Forrest White so popular it has to be split

A Northern California racing rarity unfolds Sunday at the San Joaquin County Fair in Stockton: The $45,000 Forrest White Stakes drew so many horses that it had to be split into two divisions.

Fourteen 3-year-old colts were entered in the 5 1/2-furlong race, with seven in each division.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will be represented in each division.

Double Action drew the outside post for Hollendorfer and will be favored in the first division, which goes as the day's seventh race. The Hollendorfer-trained Another Kris, whose only two losses have come in stakes, will have plenty of competition from speedy Acquire the Fire in the second division, which goes as race 10.

Another Kris and Acquire the Fire met last Nov. 19 when both debuted at Bay Meadows. Acquire the Fire was able to open up a lead on the turn but was run down in the stretch by Another Kris. Acquire the Fire graduated in his next start then did not race for six months, tiring to lose by a head against older horses in his comeback June 9 at Golden Gate Fields.

Another Kris won his second start before shipping to Florida for the Sunshine Millions Dash on Jan. 27. He steadied a bit entering the turn and didn't seem to handle the track well, finishing sixth, beaten by 11 1/4 lengths. After more than three months on the sidelines, he returned and beat older at Golden Gate Fields on May 9. But another puzzler followed as he ran last in a field of eight, beaten 11 lengths, in the Grade 3 Laz Barrera on May 20 at Hollywood Park.

Another Kris showed so much talent early that Russell Baze opted to go to Florida to ride him in the Sunshine Millions Dash rather than go to Santa Anita with Smokey Stover, who won the Sunshine Millions Sprint. The decision cost him the mount on Smokey Stover, considered the country's top sprinter.

The improving Redman could also be a factor in the second division.

In the first division of the Forrest White, Double Action meets the stakes winners Super Image and Corredor Del Oro and the stakes-placed At the Bada Bing and Preferred Yield.

Double Action won the Golden Bear at Golden Gate Fields on May 6, defeating Super Image by 4 1/2 lengths while earning a 104 Beyer. He followed with a third-place finish against tough older horses, losing to Barber and Vaderator by only two lengths.