Mac Rhapsody likes wet going

SAN MATEO, Calif. - A pair of $40,000 starter allowance races top Monday's holiday card at Bay Meadows.

The $60,000 Bay Meadows Mile, scheduled Monday as a prep for 3-year-olds pointing to the Grade 3, $250,000 El Camino Real Derby on Jan. 29, drew only three nominees and was canceled.

Both of the starter races are for runners 4 years old and up at 1 1/16 miles. Fillies and mares will run in race 1 on the card, with males going in race 2.

Among the contenders in race 1, Betty's Grace and Dancing Stripes each won a maiden race in her last start. Mac Rhapsody graduated in the mud in her lone main-track start two races back.

Three of the five runners in this race seem better suited to the turf, although Mac Rhapsody's victory in the mud at the 1 1/16-mile distance two starts back could make her the one to beat. The race was her first start for a tag, and she was claimed for $32,000. She likely will get another wet track here.

Mac Rhapsody ran in a first-level allowance race on turf in her last race, her first start for trainer Dean Pederson, and was trailing by only a head in the lane before fading badly.

Betty's Grade graduated at this distance in a $32,000 maiden claimer on a yielding turf course at Golden Gate Fields. Dancing Stripes's victory came sprinting for a $25,000 maiden tag.

Her Emminence is a contender despite her 1-for-22 record. She comes off a solid second in a $25,000 optional claimer and should be on or near the lead early.

The race for males also appears wide open, with many apparent turf specialists running on the main track.

Are You Lookn has one win in 16 starts but also six seconds and four thirds. He appears to be the probable favorite.

Touchdown USC and Glengoffe, both sprinters who are bred to run at a route, could help to make a brisk pace, along with Tiz Us and Anziyan's Song, both of whom like to set the pace in routes.

* Lost in the Fog, a contender for the 2005 Eclipse Award as champion sprinter, will return to Golden Gate Fields on Wednesday. Lost in the Fog, trained by Greg Gilchrist, has been taking a break in Florida since finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, which broke a 10-race winning streak.