Coupling appears to be tough

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has won each of the last six stakes races in northern California, and he could make it seven straight when he sends out Heavenly Humor and Teeming in Saturday's $60,000-added Soviet Problem Handicap at Bay Meadows.

, a multiple stakes winner who has 5 wins and 1 second in 7 starts at Bay Meadows, is the one to beat in the six-furlong stakes, which attracted seven fillies and mares. She has won her last four starts here, including three stakes.

Hevenly Humor drew post 6 and Teeming the rail.

There is little speed in the field. , making her first start since Oct. 23 when she ran third behind Thrilling Victory and Heavenly Humor in the Albany Handicap, does have some early lick and is the only one in the race that seems to enjoy running on the lead.

Heavenly Humor has good speed and, drawn outside Yerevan Star, should be able to dictate the tempo of the race, even taking the lead if she wants.

Russell Baze, who teamed with Hollendorfer for wire-to-wire victories in the meet's first two stakes, will be on board to make that decision.

Baze won the Soviet Problem aboard Heavenly Humor with a wire-to-wire trip last year and later won the Woodside aboard her with a stalking trip.

Teeming won her debut for Hollendorfer, capturing a $50,000 optional claimer on Dec. 3 at Golden Gate Fields. Prior to that, she had won two straight at Woodbine.

"She had some time off when they sent her out here," Hollendorfer said. "I'd like to run in a nonwinners-of-three, but we opted for the stakes. It would be nice to get her stakes placed."

drew the rail and likely will have to stalk. Even though there is little speed in the race, she might find herself near the rear early.

Fire Bolt, making her U.S. stakes debut, has run three straight good races, including a Nov. 12 victory at Golden Gate Fields. She was second at Hollywood Park in her last start and figures to get a good stalking trip here.

* Clocker and author Bruno DeJulio will conduct a handicapping seminar and book signing at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Ziggy's Sports Bar.

* GEVA's default auction is currently under way. The stallion auction helps fund the Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, northern California's only Thoroughbred rescue and rehabilitation facility. The available stallions are listed at www.glenellenfarms.com/geva.