The trotting colts division features one of the best rivalries on the grounds between Stars and Sites and Meringue. The photo finish camera could only separate the two two weeks ago in the most recent big-money joust, with Stars and Sites prevailing by a nostril after tracking the pace-setting 1-5 choice Meringue from the pocket. It was 19 lengths back to the rest of the field.

Check Raisin picked up his initial trophy in the most recent stakes dance for the 3-year-old pacing colts in a big performance for owner/breeders Roger McDow and Mike Rosenthal and driver/trainer Steve Hyman. He took aim on favored Themaninthewindow in deep stretch and got the job done by a length in a lifetime-best 1:55 tour.

Cat Burgler likewise earned her first stakes tally when the sophomore fillies last clashed for the big money on November 7. The Team Desomer player is going in razor-sharp form at the moment with four wins from her last six trips to the post and My Fanny was her most immediate victim in that last get-together.

Certainly the most dominating performer in any division here is Smooth Jazz, who has turned the filly trotting stakes into her own private playground. She has made a clean sweep of the nine stakes races to this point and is unbeaten in 11 overall starts for Denise and Tim Maier.

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Three rounds of Sire Stakes for the 2-year-olds have been decided, and last week saw Silver Bloom, Sheila's Dream and Credit Score recording their first added-money tallies, while Glad To Be Back got his second trophy.

Silver Bloom proved a punctual 2-5 choice as part of a coupling in the filly pacing event, making every pole a winning one for Rick Plano, while a bit earlier that evening he guided Sheila's Dream to a convincing score after doing the track-and-attack to perfection.

Glad To Be Back cruised home for his second stakes decision in a race that saw some trouble behind him. The 1:54 3/5 clocking with Rich Wojcio was a new mark for the Jim Wilkinson Jr. trainee. Meanwhile, Try This saw his stakes-winning streak come to an end when Credit Score and Bruce Clarke upset him by a head.

Cam's Gidget Has Affinity For The Winner's Circle

She may be doing her work at the lower levels these days, but Cam's Gidget certainly hasn't lost the desire to get her picture taken.

Robley Johnson's pacing mare has returned to the winner's enclosure following 46 of her 164 starts, with another 24 seconds and 18 thirds, and she's certainly earned her $140,000 bankroll the old-fashioned way.

Cam's Gidget clicked in 17 of her 48 appearances last season, and with last week's score, she's got 14 to her credit this year including a lifetime-best 1:53 flat tour of the Sacramento oval.

"She's my favorite, no question, but she takes a lot of work," related her owner/driver/trainer. "She has her problems, and she's not the best-gaited and hits her knees. It's a constant case of tweaking her shoeing, rigging and just the right amount of vision.

"I used to have another real nice mare named Insolent, and when I went to the post with her, I always had a lot of confidence. I love Cam's Gidget, but I can't say the same thing with her. It's a week-to-week thing and I'm always worried that I haven't done everything just right."

Johnson also admits that the 6-year-old mare's style of coming from off the pace is also more challenging than having a performer with some versatility.

"She just doesn't like the front end, but she does have a great kick. She had a bad period there earlier in the meet, but I think she's looked like her old self lately.

"You know, you have to go 1:55.2 around here to win a $3,000 claimer by a head," Johnson laughed. "She's a handful, but she's been very good to me and I intend to be very good to her."

Mark Ratzky