Onebadshark one to catch in San Carlos

ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer may have the numbers, with three of the six entrants in Saturday's $55,000-added San Carlos Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

Trainer Doug O'Neill may have the speed, with Smile N Wildcat, who will attempt to go one mile for the first time.

But in Onebadshark and Jets Fan, trainers Brian Koriner and Brent Sumja may have the horses to beat.

Hollendorfer enters Gold Ruckus, who won four straight, including the Lafayette Handicap on New Year's Day, before finishing third on the turf in the Tanforan Handicap in his last start.

Hollendorfer has entered two others: Cappuchino, the lone graded stakes winner and multi-stakes winner in the field, who is at his best on wet tracks; and Bring Home Thegold, who finished third in the Lafayette.

Cappuchino, Smile N Wildcat, and Onebadshark should make up the pace picture, with Jets Fan and Bring Home Thegold behind.

Onebadshark may be the quickest of the three, but, as he has shown in winning two straight sprints, he can rate. Onebadshark drew outside his two pace rivals, which should also work in his favor.

"I think he has real speed, but he acts like a horse who can stalk," Koriner said. "Hopefully, going a route, he doesn't get rank and try to run away from them too quickly."

Onebadshark has routed only once, when he set the pace in last year's El Camino Real Derby. Although he faded to fifth in the final furlong, Onebadshark and third-place finisher Ten Most Wanted were the two most impressive horses in the race.

Onebadshark suffered a cracked shin after that race, but is 2 for 2 in his comeback.

"The horse is doing all right," Koriner said. "He's had a little foot problem, but hopefully that's cleared up. We think he can handle any surface."

Koriner said Onebadshark is the best horse he has ever trained, a heady compliment, given his success with Hoovergetthekeys.

"I think he could end up the top older horse on the grounds," Koriner said. "If he stays sound, hopefully we can ship him to some big races."

Onebadshark looks to be the one to beat in the lane, where he will be challenged first by Jets Fan and then Gold Ruckus.

Jets Fan, coming off a game score at one mile over Yougottawanna, is at the top of his game and finds a perfect setup here, said Aggie Ordonez, Sumja's assistant.

"That last race came down to who wants to be a racehorse at the eighth pole," Ordonez said, referring to Jets Fan. "He's naturally competitive, and, based on the last race, we're not afraid of anyone."