'Nectar' faces hot pace

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trish's Diamond, a runner-up in the Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes in his last start, may not be the favorite in Friday's Bay Meadows feature.

The 2-year-old colt has run well in each of his three starts, but that may only be good enough to make him second choice in a field of six 2-year-olds running 5 1/2 furlongs at the first condition allow-ance.

The favorite could be Absolute Nectar, a 2-year-old filly who was brilliant in winning her debut July 10 at Hollywood Park. She captured that $50,000 maiden claimer by seven lengths, recording an 81 Beyer that is the highest in this field.

Absolute Nectar was 7-1 in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 9 but finished last, fading badly after not being able to handle a hot pace. The same thing could happen Friday, with Trish's Diamond breaking from the No. 3 post outside Absolute Nectar.

In his debut June 12 at Bay Meadows, Trish's Diamond was ahead after a 21.60-second opening quarter before he faded to third in the best 2-year-old maiden race run so far this year in northern California.

He then went wire to wire to win his maiden over a very fast Pleasanton track on June 29, with hot fractions and a final time faster than Absolute Nectar's in her debut.

In the Cavonnier, Trish's Diamond was no match early for winner Razen Hazen but pulled alongside at the eighth pole before being outfinished.

Hajji's Honor debuted on June 29, finishing fifth behind Trish's Diamond, then scored an impressive win Aug. 2 at Santa Rosa and could be in a perfect stalking position Friday should the top two duel too fast early.

Parisian, who won his debut before finishing fourth in the Cavonnier, is another who can stalk and fire late.

Dianas Welcome and Treetop's Glory, a pair of maiden claiming winners, round out the field.

Mercado injured in turf spill

Pedro Mercado suffered a bruised right hip and was taken to Mills Hospital for X-rays Wednesday after he was thrown from his mount in the stretch of a one-mile turf race.

Mercado was aboard favored Club Forty One and was making a strong move coming off the turf when his mount appeared to clip heels and stumble. Mercado was thrown, but Club Forty One did not fall.

* Chance Rollins begins serving a seven-day suspension Friday, stemming from a March 13 disqualification at Golden Gate Fields. Rollins received a stay but now will serve the suspension, which runs through Sept. 13.