'Thirsty' has work cut out

Thirsty Guy's, one of two 3-year-olds in a field of nine, looks for his third stakes win in four starts in Sunday's $50,000 Bull Dog at the Big Fresno Fair.

Thirsty Guy's, who was third to multiple stakes winner Siren Lure in his only other start against older horses, will be meeting tough competition in the one-mile race. Although Thirsty Guy's has a stakes victory at the distance, the Tacoma Handicap at Emerald Downs earlier this summer, and he won the six-furlong Earlene McCabe Derby in his last start, his Beyers suggest he'll need big improvement to be competitive here. He should get a good stalking trip.

Among his rivals are Zorro Rojo, a Group 1 winner at one mile in his native Peru; Kristine's King, who won the Jatski at Calder; Power Wave, the other 3-year-old in the field and winner of a pair of Arizona-bred stakes as a 2-year-old; and Easy Million, runner-up to Desert Boom in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap this spring.

Despite the presence of those stakes horses, Thirsty Guy's toughest competition could come from Traffic Update, who has won 3 of his past 4 starts, including a four-length victory in a $62,500 optional claimer at Bay Meadows in his last start. Traffic Update has recorded Beyers in the 90's in each of his three victories this year.

Traffic Update was claimed by trainer Art Sherman three races back. He beat Easy Million that day, and Easy Million was claimed away from Sherman.

Also entered are Another Gear, who won his comeback here last week, Apollo King and Captain Dennis.