Tango Mango: Catch me if you can

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - With just two days left in the meet, trainer Gary Demorest has too much ground to make up to repeat as leading trainer. Nonetheless, he's had a very good season with 39 wins from 181 starters, and he looks to add to those totals when he sends out Celtic Warrior and Tango Mango in the eighth race Saturday.

The $15,000 optional claiming race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles drew seven horses, and they'll likely be chasing Tango Mango.

This will be the first time in his nine-race career that Tango Mango has tried to go farther than 6 1/2 furlongs. A son of Vying Victor, Tango Mango is razor-sharp right now, having won two straight sprints: an $8,000 nonwinners of two for older horses Oct. 22, and a nonwinners of three for the same price Nov. 4. In both races Tango Mango set very fast fractions, and there's not much doubt that his rider, Dave Wilson, will put him right on the lead Saturday and see just how far he'll go.

Celtic Warrior will likely be one of the favorites in the race. He's finished second in his last two starts in similar races and should get a good trip from his inside post. He'll be ridden by Anderson Ward.

Osolucky's form could be a bit misleading. In his last two starts he went unplaced behind stakes winner He's Quite a Guy in a $75,000 second-level optional claiming route Oct. 21 and then finished sixth in a quickly run sprint for a $25,000 tag Nov. 4.