Cavonnier Juvenile wide open

With perhaps Northern California's three top 2-year-olds either on the sidelines or at Del Mar, Sunday's $50,000 Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa seems a wide-open event. The six-furlong race drew six entrants.

Making Dreams, fifth behind Solano Juvenile winner Babs Moossa in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar on July 23, may be favored despite the quick turnaround and rail draw. He was third after setting the pace in the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile at Sunday's distance.

His primary rival is another Southern California-based runner, Lightning Diablo, a son of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos who ran second in the Lost in the Fog Stakes on June 22 at Golden Gate Fields.

He has not run since and has been working steadily but not spectacularly. He was shuffled back on the turn in the Lost in the Fog but finished well.

Master Copy will make his debut for trainer Jeff Bonde, who also sends out Clare's Top Choice. Master Copy, by the solid debut sire Souvenir Copy, is out of Stylish Lady, a winless daughter of A.P. Indy. Her only other foal to race is a winner.

Master Copy has worked steadily, recording a pair of bullet drills, since joining the Bonde barn in June. His stablemate, Clare's Top Choice, is also a maiden but has hit the board in all three starts.

Missing from the race are Maidens Justice, Cross Fire, and Babs Moossa.

Maidens Justice won the Lost in the Fog, but suffered a puncture wound in the race and only returned to the track this week for trainer Gil Matos.

Cross Fire seemed ready to make a winning move as the favorite in the Solano County Juvenile when he went through the rail and was badly cut up. He is unlikely to race again this year.

Babs Moossa, who has won two straight stakes since graduating at Pleasanton in a bottom-level $12,500 maiden claimer, and will remain at Del Mar.

Earlier on the card, the top mule Bar JF Hot Ticket could create a minus win pool in a 440-yard allowance race. The field does not include his top rivals, Sarah Nelson and Smoking Joe.

Also Sunday, Chicks Is Black, Buzz Chick, and Eyesa Flyer, who had a blanket finish in the Solano Quarter Horse Derby, meet again in the $10,000 Wine Country Derby at 440 yards.