Two Tracks Open Today

Bay Meadows in San Mateo opens its 55-day season with eight races today and Pimlico in Baltimore starts its 50-day meet with a nine-race card.

Russell Baze, who dominated the Golden Gate Fields jockey standings with 176 victories -- 92 more than runner-up Ron Warren Jr. -- won’t be riding at the Bay Meadows opener. He is serving a suspension.

But Warren will be busy. He has mounts in six races, and most of them look like contenders.

The start of Pimlico means local bettors will have another Pick Four to play. The Maryland track moved its Pick Four from races 4-7 to races 6-9 in hopes that more bettors on the West Coast will make wagers.

Quality horses are certainly lacking in the meet’s initial Pick Four. The first leg is for older $8,000 claimers, the second is for $12,500 claimers, the third is a low-level allowance and the final race is a $7,500 claimer.

Race of the day: Mccann’s Mojave, a talented California-bred who has won his first two sprint starts for trainer Leonard Dorfman, stretches out to a mile in the fourth at Santa Anita. His main competition in the $56,000 allowance for 3-year-olds is Touch The Wire. Trained by Craig Dollase, the Birdonthewire colt was second to favored During at today’s distance on March 12.

Who’s hot: Jason Lumpkins. The jockey set a Turfway Park record when he rode his 110th winner of the meet on Monday, breaking Kris Prather’s record of 109 set two years ago. Only Baze has ridden more winners in 2003 than Lumpkins.

Who’s not: Tom Ebardt and Larry Frazee. The Oaklawn-Park based trainers have one win in 49 races this year.

Exotically speaking: A Pick Four using Just By Chance, Jitterbug Jan and Ace’s Valentine in the fifth, Bertrando’s Model and Hello Ruffie in the sixth, Okawango, Nazirali and Trompolino in the seventh and singling Hidden Path in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/200. Money: $16.60/$1,127.80. Total money bet: $1,202.