No Claim of Greatness Here

The best thing about today’s card is at least it’s better than the one they’re offering at Santa Rosa. Otherwise, it is an eight-race program that features four maiden events and three of those are for claimers. In the afternoon’s “feature,” Collect Call is the 6-5 favorite as she drops after appearing in six consecutive graded stakes. The Meadowlake filly, who was purchased about a year ago for $250,000 out of a dispersal sale by trainer Chris Paasch for owners Lorraine and Rod Rodriguez, has made $226,500 in 2000 by collecting a steady diet of healthy checks against the best members of her class. In her last three starts, she has been second in the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, third in the Kentucky Oaks and second in the Hollywood Oaks. A win today would be her third in 11 career starts and her first since her 7-1 upset in the Santa Ysabel, a Grade III, at Santa Anita on Jan. 6. This $61,000 race is supposed to be her prep for the Alabama Stakes on Aug. 18 at Saratoga. Among her opponents that day will be Flute, the top 3-year-old filly in the country.

Race of the day: It’s stretching to find such a thing this afternoon, but the most wide-open race is probably the fourth, a turf route for 3-year-old fillies. The Jim Cassidy-trained entry of Sibla and Secret Index is the 5-2 favorite, so it might be best to shop for a price. Those two ladies combined are winless in 11 races this year and the last time either of them won was over 13 months ago.

Who’s hot: Vaquero. The 7-year-old gelding won for the second time in four days Wednesday, easily taking the opener as the 7-10 favorite. His 11th victory in 30 starts came less than 96 hours after his 10th victory, which came in Saturday’s 10th and final. Since being claimed for $20,000 by trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. and owner Sanford Goldfarb, the son of Ole’ has won five of six.

Who’s not: The field for today’s third race. Only one of the six maiden fillies entered has ever hit the board--7-5 favorite and nine-time loser Land Tax. The fact she is a short price and will be running for the first time on dirt says just how weak this group is.

Exotically speaking: We’ll play a pick four using Passem Lika Flash and Offensive Play in the fifth, Toqueville in the sixth, Collect Call and Cee’s Elegance in the seventh and Winter Time Secret in the eighth.