DARE AND GO HEADLINES BEL AIR `CAP.

Byline: Associated Press

After his fifth-place finish behind stablemate Sihon in the June 30 Hollywood Gold Cup (Gr. I), Dare And Go will wheel right back as the highweight in Sunday's $100,000 Bel Air Handicap (Gr. II).

``This will be bringing him back a little quick,'' Mandella said. ``But he can handle it, he's a tough guy.''

The 1995 Strub Stakes (Gr. I) winner pressed the pace in the Gold Cup and was third at the stretch call but faded to finish 7 1/2 lengths behind Siphon.

He ran a good 1 1/8, but didn't have enough to finish,'' he explained. ``I tried not pushing too hard before the Gold Cup, keeping him on the fresh side. But it looked like I didn't do enough with him.''

In other developments:

Post positions from the rail out for the 27th running of the Bel Air Handicap to be run Sunday, July 14 at 1 1/16 miles: Dare And Go, Corey Nakatani, 120; Flying Marfa, Rene Douglas, 113; R Friar Tuck, Brice Blanc, 112; Dernier Empereur, Goncalino Almeida, 113; Moving Tribute, Matt Garcia, 110; The Exeter Man, Eddie Delahoussaye, 116, and Cleante, Chris McCarron, 116.

Noon post Super Sunday: There will be a special noon post time on Super Sunday, July 21. There will be no early bird wagering, as gates open at 9:30 a.m. The featured $700,000 Caesars Palace Turf Championship (Gr. II) will be run as the fourth live race with an approximate post time of 1:40 p.m.

ESPN will televise the $700,000 Caesars Palace Turf Championship nationally from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (PDT) on Sunday, July 21. The 1 1/2-mile turf endurance event will be run as the fourth live race with an approximate post time of 1:40 p.m.

Awad to test Sandpit: Trainer David Donk is beginning to tire of of flying around the country trying to beat Sandpit. His turf runner Awad will go after Sandpit for the third consecutive time in next Sunday's $700,000 Caesars Handicap.

``I don't think I can beat Sandpit,'' said trainer David Donk from his barn in New York. ``Not unless we get lucky somehow.''

Awad ran third behind Sandpit in the Hollywood Turf Handicap (Gr. I), and then could do no better than a fourth behind the Brazilian import in the Caesars International (Gr. I) at Atlantic City. Awad is winless in five starts this year, but has earned $166,188.

``He's (Awad) been a real honest horse this year,'' he said. ``His races are okay, but every time he makes a run and comes home with a chunk of it.''

Awad is scheduled to fly in from New York Wednesday, with Lasigny and the California horses returning from the Citation Challenge in Chicago.

Donk's main concern is that the race might set up against him.

``Sandpit has good tactical speed but my horse is strictly a one-run horse,'' Donk said. ``This race doesn't really set up for him. I'm hoping to get a big piece of it, but we'll have to hope Sandpit or somebody else stubs their toe.''

Lukas send two Swaps: Prince Of Thieves, the half-brother to 1995 Preakness winner Timber Country, has yet to fulfill the promise he hinted at with a smashing win in the Santa Catalina Stakes this February. The Hansel colt finished third in the Kentucky Derby (Gr. I), before running seventh in the Preakness (Gr. I) and fifth behind stablemate Editor's Note in the Belmont Stakes (Gr. I).