Six of the top 2-year-old horses in Northern California will be joined by a pair from Southern California in the running of the Everett Nevin on the final day of the Alameda County Fair Horse Racing meet in Pleasanton.
The race at 5-1/2 furlongs and named after the iconic Pleasanton racing figure Everett Nevin, is the 6th on the closing day Pleasanton card and scheduled for a 4:15 p.m. post.
There are four fillies taking on four colts here, and there is at least one filly with a serious chance.
The horses entered, in post-position order.
1) Riverside Rose (Alberto Ruvalcaba, Alejandro Gomez, 15/1): Has one start, a straight maiden race on June 8 at GGF and made the debut a winner, coming from off the pace, and having plenty left in the tank crossing the finish line. A couple of works over the track that looked more like maintenance works.
2) Happy Sue (OJ Jauregui, Luis Miguel Jimenez Aburto, 12/1): Makes his debut today and should draw plenty of interest as the owners spent $100,000 to buy the horse. Has a series of good works, going all the way back to May 26. The barn is successful in stake races, hitting at 19 percent.
3) Coracoracora (Blaine Wright, Alexander Chavez, 9/2): Won her debut right here on June 22, taking control and drawing away from the field at 10/1. The barn hits at 13 percent with 2-year-olds and hits 19 percent for coming off a win.
4) Sensational ZZ (Manuel Badilla, Assael Espinoza, 6/1): Broke maiden in her debut May 10 at GGF as the overwhelming favorite. The work tabs for this have been consistent but nothing special. Broke well in the debut, then pulled away in the 4.5-furlong race over the synthetic.
5) R Heisman (Peter Miller, Juan Hernandez, 5/2): One of the two shippers and justifiably the morning line favorite. The horse cost $70,000 and debuted May 3 and ran second, beaten by five lengths at Santa Anita in a race where he had trouble early. Quickly after the race there was a new barn and new rider. On May 31 he ran again, this time getting the job done by over four lengths at 1/5 odds. Now comes north and brings with jockey Juan Hernandez, a former member of the NorCal jockey colony.
6) Far Over Loaded (Felix Rondan, Cristobal Herrera, 6/1): Is still a maiden as he has run second twice in two starts, both at GGF on the synthetic. Showed speed in both starts and although there has been some local steam, I think this is a reach.
7) Timty (Doug O’Neill, Edwin Maldonado, 7/1): Is pronounced Tim-Tye and is the other SoCal shipper and should be better than 7/1 for the morning. Did win at first asking and switched barns. Off a step slow but quickly recovered and opened up before having hang on to win by a nose.
8) Drop Um (Felix Rodan, Adrian Castellanos, 8/1): Also won his debut, this one on May 26 at GGF. Locked horns early, then drew off to win by five. Since then, has three works over the track, all three were average efforts.
My play: It’s easy to take R Heisman and run away with that horse. The brutal trip he had in debut only to finish second was arguably as impressive as the win the next start. The horse I really need to look at and watch the tote is the filly Happy Sue. The connections paid $100,000 for the horse, by for the most spent on any horse in here, even $30,000 more than they paid for R Heisman. I also think Timty deserves a good look as well. 5-2-7.