Douglas Is Keeping Pace

Jockey Rene Douglas has made a good impression since returning to California last month.

The dominant rider at Arlington Park for several years, Douglas is in a tie for second in the Oak Tree standings at Santa Anita. Douglas and Victor Espinoza each have 14 victories, three behind leader Corey Nakatani.

Douglas is named on four horses on today’s card -- Church Editor in the fourth, Sporty McGee in the fifth, Katana in the seventh and No Time To Lose in the eighth.

Nakatani, who is winning at a 27% clip, is also named on four horses -- Upgraded in the first, The Dempsey Look in the fifth, Talking To John in the sixth and Ammann in the seventh.

A 3-year-old son of Swiss Yodeler, Ammann is trained by Mike Mitchell, who leads the trainer standings with 10 victories, three more than Bobby Frankel, John Sadler and Steve Knapp.

Race of the day: Clear The Bases, an impressive maiden winner for trainer Christophe Clement on Oct. 1, will try for a repeat against five others in today’s seventh at Belmont Park. Jose Santos will ride the 3-year-old Grand Slam colt in the $47,000 allowance at six furlongs.

One for the road: Sita Ram joins the barn of trainer Randy Matthews -- who is winning at a 20% rate in 2004 -- and switches to the dirt in today’s third at Keeneland. The 4-year-old, New Jersey-bred filly also gets a big jockey change to leading rider Rafael Bejarano and can score a mild upset in the $7,500 claimer at seven furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Stonebridge Lady in the second, Direct Male, True Dancer and Domingo Juan in the third and Gold Bankers Gold, Cahill Mango and Coronado’s Pride in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/56. Money: Previous day/meet total: $23.40/$320.70. Total money bet: $278.