Jim Price

Edo Vanni, Northwest minor league baseball's most memorable showman and one of its finest players, has died at the age of 89. The feisty former outfielder, who authored some of his finest seasons and nuttiest pranks while playing for the Spokane Indians, died Monday in a Bellevue care center. Services have been scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. in Seattle's St. Catherine of Siena Church. Vanni was the last of the original Seattle Rainiers.

Pete Jonas, among the enduring figures in the history of Northwest minor-league baseball, died Saturday in Spokane, but not before building a legacy of on-field accomplishments, amusing anecdotes and community service. Born Wilfred R. Jonas in Walla Walla, the pitcher-outfielder was among the oldest surviving players from the Western International League (1937-52) and the second oldest living former Spokane Indians player. He was 89.

Reflections on closing day: This year's fall season has been distinguished by a few things, not the least of which has been Playfair's ability to complete it, usually with full fields. Racing cards as television programs first and local entertainment second remain a foreign concept to some, but they are a sign of the times. It has seemed odd to run a meet without the historic stakes races and annoying to find second choices winning more often than the top picks in this space. Losing $15 per day isn't so bad, but it still puts a dent in your wallet. In honor of the season's frustrations, let's bet $5 savers to win on every second choice tonight. Here are today's selections: SECOND: $5 exacta box and $1 trifecta box of BAILEE BROWN, MESSAGEFORTHENURSE and COUNTRY MANIA ($36).

Here we are, down to closing weekend, stuck more than a few bucks. Let's go for the gusto, hoping a few horses show up in the right spot at the right time.

Let's face it. There's no logical reason Rock'n Boy keeps winning, but it's time to quit betting against him. His background suggests cheap speed, good cheap speed, but cheap nonetheless. Now, he's won all six thoroughbred starts this year and has paid generous prices. He probably won't be favored in tonight's fifth race, either. The truth is, at age 5, he may just be finding himself. How else do you explain his march through the claiming ranks, winning under jockeys who seldom win and beating horses with better lines? He even runs well in the mud. So does Sir Tiger K., but that late bloomer has been off for seven weeks.

There'll be wet, and maybe sticky, going tonight for sure, so it's appropriate that a couple mud-loving runners from Playfair's past may visit the winner's circle. In the seventh race, the Rocking Chair, a gateful of horses at least 8 years of age will sprint over the Playfair Course. Starters will include Gotta Go Charlie, who has placed in a Playfair Mile. More to the point, he has won five of 11 career starts in the mud. Likewise, Order Up Molly, one of eight fine mares in the feature, can classify as a mud-lover. In her only two local starts, as a 2-year-old in 1995, she placed in the Juvenile Hers Stakes and the Spokane Futurity, both on wet tracks.

Hurray! It's Breeders' Cup Day, matching most of the best thoroughbreds in the world. Unfortunately, Gentlemen, Silver Charm and Formal Gold are not among them, having fallen short on the able-bodied part of qualification. Nonetheless, there are plenty to like. Things to consider: Trainer Patrick Byrne can have a terrific day if his Kentucky-based runners hold up in the warmer climes. He has Countess Diana in the Juvenile Fillies, Richter Scale in the Sprint and Favorite Trick in the Juvenile. ... In the Distaff, Hidden Lake, at 4, has been beating older horses all year and 3-year-old Sharp Cat has lesser Beyer ratings at the distance. ... In the Mile, Spinning World stands out, but Europeans seldom run to form on the harder West Coast tracks. ... Singspiel, the chalk in the Turf, scratched. ... There'll be mud at Playfair, a fact that recommends Golden Roles in the fifth, among others. An additional Hollywood Park stakes race opens the program with two more to follow. The first Breeders' Cup race goes at 10:55 a.m.

When a horse gets good, no amount of reason may keep it from winning and winning and winning, even when the company looks too tough. Usually there's a reason for such bursts of accomplishment, but maturity is one of them and that's hard to measure. Nonetheless, some hot horses are merely asserting skills previous hidden or temporarily lost because of injuries or illness. Look at Prince Otto, the obvious favorite in tonight's ninth race. He has won four in a row, beating better stock each time. He began the meet as a lightly raced 5-year-old and there are not many reasons he shouldn't win again. Jay Jay K. in the third, has cat-hopped twice with cheap claimers, but he made plenty of dough against much better in 1994. Hit Man Mackee, in the fifth, may have regained the form that placed him in stakes in 1996, although he has to contend with ROCK'N BOY, winner of five straight. Although an increase in winning picks has led to four positive nights in five, time is running short to turn a profit for the season. Here are today's selections: FIRST: $10 to win on STRIKE TO IGNITE and $2 doubles pairing him and CHIEF KIMO SABIE with BOLD CHECKERS, HOLY HOT ROD and STEADY FIRE ($12). THIRD: $10 to win on JAY JAY K. FOURTH: $10 to win on MOONLIGHT MACKEE. Parlay any winnings to PRINCE OTTO in ninth. FIFTH: $20 to win and $200 to show on HIT MAN MACKEE. NINTH: $10 to win on PRINCE OTTO. TENTH: $10 to win on RAZALENA and $1 trifectas wheeling her to RC MIDNITE CRUISER, MER RITA, GET AWEIGLE and ZIP N SKIP ($12). Original bankroll: $2,000. Sunday's result: Won $21.50. Present bankroll: $1,650.70.

In the long run, it pays to keep your eyes peeled for winning streaks. Beaten favorites, such as Far and Beyond in the first race and Georgia Echo in the eighth, often have an excuse for a disappointing effort. When speed horses break slowly, they often lack a clear path and end up far behind. When stretch-runners are blocked in traffic, past performances suggest that they lacked a rally.

Tonight's racing features another Arabian stakes race, the Western Cup, which goes as the ninth. Where there are Arabian races, you can usually find trainer Jim Sanders, headed for the winners circle. If Merlot and Pk Whiskey were both entered in the Western Cup, most people would pick them one-two. The good news is that Sanders entered Pk Whiskey in the first race instead. Whiskey, first or second in 13 of his last 15 starts, may not be a cinch, but some of his opponents are maidens. Merlot is 3 for 3 here and, although it will be hard to take the price, it may be harder to bet against him. For the fun of it, let's try to complete a big show parlay. One of the three selections won nine of Monday's 10 races, but only three were picked first.

Some days, you scratch your head. Others, the racing card reads as if it were a manifesto on opportunity. Do you read the conditions? If so, they give Slightly Dazed, coming out of a pair of stakes races, a big chance with maidens in the first race. By the same token, Exclusive Taboo, in the seventh, ran a good third behind the accomplished Regal's Precious last time out. Tonight, she goes with non-winners of three lifetime. If class is your game, isn't Inlovewiththesport, rounding to form after a one-year layoff, absolutely the best horse in the ninth? And don't forget the mudders, including Gallant Dreamer in the second and Pudge's Pride in the eighth. Kyle's Ace led the way to a nice profit on Saturday, and an $88.40 exacta added to the bankroll on Sunday. Here are today's selections: FIRST: $5 doubles combining SLIGHTLY DAZED and FROSTY BEAR with GALLANT DREAMER in the second ($10). SECOND: $10 to win on GALLANT DREAMER. FOURTH: $5 to win on GALLANT MAC and a $2 exacta box combining him with IM FREEZE DRIED and CHINESE PIRATE ($12). SEVENTH: $5 exactas pairing EXCLUSIVE TABOO and COUNTRY MANIA both ways. NINTH: $20 to win on INLOVEWITHTHESPORT. Original bankroll: $2,000. Saturday's result: Won $43.50. Sunday's result: Won $16.40. Present bankroll: $1,440.20.

The All West Maturity, matching 4-year-olds at one mile, has its inaugural running tonight, and look who's back. Trainer Ray Tracy, who saddled a galloping winner of the filly division of the fiscally challenged All West Futurity, will saddle Brass Prince and put leading jockey Frank Best on his back. Now Brass Prince didn't ship quite as far as his stablemate to run with these, so don't take this as an out-and-out hint. Golden Anejo has shown signs of being a serious racehorse and the talented Mr. Spokane may still be on the upswing of what could become a fine career. Here are today's selections: FIRST: $10 to win on COMEALILBITCLOSER and $2 doubles wheeling her to the field in the second. THIRD: $5 to win on PROUD JUSTY. FOURTH: $2 exacta box of FAR AND BEYOND, DRUMMER ALY and ELKO CAT ($12). SEVENTH: $2 exacta box of LUCY FROM THE SKY, BLACK BUBBLES and QUACKGRASS SALLY ($12). NINTH: $10 to win on BRASS PRINCE and $2 exactas boxing him with GOLDEN ANEJO and MR. SPOKANE ($12). Original bankroll: $2,000. Saturday's result: Unavailable. Present bankroll: $1,380.30.

Some old favorites from successful stables have a chance to enhance their reputations tonight. Kyle's Ace has the speed to win the fifth race and he's always run well over this track. In the sixth, One Sharp Sam could make it two straight for trainer Fred Hepton, who might beat Kyle's Ace with Be Explosive. And Helen Morgan, in the thick of the fight for another training title, has a good chance with Holy Hot Rod in the seventh. Another contender, Annette Wagar, will hoist leading jockey Frank Best astride Sash Gang in the ninth. And yes, it looks as if Sydnee Brown should enhance her stock in the training race when she saddles Bailey Brown, twice an easy winner, in the second. Some nights, this is a tough game. Despite four winners on Monday, the pocketbook took another small hit. Here are today's selections: FIRST: $5 daily doubles pairing ALBION CAHR and DWA SABCZORT with BAILEE BROWN in the second ($10). SECOND: $10 to win on BAILEE BROWN. FIFTH: $10 to win on KYLE'S ACE and $5 exactas pairing him with BE EXPLOSIVE and RINGING SOUND ($10). SEVENTH: $5 to win on HOLY HOT ROD. NINTH: $1 trifectas wheeling SASH GANG to SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, I SEE B.C. and GRAY GUY ($6). Original bankroll: $2,000. Monday's result: Lost 35.50. Present bankroll: $1,380.30.

Let's get this straight. Ought To Burn, winner of a Playfair Mile, and Gotto Go Charlie, who's gotten a piece of several Spokane stakes races, are running for $4,000 claiming tags in tonight's feature and neither will be favored? Neither may what he used to be - Gotto Go Charlie is 11 - but let's run one for old time's sake. There's no good reason Ought To Burn, if someone battles Beaver Pelt for the lead, can't run the field down in the stretch. And, if it rains, Gotto Go Charlie never met a wet track he didn't like. One other matter that defies logic. Trainer Tim McCanna, once a local boy wonder and this summer's Emerald Downs champion, began the weekend 0 for 20. Won't Natalie's A Beach break the ice in the eighth?

It would be premature to guess how good Big Bucket may turn out to be, but it would not be out of line to say he should win tonight's renewal of the All West Derby. Even before he won the colts and geldings edition of the All West Futurity as a maiden, Big Bucket had worked faster than some of these can run. He apparently has the tactical speed to stay out of traffic, and there's little reason to fear he won't get the distance. Nonetheless, don't overlook Woodpile, who ran decently against older multiple stakes-winners, including 1993 All West Derby winner Payday Mackee, in Montana.

Arabian horses have their moment in the spotlight tonight with stakes races both for males and females. Both races may test chalk-player's hearts, but it's usually wise to stick close to horses trained by Jim Sanders. Among the fillies and mares in the second race, Novators Starlit lacks speed, but she's going in peak form. Merlot, with two impressive local victories, is hard to ignore against male rivals in the third. But, if you're inclined, the old pro, stablemate Pk Whiskey beat him by a few yards in a stakes race at Elma and the even-older pro, 12-year-old Vals Starburst, is near the $100,000 mark in career earnings.

Tonight, we trot out some of the horses for the course and try to decide if it will be their night once again. In the seventh race, Finnish Royalty has 14 wins at Playfair, five of them this year. In the ninth, at a testing 1 miles, Funnymoney Habit goes for his own 14th local victory. Like Finnish Royalty, he won his last and has the best Beyer rating at the distance. The 10th-race field includes Jacob Brown, nine times a winner here for his career. However, he'll get some argument from Souhiel, who made it 5x14 at Playfair last time out. Saturday was a winning night. But, maddeningly, second picks won three more races for 23 in eight days.

Notes from the margin of a form sheet: Horses trained by Mel White, who's having a good meet, usually run well fresh, so the first race is a good spot for Tabun Time's debut. However, horses showing speed at Sun Downs have run well here when properly placed, and Skat Man Do did OK against winners. . . In the third, Beaver Pelt had a rough trip as the favorite last time out. . . . Winemall, off Hastings Park form, looks too short to play in the fifth. The sixth looks like the perfect spot for Hear The Call, who won three straight last spring at Portland Meadows . . . In the eighth, what's old stakes horse Amber Jett doing in a field packed with non-winners of three? Nonetheless, because he lacks speed, he may be trapped on the fence, allowing quick Kyle's Ace to steal it . . . And, in the ninth, Shemya Popcorn hasn't run well here, but it's hard to ignore her Montana form.

It's a tough game when long-priced horses win three races and the chalk battles for scraps. That was the case Monday, when four more second choices is this a handicapper's curse, or what? won, including Charge The Jury, a $57.40 victor in the sixth race. Second picks have won 20 times in the last seven days. Regrettably, this is horses, not horseshoes. Emerald Downs invader Chi Chi Diamond looks like a galloping winner in tonight's third race. Seven By Seven, in the sixth, is back with his own kind after running fifth in an Emerald Downs marathon, but Two An Oh should be tough after being squeezed back last time out. The Masked Patient and Sensational Knight head a very tough field in the seventh. In the eighth, some Montana stakes horses will help us find out how good Hit Man Mackee is. If there's any run left in Extreme Edge, he'll show it in the nightcap. Come on, first choices.

Has a slump really ended if four third choices win, as was the case on Saturday night, or four second or third picks tally on Sunday? It becomes tempting to turn the picks inside out. Chief interest tonight surrounds the first race, an attractive sprint for non-winners of two, the seventh , matching a good bunch of $4,000 sprinters and the eighth, an allowance for possible stakes prospects.