Kelly's Princess will gun from rail in Juan Gonzalez

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Invading Southern California-based fillies seem the ones to beat in the $40,000-added Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes at the Alameda County Fair on Saturday.

An overflow field of 11 was entered in the five-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies.

Kelly's Princess, who drew the rail, comes off a strong third in the Nursery Stakes at Hollywood Park. She could be the one to beat, although the rail draw may work against her.

Rents Due, who led the opening quarter of the five-furlong Nursery before fading, drew post 9. Lady Siphonica, who showed speed before flattening out in the Cinderella Stakes, is also drawn outside Kelly's Princess in post 5.

Kelly's Princess, a Cal-bred, battled gamely in the Nursery before fading in the final furlong but may not face as extended a pace battle in this spot. The rail draw dictates her probable tactics, which will be to gun early.

The field includes one stakes winner, Shocking Dunn, who won the three-furlong Mockingbird at Gulfstream Park but ran eighth in the Nursery.

Timeintown, who won her maiden in a $50,000 claimer at Churchill Downs, is also entered, along with three fillies who won two-furlong races in northern California.

Undercover Soldier, from the barn of leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, bobbled at the break and was bumped but still pulled away for an impressive victory in her debut on May 5.

Welcome Queen won her debut for a $30,000 claiming tag on April 29.

Ireza, following her two-furlong win, went south for the Cinderella Stakes and ran last.

Bold Marty, a winner at Turf Paradise, and Continental Caller, who won a $40,000 maiden claimer before running last in the Nursery, complete the main body of the race. Driving Miss Helen, who won northern California's first 2-year-old race around a turn this spring, is on the also-eligible list.

The race drew so many entrants that a pair of well-bred maiden first-timers with local connections could not enter. Two to Get Ready and Sterling Cat weren't considered for the race because of the number of winners entering.

The Jeff Bonde-trained Sterling Cat is owned by Mary Schroeder and James Vreeland. Bonde, Schroeder, and Vreeland won the Juan Gonzalez last year with first-timer Lyin Goddess.

* Quarter Horse expert Les Onaka from Los Alamitos will be Saturday's handicapping seminar guest and will host a special handicapping event at the simulcast facility on the fairgrounds at night.