ALAMEDA COUNTY FAIR STAKES STORY, SUNDAY JULY 1
By Dennis Miller
About the only surprise in the $50,000 Alamedan Handicap on Sunday at the Alameda County Fair was that there was no surprise.
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Gladding, the favorite in the race, seized the lead early, cruised through the middle of the race, and then ran away from the field in the stretch to win by over six lengths.
“I felt very comfortable on my horse,” said winning jockey Juan Hernandez, who won his first stakes race of his career last year at the Alameda Fair on Ain’t No Other. “My horse got an easy lead. When I looked back, I saw no one was coming.”
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Not that he expected anyone to be. Positive Response, the second choice of the betting public finished second, but he was well back and only got second with a late charge from the back of the five-horse field.
“I wasn’t worried,” said Hernandez of Positive Response.
Gladding, trained by John Sadler, shipped up from Southern California and has seen a number of tough races, including twice running in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap.
Sadler, one of the top trainers in Southern California wasn’t in Pleasanton for the race, but Hernandez, who rode the horse for the first time, was counting on Sadler watching the race and walking away with a good impression of Hernandez.
“That is my hope,” said Hernandez with a smile.
Positive Response was second and Honour the Deputy was third.
FINAL WEEK OF RACING SEMINARS SET
The final week of the Fair horse racing will also bring to a close another year of the Daily Handicapping Seminars.
The guest list for the final five days of racing is a star-studded event. On the special, Fourth of July racing card on Wednesday, Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze will be the guest starting at 11:45 a.m.
On Thursday trainer Brian Pitnick will be the guest and will be followed by another trainer, Steve Sherman on Friday. Saturday July 7 will feature a full seminar crowd with representatives from the Thoroughbred Owners of California, Shelley Riley – the owner and trainer of Casual Lies – and when it comes down to handicapping the card, the legendary Ray Harris will be on hand.
Sunday the final seminar of 2012 will feature Don August of Bay Area Backstretch fame will be on hand.
