Locals cover all angles

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The home team will be well represented in Saturday's $65,000 Hillsborough Handicap at Bay Meadows.

The one-mile turf race drew 10 fillies and mares, seven of whom are based in northern California.

The locally based runners should dominate the pace with Heavenly Humor, Eleanor Rose, Midwife, and Marla Bay in the race.

, runner-up in the five-furlong Monterey in her turf debut here, figure to get great stalking trips, while strong Faith could be a factor late.

Unlike many of their rivals, invaders Brag, Carini, and Shadowy Waters have never won a stakes race. Yet each has the credentials to contend.

comes off a victory in a one-mile turf allowance at Hollywood Park. The British-bred Carini has won her past two tries at the one-mile distance and has never finished off the board since arriving in the United States. Shadowy Waters has been the runner-up at this distance in a pair of stakes tries on the turf at Turf Paradise.

The projected pace scenario suggests that the winner will probably sit back early.

Sky Dreams will likely get a stalking trip. A versatile one-time claimer, Sky Dreams comes off arguably her best race, finishing a clear second in the Yerba Buena to a runner who was Group 1-placed in Europe.

Jerry Hollendorfer claimed Sky Dreams last June, and her next six starts came in the Midwest or Florida. Since returning to California in February, the 5-year-old Sky Dreams has two wins and a pair of seconds in stakes races, all at Golden Gate Fields.

Sky Dreams is 1 for 11 over the Bay Meadows turf with 3 seconds, but she's much improved since the last time she raced here. Her biggest obstacle could be post 9, which could lead to a wide trip.

strong Faith was very wide on both turns when fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths in the Yerba Buena. She drew the rail for the Hillsborough.

"I was happy with the way she ran, only getting beat two lengths," trainer John Martin said. "You can't race that wide and win."

strong Faith won the Muir Woods and the Half Moon Bay after being claimed by Martin for $32,000.

"I know it's a tough spot, but she's shown not to be too far off these class-wise," Martin said. "She's training great. We just need to get lucky getting through traffic because she's got early pace to run at."