Hot pace may favor 'Sharky's'

ALTOONA, Iowa - Iowa-breds Sharky's Review and Sumthintotalkabout, both multiple stakes winners, head a field of six fillies and mares in Saturday's $40,000 Iowa State Fair Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Sharky's Review, last year's 3-year-old Iowa-bred filly of the year, enters the six-furlong State Fair Stakes off a closing fourth-place finish in the $125,000 Iowa Distaff at 1 1/16 miles here on July 6.

Trained by Mark Bader, Sharky's Review captured five of her seven starts last year but began 2002 by going winless in her first four starts. A rallying victory in the six-furlong Mamie Eisenhower Stakes, for statebreds here in early June, got Sharky's Review back on track. She then scored an easy 3 3/4-length victory in the $75,000 Hawkeyes Stakes here before running in the Iowa Distaff.

Regular rider Luis Quinonez has the mount on Sharky's Review, who figures to benefit from an expected quick early pace in the State Fair.

Sumthintotalkabout will likely be part of the that pace under the meet's leading rider, Cindy Noll. In her last two starts, she has finished on the board but behind Sharky's Review after setting the pace.

Steve Hobby trains Sumthintotalkabout, who has compiled a career record of 9-2-3 from 22 starts and has earned more than $304,000.

Sumthintotalkabout's chances could be compromised Saturday by the presence of Trisha Runs. Trisha Runs, who also is trained by Bader, is a confirmed front-runner who rates a legitimate look based on her strong second-place finish in the $125,000 Saylorville Stakes here at six furlongs July 5.

In the Saylorville she dueled to the stretch and hung on well, beaten only a half-length by Sweet Nanette at 43-1. Perry Compton has the call on Trisha Runs.

Another confirmed front-runner entered in the State Fair is Miss Guts, but her trainer, Ray Tracy, said he will likely scratch her.

Completing the field are Delray Dew, winner of five of her eight starts this year, all a mile or longer, and Don't Countess Out, who won back-to-back allowance races here in May.

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