The horses are on the track for the running of the 2008 District 3 Supervisors Stakes, a maiden claiming race for mares and geldings. Track conditions are clear and fast for this 5-furlong sprint, with a winner's purse of $110,000.

We'll handicap the field nag by nag as they get closer to the starting gate, but for now we'll content ourselves with simply printing the official program. Friday night's "meet the candidates" affair at the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center was just that: a meet-and-greet with no particular substance to it. There will be time to examine the track records and break down each horse's strengths and weaknesses.

But for now, by post position, pedigree and opening odds:

1. Sal Busalacchi: Running out of the North Beach Neighbors Stable, Busalacchi is an old warhorse with deep roots in the area. If you're a fan of condo conversion and want a property-rights advocate on the Board of Supervisors, here's where your money goes. 20-1

1A: Lynn Jefferson: Another entry from Busalacchi's stable, Jefferson is a younger version of Smilin' Sal (and current president of North Beach Neighbors). 18-1

2. Bobby Coleman: SCRATCH.

3. David Chiu: Running out of the Left-Right Stables, Chiu appears to be the Democratic Party's fair-haired boy, having already picked up several notable endorsements, including one from departing Supervisor Aaron Peskin. This makes Chiu the prohibitive favorite, at least at this point. The stable name derives from Chiu's association as COO with Grassroots Enterprise, web-based lobbyists who represent a number of conservative clients, an odd situation for an espoused liberal like Chiu. 5-2

4. Tony Gantner: From the Squire Stables. Gantner, a retired attorney, is the true blueblood in this race and the likeliest entrant to emerge as the "North Beach candidate." Active in a number of groups throughout the district, Gantner is an early favorite by virtue of name recognition, a solid track record and opening his campaign aggressively. 3-1

5. Claudine Cheng: Out of the Far East Stables, Cheng is an eclectic candidate who defies pigeonholing. Hong Kong born, Cheng would certainly be an advocate for Chinatown but she's no one-trick pony. Her interests extend district wide and she's got a solid record of service with the city. 6-1

6. Mike DeNunzio: Out of the Harold Stassen Stables, DeNunzio is running yet again. And he's still a Republican in a Democratic city, making his odds 100-1.

7. Denise McCarthy: From the Up-by-Your-Bootstraps Stable, McCarthy is a former director of the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center with her roots in local activism and previous service as a Port commissioner. She'll be one to watch as the campaign unfolds. You need to fire up a website, too, Denise. 8-1

8. Joe Alioto Jr.: Out of the Alioto Stables, has to be considered a favorite on name recognition alone. He's also young and bright, which is always an asset. What does he have to offer District 3? As his website suggests, stay tuned. 3-1.

9. Wilma Pang: Out of the O Sole Mio Stables, Pang is an operatically trained singer, teacher and local activist who has had an oar in almost every local campaign in the past decade or so. Like Cheng, Pang is hard to pigeonhole: Calling her a "Chinatown candidate" would be a disservice. She lacks Cheng's political experience, however, and must be considered a longshot. 30-1

10. H. Brown: Out of Gadfly Stables, Brown may bring the most entertainment value to a race he has absolutely no hope of winning. Brown, a wily old muckraking journalist, is not in this to win, but to provoke. He will be the candidate asking the hard questions and giving the straight answers and at the end of the day we may wish he'd taken the brass ring, too. 200-1

There is also a late entry, Earl Thibodeau, out of Machete Farms, opening at 100-1, and the apparent scratch of Bobby Coleman, out of Golden Gateway.

Track notes: Filing to run in the District 3 Stakes is still open, so other candidates may yet emerge.