Alvarado back at top of his game

SAN MATEO, Calif. - For jockey Frank Alvarado, a working vacation this summer worked wonders.

Alvarado has returned to riding full-time at Bay Meadows after spending the summer at Hollywood Park and Del Mar.

"You have to ride horses at 100 percent," said Alvarado, a 34-year-old native of Panama. "When I left here in June, my head was not 100 percent right. Now, I'm ready to ride seven days a week."

Alvarado has more than 2,000 victories in a career that began in 1984.

He has ridden with success in Florida, Southern California, New York, and northern California since arriving in the United States in 1990.

He has made northern California his home base since 2000 and has consistently finished among the top five riders at the tracks in this region.

Alvarado rode two winners here in his first week, He has only one mount on Friday's card, Marged's Dream in a $16,000 claimer at six furlongs for 3-year-old fillies.

Alvarado was fifth in the standings at the 2002-03 Golden Gate Fields meet with 51 winners. He finished sixth with 31 winners at the spring Bay Meadows meet despite heading south before the end off the meeting.

Alvarado made occasional trips back to northern California to ride specific horses. He won the Foster City Handicap with Handyman Bill at Bay Meadows on June 15 and rode A B Noodle at both Pleasanton and Santa Rosa.

"I had a good summer," he said. "I played a lot of golf when I wasn't riding. I had a good time.

"I rode seven winners at Del Mar," said Alvarado, who also had eight seconds and 17 thirds. "I made a lot of money down there, but I'm happy to be back. Sometimes it's good to go away and come back fresh."

Evil Lady returns to dirt

Eight fillies and mares will compete in Friday's feature, a $25,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Evil Lady, who had a four-race win streak snapped in a $50,000 optional claimer on the turf after a 10-week break, returns to the main track and may be the one to beat in a competitive field that includes the top three finishers from a strong $20,000 claimer on Sept. 8.

Evil Lady started her win streak in a $5,000 claimer at Los Alamitos. She was claimed that night and claimed again in her next start by trainer Kent Molinaro for $6,250 at Bay Meadows. She won for a $12,500 tag and then in an allowance race for Molinaro before her vacation.

Senfully Easy won Sept. 8 by a half-length over Shining Britely, with Madison Davis third.