King Mobay must catch Point Luck

SAN MATEO, Calif. - King Mobay, a distant third in the San Mateo Mile in his last start, might be favored in Thursday's Bay Meadows feature race, a one-mile first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds. But he will have his hands full with Point Luck.

Though the race drew only five entrants, it is wide open and interesting to handicap.

has hit the board in four consecutive starts since winning his maiden at a mile in a $32,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 18. Although he does not have much early foot, he has closed well since stretching out to a mile on Nov. 18. He won a $40,000 starter allowance race two starts ago, then ran third last out in the San Mateo on Feb. 12.

Though he has an edge on paper, King Mobay might have trouble catching Point Luck, who tries two turns for the first time.

is one of the good 3-year-olds in Greg Gilchrist's barn. He is owned and was bred by Harry Aleo, who also has one of the most talked about 3-year-olds in the country in Lost in the Fog.

Point Luck will be on the lead, and his breeding indicates he will like the one-mile distance. He lost by four lengths to the San Mateo Mile winner, Stellar Magic, in a sprint. King Mobay lost to Stellar Magic by 10 1/2 lengths in the San Mateo.

Dino Camino, who has won two straight, will be sitting close to the front and should get first run on Point Luck. Dino Camino has won four races and finished second in the Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes last summer.

The improving Sanfran, claimed for $12,500 from a turf win in his last start, is 2 for 2 routing and has won on dirt and turf. Although this is a big step up, he is improving and merits a long look.

Indian Weaver, stakes placed at the distance as a 2-year-old, rounds out the field.

* Jack Bland has been in the winner's circle at Bay Meadows many times after saddling a winner - as an assistant to Jerry Dutton, Bill McMeans, and Richard Leavitt. But on Monday he was there for the first time as the trainer of record, after Bold Bobo's wire-to-wire victory in an $8,000 maiden claimer.