Bonfante can make amends

Bonfante, who won his debut here before running second against better at Santa Anita in his second start, looks like the one to catch in Wednesday's feature at Golden Gate Fields, a six-furlong first-level allowance for 3-year-olds.

"He's pretty quick," said Bonfante's trainer, Steve Specht. "At Santa Anita, he ran a little green.

"He always showed potential. He was ready last summer but hurt a knee. I had him ready in the fall, and he got sick."

Trainer Art Sherman has a good one-two punch to throw at the favorite in Bas Giant, who has exceeded expectations after starting at the bottom maiden claiming level, and Don'tcallmefrisco, a Triple Crown nominee who ran third against similar on Feb. 22 in his first start since winning his debut last August.

"I don't want to make any excuses," Sherman said of Don'tcallmefrisco's comeback, "but he came back and worked 59 and change."

Kid Ralston, a wire-to-wire winning in a $50,000 maiden claimer in his debut, should be a pace factor.

"We've got to try, but it sure came up tough," said Bill Morey Jr., owner, trainer, and breeder of Kid Ralston.

"My wife taught 36 years at Ralston School in Belmont and wanted me to name a horse after the school. All the teachers got together and bet him in his debut, and we had a big party with the winnings. I don't know if they should bet this time."

* Daniel Franko got his first victory as a trainer Saturday when Noble Masterpiece scored a $121.60 victory in a $25,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.