'Jewels' must alter her style

SAN MATEO, Calif. - You could have gotten pretty good odds around Art Sherman's barn that Jewels of Bagdad would not win her first two races. But she did, by a combined total of 10 1/2 lengths.

will be gunning for a hat trick in Thursday's Bay Meadows feature, a first-level allowance race at six furlongs.

"We're surprised," Sherman's son, Allen, said of Jewel of Bagdad's success. "She wakes up in the afternoon. She's not that aggressive in the morning, although she showed me enough that I thought she might be decent.

"But it was hard to like her going into her first time out," Sherman added. "I thought she has some speed, but I didn't expect the good speed she shows."

Jewels of Bagdad hasn't shown quite the early foot of Reina Xochilt, who drew the rail in Thursday's allowance and will gun early.

How Jewels of Bagdad fares if she is not on the pace here could determine her future. She was second by a head at the first call in her debut. In her second start, she had a clear lead.

, who had a tendency to fade a bit as a 2-year-old, kept right on going in her first start at 3 while cutting out fast fractions. She has been off for two months since that maiden victory and has a strong string of drills. She should be able to put her speed to best advantage.

Time to Be on Top and Reagle Mary promise to keep the pace honest.

Two to Get Ready, who has been meeting better down south, is the one most likely to take advantage of a pace battle. She will sit back and try to fire late.

* Apprentice jockey Anne Sanguinetta will sit out the next three days for her ride aboard Lucky Spike in last Friday's eighth race. Lucky Spike was disqualified from third to fourth after an incident at the break.

* Bay Meadows' most popular new promotion is a special handicapping seminar for newcomers on Senior Thursdays. In addition to the seminar is a special, reasonably priced meal. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Thursday's meal will be corned beef and cabbage.