'Mazel' beatable favorite

STICKNEY, Ill. - The first flight of Mike Reavis-trained horses stormed through the opening days of the National Jockey Club at Hawthorne meet, and after five racing programs the Reavis barn sat on top of the mountain, with 8 wins from 16 starters.

But winning horse races is never that easy. Hot streaks last only as long as the live, sharp stock, and Reavis's second wave of runners here has been less potent. Through the end of last week, Reavis' record stood at 11 for 47, meaning he had gone just 3 for 31 since opening week. Meanwhile, the steady, ceaseless stream of runners from the Frank Kirby barn has produced 16 winners, good for first in the trainer standings, while trainer Tom Tomillo has gotten hot the last 10 days, vaulting into second with 12 wins.

Many of the Reavis horses making their second start of the meet have failed to win at short odds, and the situation arises again in the Monday feature here, a second-level route allowance for fillies and mares.

From the Reavis barn comes the Hawthorne-loving Mazel Pic, who won an entry-level allowance by more than six lengths on the meet's fourth day. Mazel Pick has gone 3 for 4 on this surface, but handicappers must weigh the obvious ease of her recent victory against a step up in class, and that is a tough call. Mazel Pic beat only four opponents last out, and the race was soft for the class level. On the other hand, she barely had to get out of a common gallop to score, and if there is room for Mazel Pic to improve, she will have every right to do so on Monday.

Further complication comes in the form of Point Won, who like Mazel Pic, steps up in class after an open-lengths win at the first allowance level. No question, Point One has the talent to win the Monday feature.

"She's a nice horse," said trainer Dale Bennett last week.

Bennett had the horse at Oaklawn when Point Won blew out a field of $30,000 maiden-claimers, but she moved to the barn of trainer Rey Aguirre upon shipping to Hawthorne. At issue is whether Point One can stretch her speed from a pair of sprints to a route trip. She might be the controlling speed on Monday, but if she begins to fade in the stretch, Mazel Pic is liable to come and get her.