THOROUGHBRED RACING : Trainer Jackson to Have Eye on Vosburgh

Bruce Jackson can be forgiven if his mind wanders about 3,000 miles this afternoon when he saddles a first-time starter named Crap Table for the sixth race at Fairplex Park.

Jackson, who trains Breeders’ Cup Sprint contender Superstrike, will be paying close attention to the results of the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park. With a field that includes Dixie Brass, Furiously and Rubiano, the seven-furlong Vosburgh should provide a gauge of Superstrike’s East Coast competition in the $1-million Sprint at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 3.

“Dixie Brass just might be the best sprinter in the country,” Jackson said the other day. “But they’ve been running him long, and he’s learned how to lose.”

Since winning the Metropolitan Handicap on Memorial Day, Dixie Brass has run three times without winning. The Vosburgh marks his first sprint since he won the Best Turn Stakes in April.

Superstrike appears to be peaking at the right time. The English colt, owned by golf course developer David Krause, won a Breeders’ Cup sponsored race at Bay Meadows last Saturday to go along with victories in the De Francis Memorial at Pimlico and the Riva Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park. In his only race against Dixie Brass, Superstrike finished a distant third in the one-mile Withers Stakes at Belmont.

Jackson will be in action at Fairplex Park again on Sunday, when he sends out Jovial in the $150,000 Pomona Invitational Handicap. The toughest competition is expected from Regal Groom, Gum and C. Sam Maggio, winner of the Afflerbaugh Handicap at Fairplex on Sunday.

Prospect For Four heads a field of eight entered in the $100,000 Pomona Derby today at Fairplex Park. David Flores, runaway riding champion of the meet, has the mount for trainer Caesar Dominguez.

Meanwhile, the favorite for the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf is expected to emerge from either the Turf Classic at Belmont Park today, or the Arc de Triomphe in suburban Paris on Sunday.

Sky Classic, North America’s most consistent grass horse, heads the field for the Turf Classic. Solar Splendor, who took the Man o’ War Stakes there two weeks ago, is the one to beat.

Sid and Jenny Craig are in Paris to watch their Dr Devious attempt to become the first horse to win the Epsom Derby and the Arc in the same season since Mill Reef did it in 1971.

Dr Devious will be challenged by a strong field that includes St. Jovite, who easily defeated him in the Irish Derby, and the top fillies, Jolypha and User Friendly.

The Craigs will be represented in the $250,000 Bay Meadows Handicap by Bistro Garden, a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Luthier Enchanteur, Forty Niner Days, Blaze O’Brien and Athenia Green lead the opposition.