Gilchrist barnmates formidable

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Greg Gilchrist is blessed with four stakes-winning 3-year-old fillies in his care. Indyanne, who is scheduled to return from minor knee surgery next month, is the best.

But who is No. 2?

Sky Mystic staked her claim when she won the $100,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields one week ago, but High Resolve, a mere $135,000 purchase compared with the $400,000 paid for Sky Mystic, might be No. 2. At least, she's the biggest bargain.

High Resolve goes for her fifth straight victory and third straight stakes win Saturday at Bay Meadows, facing five rivals in the $55,000 Princess Stakes at six furlongs.

Not only is High Resolve undefeated, she has never been behind another horse at any call. Her four victories have been by a combined 23 1/4 lengths, and her two wins at Bay Meadows by 16.

Her biggest pace rival Saturday could be stablemate Heaven on Hold, who has won 2 of 3 career starts, including the six-furlong Tiburon at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 12 in her previous start.

High Resolve is 2 for 2 at Bay Meadows, winning her debut here by nine lengths last Sept. 14 when favored Sky Mystic ran third. High Resolve paid $10.40, and Gilchrist walked away with more than his trainer's fee that day.

"I think people looked at their purchase prices, but I knew High Resolve was much quicker," Gilchrist said.

High Resolve is by Put It Back, who is also the sire of the good sprinter Smokey Stover. High Resolve won the $150,000 Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies at Calder in November and the Arizona Juvenile Fillies at Turf Paradise in December.

She would likely have been the odds-on choice in the Sunshine Millions Oaks at Gulfstream Park but stayed home after developing a slight fever.

The Princess became her new goal, and she has had two nice works since her brief illness.

"She was fine four days later," regular rider Russell Baze said, "but Greg did the right thing. She's worked well since then."

Heaven on Hold, who cost $95,000, brings strong credentials into the race and is favorably drawn in post 4, while her stablemate breaks from the rail. Her breeding, by multiple Grade 1 winner Deputy Commander out of the stakes-winning Abundantly Blessed, might be even richer than High Resolve's, and she has gone gate-to-wire in her two victories.

Mini Tales, who beat Heaven on Hold in a Dec. 7 allowance race before losing by a neck in the Tiburon, could prove the top threat should the two stablemates falter.