Nistle's Crunch not ailing now

ARCADIA, Calif. - Saturday's $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita is the last chance for trainer Kenneth McPeek to reverse a streak of bad luck in California this month.

McPeek brought the 2-year-old colts Nistle's Crunch and Old Man Buck to California for the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 22. Old Man Buck was scratched because of a foot problem and Nistle's Crunch was not entered after becoming ill.

Nistle's Crunch has recovered and can save McPeek's Western trip when he starts in the Logan, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds.

The Logan Stakes will be Nistle's Crunch's second start on grass. He was a game third in an allowance race on turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 15, rallying nine wide to lose by a length as the 5-2 favorite.

"He probably should have won that day," McPeek said. "He's done everything we've asked him. I don't think he'll have any trouble going to another level."

Nistle's Crunch drew the outside post in a field of 11, which discouraged McPeek. "I don't like the post too much," he said.

The other leading runners are Spinning Sound and Robscarvic, the fourth- and fifth-place finishers in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes in November; Southwest, fourth in the Pinjara Stakes in October; and the European imports Ghetto and Yankee Bravo.

Ghetto won a maiden race at Newmarket, England, in June and was second in an allowance race there in October.

"He's a straightforward horse and I can't fault him," trainer Craig Dollase said. "He's run six times and he's got seasoning over his competition."

Treadmill finally healthy

The Dollase-trained Treadmill has an excellent chance to win the $125,000 California Breeders' Champion Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies over seven furlongs on Saturday.

Treadmill is making her first start since she was pulled up in the Gradeo1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept.o3 after suffering a cut to a rear leg during the race.

The injury took longer to heal than expected, but Dollase has been thrilled with Treadmill's preparation. Treadmill worked six furlongs in 1:11.20 at Hollywood Park last Sunday.

"I hope it wasn't too fast," Dollase said.

Earlier this year, Treadmill won the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar.

Treadmill must beat Spring Awakening, the outstanding winner of the Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood in November, and Cantina's Rose, who has won her last two sprints.