Ain't No Other likes distance in Albany Stakes

Handicappers often talk about horses for courses, but what about horses for distances?

If there are horses for distances, Ain’t No Other could prove tough in Saturday’s $50,000-added Albany Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. The turf sprint will be run at five furlongs.

Five of the eight runners entered in the race have wins at the abbreviated distance. Two others placed in their lone tries at the distance, while three will be running the distance for the first time.

Ain’t No Other has a win, a second, and a third in three tries at the distance while running in the Jess Jackson Owners’ Handicap at the Santa Rosa Fair the past three years. But he actually finished first twice, being disqualified to third in 2011 before winning last year’s race. In 2012, he was second, losing a photo to Shudacudawudya.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer doesn’t consider Ain’t No Other a turf specialist, although four of his 10 career victories and all three of his stakes wins have come on grass.

“He runs well on turf but also on dirt and synthetic tracks,” he said of the 6-year-old Old Topper gelding.

Ain’t No Other comes into the race with a front-running victory in a $62,500 optional claimer following almost three months on the bench.

“We’ll give it a try,” said Hollendorfer.

The Hall of Fame trainer believes good horses such as Ain’t No Other, an earner of $568,195 for Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, can win at any distance.

Ain’t No Other is content to sit back in a stalking role and use his late kick to win, although he did win on the lead last time.

A Toast to You, claimed for $50,000 from a May 8 win by trainer Ed Moger Jr., has a win and a second at the abbreviated distance. He beat Ain’t No Other by a half-length in the 6 1/2-furlong California Flag Handicap down the Santa Anita hillside turf course last October and has recorded seven turf wins, including one for Hollendorfer, who claimed him after the California Flag.

The undefeated Teton County, owned and trained by Bobby Grayson, won a starter allowance race at the distance in his turf debut at Santa Rosa last year after winning a maiden claimer at Hollywood Park. Both career wins have come in wire-to-wire style.

The hard-knocking Zehner’s Zenna ran second in his lone try at the distance here last year, while Moonshine Bay ran third behind stablemate Ain’t No Other in last year’s Jess Jackson.

Starspangled Heat, who has earned $375,442 on turf, Incline Village, and the 3-year-old Pete’s Slew make their debuts at this distance.