Mudweiser faces only four

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Mudweiser could be on his way to a stakes at Del Mar if he succeeds in an allowance race for statebreds at Hollywood Park on Thursday.

Mudweiser has only four rivals in the $51,000 allowance race over 1 1/16 miles, and trainer Rafael Becerra thinks that Mudweiser can win his second consecutive start.

"If he can perform on Thursday, he could be any kind of horse," Becerra said.

, a 3-year-old gelding by Mud Route, beat statebred maidens by two lengths over 6 1/2 furlongs on June 10. The race was his first victory in five starts.

Becerra thinks Mudweiser is capable of winning around two turns, but ran him in a shorter race last time because he couldn't find a suitable two-turn race for him.

The race will be Mudweiser's two-turn debut on dirt. He finished second and seventh in two maiden races on turf earlier this year.

A victory on Thursday could result in a start in the $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes over seven furlongs for statebreds on Aug. 12, Becerra said.

"That's what's so good about California-breds, you always have opportunities," Becerra said.

None of Mudweiser's four rivals is coming off a win. Pachiro and Cielo Blincoe finished second and third in an allowance race over 1 1/16 miles on June 10. is winless in three starts, while Cielo Blincoe has not won in nine races, since last October.

is making his 11th start of 2005 and his fifth start of this meeting. In his last four starts, he has not been closer than fourth.

Fogged In won a starter allowance over 6 1/2 furlongs on May 14 and returned to finish fifth in an allowance race for statebreds over seven furlongs on June 17. Fogged In is trained by David Bernstein, whose stable is in excellent form. Bernstein won the Triple Bend Handicap last Sunday with Unfurl the Flag.

Fogged In may set the pace, with Pachiro likely to be near the front.

Such a scenario would help Mudweiser, who is better from off the pace, according to Becerra.

"If he shows up, he can do it," Becerra said.

The allowance race is the seventh race on an eight-race program that, as has been common this meeting, has small fields. There were 59 horses entered on the program, which includes four maiden races.