Alameda County Fair Horse Racing Picks
Saturday, June 15
Day two of the Alameda County Fair and we have our first stakes race with the running of the Mary Clare Schmitt Pleasanton Oaks.
The race is the sixth on the card and is set for a 4:15 p.m. post time.
Let’s go through the Saturday card.
First race (5-1/2 furlongs, 1:45 p.m. post)
Golf Drama (Jeff Bonde trainer, Adrian Castellanos jockey, 7/5) keeps dropping down the claiming ladder. Four back was running for $25,000 and today runs for $5,000. That alone warrants a look as at some point the light figures to go off. Been running pretty even lately but I think he will try to go to the front here. Been off since April 6 so will be fresh. Big Stick (Isidro Tamayo, Irving Orozco, 8/1) has been off since May 7 of 2023 so might need one. By far the cheapest spot he has run, including the maiden races. Hasn’t shown speed or an ability to close, save for the maiden win. A $225,000 purchase that has earned $15,000 so far. The Fuss (D Wayne Baker, Epifanio Garcia, 6/1) broke maiden in his ninth start, then came back in his first efforts against winners and was last in a field of six back on June 1. First start for this barn and looks like a runner that prefers to come from off the pace. R Heart of Gold (Jose Puentes, Santos Rivera, 9/5) has had the best season in terms of hitting the board, doing so four times in seven starts. The kicker – all have come in maiden races. In the last start he wired the field on June 1 at GGF. Before that one it appeared he preferred sitting off the pace and coming on late. I am thinking we see the speed angle here. Gotcha Looking (Miguel Ramirez, Luis Manuel Jimenez Aburto, 4/1) broke maiden in his fifth start on March 28 at GGF. Has been back and forth with Southern California and has not found success at either. Has four starts on dirt and has yet to hit the board.
My play: Seems like the choices with horses that are dropping down is class after not doing anything, or a horse that has been hitting the board and is coming off a win, but it has been all against maidens. I am going to go on the inside with Golf Drama, feeling the horse has seen better races and has 10 races on the dirt.
Second race (1-1/16 miles, 2:15 p.m.)
Sparkle Sweetly (D Wayne Baker, Epifanio Garcia, 4/1) will start from the inside post in the straight maiden race. The horse has hit the board three of six starts this year, but she has not started on the dirt. Has shown speed in the last three starts which can be key here. Golden Skyline (Leonard Powell, Alexander Chavez, 3/1) had her best start in her last start, running third April 13 at GGF. The winner came back to win her next start, always a good sign. Has had three works since the race and all were average. Our Kentucky Rose (Alberto Ruvalcaba, Cristobal Herrera, 6/1) has done little, losing her last two starts by a combined 26 lengths. The last start was the first since May of last year and was one mile on the turf at GGF. Has a pair of dirt starts last year at Santa Anita and failed to hit the board. Tobacco Honey (Craig Dollase, William Antongeorgi III, 5/1) was the beaten favorite in her last two starts, both at 1,000 yards at Los Alamitos. Also lost both those races but did run second and third. Should have some speed here and has the right jockey for that form. Catalina Cocktail (Tim McCanna, Assael Espinoza, 6/5) was third her last two starts at GGF. Appears to prefer moving late so will need some pace here to run at.
My play: I think the outside horse Catalina Cocktail will get a great trip and the upgrade in the irons should be the difference maker to get up from third and cross the line first.
Third race (1 mile, 70 yards; 2:45 p.m.)
Chief Jackson (D Wayne Baker, Epifanio Garcia, 3/1) has hit the board twice in six starts this year and now finds his lowest level since last summer. Has shown speed a few times this year and that would be the preferred form at this track. Has one start here but did not hit the board. Walking Boss (Gary Greiner, Catalino Martinez, 6/1) had a win two back when he stalked the pace before gutting it out in the lane. Been facing similar and been running decent. Can’t throw this one out. Gallant Warren (Tim Bellasis, Hugo Herrera, 8/1) has shown some solid form this year hitting the board in five of eight starts. Has run third in the last two starts but was beaten by a runner in this field. Has a solid string of Beyer’s for this field. Lying Ghost (Gary Greiner, Irving Orozco, 4/1) set the pace in his last start but was beaten in the lane by a pair of runners in this race. I like the show of speed but staying power has been an issue. Sunny Spot (Guillermo Preciado, Adrian Castellanos, 2/1) is coming off a dead-heat win May 26 at GGF. Has hit the board three of four starts this year, adding a place and a show to the win in the last three starts. In all three, sat off the pace and made a big run in the lane. Could be tough if he gets a pace to run at and it seems like he will. Pour On the Cole (Jose Puentes, Santos Rivera, 9/2) was sixth in that last race that had four others in the field that are running here. The last three starts have been pretty even runs throughout the race. Before then he showed some closing ability but that has been missing recently.
My play: I have to go with Sunny Spot as he just beat three entered here in his last spot. Might need to sit a bit closer to the lead depending on how the track is handling.
Fourth race (5 furlongs, 3:15 p.m.)
Too Much Info (Bill McLean, Santos Rivera, 10/1) had been on the shelf since February when he returned May 5 at GGF, running a very mundane sixth. Before then he was running in SoCal against better than he will see here. Five back he did have a win at Santa Anita but since then it’s been a pair of sevenths, followed by two sixth place finishes. Major Tom (Leobardo Rivera, Cristobal Herrera, 9/5) has hit the board in six of seven starts this year. The last start was April 28 a second-place finish to horse that came back to win again. Has finished first or second in five of his eight starts at the distance. My Dominator (Guillermo Preciado, Adrian Castellanos, 6/1) has been up and down this year while hitting the board in four of eight starts this year. It’s been either on the board or well back as he tries to find some consistency. His good races have been solid but there haven’t been many lately as he has hit the board only once in the last five starts. Hey Juan (Jesus Ramos, Francisco Monroy, 15/1) is not having a good year, haven’t hit the board in five starts. There have been two fourth place finishes for the highlights thus far. Missed Call (Jeff Bonde, William Antongeorgi III, 5/1) figures to be an interesting runner here as he has been running in 1,000 yard quarter-horse races at Los Alamitos. He has hit the board in six straight starts so the horse should be sharp and fast. For a frame of reference, five furlongs equals 1,100 yards. Eddie Crosswire (Guillermo Preciado, Epifanio Garcia, 7/2) comes off a solid second place run at GGF, and now takes a slight step up. Likes to come off the pace and did a solid job sitting closer to the pace before making the late push. Almanera (Jamey Thomas, Assael Espinoza, 4/1) had been off for 10 months before running third on May 27 at GGF. The horse set the pace until they turned for home when he slowly fell back to third. Every reason to feel stronger here, with the stamina building.
My play: Missed Call is my play here. The distance here is not that much different than he was running at Los Al. He looks tight and should have more speed than others here. Could be a big winner’s circle photos for Pleasanton’s Pastime Racing.
Fifth race (1 mile, 70 yards; 3:45 p.m.)
Miss Peru (Felix Rodan, Epifanio Garcia, 5/1) starts from the rail in this $8,000 maiden race. Has 10 career starts and has hit the board once. That came two back at this level when he passed a couple of horses late to run third. Hasn’t been pretty in the other races. Hang On (Felix Rodan, Adrian Castellanos, 4/1) looks like a solid runner in here, hitting the board in five of seven starts, with all five coming in the last five starts. Likes to set the pace but then drops back some in the lane. Drops level and comes off the turf for this start and will look to set the pace as he goes two turns for the sixth straight race. Adjust the Heat (Tim Bellasis, Alexander Chavez, 7/2) has run three times this year and has not close to hitting the board. But all three races have been against better, with the last coming on the turf. Takes a big class drop here – by far the lowest level of her career. Could improve but I need to see one first. Mineral Rights (Sheldon Paldanius, Leonel Camacho-Flores, 2/1) has had three starts this year, all against better at Santa Anita. The last start was a third in a $20,000 maiden. He was 13-lengths back but comes here facing a much lighter field. Peggy the Colonel (Sergio Ledezma, Francisco Monroy, 12/1) has been running at this level for all four starts and has not run better than fifth. Maybe the change to the dirt can wake her up. Violet Thunder (Samuel Calvario, Catalino Martinez, 6/1) has run well at this level with two seconds and a third in five starts. At the last start she jumped up and tried the turf where he ran seventh. Now back at a comfortable level she will try turf for the first time. Could be a pace factor. Tizthehartofdixie (Melanie McDonald, Hugo Herrera, 8/1) was on the shelf from November until May 18 where she returned to a sprint on the turf in straight maiden company. That did not turn out good as she was a badly beaten sixth. Now she drops almost to the bottom running in an open maiden route race. Not sure what to expect but there could be something there as she will see the far easiest field and there have been some decent races against much better.
My play: I think Violet Thunder is the winner with the move going back to the main track. There is something about the outside horse that worries me, taking such a huge class drop but Violet Thunder has been consistent and has shown speed all year.
Sixth race (Mary Clare Schmitt Pleasanton Oaks, 6 furlongs, 4:15 p.m.)
This is the first stakes of the Pleasanton Fair meeting and is named for the late Mary Clare Schmitt, who along with husband George Schmitt, were horse racing royalty in Northern California in terms of ownership and breeding.
We will look closely at each horse in the race in post-position order.
1) Chancery Way (Jamey Thomas, Assael Espinoza, 9/5): Has been a stakes running machine. The last two have been turf sprints at Santa Anita where she ran second. The two before that were at Del Mar, then Golden Gate last winter with both being wins. Overall, she has run five times on the dirt and won four of them. The horse has one start over the Pleasanton surface back in 2022 and she won that race. Is she the speed of the speed here?
2) Tom’s Regret (Stevem Myadi, Luis Manuel Jimenez Aburto, 3/1): The defending of this race won easily last year as the prohibitive favorite. But after the win she went to the shelf until May of this year when she was second in an optional claimer on the turf at Santa Anita. Next up was the Desert Stormer at Golden Gate Fields where she locked up in a speed duel before holding on for third. There has been 10 career starts, with three wins, five seconds, and a pair of thirds. Is going to be a load to handle here.
3) Scary Fast Ride (Sean McCarthy, William Antongeorgi III, 3/1): Had a nice run from October of last year to this past February between Del Mar, GGF, and Santa Anita where she was either first or second in five straight starts. The latest start was a third in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on May 5. The second-place finisher came back to win her next start. Might be a notch below the champ but does have some mad skills. Loves to run from off the pace and will have plenty of pace to run at.
4) Pushiness (Michael McCarthy, Catalino Martinez, 9/2): There is no doubt he will be flying out the gate but he has been on the shelf since September of last year after setting the pace in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante before weakening and finishing seventh, 16-lengths off the pace. The first two were easy wire-to-wire wins at Santa Anita and Del Mar. The works have been consistent and solid for the return but have to look to others.
5) Smiling Molly (D Wayne Baker, Epifanio Garcia, 8/1): One of the two Northern California runners in the field. The last five races and 10 of her 15 starts have been on the turf. Has three starts on the dirt and has yet to hit the board. Has not been a bad year and has hit the board in her last three starts but the barn does not have a high percentage of turf to dirt moves. Has only one stakes race on her resume, and it was fourth place finish on the turf at GGF.
My play: I think Chancery Way is the horse to beat from her rail post. I don’t think the defending champ is the same horse he was here last year. Chancery Way has been banging out the stakes races and running strong. Would I be shocked if Tom’s Regret repeated? No, but I don’t think it will happen. The interesting horse to see will be Pushiness with the former Grade I runner in a stake at the Alameda County Fair.
Seventh race (5-1/2 furlongs, 4:45 p.m.)
Sing a Happy Song (Andy Mathis, Assael Espinoza, 5/2) raced out the gate to the lead in her last five starts. The streak was book ended with wins with the three middle races resulting in third place finishes. She has been the favorite in all five with one exception and that was a race she went off 3/2. There appears to be a lot of speed here so will try to stay out of a duel. Union Coach (Isidro Tamayo, Adrian Castellanos, 6/1) is another lof the speed brigade here. The last two starts saw her in the lead and second by a head only to finish second and third. Has only raced on the dirt once and that was a win in Santa Rosa last year. Lady Wolf (Marcia Stortz, Frank Alvarado, 15/1) figures to be fighting for the lead early but does not have the fastest speed or the best staying power. Did get a win in Pleasanton last year but was then last in the Pleasanton Oaks. Has been off since February but there has been a strong work tab for the return. Luna Linda (Marcelino Trujillo, Alejandro Gomez, 4/1) has three starts – all maiden races – with one third and a win the last time out. In the win she wired the field, established a lead then holding it. Will be interesting to see how the front end plays out. Hot Betty (Jamey Thomas, Alexander Chavez, 5/1) appears to prefer running from off the pace and that will be huge here as the pace will be honest. Two back in her lone win she started fifth, bid her time moving up gradually before rallying down the lane for the win. Made a big jump up the next start and was an even third. Will find this spot much more to her liking. Giant Kid (Bill McLean, Luis Manuel Jimenez Aburto, 8/1) has only one win in 11 starts and that was a maiden score four back. Was third here last year in a straight maiden race. The last start was on the turf at GGF and produced a fourth. Before that on the synthetic turf she had a pair of close seconds. I think a legit runner at this spot. Grateful Attitude (Victor Trujillo, Santos Rivera, 4/1) has put together four solid efforts with a win, two seconds, and a third. She will chase the pace and look to hit the board for the sixth time in eight starts this year. Blursday (Blaine Wright, William Antongeorgi III, 12/1) runs for this barn for the first time. The barn does hit at 28 percent for this move, with the connections clicking at 22 percent. She has seemed to get more aggressive in going to the front in her last few starts, and I suspect the barn will employee the same tactics here.
My play: I love the speed and staying power from Sing a Happy Song, and I think that has to be the up top play in this spot. I am going to put him over top Union Coach and Blursday in the exacta and trifecta.