Pleasanton: City Route dominates Juan Gonzalez Stakes

City Route affirmed her status as Northern California’s top 2-year-old as she scored her third straight wire-to-wire victory in capturing the $65,550 Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes at the Alameda County Fair on Saturday.

The homebred Globalize filly broke sharply from the outside against five rivals, opening a three-length advantage in the first quarter-mile while cruising to victory.

Runner-up Heleonor Rugby cut the margin in half by the quarter pole, but when jockey Kevin Krigger asked for more turning for home, City Route ($3) immediately increased her margin. She won the 5 1/2-furlong race by four lengths in 1:03.34. Heleonor Rugby was 2 1/4 lengths in front of Silent Sue for third.

“She’s a fast filly,” Krigger said.

Bred and owned in part by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, City Route beat males in the Lost in the Fog at Golden Gate Fields in her previous start.

“All [Hollendorfer] told me was to go on with her,” Krigger said of pre-race instructions.

The California-bred City Route increased her earnings to $101,990 for owners Mary Jo Amlie, Hollendorfer, and George Todaro.