Double D Appeal's credentials stand out

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Eight stakes-quality fillies and mares compete in Wednesday's Bay Meadows feature, a $62,500 optional claimer at six furlongs.

Trainer Jeff Bonde will saddle , the probable favorite.

Double D Appeal, 3, is one of two stakes winners in the field. She won the Nursery Stakes at Hollywood Park as a 2-year-old and did not race again for 18 months. In her comeback race, she finished third in strong field in the Angel Island at Golden Gate Fields earlier this month.

"She ran a very good race," Bonde said. "She gave away more at the start than she was beaten by, and she raced wide all the way."

Double D Appeal broke a little late, then challenged Key Secret - one of her rivals again on Wednesday - and Lunachick, while three wide down the backstretch and around the turn. The multiple stakes winner Thrilling Victory rallied to win, but Double D Appeal finished strongly, losing by 1 1/4 lengths while holding third by two lengths.

She has had two easy half-mile works since.

"What we're trying to avoid is a bounce," said Bonde, who likes fact that she will have had 25 days between races. "We haven't breezed her hard. She's been well within herself."

Light My Ducks won the Red White and Blue Handicap at Emerald Downs in the summer. She was claimed away from trainer Terry Gillihan and then re-claimed by him in two starts in Southern California this fall.

Key Secret, who set the pace in the Angel Island, is stakes placed in France, and speedy Vaca City Flyer is also stakes placed.

But it is another 3-year-old filly, Just a Tizzy, who looms as Double D Appeal's main rival.

She ran second to Lunachick in her debut then got nearly eight months of rest because of general body soreness, said her trainer, Lloyd Mason. She is 2 for 2 since returning and has improved her Beyer Speed Figure in each start.

Just a Tizzy has shown plenty of speed, both in races and in a series of recent works, including a 59.60-second five-furlong work since her last victory. The work was the best of 15 that day at the distance.

"Her works are as slow as we can get her to run," said trainer Lloyd Mason.

Charlenesuperblend and Storminbayoubabe, both coming off brief layoffs, and Gotta Go Gal, a $40,000 claimer winner last out, round out the field.