Back-to-back wins wouldn't be shock

ALBANY, Calif. - That wasn't a monkey attached to trainer Frances Henderson's back; it was the proverbial 500-pound gorilla.

After sending out 159 horses since Dec. 1, 2005, Henderson finally returned to the winner's circle on Jan. 12 when From Above won an $8,000 maiden claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs.

On Friday, Henderson will try for her second straight winner when she sends out Two Thirds Victory, the best horse in her barn, in a one-mile maiden race on the turf at Golden Gate Fields.

Although From Above was stakes-placed as a 2-year-old, the 5-year-old horse's half-length maiden victory over Bold Roar had to be classified as something of a surprise, coming in his 45th career start.

A victory by Two Thirds Victory would not be unexpected at all. A 3-year-old filly, Two Thirds Victory has been a runner-up in both career turf starts, losing to $400,000 purchase Sky Mystic and to stakes-placed Christmas Ship.

Two Thirds Victory also ran second in her last start at one mile on the main track.

By Peteski's Charm, the 2005 Emerald Derby winner who was the best horse Henderson ever trained, Two Thirds Victory seems to prefer routes. All three of her second-place finishes have come around two turns.

Overall, Two Thirds Victory is 0 for 10, including four starts in stakes.

Two Thirds Victory has decent early speed, although she will probably be chasing Rail Dancer, who set the pace in a sprint at Santa Anita in her last start, on Jan. 4.

Two Thirds Victory is the lone member of the field that has placed around two turns and joins Rail Dancer as the only runners with turf experience. Rail Dancer had a second sprinting on the turf last year at Hollywood Park.

Dark Diva, making her third start, will make her turf debut for Junior Coffey, who switched Idle Chatter from dirt to turf when he graduated in his third career start last Saturday.

* Scrumpy will be seeking his fifth straight victory when he continues to move up the class ladder in a $16,000 claimer (race 7). Five of his seven career wins, including all three starts on Tapeta, have come at Golden Gate.