Speedy duo lock horns

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Undefeated Salt Grinder and Commodore Craig, winner of the City of Vancouver Stakes in his last start, head an excellent field of 3-year-olds in the 6 1/2 furlong stakes this Sunday at Hastings Park. The $35,000 Klondike drew six horses and goes as the seventh race.

There will be a sizzling pace in the Klondike. Both Salt Grinder, who set an Emerald Downs track record for 5 1/2 furlongs in his last start, and Commodore Craig have tremendous speed. What will happen when they hook up Sunday is anybody's guess.

Trainer Robbie Anderson thinks that at the worst it will be a valuable learning experience for Commodore Craig. "We aren't going to be sending him, but he has so much natural speed that it's unlikely he'll be too far behind," he said.

Commodore Craig has yet to be headed at the first call in any of his five races, but he will be up against a horse who put up a 21.20-second quarter-mile on his way to setting his track record.

Commodore Craig "relaxed pretty nicely in the City of Vancouver," said Anderson. "But he was all by himself. What I'm really hoping for is that he'll be able to relax going 47 and change when he stretches out."

Anderson pointed out that Commodore Craig is Breeders' Cup-eligible, and getting him ready to go 8 1/2 furlongs for the first time in the $75,000 Burnaby Breeders' Cup June 29 is his main goal right now. Chris Loseth rides.

No Time Flat, trained by Terry Marshall, is making his first start of the year, and according to assistant trainer Ron Jewell, the two-time stakes winner appears ready for a good effort. "They'll have to come back to him, though," he said.

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