Golden Staters after New Mexico's richest

The $100,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap in New Mexico on Sunday has a distinct California flavor.

Three California-breds who are based in New Mexico - Alyou, Brew, and Reflecting Colors - face six others, including Hero's Welcome and Nates Colony, who are based in California and are attempting to plunder the richest race of the Albuquerque season.

To do that, the tourists must beat the veteran Brew and the promising Reflecting Colors. Alyou will be a longshot. The 6-year-old Brew has been a mainstay on the New Mexico handicap circuit for the last few years, compiling a record of 18 wins in 37 starts and earnings of $355,927. Last year, he won five of seven starts and $143,869, but this year has only one victory in five starts, the minor Curribot Handicap at Sunland Park in February.

"He's getting old," Jamison said. "He's training good, but he has lost a step."

Owned by a partnership, the Crew of Brew, Brew's earnings make him the leading son of Falstaff, who stands at Creston Farm in central California. Falstaff is the sire of two champion California-bred females in recent years: Cover Gal, the champion 2-year-old filly of 1999 and 3-year-old filly of 2000, and Go Go, the champion sprinter of 2001.

Falstaff was bred to 19 mares this year, according to Art Mercado, manger of Creston Farm.

Mercado admits that the 22-year-old Falstaff is losing mares to younger stallions, but the stallion maintains a presence at the farm. Falstaff stands for $5,000 live foal.

"He's gotten those two big fillies, but he's not like In Excess and others with precocious babies," Mercado said. "He's in good shape and covering his mares. Last year, he had 24 or 25."

While Brew has established form, Reflecting Colors is more of a puzzle. A 4-year-old bred by Golden Eagle Farm, Reflecting Colors has won four of five starts, but he did not finish the Express Handicap earlier this year. By Avenue of Flags, he subsequently has won two allowance races at Albuquerque, including one race by 12 3/4 lengths.

Reflecting Colors was bought by James Wasson for $8,000 at the Barretts January Sale earlier this year. Wasson co-owns Reflecting Colors with Dale Hopkins.

Two shots for Swiss Yodeler in Haggin

Swiss Yodeler, who leads the nation's first-year stallions with $243,023 in earnings through Thursday, will be represented by two starters in Sunday's $75,000 Haggin Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Luzern and Oberwald, both maiden winners at this meeting, will be making their first starts in stakes and attempting to give Swiss Yodeler his first stakes winner.

The Haggin Stakes is run over 5 1/2 furlongs and is a prep for the Hollywood Juvenile Championship on July 20. Five of the seven runners in the Haggin Stakes are California-breds.

Fabulous World, co-owned and bred by trainer Jerry Dutton, may be the second choice in the betting. By Fabulous Champ, Fabulous World was third in the Proctor Memorial Stakes on May 26 behind Crowned Dancer, who will be favored in the Haggin Stakes.

Dutton also entered Maui Wish, the winner of a $40,000 claiming race for maidens in his third start on May 22, but said on Friday that a decision will be made on Sunday whether he starts.

The longshot Light Up the Phone, the winner of a maiden race for claimers on June 5, is another statebred entrant.

Through Thursday, Swiss Yodeler's first crop has won seven races this year. He stands at Pepper Oaks Farm in Santa Ynez, Calif.

On June 2, Swiss Yodeler had his first stakes-placed runners when Little Bit a Swiss and My Honey Bunny finished second and third behind the California-bred Magic Smoke in the Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park.