Three fillies capable vs. older

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bay Meadows winds up its abbreviated spring meet with a strong card Sunday.

The feature, a $62,500 optional claimer for fillies and mares at one mile, is typical of many of the races because of its depth of talent.

Strong cases can be made for each of the three 3-year-olds taking on older horses in the race

Make a Pass and Comic Queen both are stakes-placed, while Secret Scheme has three wins and a second in four career starts.

Trainer Aggie Ordonez may opt to scratch Make a Pass and run her in the $100,000 Flawlessly on July 2 at Hollywood Park. The one-mile turf race is for 3-year-old fillies, and Make a Pass has shown an affinity for the turf with a win and a third in the Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Oaks in her two starts since arriving in Ordonez's barn. She also has 2 wins and 2 second in 4 tries on the main track.

"I love this filly," said Ordonez. "I know that looks like a tougher spot, but I'd like to keep her against straight 3-year-olds. It's a little early in the year to take on older, and she tries harder than any horse I have."

Make a Pass will be making a late run if she does start.

Comic Queen and Secret Scheme will both be sitting closer than Make a Pass, likely behind Wellingtons Arch and Love Ya, who went wire-to-wire in her debut on the turf here in her first appearance in northern California.

Secret Scheme has good speed but was caught by Comic Queen in their lone meeting two back while suffering her only loss. Secret Scheme rebounded to win on the turf last time in an impressive effort against older. She was shuffled back early, then ran into traffic heading into the stretch, but split foes to claim the lead and the victory. To win on a new surface, in a style she had never shown while overcoming trouble marks Secret Scheme as the likely favorite here.

Comic Queen ran well in her three starts at a mile. She won a one-mile starter allowance in March, then was third behind Press Camp and Bai and Bai in the San Ramon at Golden Gate Fields on April 8. Two weeks later she sat behind Secret Scheme and wore her down in the lane to win an allowance.

Comic Queen finished last sprinting against graded-stakes winners Hystericalady and Victorina in her last start, but a line can be drawn through the race because of the quality of competition and the fact it came at six furlongs instead of two turns.