Apology Accepted ready to rebound

Usually Apology Accepted?s speed is what makes her effective. Last time, however, it was her speed that got her in trouble.

Making her turf debut, Apology Accepted abandoned her stalking style and made the pace under pressure, succumbing in the final furlong. If Apology Accepted can use her speed more judiciously, she has a good chance to get back on track in Saturday?s Bay Meadows feature, an optional-claiming race for 3-year-old fillies that drew a field of seven going a mile on the turf.

Apology Accepted, owned by Jerry Hollendorfer and George Todaro and trained by Hollendorfer, has had a productive season. She beat $20,000 claimers at Santa Anita in February and then beat optional-claiming fillies at Bay Meadows April 22. She returned against $25,000 claimers at Solano July 23 and, using her speed to get position, won going away.

In her last race, at 7 1/2 furlongs here Aug. 10, Apology Accepted went from the pursuer to the pursued and ended up fourth as the 8-5 favorite.

Roberto Gonzalez has the ride on Apology Accepted Saturday.

Missile Tone finished just ahead of Apology Accepted in that Aug. 10 event, and while winless in five turf tries, she has run well on the surface. Her only dull outings came when she was overmatched in a Golden Gate stakes May 30 and when facing tougher foes in Southern California.

Missile Tone finished nicely last time and appears to be coming up to her best for the Finney Creek Stable and trainer Ed Moger. Francisco Duran rides from the outside post.

The presence of speedball Muddy Woman should give Apology Accepted and Missile Tone a target. Owned and trained by Daniel Franko, Muddy Woman figures to go right to the lead from the rail. She sizzled and fizzled going a mile on the Santa Rosa turf last time, but she won her maiden on this turf course by 13 lengths in May and may bounce back to her best with a return to this course. Chance Rollins rides.