Specht attempts to stay hot

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Graduation parties will abound at the Alameda County Fair on Friday with six maiden races on the 10-race card. Maidens ranging from bottom-level $8,000 claimers to special weight maidens will compete in four of the six Thoroughbred races on the card. There will also be a Quarter Horse maiden race and a mule maiden race.

Trainer Steve Specht, who had a phenomenal first week of the meeting, sends out Designer Breed in the special weight race. Designer Breed will have to overcome the outside post 10 in the mile and 70-yard race.

Specht sent out eight starters in week one and made four trips to the winner's circle. He also had two runners finish second and another third.

Designer Breed will be asked to do two new things Friday. He was a late-closing third in a turf sprint in his debut on June 9. On Friday, he switches to the main track and is asked to try two turns. The 4-year-old has had three works since his debut, including a strong 59.60 five-furlong drill and a 1:13.80 six-furlong work.

With Victory Gallop as his sire, Designer Breed is bred to appreciate the distance.

Nakiska, who drew the rail, is also intriguing as he makes his debut going long. He is a full brother to the stakes winner Miss Bridget Jones. He should be fit enough, having worked six furlongs for trainer Dennis Patterson.

Devil Cielo, third in a turf race against winners last out, has the best form around two turns, although most of those races have come on turf. He did run a troubled second in his lone start on dirt.

Hollendorfer has several for Whiting

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer nominated Cause to Believe for Saturday's $50,000-added Sam J. Whiting Handicap at six furlongs. But Cause to Believe, who hasn't run since finishing ninth in the John Henry at Bay Meadows last Nov. 26, was entered to run at Hollywood on Thursday.

Hollendorfer also nominated graded stakes winner Trickey Trevor, Sharp Writer, and 3-year-old Double Action.

Barber, coming off a game allowance victory June 1 at Golden Gate Fields, Court's in Session, Jet West, The Pharaoh, and Wheaton Hall were also nominated.