Last Reputation to relish turf sprint

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Last Reputation, who beat much tougher the last time she sprinted on the turf, heads a field of five fillies and mares in the $34,000 allowance/$40,000 optional claiming feature at 4 1/2 furlongs on the grass Thursday at Bay Meadows.

Last Reputation finished fourth in a $25,000 claiming race at Del Mar in her last start, but she is the only member of the field to win on the turf. In fact, Last Reputation won each of her two turf sprints in the U.S. She won for a $50,000 tag at Hollywood Park in July 2000, then won a third-level allowance/$100,000 optional claimer in April of this year, also at the Inglewood track.

Since her last win, she has seemingly regressed, finishing fourth for $80,000 at a mile on turf, then fourth for $62,500, and fourth for $25,000. Her last two races were both at six furlongs on the dirt at Del Mar.

Last Reputation's regressing pattern is a concern even though her last two races were on the dirt, because she ran well on the main track last year. But a change of venue and a return to a sprint on the grass could be just what she needs.

The others have obstacles. Gone Quackers and Forget You come in off long layoffs and try turf for the first time. Call Me Soon is coming off a solid win in a first-level allowance race, but she was unplaced in her only previous grass race. Victory Serenade appears to be off form.

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