Consistently swift

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - For Bordonaro, six furlongs in 1:08 is standard fare. His last three wins have been clocked in that range, over three different tracks. Thursday, he can extend his win streak to four when he starts as the 122-pound highweight in the Grade 3, $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

The six-furlong race continues the Racing Festival of the South, during which nine stakes worth a cumulative $2.8 million are run over the final week of the meet.

The Count Fleet has drawn a powerhouse group of sprinters, with the field being completed by Level Playingfield, Rodeo's Castle, Semaphore Man, That Tat, Friendly Island, and Santana Strings.

But all will have to beat , who has won stakes in his last three starts. He captured the $50,000 California Cup Starter Sprint Handicap at Santa Anita with a Beyer Figure of 111 in November; the Grade 3 Underwood at Hollywood Park with a 115 in December; and the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream Park with a 106 in his last start Jan. 28.

Bill Spawr, who trains Bordonaro, said the horse was given plenty of time to regroup following his trip to Florida.

"We gave him time until we felt he was right, then we looked for a race," Spawr said.

Bordonaro has excellent speed, and is well drawn for the Count Fleet, getting gate 6 in the seven-horse field. Spawr has given the mount to Patrick Valenzuela, and looks for Bordonaro to be prominent Thursday.

"I would think he would be on the lead," said Spawr.

John McKee will ride , who used his powerful closing kick to win an allowance here in February. In his most recent start, Level Playingfield was second by a neck to That Tat in the $50,000 Hot Springs, the local prep for the Count Fleet.

"The California horse is going to be tough," said Bob Holthus, who trains Level Playingfield. "We'll just have to try to run him down."

Semaphore Man is a new player in the local stakes ranks. He has developed into a sprinter of note over the course of the meet, and earned a career-best Beyer Figure of 106 for his 8 1/2-length win last out in an allowance. Trainer Kelly Von Hemel has given the mount to Kendrick Carmouche.

comes into the Count Fleet off a third-place finish to That Tat in the Hot Springs. His biggest win came in January, when he won the $247,000 Duncan Kenner Breeders' Cup at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs. Trainer Beverly Fowler has given the mount to Luis Quinonez.