For the third time in as many stakes’ races at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, the defending champion is in the race, this time in the Oak Tree Sprint on Saturday.
The race is the sixth on the Pleasanton card and is set for a 4:15 p.m. post.
Six horses are set to go to the post for the 6-furlong test, headlined by defending champion Top Harbor. Last year the horse was fourth as they turned for home, then charged down the lane to win by two lengths.
The defending champs have won the first two stakes of the meet.
Let’s go through the six horses in post-position order.
Talbot Bay (Jorge Bautista, Santos Rivera) has been running strictly in allowance company this year, finishing third three times in seven starts. Two back he did set the pace until turning for home. He got caught but kept fighting and held on for a third. Every other race he has opted to come from off the pace. Rail draw does not help.
Lmlooknformischief (Faith Taylor, Irving Orozco) has pretty much run the optional claimer level all year, winning once in five starts. Two back he sat closer to the lead, then charged home and ended in a dead-heat for the win. It was the lone time in the last four starts where he was better than fifth. I think that this is a big ask.
Doo Wop Don (Samuel Calvario, Catalino Martinez) got a win over the track on the first weekend. He likes to come from off the pace and with the weather schedule to be in the low 80’s, the track will be fair and a closer can have a legit shot. Has hit the board four times in eight starts this year, split between allowance and open claiming races.
Clovisconnection (Blaine Wright, William Antongeorgi) is stakes tested and a legitimate shot to unseat the champ. Has only three starts this year with two of them being turf stakes races. He was third in the Sensational Street at Santa Anita on after leading most of the race. Next up he was 11th, beaten 10 lengths in the Grade III San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields. Came back with a win May 26 at Golden Gate Fields in an $62,500 optional claimer. Can set the pace or be comfortable to sit right off. Big player.
Sharona’s Wild Boy (Marcia Stortz, Luis Miguel Jimenez Aburto) is coming off a pair of turf starts at GGF, finishing third in both. Has hit the board 2-of-3 starts on the dirt at Pleasanton. Strong local connections, I have to think this one goes to the lead and sees if the speed will hold.
Top Harbor (Tim McCanna, Frank Alvarado) is the defending champ and brings the same team to defend the title. After winning here he was second in the Harris Farms in Fresno, then third in the Oakland at GGF in mid-November. Went to the bench after that and returns in this race. The barn hits at a respectable 19 percent with this time off. The works have been consistent and strong, especially the last two over the Pleasanton track. Everything points to a big run.
My play: I’ve gone two-for-two by leaning on defending stakes this year and I’m not changing now. Top Harbor’s connections are top-notch, and the works show me the horse is dialed in for the defense. The lone concern is the lack of an honest pace which I think would be beneficial. I think at least a pair will go, giving Top Harbor targets to run at. I think the lone threat is Clovisconnection and it is a real threat. My fear would be that Clovisconnection will sit closer to the pace and get first run. The two should heavily favored on the morning line. Well, to be the champ, you have to beat the champ. 6-4-5.
By Dennis Miller