Miyadi takes two shots in closing-day feature

VALLEJO, Calif. - The gates close Monday at the Solano County Fair, and the feature epitomizes the type of racing that for the most part has dominated here in recent years: a $12,500 claimer at one mile.

With the main portion of the fair closing Sunday, Monday's racing offers free parking and free admission. And while the seven-horse feature is rather mundane, it is also an interesting betting race, with two runners coming north from Hollywood Park, three horses running for new barns, and one coming off a 14-month layoff.

An uncoupled entry trained by Steve Miyadi could prove tough as both runners make their debuts for the high-percentage trainer, who is hitting at a 33-percent clip this year.

Miyadi claimed Flamin Al for $12,500 at Hollywood and gets Hall of Famer Russell Baze to ride. The 5-year-old Flamin Al has a pattern of running a good race followed by a bad race, and should be set for a good one.

Miyadi also claimed Red Seattle for $8,000 last Sunday and rushes him back, stretching him out in the process. Miyadi wins at a 34-percent rate off the claim and has his best success around two turns, so both runners figure to be live.

The horse the entry may have to beat is Menuhin, who performed so poorly in a tough race last out that trainer Jeff Bonde worked him the next day.

Menuhin spent most of his career on the turf, going 0 for 16 there before Bonde claimed him. Returned to the dirt, Menuhin won his first start for Bonde for a $16,000 tag.

Despite the loss to stakes-winning Palmeiro in his last start, Menuhin is 3 for 9 on the dirt and may offer good value here.

Velziegellaub was also claimed in his last start. He has two wins, both against cheaper, providing former trainer Bill Anton with his lone wins of the year thus far. New trainer Ed Moger Jr. has given Velziegellaub five steady works since the claim.

Good Ol' Uncle Joe, a 7-year-old gelding, returned to racing in June off a 16-month layoff. Though he has not won in nearly three years, his speed may serve him well as he stretches out here.

Call It returns after a 14-month layoff, dropping for this. With a 6-for-19 career record, he has proved he likes to win. Returning from a 3 1/2-month layoff last year, he set the pace before losing a photo going 1 1/8 miles.

Western Siam stretches out as he makes his third start off an eight-month layoff.