Victorina and Bai and Bai stand out

ALBANY, Calif. - Saturday's $50,000-added Muir Woods appears to be a match race between multiple stakes winners Victorina and Bai and Bai.

Victorina has won four stakes, including the Grade 3 Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes at Calder last summer. Bai and Bai has three stakes victories, including the California Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Each will have her regular rider aboard, Russell Baze on Victorina and Roberto Gonzalez on Bai and Bai.

None of the other four runners in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares has a stakes win.

Loyal Bounty was second, just ahead of Bai and Bai in the California Distaff Turf Handicap in her last start on Dec. 9 at Bay Meadows. Beautiful Dixie was third behind Bai and Bai in the Palo Alto at Bay Meadows in November. Neither Codi Dee nor Dramatic, the two 5-year-olds in the field, have a stakes placing.

Bai and Bai won the Cal Cup and the Telegraph Hill at Golden Gate last year at Saturday's distance. Victorina's lone try around two turns was a second-place finish to Secret Scheme at Golden Gate last fall in the Noe Valley at 1 1/16 miles. Victorina earned her career-best Beyer Speed Figure, a 98, in that race.

Trainer Greg Gilchrist is concerned because Victorina hasn't run since Oct. 28.

"She's been off quite a while," he said. "She stays awfully fit, and she's training well coming into the race."

While Bai and Bai is more proven than Victorina around two turns, Gilchrist doesn't think Victorina will have a problem with the distance. He cites for support Victorina's fast-finishing third in the Grade 3 Dogwood Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs last summer, run at a one-turn mile.

"She could have won that day, but I told Russell not to go early, and she got forced very wide," said Gilchrist.

Bai and Bai makes her third start following a six-month break. She won the Palo Alto on the turf at Bay Meadows in her comeback. She didn't appear to like the footing when third last out in the California Distaff Turf.

"I don't think she handled that real soft turf, so I'm throwing that race out," trainer William Delia said. "We know she can handle the main track. I think she has a better shot on the main track. Hopefully, she'll run well, but Greg's filly is definitely the one to beat."

Bai and Bai has two easy works since her last start, and Delia hopes that recency and conditioning will work in Bai and Bai's favor.

"Hopefully, she'll improve and be a better horse," he said.