Fillies go north for turf opportunity

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Five 3-year-old fillies from Santa Anita will be looking for a maiden victory in a one-mile turf race Thursday at Bay Meadows.

Seven are entered in the race, including Gout de Terroir, who had also been based down south before running third in a strong field here last time.

D Pirates Marker, second in front of Gout de Terroir last time, is the only true Northern California runner in the field.

Southern California shippers have provided a boost to the short fields here. The horse population is so low that Bay Meadows canceled two Wednesday cards earlier this month.

"We'd be in trouble up here without the Southern California horses," Bay Meadows racing secretary Tom Doutrich said.

Most Washington-based horsemen have pulled out of Northern California in preparation for the Emerald Downs meet, and that has prompted Doutrich and his staff to look south for horses to fill races.

"We need them to survive," Doutrich said. "We're calling

trainers there every day."

The Thursday maiden race drew some fillies who are bred to excel on turf.

Positivelycharming, a $600,000 yearling purchase, will make her turf debut. She's a half-sister to millionaire and graded-stakes-winning turf runner Tout Charmant, who was bred in Northern California by Robert and Barbara Walter.

Darling Mambo is out of a mare who was stakes-placed on the turf.

Excessive Tale, who ran in the Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies as a maiden, makes her second turf start after a solid effort at this distance on the dirt last out.

Classy Clarita is a half to Link to Jimmy, a stakes-placed earner of more than $152,000 on the turf.

Violet Brook rounds out the Southern California contingent.

Gout de Terroir was second in her turf debut at a mile at Santa Anita, and she has the best turf form in the field. She is a half to Breeders' Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect, and to Swagger Stick, who was stakes-placed on the turf.

D Pirates Marker, who has two seconds and a third in three career starts, ran the best race of her life when stretched to a mile last time. The big question is how she will handle turf.

o Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he will run Somethinaboutlaura in Saturday's $50,000-added Hillsborough Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The graded-stakes-winning mare will carry 126 pounds. Stablemate Gemstone Rush is also scheduled to run.

o Jockey Jason Lumpkins has moved to Santa Anita. He was 3 for 41 during an injury-plagued Bay Meadows meet.