It is the first stakes event of the year in Northern California for fillies and mares, so as expected, the $50,000 Alameda County Fillies and Mares Stakes has drawn a solid field.
The 1 1/16-mile test that will be the 9th race on the card, the first Saturday card of the Fair, has a post-time set for 5:20 p.m.
Lady Railrider is the heavy morning line favorite and has plenty of reasons to be the betting favorite. The horse, who is trained by Steve Specht and will be ridden by Russell Baze, won her last two starts in Northern California before heading south for a pair of stakes races where she ran second in both.
Now back in Northern California, Lady Railrider has the tactical speed to sit just off the pace and make her move down the lane.
The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained City to City also figures to be a strong contender in the race. The horse, which will be ridden by Frank Alvarado, ended the 2010 campaign with three straight starts in either Grade I or Grade II competition.
One of the early speed horses figures to be Victoryasecret, a horse that was second in this race last year. In her last start, the Charles Jenda-trained horse earned a 98 Beyer Speed Rating, winning by six lengths on the turf under the guidance of Kevin Krigger, who will again be in the irons today.
The allowance race at Golden Gate Fields featured a solid field that included City to City, who finished fourth.
The rest of the field is Sky High Hatty, Catch Lorraine, Pure Class, Bleach Blonde and Sweetly Prepared.
Conformation Seminar today
Join track announcer Frank Mirahmadi and me, local turf writer Dennis Miller, who will be joined by Pleasanton-based trainer Jeff Bonde for a free workshop on how conformation relates to soundness and racing performance.
The seminar is being hosted by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) and will be held in the paddock area at 11:45 a.m. The three will also handicap Saturday’s card.
