Candi's Princess drops big

San Mateo, Calif. - Candi's Princess, who is taking a big drop in class, is the one to beat in the $32,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Bay Meadows Friday night.

The combination of the current California horse shortage, a heavy racing schedule, and Friday night racing has severely affected the eight-race card, as there are only 48 horses entered, an average of six per race. Four of the races have only five betting interests.

Candi's Princess, from the Clifford Sise stable, is the class of the field in the feature. But there is cause for concern about her condition, as she finished third in a minor stakes at Santa Anita three races back and is in for the $25,000 claiming price Friday night. Since the strong stakes effort, she has finished sixth as a favorite in a second-level allowance race and a $50,000 claiming race at Hollywood Park. Both of those races were on turf, and the stakes, like Friday night's race, was on the main track. But the turf was no excuse for her lackluster efforts, as her three most recent wins were all on the turf.

If Candi's Princess falters, Tora Jo could be the main beneficiary. In her last start, she finished third in a $12,500 starter allowance race at Bay Meadows, but she was only three-quarters of a length out of second, and the winner of that race, Brite Girl, came back to win the Sunnyvale Handicap last Sunday.

Marine enters Sunday's Ascot

Marine, who was third in the Grade 3 Cinema Handicap at Hollywood Park May 20, has been added to the list of definite starters for Sunday's $100,000, Grade 3 Ascot Handicap for 3-year-olds at Bay Meadows Sunday.

Marine, from the Bobby Frankel stable, will carry 120 pounds and be ridden by Brice Blanc. Others expected to start include Hoovergetthekeys, 121, Ron Warren; Imperial Measure, 119, G. F. Almeida; Sea to See, 118, Russell Baze; Times Square, 117, Frank Alvarado; Cherokee Kim, 116, Danny Sorenson; Sigfreto, 115, Matt Garcia; Key Document, 114, Dennis Carr, and Sir Alfred, 114, Jason Lumpkins.