Streaking Sharp Miss tries turf

SAN MATEO, Calif. - A stakes winner and a Cinderella type hope to continue their magic in Wednesday's feature race at Bay Meadows.

Sharp Miss, a $25,000 claim in February who won the Fairfield Handicap at the Solano Fair in her last start, and Evil Lady, who has won four straight races while moving up from the $5,000 claiming level, make their turf debuts in a $50,000 optional claiming race at five furlongs.

The 3-year-old Sharp Miss runs for a $50,000 claiming tag, and the 4-year-old Evil Lady, who has won 7 of 12 career starts including 4 of 5 this year, runs for allowance conditions. There are five others in the race.

Sharp Miss makes her turf debut and faces older rivals for the first time Wednesday.

"This is a race that could give us an idea of how she handles turf," said her trainer, Chuck Peery.

Although it may seem strange to run a sharp filly who has just scored allowance and stakes victories in a claimer, Peery's options are limited.

"There's no such thing as a third condition for 3-year-olds around here," he said. "I guess we'll find out what she's worth. It's been fun, but we have to remember we claimed her for $25,000."

Sharp Miss has won four races while in Peery's barn.

Evil Lady, who drew the rail, seems to have only one way to go - to the front. She has won a $12,500 claimer and an allowance race since being claimed by trainer Kent Molinaro for $6,250 on April 18. Although she hasn't run since that allowance victory at Pleasanton, she has a bullet five-furlong work over the main track here on Sept. 5.

Competition should come from Chosen Honor, who closed nicely to win a 4 1/2-furlong turf race in her last start, and Shy Patada, who has lost by a neck as the favorite in each of her past two starts over the course.

State Fair handle down a touch

The total handle at the California State Fair was down 3 percent in 2002, but the fair ran one less day because of the cancellation of racing the first Friday after thundershowers. The 2003 handle was $21,808,952. The 2002 handle was $23,041,511.

Michael Lenzini won the $15,000 first prize in the annual trainers' contest with 127 points, based on starters and placings. Warren Shelley won the emerging breeds' contest with 61 points to earn $2,000.

Berkley Packer won the riding title with 11 victories. Lenzini and John F. Martin tied for the training title with seven victories each. Lenzini had 7 wins, 8 seconds, and 5 thirds from 48 starters. Martin had 7 wins and 2 seconds from 9 starters.

First Bay Meadows win for Rosendo

Irwin Rosendo, a 24-year-old native of Venezuela, earned his first Bay Meadows victory aboard Roll Call in Saturday's first race.

Rosendo began his riding career in his native country in 1997 and moved to the United States in 2000, riding on the Florida circuit.

He finished fifth in the Thistledown standings with 64 victories before moving to northern California.

* Through the first two weeks of the Bay Meadows meet, the live handle is up 16 percent ontrack and 19 percent in the northern California satellite system. The out-of-state handle on Bay Meadows races is up 30 percent.