Hollendorfer has quartet of contenders

ALBANY, Calif. - Saturday's $60,000-added San Carlos Handicap at one mile at Golden Gate Fields has drawn 13 entries. Because it is a stakes race, 12 horses will be allowed to run. The normal limit for a one-mile race is 10.

The field includes four runners from the barn of leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Yougottawanna, making his first start since winning the El Camino Real Derby last March, is the highweight at 118 pounds. Ninebanks and Halo Cat, winner of the Albany and Montclair handicaps at the meet, will run as an entry. Defending champion Boss Ego will be seeking his third straight victory.

Hollendorfer is likely to be posing in the winner's circle after the race. The question is - who will be beside him?

His entry is likely to be favored.

Ninebanks may be considered a turf specialist after winning the $100,000 California Turf Championship then losing by a neck to David Copperfield in the Grade 3 $200,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap on turf. But Hollendorfer said Ninebanks can handle the dirt, too.

"He's a solid horse," Hollendorfer said. "He runs real good on the dirt at Golden Gate."

Ninebanks lost by a head to Jimmy Z in the $100,000 Forty Niner Handicap over the main track Nov. 29.

In addition to his two stakes victories, Halo Cat owns seconds in the Oakland Handicap and Lafayette Handicap. In the Lafayette, only his second try at one mile, he chased runaway winner I'madrifter, who is also entered here.

"I expect a good race from him," Hollendorfer said of Halo Cat, who missed the track record for six furlongs by .07 seconds in the Montclair. "He can't wait too long like last time."

Boss Ego has won three of four starts at the meet, missing by a head in his only loss. He won last year's San Carlos when it was run at Bay Meadows and comes off a victory at one mile when he ran down I'madrifter and held off Epic Honor, another of Saturday's rivals.

Hollendorfer was surprised Yougottawanna is the highweight since he hasn't run in nearly a year and has never faced older horses.

Yougottawanna, who defeated Officer when they were 2-year-olds, has been sidelined since fracturing his right front pastern after his El Camino victory.

"He's just been training real well," Hollendorfer said. "He came to form a lot sooner than I thought."

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