Patriot Noise faces two toughies

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Patriot Noise, who recently earned a maiden victory on the turf, heads an interesting field of six 3-year-olds in Wednesday's Bay Meadows feature, a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on the turf.

Patriot Noise has never finished worse than fourth in a six-race career that includes a first and a second in three turf starts, and he is the only member of the field never to have run for a claiming tag. But that does not assure him of the role as favorite.

Star of Grace won his first two starts, in a $32,000 maiden sprint and a starter allowance sprint. He was second, beaten only a head by Rapier Dance, in his lone turf try and has the highest turf Beyer in the field. He was eased after pressing the pace in the $250,000 Snow Chief at Hollywood Park on April 26 in his last start.

Frisco Johnny graduated on the turf, beating the talented Direct Male, and was third behind Rapier Dance and Star of Grace on the turf in his last start, on April 3 here.

Lindsay Jean defends home turf

Bay Meadows celebrates the Memorial Day weekend with a six-day week and a pair of graded stakes.

On Saturday, local star Lindsay Jean, who won the opening weekend Miss America Handicap, will get one pound from Chilean-bred Noches De Rosa and 119-pound co-highweight Turtle Bow in the $150,000 Grade 3 Yerba Buena Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Lindsay Jean won the Grade 3 Brown Bess on the turf at Golden Gate Fields before the Miss America. She has three wins and a pair of seconds in six starts over the turf here.

Noches De Rosa won the Grade 2 Santa Ana Handicap at the 1 1/8-mile distance at Santa Anita on March 26, then was third behind Megahertz in the one-mile, Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita on April 19.

At least nine entrants are expected in the race.

On Monday, the Grade 3, $100,000 Seabiscuit Handicap (previously the All-American) will be run.

I'madrifter, who won the Lafayette Handicap and Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields this year, likely will be the one to catch in the 1 1/16-mile race on the main track.

Multiple stakes winner Reba's Gold, the 118-pound highweight, is listed as probable.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is considering his options with Metatron and Yougottawanna.

Also possible is Tiz a Coup, an improving 3-year-old who could get into the race at only 110 pounds. Tiz a Coup comes off a third-place finish in the Snow Chief in his own age group.

Lopez enjoys Christmas in May

Not only did Adalberto Lopez get the call to ride Christmas Time to victory in Saturday's Emeryville Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, but he drew Funny Cide in the Bay Meadows jockeys' Preakness pool.

"Was today my lucky day or what?" Lopez asked after Christmas Time's victory.