07/01/2012 11:09PM

Pleasanton: Gladding dominates Alamedan Handicap

By Chuck Dybdal
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Marcel Langevin/Vassar Photography
Gladding romps by 6 1/2 lengths in the Alamedan Handicap.

Graded stakes winner Gladding dominated on the lead as he scored an unchallenged victory in the $51,800 Alamedan Handicap on Sunday at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif.

Gladding ($3.40), who went wire-to-wire in winning the Grade 2 San Antonio last year, broke on top and was never challenged while setting comfortable fractions of 24.31 seconds, 47.58, and 1:10.77 in the 1 1/16-mile race.

He maintained a 1 1/2-length lead down the backstretch and began to open on his early rivals Honour the Deputy and When We Met on the second turn.

Gladding was three lengths in front at the quarter pole, six in front at the eighth pole and 6 1/2 at the finish in 1:42.41.

Positive Response, who bumped with Acafella near the eighth pole, rallied for second, outfinishing Honour the Deputy, who won a three-way photo for third over When We Met and Acafella.

Juan Hernandez rode the John Sadler trainee, a 5-year-old Sarava gelding. Gladding earned $31,600 with his fourth victory in 17 starts for CRK Stable. He has now earned $254,160.