Hot combo offers a pair of live options

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Trainer-jockey combinations sometimes feel like the province of the self-proclaimed simulcast parlor guru, the guy speaking in loud tone about so-and-so's go-to rider at whatever track has popped up on the screen.

But there are exceptions.

When Mark Guidry, only recently arrived at the Arlington Park meet, has been given a leg up by trainer Frank Kirby, it has been something worth noting. Guidry has ridden 14 Kirby-trained horses at this meet, and seven of them have won. A flat-bet investment on all of them would have gotten back $3.94 for every $2 wagered to win.

There are two allowance races on Arlington's 10-race Friday card, one for Illinois-breds at 1 1/8 miles, the other an open race for fillies and mares at a one-turn mile. Kirby, it so happens, has horses for both of them, and yes, Guidry is riding.

The Illinois-bred race, the fourth, comes up first. It drew a field of eight, none of whom is going to be mistaken for a particularly fast horse. You see a lot of poor career win marks in the race - 2 for 25's, 1 for 26's - and it makes one wonder how much passing will be going on during the stretch run. Maybe not so much, which makes the Kirby-Guidry horse Shakeel's Command interesting. could force the early issue; if he doesn't, Shakeel's Command might not come back.

The Kirby-Guidry entry in race 8, , also is a stretch-out horse, though she is only being asked to carry her speed one mile around one turn. But there is potential trouble here. Among the six others in the race, two, maybe three, want to race on or near the lead, and the pace here should be at least mildly hot. Salt Syn has post 2, and could get the worst of things if she goes to the lead.

Favored will be , a sharp maiden winner in May, off the board in a two-turn overnight turf stakes next time, and second by a half-length in a race at this class level in her last start. Shadowy Waters has a good outside draw that should lend itself to a stalk and pounce trip. She might be tough to beat, killer jockey-trainer combo or not.