Guccione's perfect local record on line

Guccione will put his unbeaten record at Fairmount Park on the line when he faces seven older Illinois-breds in the $45,000 Tex's Zing Handicap, one of six statebred stakes on Tuesday afternoon's eight-race card.

A winner of three straight at Fairmount earlier in the meet, including two overnight handicaps, Guccione might prove to be the controlling speed in the Tex's Zing, which came up extremely competitive. Guccione will break from post 2 while the other potential front-runner, Holy City, drew post 8 in the mile-and-70-yard race.

Should a speed duel develop between those two, potential beneficiaries include Air Academy and Da Grizz, second and fourth in the Milwaukee Avenue Handicap in April. Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires will make a rare Fairmount appearance when he climbs aboard Barely Union Scale, a 4-year-old he rode to a second-place finish in an open first-level allowance at Arlington 11 days ago.

Bungalow: Lots of speed up front

An abundance of early speed could set up the $45,000 Bungalow Handicap for a closer. Stop a Train, the runner-up in the Grade 3 Arlington Matron last year, is winless in four starts this season, but was second last out in a money allowance at Churchill and figures to be in a prime stalking position in the mile and 70-yard race for fillies and mares.

Lampoon, second behind Stop a Train in a stakes at Hawthorne last fall, is also seeking her first win of the year, and should appreciate the return to dirt after racing on turf and Polytrack in three starts this season.

Among those with early speed, Tuffted and Turbulent Thinking may have the best chance at being around at the finish. Tuffted, who is 5 for 33 lifetime, was the 35-1 upset winner of the Peach of It Handicap at Hawthorne in April. She has validated that form with solid showings in an open allowance and in the Lincoln Heritage Handicap over the turf.

Turbulent Thinking, less of a need-the-lead type than Tuffted, wired an overnight stakes field at Hawthorne over the winter, but has struggled of late over the Arlington Polytrack and in two open stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Paddle's Big Star, one of the better locally based mares last year when second in the Bungalow, is seeking to recapture some of her old form after two nondescript efforts this month over the Ellis Park turf. The pace scenario, however, figures to be unkind to Paddle's Big Star, a confirmed front-runner in her previous route attempts.

Pollyanna Pixie: 'Magnetic' favored

Magnetic Miss, a 4 1/4-length winner of the Purple Violet at Arlington earlier this month, figures to be a strong favorite in the $45,000 Pollyanna Pixie for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

The Purple Violet was the third career stakes win for Magnetic Miss, whose main competition figures to come from Copper State, who defeated her in the Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante at Hawthorne last December, and the front-running Frances Cat.

All Sold Out: Pixie seeks to rebound

Pixie will try to follow in the footsteps of her dam, Tyke, as a winner of the $45,000 All Sold Out Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs. Pixie was an eight-length winner of her debut at Hawthorne in April, but was a badly beaten sixth in the Prairie Gold Lassie in her only other start.

Lune Rouge, who also won at first asking, is trying to rebound from a last-place finish in the My Dear Stakes at Woodbine. Maiden winners Walk the Posh and Marikitten, along with second-time starter Sarahlinds Sister, round out the likely contenders.

Troy Our Boy: Maiden has good shot

River Bear, a full brother to the prominent Illinois racemare Lady Riss, is the likely favorite in the $45,000 Troy Our Boy Stakes for

2-year-old colts and geldings at six furlongs. Though still a maiden, River Bear was beaten only a head in his lone previous outing in statebred company. Wheres Denton, Ridgeland Avenue, Instill, and English Scholar are other probable contenders.