It’s a Tested Field of 10

The 10 entrants in today’s third race at Santa Anita have combined to win 64 races in 310 starts, topped by Islander’s 15 victories and 12 from F J’s Pace.

An 8-year-old son of Rubiano owned by Jeffrey Sengara and trained by Ted H. West, Islander has earned five of eight turf victories at Santa Anita and will be running the distance of about 6 1/2 furlongs.

Claimed by his current connections for $50,000 on Feb. 17, Islander won by a neck in his first for West on April 3, holding on gamely over Reel’em In. It was four lengths back to third-place finisher Bourbon County.

After finishing far back in the Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup Handicap on March 29, F J’s Pace, an 8-year-old Gallant Prospector gelding, has won six of 15 at Santa Anita. Owned by Ren-Mar Thoroughbreds and trained by Doug O’Neill, F J’s Pace will be ridden by Alex Solis.

Besides that pair, the $62,500 claimer also attracted eight-time winner Jila, who won over the course at 7-1 on March 7, and seven-time winner Love That Lion.

Race of the day: Hot Hand, unbeaten in two starts on the turf for Bill Young’s Overbrook Farm and trainer Wayne Lukas, will try for his first stakes win in today’s $100,000 Forerunner at Keeneland. The 1 1/8-mile race drew a field of nine 3-year-olds. Hot Hand and Rapid Proof are the only entrants who have won on the Keeneland turf course.

Who’s hot: John Velasquez. The jockey, who spent the first part of the year riding at Gulfstream Park, won with 13 of his first 31 mounts at Aqueduct.

Who’s not: Alan Seewald. The trainer, who is based on the East Coast, lost with 35 of his first 36 starters in 2003.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Burst Your Bubble and Splendid Nature in the sixth, Raise Expectations and Roberto’s Show in the seventh and Wilshe Amaze, Sune and Cat In A Tizzy in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/232. Money: Previous day/meet total: $18/$1,307. Total money bet: $1,396.