 'n Toasty makes her first start since a wire-to-wire allowance win on the turf on Nov. 29.

Warm 'n Toasty and Film Editor guarantee an honest pace, and that works to the favor of Lady Railrider, who should get a good stalking trip.