Return bodes well for Carr

ALBANY, Calif. - Dennis Carr, a fixture in the top 10 of the northern California jockey standings from 1995-2001, is expected to arrive at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday and will take his first mounts of the meet Wednesday.

Carr, a native New Yorker, returned home after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. After taking two months off to visit family and friends, Carr began riding in New York but did not enjoy the same success he had in California, where he finished second to perennial leading rider Russell Baze 10 times between 1997 and 2000.

"When I came back to riding, my timing was wrong," said Carr. "I tried to break in in the summer when there are lots of riders.

"It seems like everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. You can't let it beat you up, though. It's just another chapter."

Although his mounts show a positive return on investment for bettors this year, Carr only has 14 winners from 164 mounts. Last year, he had only 20 wins from 327 mounts.

His success has been much greater in California, where he consistently was among the leading riders. In his final 12 Bay Meadows meetings, Carr was in the top four in the jockey standings 11 times and fifth at the other. His success rate was even better at Golden Gate Fields, where he finished second in three of his final four meets.

Carr left New York by car early Wednesday morning and said

barring bad weather he expects to arrive in the Bay Area on Saturday. He will begin working horses Sunday.

"I'm definitely looking forward to it," he said. "I may have grown up in New York, but it feels like home in California. It's been going on close to two years since I've been back."

North by Six one to beat

North by Six, a seven-length maiden winner at Bay Meadows following a 10-month layoff, has 10 rivals in Saturday's six-furlong allowance feature.

Making only her second start and running for the first time since last Dec. 23 at Calder, North by Six showed good speed to pull away for the victory at Bay Meadows. She will likely face more pace pressure Saturday.

Summer Lass, who has won 7 of 19 starts, is the main threat. She was fifth in an allowance race in her last start after checking early. She was moved up to fourth on a disqualification after winning claiming sprints in her previous two starts.