Trickey Trevor looks tough

SAN MATEO, Calif. - It's hard not to like or respect Trickey Trevor in Saturday's $55,000-added San Carlos Handicap at Bay Meadows.

"You don't get a chance to ride a horse that wants to win as much as you do very often," said Russell Baze, his jockey.

has won five straight races and, although he has never won a stakes, he is the likely favorite in the six-furlong San Carlos.

Trickey Trevor was an easy choice for Baze, even before his stablemate, Smoocher, was not entered in the race.

"He's a lot more self-motivated," Baze said.

Since running fifth here last October after a 360-day layoff, Trickey Trevor has been claimed four times for prices ranging from $32,000 to $62,500 before running in an allowance race in his last start.

Three of the claims were re-claims, the last by Jerry Hollendorfer, who was the 6-year-old Trickey Trevor's original trainer.

"He's always liked him from the get-go," Hollendorfer's assistant, Art Calva, said. "He never liked losing him. He tried to claim him earlier but lost the shake."

Trickey Trevor will be a pace factor throughout, although he doesn't necessarily need the early lead to win. He has recorded triple-digit Beyers in his past two wins and should be able to get the early jump on Onebadshark and Verkade.

In his other stakes appearances, both in 2003, Trickey Trevor finished second in the Sam Whiting and third in the Ernest Finley.

Onebadshark and Demon Warlock are multiple stakes winners. Onebadshark's stakes wins have been in sprints, while Demon Warlock's stakes success has come around two turns.

Onebadshark was a nonthreatening second in Trickey Trevor's March 9 allowance victory. He could provide the biggest challenge.

Verkade has not run six furlongs since winning his maiden on Jan. 3, 2003, but comes into the race off a game wire-to-wire score at seven furlongs. He has set a fast pace in routes but may not be able to get the lead here.

Both Ice Legend and Attack Force are currently in good form and should get stalking trips.