Victorina stays home

ALLEJO, Calif. - Victorina will try to defend her Vacaville Handicap title at the Solano County Fair on Sunday.

Trainer Greg Gilchrist nominated her to Saturday's Grade 1 Princess Rooney at Calder's Summit of Speed, planning to take her to Florida with Indyanne, who was to run in Saturday's Grade 3 Azalea there. But instead he opted for the $50,000 Vacaville despite Victorina's 124-pound assignment. Victorina will have eight rivals in the six-furlong sprint stakes for fillies and mares, including the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained entry of Private Dreams and Lemon Kiss.

In her only start this year, Victorina won the Washington Legislators at 6 1/2 furlongs at Emerald Downs, beating the odds-on Private Dreams. It was her first start in nearly eight months. Gilchrist decided against shipping Victorina to Florida to face the multiple Grade 1 winner Dream Rush in the Princess Rooney.

"If we were close to Calder, we'd be running there," he said. "It's a Grade 1, so you'd take a shot. We'd be at least the third or fourth choice, so we had to decide whether to ship when we had a race there in our backyard."

Victorina likely will be favored in the Vacaville, despite spotting rivals from six to 12 pounds.

"Given the choice, I think this is the right spot, but it's a tough spot, and there's no guarantee she'll win," Gilchrist said. "I know we have to carry a lot of weight, but we drew a good post and there is some speed. She should be able to find a comfortable spot."

Victorina, the winner of 10 of 18 starts, drew post 8, outside the speed.

Stakes winner Kalookan Dancer and Private Dreams, fifth as the odds-on choice in the Washington Legislators, both have good speed, and Ornamental Torch has sat just off some fast fractions in her last two starts, both victories. Tucker's Tune, who won at Pleasanton in her last start, also has some speed.

Royal Kleven, second in the 2006 Vacaville, has the outside post and will provide a challenge to Victorina in the lane.

* Earlier on the card, the $10,000 Solano Derby for Quarter Horses will be run at 400 yards. Top contenders are Juvie Jazz, 2 for 2 after being moved up on a disqualification at Pleasanton, and Buzz Chick, third in a Pleasanton stakes against older after an eight-month layoff.