It is time for the youngsters to take center stage at the Alameda County Fair horse racing meet with the running of the $75,000 Everett Nevin Stakes Saturday in Pleasanton.
The annual 2-year-old stake at the Fair meet is set for the 7th race, scheduled for a 4:52 p.m. post. The nine-horse field will go 5.5 furlongs in the final stake race of the 2022 meet.
Are there any potential Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks runners coming from this group? It is far too early to tell what will transpire in 2023, but this can at least start to plant the seed the seed for next year!
As is usually the case, there are entrants from Southern California that are making the trip north for the race.
Let’s run through the field for the Nevin:
Vegas Magic (Doug O’Neill trainer, Frank Alvarado jockey, 5/2 morning line): O’Neill has twice won the Kentucky Derby with I’ll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016. This is not to suggest that Vegas Magic will get to the Kentucky Derby or Oaks but rather to give O’Neill’s past class! Vegas Magic is a filly – one of three in the field taking on the boys – has one start, a win in a straight maiden race at Santa Anita on June 11, tracking the pace, then going three-wide in the lane to get the win. Has had a pair of good works at Santa Anita leading into this one.
Electric Lettuce (Blaine Wright, Evin Roman, 9/2): is also a filly and is your second choice and comes out of one of the more consistent barns in Northern California. Also ran on June 11, but at Golden Gate Fields. Handled the field that day, leading out of the gate, then stretching the lead throughout the race crossing the line over 4-lengths clear of the second-place runner.
Man Oh Man (Jonathan Wong, Assael Espinoza, 5/1): is from the top barn in Northern California and is coming off an impressive debut where he stalked the leader for most of the race, wearing the horse down and eventually pulling out the win. Has put in two maintenance works over the dirt in Sacramento where Wong has his barn this summer.
Chuckanut Bay (Jack Steiner, Irving Orozco, 6/1): was third behind Man Oh Man in his debut, then came back and won his second start, this one over the Pleasanton track, reeling in the front speed in the lane to win by almost a length as the betting favorite. Espinoza was up for the win, but now moves over to Man Oh Man. Another concern is the rail draw, a spot that has not been productive this meet.
Kid Azteca (Peter Miller, William Antongeorgi III, 6/1): is another SoCal invader that was fourth in his lone start, a straight maiden over the turf at Santa Anita. It appears the horse had all kinds of problems in the stretch that caused the horse to flatten and drop from second to fourth. One would have to think the change in surfaces will help.
Good N Thirsty (Walther Solis, Barrington Harvey, 8/1): another Southern California runner that captured his debut, but then jumped into a stake at Santa Anita and came back to earth. On June 18 he ran in the Fasig Tipton Futurity and had trouble from the start, stumbling out of the gate and never recovering, finishing eighth by 13 lengths. Had a real nice work down south before heading up here.
Passarando (Steve Specht, Catalino Martinez, 8/1): comes from the connections that won the She’s A Tiger stakes, the second of the AlCo Fair meet. After running second in his debut, the horse came back three weeks later to get the first win, drawing away from the rest of the field to win by over four lengths. Had a bullet work at GGF before moving to Pleasanton for the summer, adding three more drills to get ready for this one.
Fumano’s Girl (Michael Lenzini, Pedro Flores, 15/1): Is the final filly in the field and has won her only start, beating the girls at GGF on May 27. Has had three works over the dirt in Sacramento, but none has been anything overly special. May be too much here, but at this age and overall lack of experience of the field, anything is possible.
Stolen Vote (Felix Rodan, Pedro Terrero, 15/1): rounds out the field and is a curious entry into the race. Has one start and was sixth at Golden Gate Fields, losing to both Man Oh Man and Chuckanut Bay. Does have a pair of works over the track but this seems like a big ask.