Jones trio looks strong in Autumn Handicap

Trainer Paul Jones is in the enviable position of having three dangerous juveniles - Feel the Roar, Lethal Bay, and Willie Getto Know Me - among the eight entrants in the $27,400 Autumn Handicap on Friday night at Los Alamitos.

Feel the Roar comes off a third-place finish in the California Juvenile Challenge after being brushed at the start. He came into the Challenge off three straight daylight victories.

Lethal Bay returns to Los Alamitos after finishing third behind Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity winner Thewayouwantmetoo and Grade 1 Governor's Cup Futurity winner Ocean Runaway in his All American Futurity trial at Ruidoso Downs.

Willie Getto Know Me is after his fourth straight victory and his first stakes win.

Pinelli-trained pair top Hyland

The Laura Pinelli-trained duo of Oak Canyon and Heros Call, the one-two finishers in the Bulls Rastus Handicap, return in the Grade 3, $35,000 Pat Hyland Handicap at 870 yards on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

Oak Canyon upset his stablemate at 10-1 in the 870-yard Bull Rastus. That was his second straight stakes victory. He also won the Jim Smith Handicap over Heros Call.

The last time Oak Canyon was defeated was by Heros Call in the Grade 1 Marathon National on Dec. 13. That victory earned Heros Call the 2003 champion distance horse award. To earn the championship he won 5 of seven 7 starts last year at 870 yards.

Bac in the Saddle comes into the Hyland after an impressive victory in the California Distance Challenge. He went five wide on the turn and won by three-quarters of a length.

World champ passes prep

Oak Tree Special, the 2003 co-world champion, was nominated but did not enter the $15,000 Champion Forest Stakes on Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park and will now probably go into the Grade 1, $300,000 MBNA America Challenge Championship on Nov. 6 without a prep race.

Oak Tree Special's most recent start was on Sept. 4, when he finished sixth in the Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic. His sole win from three 2004 starts is a half-length win in the East Challenge Championship, which earned him his berth in the MBNA America Challenge Championship.

The Blazin Man, winner of the 2003 Harrisburg Handicap at Sam Houston, is making his second start after a nine-month layoff in the Champion Forest. In his return Sept. 18 he was second in the TQHA Sires Stakes.

Zia Park topped out

Zia Park, the track being built in Hobbs, New Mexico, was "topped out" in a ceremony on Tuesday. The topping ceremony marks the placing of the final steel beam.

The simulcast wagering and casino portions of the $45 million project are scheduled to open on Nov. 15. Live racing begins in September 2005.