Winning streaks get put to test in sprint

Red Arrow, Siren Lure, and Mutak Gold each goes for a third straight win Saturday in the $75,000 Golden Gate Fields Sprint.

Red Arrow, an Australian import, comes into the six-furlong race off a pair of allowance wins at Santa Anita. Mutak Gold has won two straight allowance races at Golden Gate after being claimed for $40,000 on Dec. 21. Siren Lure won the Sausalito Stakes on Nov. 22 and an allowance Dec. 21, both at Golden Gate.

The three will be joined by stakes winner Big Bad Leroybrown, who is looking for his first victory since October 2007, and Mutak Gold's stablemate A Cat Named Snipe, who was third behind Siren Lure in that horse's last two victories.

Mutak Gold and A Cat Named Snipe seem to be the speed of the race, with Red Arrow sitting in stalking position. Big Bad Leroybrown and Siren Lure come from off the pace.

"Hopefully, this will be a good pace scenario and he'll get lucky," said Steve Sherman, trainer of the 8-year-old Siren Lure.

Siren Lure, a Grade 1 winner, is making his first start in three months. Though Sherman believes he has "enough class in him" to win, he knows that his rivals have an advantage by having run recently.

"It's hard to keep a horse sharp for three months, almost impossible," Sherman said.

Sherman said he entered the classy gelding in allowance races that didn't fill in January and February.

"I just tried to keep him somewhat fit," Sherman said. "After February, we let him get on the bit a little bit. You have to try to plan it right. The last four works, he's been going pretty good."

Siren Lure's last work was a half-mile in 48.20 seconds. Before that, he went five furlongs in 1:00.80.

The Golden Gate Fields Sprint was always on Sherman's agenda.

"It's nice when you have a couple of races to point to," he said. "It's crummy when you are waiting and can't run."

Mutak Gold is much improved since his return here from Emerald Downs last fall, but Red Arrow, who recorded a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in his third U.S. start and first on a synthetic surface last time, appears Siren Lure's principal foe.