Hystericalady wins Juan Gonzalez

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Hystericalady ($3) made up two lengths in the final 100 yards, getting her nose in front of longshot Bid of Genius at the wire to win the $49,500 Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes at the Alameda County Fair on Saturday.

The filly, now unbeaten in two starts, was troubled by a loose number on her bridle that kept hitting her in the eye, causing her to duck in to the rail. She was boxed in on the turn and didn't get clear until inside the 16th pole.

When she did get off the rail, she quickly began to make up ground on pacesetting Smart Kitten and Bid of Genius, who took the lead just as Hystericalady came out for room. Bid of Genius continued strongly to the wire but couldn't hold off the winner, who ran her final eighth in 12.08 seconds.

"I think this shows she has a lot of talent," trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. "She's still learning. As far back as she was, she still gathered them up."

Winning jockey Chad Schvaneveldt, who worked the filly on June 24, knew he had plenty of horse but was worried about the number flapping in the filly's eye.

"I was dumbfounded when we left the gate and she was lugging in until I saw what happened," he said. "I couldn't get her off the rail because the number was flopping and hitting her in her eye. I knew if I could get out, she'd be OK. She wanted to run."

The victory, worth $24,450, boosted her career earnings to $39,025.