Gilchrist points pair to stakes

Trainers Greg Gilchrist and Steve Specht are loading up for Saturday's $75,000 Campanile Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. Gilchrist plans to send out both Sky Mystic and Victorina. Specht said he would enter both Lady Railrider and Shes a Lucky Wager, although he is not certain if either will run.

Sky Mystic will be making her first start since winning the California Oaks here one year ago. Victorina, a multiple stakes winner, comes off a victory in the Jan. 2 Paseana Handicap at Santa Anita. Primarily a sprinter early in her career, she has shown ability to get two turns successfully of late, giving Gilchrist additional options for the 5-year-old mare.

Specht said he is seriously considering running Lady Railrider back off two weeks' rest in the Campanile. She comes off a second-place finish in the Sunshine Millions Distaff on Jan. 24. Specht cautioned that he would be monitoring her up to the race.

Specht's other Campanile possible, Shes a Lucky Wager, comes off a third in the Pacific Heights Stakes here Dec. 6. Specht said he's also looking at a Sunday allowance race for her, but that he is willing to take a shot in the stakes if the Sunday race doesn't fill.

Others possible for the Campanile include Gadget Queen, who is coming off an allowance victory here Jan. 2; She's Sensational, winner of the the Glendale on the turf at Turf Paradise on Jan. 17; and Royal Heraldry, winner of two straight allowance races here.

Will O Way shows heart in win

Will O Way may not have won exactly as a 1-2 shot is expected to, but she did prevail in a thrilling California Oaks here last Saturday. She was headed in the lane of the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race by Oro Blanco, then tested to her inside by Point of Reference before prevailing by a nose.

"She has a lot more heart than I thought," her relieved trainer, Vladimir Cerin, said after a day's reflection on the race.

Will O Way suffered a bruised foot in her previous start, the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita on Jan. 11. Cerin admitted that the California Oaks came up tougher than he expected and that her bruised foot precluded him from working her between races.

He also credited Russell Baze for not giving up on Will O Way down the lane.

"It was one of the finest rides I've ever seen," Cerin said.

Cerin said Will O Way would have to show improvement in her works to be entered in the Santa Anita Oaks on March 7.

Runner-up Point of Reference was making her first start in a route. According to her trainer, Frank Lucarelli, she hesitated at the quarter pole and Will O Way got a little jump on her.

Third-place Oro Blanco looked like a winner before stalling in the final 100 yards. After the race, her jockey, Roberto Gonzalez, thought that she might have bled. However, trainer Marcelo Polanco said he had her scoped after the race and it came back "pretty clear."

"She passed the other horses and then she just pulled herself up," he said. "She looked good, and I'm happy with the race."

Gallant Son works toward stakes

The Lucarelli-trained Gallant Son had his penultimate work for the Feb. 14 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday, going seven-eighths in 1:29, the best of three works at the distance. Lucarelli said he galloped out strongly. Gallant Son will work a mile this week, Lucarelli said, in preparation for the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby. Gallant Son is coming off a fifth in the California Derby and a seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Gallant Son will face California Derby winner Chocolate Candy in the El Camino Real Derby.

Alvarado suffers concussion

Jockey Frank Alvarado suffered a mild concussion when Newport Lulu acted up prior to Sunday's second race, head butting him. Alvarado was taken to Oakland's Highland Hospital for a precautionary CT scan.

Newport Lulu wasn't affected by the incident, winning the race under Francisco Duran, who had two other winners Sunday.

But that wasn't the only winner Alvarado lost.

Leslie Mawing picked up Alvarado's mount, Alashir's Storm, in the fourth, and won a photo finish. Russell Baze rode Diamond Berries to a win in the seventh as Alvarado's replacement.

Alvarado is expected to ride Thursday.