Mea Domina fast but flighty

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - When her mind is focused on racing, Mea Domina can be brilliant.

But she has been a project for trainer Ron McAnally and his staff.

Fortunately, Mea Domina has been on her best behavior in recent starts, having won two allowance races during the Santa Anita meeting. She will try for a third consecutive win in Saturday's $100,000 Wilshire Handicap at a mile on turf at Hollywood Park.

is likely to go favored in a competitive Wilshire, which drew nine fillies and mares.

A repeat of her last race, a front-running three-length win at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on April 1, would make Mea Domina tough to beat. She visibly accelerated in the final furlong.

"She ran big," McAnally said. "She's a good filly."

McAnally acknowledges that Mea Domina needs extra attention. She will be saddled while being walked on Saturday.

"She's a little bit hyper," McAnally said. "Around the barn, she's good, but we do have to school her a few times."

Judging from Mea Domina's form, the work has been worth it. Owned by Janis Whitham, Mea Domina has won 4 of 8 starts and $189,200. Her lone stakes win came in the Harold Ramser Handicap against 3-year-old fillies last fall at Oak Tree.

In the Wilshire, Mea Domina will carry 117 pounds, sharing high weight with Amorama, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in 2004.

has been fourth or fifth in three subsequent starts, all major stakes. She was fourth in the La Canada Stakes in February.

Other top contenders in the Wilshire include Makeup Artist, who won the 2003 Senorita Stakes at a mile on this course; Five Nickels, second in the Flawlessly Stakes here last July; Blind Ambition, second in the Irish O'Brien Stakes at Santa Anita last month; and Pickle, third in the Miss America Handicap at Bay Meadows on April 9.

An intriguing newcomer is the English shipper Antediluvian, now trained by Ben Cecil. Owned by Trevor Harris, , 4, is unbeaten in three starts, including the Distaff Stakes at a mile on turf at Sandown Park last July. She has not started since that race.

Despite her record, Cecil says Antediluvian has been difficult to read in the mornings.

"She does nothing in the morning and doesn't impress you," he said. "After a seven-eighths work, she wouldn't blow out a candle. I think she's a lot better than what she's shown in the morning. Her form is very solid."