Livermore Valley Wine Stakes preview

Alameda County Fair Sunday Stakes preview

By Dennis Miller

Just a little over three months ago, the connections of Saint Prado were talking a possible spot in the Kentucky Derby for the 3-year-old horse.

Following a disappointing showing in the Sunland Derby in late March – Saint Prado’s possible path to Kentucky – the Jeff Bonde-trained horse ran a pair of uninspired $80,000 optional claiming races at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Sunday he will try to right the ship as Bonde runs the horse in the $50,000 Livermore Valley Wines Stakes at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton.

The probable favorite for the race is Jerry Hollendorfer’s Outside Nashville, a horse that has hit the board in two of three starts this year, including a strong second place finish in his last start – a $62,000 optional claimer at Golden Gate Fields. Russell Baze takes the mount again for Hollendorfer on a horse that does have some speed, but will likely take a stalking position here.

Hollendorfer also sends out Our Cognac Kid with Dennis Carr as the rider. The horse also has speed and has won three of six starts this year. In his last start he was fourth in a $62,000 optional claimer at Golden Gate Fields.

South Floyd is a shipper from Southern California out of the Doug O’Neill barn and O’Neill is sending jockey Kevin Krigger north for the race. Krigger is a former member of the Northern California jockey colony and this year rode Goldencents in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes for O’Neill.

South Floyd has drawn the rail and should be the pace setter early.