Dixie Crisp looking sharp
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer won Saturday's Foster City with Somethinaboutlaura, and he may have another special runner in the 3-year-old filly Dixie Crisp, who wired a good maiden field by 6 1/2 lengths in her debut on Presidents Day. She was purchased privately last summer by Hollendorfer after she had sold for $250,000 last May in a juvenile sale.
"She's going to be nice," said Russell Baze, who rode Dixie Crisp, a daughter of Dixieland Band out of the Capote mare Two Step Trudy.
"We hope so," said Hollendorfer, who has trained two Kentucky Oaks winners, Lite Light and Pike Place Dancer. "A maiden race is one thing. Going up against winners is another. I'd like to teach her one step at a time. We'll try to make good decisions with her."
Baze thinks Dixie Crisp will be able to go long.
"I don't think she's speed-crazy, and she seems to have a good head on her," Baze said. "I really like that."
Baze also liked Bwana Bull's work on Saturday. Bwana Bull worked six furlongs in 1:13 under Baze on Saturday, finishing out well and not acting tired after the work. Trained by Hollendorfer, Bwana Bull will run next in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby on March 10.
Three in feature coming off wins
Wednesday's feature, a $62,500 optional claimer at one mile, drew six runners, including a Hollendorfer-trained entry of the just-claimed Prince of Gold and Shining Day, both of whom are coming off a victory. Also in the race are Gaddingabout, who is also coming off a win; Exclamation; County; and Franklin's Tower, whose two-race winning streak was snapped in his last start.
Grass races scrapped
Rain last week cost Bay Meadows what were supposed to be the first three turf races of the meet.
"Even if it quits raining, it needs to heat up for the turf to dry out," said the track's racing secretary, Tom Doutrich. "It wasn't ready the first week of the meeting, but we could have used it this week until it rained. If we can use the turf on Saturday, we could have a big day."
Bay Meadows is not offering a stakes this weekend, but Doutrich hopes to have a strong card to complement Santa Anita's Big Cap Day.