Thistledown track report

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Baba Gonzo, a 2-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality who won her maiden in the Miss Ohio Stakes here on Saturday, is a half-sister to stakes winners Big Bambu and Bolaro, who won the Miss Ohio last year. Baba Gonzo was bred and is owned by Edward Marshall and is trained by Alan Sobol.

Trainers were busy at the claim box last Sunday, when five horses changed barns. Trainer Dale Baird shipped four horses up from Mountaineer and three of them finished second. He had only one horse to ship back home as the other three were claimed.

Jockey Huber Villa-Gomez and trainer Rodney Faulkner both have commanding leads in their respective standings at the Randall meeting.

Gomez has a 13-win advantage, 43-30 over Luis Gonzalez.

Faulkner has 25 winners, 16 more than his closest rival, Jerry Sparks.

Monday's 1 1/2-mile starter allowance was won by Shoot It, who is developing into a solid distance performer for owner-trainer Tamela Rowland. The 4-year-old son of Big Pistol was ridden by Rowland's husband, Mike, and was winning for the fifth time from eight starts this year.

Thistledown will race solo on Sept. 3-8, and also on Sept. 12, 15, 22, and 29. Post time will be l:15 p.m. Eastern, and the track will be dark on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except for Sept. 3. On days when this track and Beulah Park both race in a 7 & 7 format, post time returns to 12:55 p.m.