Lost in the Fog relishes trip to desert

ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Greg Gilchrist went to his home away from home to pick up a stakes victory and $30,000 for his talented 2-year-old Lost in the Fog on Sunday at Turf Paradise.

All Lost in the Fog did in winning the $50,000 Arizona Juvenile Stakes was cruise home 14 3/4 lengths in front of Scottsbluff and break a 10-year-old track record for the 6 1/2-furlong distance with a 1:13.55 clocking, 0.25 seconds faster than G Malleah's previous record.

That's something a 2-year-old isn't supposed to do in his second career start, but Gilchrist wasn't exactly surprised by the track record.

"He does things horses aren't supposed to do," said Gilchrist, who usually downplays the achievements of his runners. "Nothing this horse does surprises me. He's phenomenal.

"This horse makes me very smart. He's the second best I've ever trained, next to Soviet Problem."

Soviet Problem ran second in the 1994 Breeders' Cup Sprint, losing by a head to Cherokee Run at Churchill Downs, and Gilchrist has always felt that, had the run-up to the six-furlong pole not been so far, his prize filly would have won.

Gilchrist wasn't all smiles after Lost in the Fog's race.

"Isn't it a shame we have to send the horse out of town to get a race? I'm sure there are many people in northern California who would like to see him run there," he said. "It was not my choice to come here."

Unfortunately, the 2-year-old program in northern California is spotty at best. A pair of 2-year-old sprint stakes scheduled for the start of the Golden Gate Fields meeting were canceled for lack of entries.

The obvious questions about a sensational 2-year-old revolve around Kentucky, roses, and May.

The questions for Gilchrist probably should revolve around the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

"I have no aspirations about going to the Kentucky Derby," he said.

Breeding and the 1 1/4-mile distance argue against Derby dreams. The average winning distance for the offspring of Lost in the Fog's sire, Lost Soldier, is 7.2 furlongs. Cloud Break, his unraced dam by Dr. Carter, averages 5.6 furlongs with her winners.

"I know he will get a mile," Gilchrist said.

Next on the agenda for Lost in the Fog is the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash for 3-year-olds in late January at Gulfstream.

Feature boils down to two fillies

Six 2-year-old fillies meet in what could be a match race in Wednesday's feature at Golden Gate Fields, a $40,000 starter allowance at six furlongs.

Southern Soldier and debut winner My Favorite Sport seem much the best, although Mobile Express is also entered after winning her debut.

Owned, bred, and trained by Cliff DeLima, My Favorite Sport was impressive in her first start here on Nov. 25, winning a $32,000 maiden claimer by three lengths.

She had to check at the start and was shuffled back. Aided by an outside track bias, My Favorite Sport moved five wide on the turn to put her nose in front at the quarter pole and pulled away from there.

"You have to be impressed the way she did it," DeLima said. "The time wasn't much, but the track wasn't very fast that day."

Although she's "the sweetest thing to work with around the barn," My Favorite Sport has been something of a headache for DeLima.

"She's a problem horse," he said. "She's ornery on the track. I can't even work her at Bay Meadows. She goes to the outside fence on the turn because she wants to go home. She's smart. She knows that's where she goes home. I took her to Fresno to see what she could do."

At Fresno, My Favorite Sport recorded a five-furlong bullet drill in 59.20 seconds on Oct. 8.

"At Golden Gate, she goes around the track pretty good," he said, "but I don't know if I will be able to run her at Bay Meadows."

Southern Soldier won her debut on Oct. 9 at Bay Meadows, also for a $32,000 tag. She has been second as the favorite in both starts here at this level, leading at the quarter pole each time. Both times she has held second easily.

* Three northern California 2-year-olds ventured south to Santa Anita on opening day Sunday to run in the $125,000 California Breeders' Championship. Iced Out ran second, beaten three-quarters of a length by favored Uncle Denny. Symbolic Gesture was fifth and Wind Water eighth.