Dramatic Chance back at same level

ALBANY, Calif. - Dramatic Chance is typical of many mid-level claimers. She has ability and shows consistency, but is just a cut or two below the better runners on the grounds.

She will be bidding for a repeat when she meets five rivals in Thursday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $25,000 claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

just won at this level, rallying four wide and pulling away in the lane on March 23. It was a solid effort, but trainer Steve Specht, who claimed the 5-year-old mare for $25,000 in December, is content to bring her back at the same level. It seems a wise move, although Dramatic Chance began to peak at this time last spring, when she scored a pair of allowance victories.

Dramatic Chance hasn't missed a paycheck this year. She was third behind Charlenesuperblend and Princess Lianna for a $40,000 claiming price in her first start for Specht. She was then fifth on opening day here as the same two runners who beat her in her previous start dead-heated for the win. She was third behind Cut the Mustard, who then won her next start, and favored A Lil' Alimony at this level in her next start before winning last time.

Three of her Thursday rivals are coming off layoffs.

Peruvian-bred has not raced since October. She won twice last year, both times going long on the turf. She ran fairly well in three sprints last spring, splitting a pair of decisions with Dramatic Chance. She has worked well for her return.

, 4, makes her first start since Dec. 29. Bemuse, who seems better around two turns, makes her first start since Sept. 15.

Fun'ngames Toknite, an Arizona stakes winner on both turf and dirt, will make her first start here. She has keen early speed and drew the rail. She had a nice work at Santa Anita for trainer Eric Kruljac since a fifth-place finish in a turf stakes on March 14.

Dramatic Chance, who is content to sit back off the pace a bit, will have to hope that New Rose and Aeblus will be fresh and show enough speed to pressure Fun'ngames Toknite early.

Also entered is Leave to Appeal, but she appears strangely spotted off a recent claim. She has never sprinted before and is bred to go long. Her best races have come stalking on the turf, and she may not have enough speed to get up here.