Alameda County Fair Horse Racing Picks
Sunday, June 30
First race (5-1/2 furlongs, claiming, 1:45 p.m.)
Matchless (Felix Rondan, Adrian Castellanos, 5/2) has hit the board in four of seven starts this year, finishing second once and third on three occasions. She was second here opening weekend, stalking the pace before making a late run. Drops to career low and has to be a threat here. Running Luck (Jose Bautista, Catalino Martinez, 8/1) has run sixth three straight times, including the last at this level. Moving back to Pleasanton dirt can’t hurt as she has hit the board in both starts at the track. Has some past speed in the resume. A Broken Breeze (Andrew Harris, Epifanio Garcia, 3/1) is an 8-year-old that had some past success but has struggled for the last two years. In the last start she was fifth. Has run well on the dirt in the past, hitting the board in 7-of-15 starts. Drops to a career low. A Dime for Me (Isidro Tamayo, Alexander Chavez, 9/5) in the last four starts had two thirds, then two fourths. Has two starts in Pleasanton and has one second. The last start here was opening weekend where she faltered as the favorite and ran fourth. She is running out of excuses as she drops again. Shout It Out (Kelly Bainum, Frank Alvarado, 4/1) faced two others in here and finished sixth here opening weekend. Has one second in six starts this year.
My play: Has to be Matchless as the horse has the best recent form – by far. Rail draw is a major concern but there’s not a lot to beat here. 1-4-5.
Second race (One mile-70 yards, maiden, 2:15 p.m.)
Thirsty Lov (Efrain Miranda, Hugo Herrera, 6/1) has six starts this year and has run third four times. Had run exclusively in Southern California until shipping up for the last start at a career low. Ran third and was claimed. Takes a little step up and could be a contender. Six Hot Grands (Marcia Stortz, Luis Miguel Jimenez Aburto, 7/2) was third here opening weekend at 6-1. Chased the pace but only got one horse in the lane. Doubles the tag here and I think we’ll see a horse that goes for the lead. Levi (Steve Sherman, William Antongeorgi, 8/5) debuted May 25 at Santa Anita and was sixth, beaten 29 lengths in a $54,000 straight maiden race. Gets shipped to Sherman’s barn and makes the first start for $16,000. This is a dangerous player. Let Thetruthbetold (Samuel Calvario, Catalino Martinez, 2/1) was fifth in his debut, never really getting going out of the gate. Was moved to another barn and that barn hits at 33 percent with first time with trainer. He has every right to improve this start. Far to Long (Felix Rondan, Adrian Castellanos, 6/1) has been facing much tougher and has hit the board in half of his six starts. Could be a pace factor here.
My play: I have seen this move a hundred times it almost always pays off. Steve Sherman gets a horse that ran poorly in SoCal, ships north to Sherman, takes a big drop and scores. It’s going to happen here! 3-4-2.
Third race (1-1/16 miles, claiming, 2:45 p.m.)
Lord Wimborne (Jesus Ramos, Alexander Chavez, 4/1) is coming off three turf races and jumping into open claiming. He won his only start over the Pleasanton track. Has been beaten the last three starts by another runner entered here. Union Wave (Tim Bellasis, Hugo Herrera, 5/1) was fourth here opening weekend in a much tougher spot. Takes a big cut here in hopes of contending. Sunny Spot (Sergio Perez, Irving Orozco, 8/1) got a win here opening weekend stalking the pace then taking control in the lane. Changes barns and moves up in class as he shoots for a third straight win. Night Proof (Isidro Tamayo, William Antongeorgi,10/1) was decently bet here first weekend and disappointed with a fifth-place finish, beaten 18 lengths. Takes a big drop, switches pilots and looks like a contender. Anitanewmercedes (Isidro Tamayo, Assael Espinoza, 9/5) has finished on the board in two of four starts this year. Can show speed and will be a pace factor here. Has won twice on the dirt in six career starts. Loves the distance as he has three wins and a pair of seconds in eight starts at the distance. Original (Samuel Calvario, Catalino Martinez, 5/2) has won two of his last three starts and was claimed after the last start to a barn that hits at 39 percent off the claim. Has speed and expect to see it here.
My play: It would be easy to get caught up in Sunny Spot shooting for three straight but my play is Original on the outside. Sunny Spot is taking a step up, while Original is dropping down in class. 6-3-5.
Fourth race (5-1/2 furlongs, maiden, 3:15 p.m.)
Dr. One (Francisco Rodriguez, Adrian Castellanos, 12/1) makes his debut for a barn that has hit with one of three first-timers. Has a consistent and solid work tab. Science Rules (Sergio Ledezma, Alejandro Gomez, 6/1) debuted at the level June 9 at Golden Gate and ran an even fifth. Strong work over the track on June 19 and should step forward here. What a Relief (Samuel Calvario, Catalino Martinez, 5/1) has hit the board twice in seven starts. Has shown speed the last two but didn’t hold it either time. Two back was the best recent effort as he held the lead at this level when they turned for home but was caught and he held on for third. Early speed here should help. Bobbed N Lured (Marcia Stortz, Frank Alvarado, 7/2) has been off since last October after running third at a race at the Big Fresno Fair. The horse takes off the blinkers here and has shown speed in the past. Gets one of the top jocks up. Dominite Dominic (Marcia Stortz, Cristobal Herrera, 8/1) debuted back in April and was last beaten 11 lengths. Had a couple works over the track and I look for this one to come out as a pace factor. Galloping Major (Jamey Thomas, Hugo Herrera, 4/1) had a good effort three back, stalking the pace, then closing to finish second. Since then, it’s been pretty lackluster with a 6th and a 7th. Not sure what to expect here. Dangerous Game (Sheldon Paldanius, William Antongeorgi, 2/1) had a start in February and one in March with a fifth place in each, beaten by 33 combined lengths. Gets shipped here to a new barn and drops to the bottom. One to watch – check the tote for clues.
My play: Not exactly a stellar field. I think Dangerous Game is one to watch and track on the tote board. There is a very good chance he’s go too much more than the others. Bobbed N Lured is another to watch. 7-4-3.
Fifth race (6 furlongs, claiming, 3:45 p.m.)
Lochmara (Jorge Bautista, Santos Rivera, 4/1) was third here opening weekend at 10/1. Takes a slight drop here and needs to channel the speed he showed last year. Jazzy Empress (Steven Miyadi, Adrian Castellanos, 5/2) broke maiden in her last start with a stalking run early, then taking control entering the lane. Should get a pace to run at. Gentle Julia (Marcia Stortz, Luis Miguel Jimenez Aburto, 10/1) puts the blinkers on and needs them as the last three starts have been weak, not finishing better than fifth. Showed early speed last year but that has disappeared. Extreme Blaze (Monty Meier, Alexander Chavez, 12/1) has shown early speed the last five starts, but except for two back and five back, it has backed up. Two back she had the lead by two in the lane but was caught and ended up second, beaten two lengths. A Perfect Path (Jeff Bonde, William Antongeorgi, 5/1) has been off since late April when was turning in some strong races. The last two races were a second, then a third. Four back was a win. Expect speed here and expect to be a contender. Harbor Dearest (Alberto Ruvalcaba, Alejandro Gomez, 8/1) has hit the board in three of six starts this year. The last effort was an even fourth place run. Outrageous (OJ Jauregui, Assael Espinoza, 2/1) was fourth here opening day, setting the pace early before fading. Comes back here with a substantial drop. Did have a good work over the track since and should be a little more fit here.
My play: A Perfect Path is the one to beat, even though the horse is making his first start on the dirt. Outrageous on the class drop may be dangerous here. 5-7-6.
Sixth race (6 furlongs, allowance, 4:15 p.m.)
Imperial Hornet (Samuel Calvario, Assael Espinoza, 7/2) has been nothing short of a machine, winning eight straight races going back to December of last year. This year he has been perfect through six starts, running just off the pace until taking control in the lane. All of the wins came on the synthetic at GGF, with the last win coming on the turf. Has five starts on dirt with only one win, so that is the big question today – does his game carry over to the Pleasanton dirt. Halo Rando (Steve Specht, Frank Alvarado, 7/2) has two wins and two thirds in four starts this year. Has been running in tougher spots than this and with the connections being as such, could be a big player. Satanta (Jesus Ramos, Santos Rivera, 9/2) is a 9-year-old that still looks like there is gas in the tank. The last start was a fifth-place finish but the previous four were two wins and two seconds. Another contender. Bob’s Blue Moon (Steve Sherman, William Antongeorgi, 9/5) last race was a year ago in Pleasanton and it was a win in a tough optional claimer. Has shown speed and comes into the race with a pair of bullet works. Might need one. Debs Tiz (Tim McCanna, Luis Miguel Jimenez Aburto, 8/1) seems to have the least credentials in this spot but that’s more because the quality of the field more than his misgivings. Has won two of five starts this year, including the last start where he took over in the lane for the win on June 1. Smuggler’s Run (Andy Mathis, Adrian Castellanos, 5/1) was last seen in November after shipping up from Southern California where he had been for the last two years. Has shown some speed in the past and comes to the return for a barn that hits at 35 percent coming off this long of a layoff.
My play: It is hard to look past Imperial Hornet, but the 1-for-5 over the dirt gives me cause for pause. Halo Rando figures very tough hear, and Smuggler’s Run if ready is going to be a major factor. I think I would have to go 4-5 deep here in the late pick 4. 2-1-6
Seventh race (6 furlongs, allowance, 4:45 p.m.)
Regal Patriot (Arnold Torres, Irving Orozco, 7/2) opened his three-race career by easily wiring the field in the first two. The last start was on the turf and he didn’t get out and ran third. No dirt starts but he didn’t get a good work over the track. Cowboys Kisses (Clifford Delima, William Antongeorgi, 5/1) is coming into the race off a blistering work over the track on June 23. The start was on the turf, and he chased the leader all the way around the track and finished second, beating Regal Patriot in the process. This will be the first dirt start. Acclider (Jesus Ramos, Santos Rivera, 6/1) has been on the turf for the last four starts, winning once, running second once, and finishing third three times. Another making his first start on the dirt. Hot Chicks Only (Jamey Thomas, Adrian Castellanos, 15/1) has been off since August of last year. In the last start he was on the turf and was last, beaten 19 lengths. Has had three works on the track and has won his only dirt start. This might be a bit of an ask. Crown Magic (Steve Specht, Frank Alvarado, 8/1) was off since October when he returned and broke maiden June 7 at GGF. He came from well off the pace in that start and will need to sit closer here. In that last start he beat a horse that won here last week. I’m Dr. O (Samuel Calvario, Alejandro Gomez, 3/1) loves to hit the board as he has six-of-nine starts this year. The problem – no wins in that span. In fact, you need to go back to May of 2022 for the lone win in 13 career starts. Lookin to Excel (Jamey Thomas, Alexander Chavez, 4/1) is coming off a start where he found trouble throughout and finished fifth on the turf. Before that he had four good ones where he was second or third. The last win came in February of 2023. Gotcha Lookin (Leobardo Rivera, Luis Miguel Jimenez Aburto, 12/1) won here first week and was claimed. Goes to a barn that is 2-for-8 off the claim. Had been facing much better in Southern California before coming up here in May. Will try to come from off the pace.
My play: Cowboy Kisses is my horse to beat for an iconic Pleasanton barn. I liked the recent form and then mixed in with the huge work over the track was enough for me.