Pacifica canceled on meet-ending program

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Stocks Are Rising, who missed by a nose in a similar spot May 28, rates as the one to beat in the $34,000 allowance feature at Bay Meadows Sunday.

The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up will be the ninth on a 10-race card, which closes out the 2001 Bay Meadows spring meeting. The scheduled feature, the $50,000 Pacifica Handicap, failed to attract sufficient entries and was canceled. It was the second straight day that the scheduled stakes was canceled.

While Stocks Are Rising looks like the horse to beat, he is far from a sure thing. First, he is a 3-year-old facing his elders, and while he raced well against older foes last time, everything went his way in that race. He was able to set a modest pace, going 23.83 and 47.01 seconds, yet missed by a nose in a rapid 1:35.51. He may not be able to get that easy of a lead Sunday, but on the other hand, he certainly does not need the lead to win.

Before the May 28 race, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Stocks Are Rising had been racing well in stakes versus his own age group. He set the pace and finished fifth in the California Derby, then dueled for the lead and held on for fourth in the Snow Chief at Hollywood Park. The Snow Chief is a $250,000 race restricted to California-breds.

Most of the others in this field have the ability to win this race, but are not in such obviously good form as Stocks Are Rising.

Wild 'n Wet would be a heavy favorite here off his form of a year ago, but he tailed off and was given 7 1/2 months off. He returned in a $50,000 claiming sprint at Hollywood Park May 12 and finished sixth, but wasn't beaten too far and could benefit from the race.

Dr Carson, a 4-year-old from the Chuck Jenda stable, showed high potential at 3, but was off for a year before returning in the same May 28 race as Stocks Are Rising. He finished sixth, but came back with a strong work and has every right to improve sharply.

White Cloud can win this with one of his better performances, but has been freshened since turning in a mediocre effort Jan. 28. His works are encouraging.

Assemblage finished fifth in the May 28 race against Stocks Are Rising, but this stretch-running 4-year-old was hurt by the slow pace and fast 24.14-second final quarter.