A Rare Day at Bay Meadows

Talk about a racing rarity.

Bay Meadows is often criticized for the size of its fields, but today the track in San Mateo has more entrants in its eight races than Oak Tree.

A total of 70 horses were entered at Bay Meadows compared to 63 at Santa Anita.

The most interesting race on the card up north is the sixth, a 41/2-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares running for a $12,500 claiming price.

The best race on the Oak Tree card is the seventh, a $100,000 claimer for older horses at one mile on turf.

One of five races on the card that attracted seven or fewer entrants, the contest with a $54,000 purse lured six horses, including Negociateur, who was scratched Wednesday from a 10-furlong race.

Jokerman, who chased Quake and Speak in Passing in his first start of the meet, is the 8-5 favorite on the morning line. Trained by Neil Drysdale and owned by David and Jill Heerensperger, the 4-year-old Septieme Ciel gelding is trying to end a seven-race losing streak.

A winner of three of four in France as a 2-year-old, Jokerman hasn’t won in the United States since edging Purely Cozzene in the Generous Stakes on Nov. 27, 1999.

In a race without much pace, Jokerman could prove tough to catch under Victor Espinoza.

Race of the day: The fifth, a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares running for a $25,000 claiming price, offers a strong angle. Isit Class, a 4-year-old Texas-bred, was claimed out of her last race at Bay Meadows by Bill Spawr and the barn has struck at a 32% rate, according to the Daily Racing Form, first after the claim with its last 75 purchases.

Who’s hot: Spawr. The defending champion in the trainer standings at Oak Tree, Spawr began the meet’s fourth week with six victories, putting him one in front of Richard Mandella and Mike Machowsky.

Who’s not: Pala Cielo. The 3-year-old Stately Cielo filly, who will be making her first start since May 16 in today’s fourth race, has been beaten a total of 541/4 lengths in her only two races and has yet to finish in front of a horse.

Exotically speaking: A pick four singling Isit Class in the fifth, using Sweet Conviction, Nice Fish and Sunset Serenade in the sixth, Jokerman, Merhy and Eye Pea Oh in the seventh and Aglow and Paster’s Dutchess in the eighth.

Winners: Previous Day/Meet Total: 2/44. Money: Previous Day/Meet Total: $10/$247.80. Total money bet: $292.