Closers could face uphill battle

SAN MATEO, Calif. - As with most California tracks, Bay Meadows plays kindly to runners that show speed.

Speed becomes an even more pronounced advantage on Friday nights, when a distinct bias is prevalent rather than a simple advantage.

That may not play well for the likely favorites in the evening's two feature races, a pair of six-furlong allowance races.

In the third race, Stealth Attack comes in with six straight on-the-board finishes. He has been second in his past two starts - both sprints - since being claimed for $10,000 when third in a mile race.

The low claiming price shouldn't be a concern, since he ran second against allowance company last time while recording the best last-race Beyer in Friday's field.

What does cause concern is his running style. He is not particularly quick, and will have to battle the speed bias with his closing kick.

This is the fourth Friday night card of the meeting, and there has been only one winner in 24 races who came from far back. There have been 10 wire-to-wire winners, including four each on the past two Friday nights. Six winners have not been worse than second at any call.

Only six winners have not had the lead at the eighth pole, five of which were second and one sitting third.

That could create problems for Stealth Attack, who has only once had the lead at the eighth pole, in his maiden victory at Emerald Downs.

The entry of stakes-placed Stella's Posada, making his first start since a December claim by leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, and Love That Gin seems to fit the speed-favoring Friday night profile better.

In the sixth, a statebred allowance race, Badgett's Best will try to return to the winner's circle after missing by a head in a March 3 allowance race. That loss snapped a two-race win streak.

Unlike Stealth Attack, Badgett's Best does have stalking speed, and he breaks from the rail.

The Hollendorfer-trained Con Juan and Hot Tizzy seem suited for the way the track plays on Friday nights.

* Saturday's $100,000 Bay Meadows BC Oaks at 1 1/16 miles drew five entrants. Hollendorfer entered Eastlake Avenue and Glorification, one-two in the California Oaks, as well as Round Trip Flight. Pinata and Jungle Girl round out the field.