A CLOSER LOOK at Bay Meadows races on 9/21

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1st Bay Meadows

Dance With Kelly

20-time loser emerges from a near miss at this level; defeated Flom's Flyer while attending a slow pace in that 9/8 event but may take advantage of a similar tempo here; seems a better fit sprinting for a hard-luck barn in the money with 7 of 13 meet performers; exotics possibilities.

Joey's Haji

Golden Gate graduate turnsback after a wide trip; was far from disgraced in prior sprintalthough we're looking at a 7-0-1-0 mark since the maiden score; prefer others for the top prize.

O'Cationally Windy

3-year-old faces elders and has preferred settling for minor awards during his career; does come out of some quick races and Delgadillo sticks; lack of early zip is the main concern in a relatively paceless field.

Speed Pocket

Lightly-raced entrant's declining form leads connections to drop him in for a career-low tag; :22 range zip seems his main asset vs. a group lacking a clear-cut pacesetter; aggressive tactics led to the Stockton win and could produce an improved showing at a price today.

Hypersonic Boy

Pair of outings against winners have been uninspiring for runner showing a lone exacta finish in 20 starts; note tactical speed has also disappeared from his game recently; would be a surprise.

Flom's Flyer

Moving inside to outside can aid runner who can race closely to a reasonable pace today; 8/17 placing from a similar wide post was a sharp try; Alvarado leaps aboard for a sharp trainer while a local victory adds to his appeal; should prove tough here.

-Paul Malecki

Beaten 11-10 favorite in latest, pressing the pace and tiring late behind Twice Chilled; has yet to find the winner's circle since the June, 2000, claim although she has faced much classier rivals; 4th start off a year's rest and should be primed for a big effort; was way too close to the front end last time with her best races at the distance coming as a stalker; Carr knows this filly too, the one to beat.

-Art Gropper

The lone 3-year-old in the field ships North following a pair of dull SoCal tries; class relief could be forthcoming in this spot as she seeks to rebound to last year's Emerald Downs form; pair of local drills can set her up for better for a barn better than its meet stats indicate; threatens from the 2nd flight.

Video Girl

The wild card of the bunch returns from a lengthy layoff to make her 5-year-old debut; eased as the chalk when last seen although note her successful Del Mar unveiling confirms some ability on her best day; plenty of regularly spaced drills are on the tab for her return; fits snugly if set despite being the group's lone 1-time winner.

-Paul Malecki

Fair Wager

Has good from and figures and is in a good spot where a maiden claiming winner has a good chance to repeat: back at the same or a lower level; she may be quick enough to take the track from the outset and could be a tough catch for the others; contender.

Sheza Brite Star

Returns from a layoff and she will need a better race than she has run so far; she was in a similar spot in her last and unless she has gotten bigger and better during the time away she won't get much here.

Miz Kool

Was in a similar spot in her return and was wide throughout; she could benefit with the conditioning but she will likely need a race akin to her win if she is to make much of an impact in this one.

Fastcash Gets to run at a low and is another with several races on her form that would make her relevant; not too certain that she will improve that much from her latest the way the pace sets up and would be inclined to seek others.

Westward Linda

Is one of the speedsters in the mix and she gets to run for a low against non-winners of two; not sure that she will be able to clear and not sure that she will be fast enough throughout without that kind of a trip; however she could and if the track is front running and she is long odds, she could get lucky and surprise so a small saver might "save" the day.

Paranoide N Pink

Chances will depend on her break and early trip and if she gets that she can hang tough and dropping to a low she could be there at payoff time; she rates contender status though it won't be easy if some of the other speed shows up.

Lillie's Star

Opened her career with a third here and after failing with the winningest jockey aboard she is back up north after a freshening and several works; from the outside and with positional speed this could be a nice trip for her; on that basis she is a possibility with her recent form raising some modest doubts.

-Steve Zacks