Luxury Flight legit threat at short price

ALBANY, Calif. - What's not to like about Luxury Flight?

From a handicapper's standpoint, the only knock on the 5-year-old Luxury Flight is that she will likely be heavily bet in Thursday's third race at Golden Gate Fields when she meets five rivals in a $32,000 claimer for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Luxury Flight has won two straight, first on dirt and last time on turf, at the same distance here when she was re-claimed by trainer Chuck Jenda for owner Nicholas Alexander.

"She runs good every time you send her out," said Jenda, who has twice lost her to trainer R.L. Martin and then claimed her back. "She always tries."

Luxury Flight, who has won on fast tracks, wet tracks, and turf, made her first 12 starts for Jenda before being claimed by Martin last Dec. 17. Jenda claimed her back, lost her again to Martin, and claimed her back on the opening day of the meet on Aug. 25.

Jenda has given her a pair of works since the claim.

Because he knows her so well, he realizes Luxury Flight is a good fit at moderately expensive claiming levels and doesn't ask the impossible of her. She figures to get a good stalking trip in this spot.

Thrill After Dark, making only her second start after a 10-month layoff, ran well in a sprint prep and now drops into this spot, where she could grab the lead.

Slews in Demand, who has tackled Royal Kleven and then stakes company in her two starts this year, is also entered after a brief freshener.

o Also on the card, Touchdown USC, who edged Hay Man Dan by a nose in a thrilling finish on Labor Day, will try to beat Hay Man Dan again in a $25,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles. The race also marks the northern California return of Anziyan's Song, who defeated Touchdown USC in his last start here on Feb. 9.

o Seven 2-year-old fillies meet at a mile on the turf in a maiden race.

Distinctive Dance, a runner-up on the turf in her debut here, returns from Southern California. She was shuffled back down the backstretch in her debut but closed well and should benefit from the experience.

Betrluckythangood will make her debut. Her sire, More Than Ready, has proven effective with first-timers and also with runners making their turf debuts. Betrluckythangood brings in a strong series of works from San Luis Rey Downs.