Hoovergetthekeys faces older rivals

Carl Odegaard's Hoovergetthekeys will face older rivals for the first time here Monday in a strong mile allowance test. The special Columbus Day card will start at 12:45 p.m. with Hoovergetthekeys in the the seventh on an eight-race program.

Hoovergetthekeys returned to form last out, in a 1 1/16-mile race on the turf Sept. 10. He rated off the early pace, then unleashed a strong stretch run to defeat Sea to See and Sir Alfred.

Earlier this year, Hoovergetthekeys was on the Triple Crown trail after scoring impressive victories in the Golden Gate Derby and the

El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. The Brian Koriner-trained colt then shipped to Texas and ran a disappointing seventh while suffering a minor injury in the Lone Star Derby.

Hoovergetthekeys was claimed from his debut race for $32,000, and has earned nearly $300,000 in purses. This is the first horse Odegaard has owned.

Hoovergetthekeys will use Monday's allowance as a prep for the Grade 3 $100,000 Bay Meadows Derby on Nov. 4.

Profound Secret should provide a stiff test for Hoovergetthekeys. Profound Secret has made only one start this season, finishing a strong second in the six-furlong Aprisa Handicap at Pomona. Last year the Kent Molinaro-trained

7-year-old had two victories in eight starts and won more than $122,000.

Profound Secret won early last year in the six-furlong Phoenix Gold Cup, and then completed his 2000 campaign with a victory in the Harvest Handicap at the Big Fresno Fair.

Stakes winning I'madrifter and the sharp Hobar also appear to be threats in Monday's feature.

I'madrifter won the Gold Rush Stakes last December at Golden Gate and finished third this summer in the James F. Lyttle Cap at Santa Rosa.

Hobar ran six furlongs in a quick 1:09 2/5 last out Sept. 16 to beat a good allowance field by seven lengths for the meet-leading-trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer.