Chavez to ride Sir Bear

MIAMI - Trainer Ralph Ziadie has confirmed that Jorge Chavez will ride Sir Bear when that 8-year-old takes on up-and-coming handicap stars Include and Broken Vow in Saturday's $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap.

"I couldn't be happier getting Jorge for the race," Ziadie said after watching Sir Bear breeze five furlongs in 1:01.60 at Calder on Monday morning. "First of all he's a very hot rider at the moment, and secondly he's got a good left-hand stick, and this horse really likes that. He should fit him very well."

Sir Bear, who earlier this season defeated Broken Vow in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap, will fly to Boston on Wednesday morning. He will carry 117 pounds in the 1 1/8-mile Mass Cap, one fewer than Include and one more than Broken Vow. A field of six to eight is expected for the Grade 3 event.

Broken Vow had his final major tune-up for the Mass Cap on Sunday at Laurel, working six furlongs in 1:13. Jockey Ramon Dominguez worked the horse for trainer Graham Motion, but regular rider Edgar Prado will be aboard once again on Saturday. Jerry Bailey, who guided Include to victory earlier this month in the Pimlico Special, will have the return call for trainer Buddy Delp.

Include was scheduled to have his final work for the Mass Cap on Tuesday before shipping to Boston late that night. Motion said Broken Vow will travel on Thursday.