Quiet Heart rates edge

SAN MATEO, Calif. ? Quiet Heart, second in similar conditions last out Sept. 23, may rate a slight edge in a wide-open feature at Bay Meadows Sunday.

Quiet Heart was close up throughout that mile turf race and wound up second best behind Miss Ng In Action. She was also second in a similar spot here during the San Mateo Fair when she lacked room in the late stages and was beaten only a neck.

Sunday's featured eighth race is run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for first-level allowance runners. It carries a purse of $32,000.

Flying Mimi is sharp right now and moves into Sunday's feature off two victories. She gained her maiden win at Pomona where she downed a band of $32,000 maiden claimers.

In her last start, Flying Mimi tried the turf for the first turn and handled it well. She set the pace in that contest for $25,000 claimers and then came back on after being headed in midstretch in a very game effort. She has run only five times and seems to be improving.

Leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will saddle Spring Vacation for the race, and she should also receive support at this level. Last out she contested the pace throughout and wound up fourth against a similar allowance band. Spring Vacation captured her previous start here on the main track against a group of $32,000 starter allowance runners. She will be making her first attempt over the turf on Sunday.

River Bridge closes from far back and has only one win in her 16 starts thus far but may have been facing tougher opposition. If the front-runners falter through the stretch she could be dangerous.

Lovely Cozzene is another with a definitive shot off her best races. She has not seen action since December 2000 at Golden Gate but did finish a strong second in that start. She has been training well for her return, but it will be a lot to ask to negotiate 1 1/16 miles first time back.

Funny Year closed from far back to graduate from the maiden ranks in her last start here on Sept. 8 and is another who could pick up the pieces if the front runners tire. That maiden victory was over the local turf course.