Alliford Bay must beat stablemate, Ledezma duo in Governor's Cup

Trainers Blaine Wright and Sergio Ledezma agree on one thing going into Saturday’s $50,000 California Governor’s Cup Handicap at the State Fair on Saturday in Sacramento.

They’d like to see a dead heat for the win.

No, there’s no collusion involved. Both are sending out two runners in the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, and both think each of their runners has a chance to win.

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Wright sends out Alliford Bay, who has won this race the last two years, and Strip It Down, who has won two straight.

Ledezma will be represented by Shasta Star and Vronilla Parfait, who ran one-two in a June 1 allowance race at Golden Gate Fields.

Alliford Bay, 5, has run twice this year and is making her first start since April 27. She ran third, beaten less than a length, in an allowance sprint April 6 at Golden Gate, and then was fourth in the five-furlong Camilla Urso on the turf there after bobbling at the three-eighths pole.

Wright is hopeful Alliford Bay will return to her form of last year, when she won five straight stakes.

“She’s coming up to this race well,” said Wright, who has given Alliford Bay seven works over the past two months.

Strip It Down ran fourth and fifth at Emerald Downs last summer in her two stakes attempts. She comes off an easy win sprinting at Pleasanton.

“She is improving,” Wright said.

Both Vronilla Parfait, who drew the rail, and Shasta Star, who’ll break from post 2, won here last year, although Shasta Star was disqualified to second after drifting out late.

“Both are doing good,” Ledezma said. “We know they can run well here.”

Key contenders

Alliford Bay, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 71-79-88

◗ She ran five wide in her first start of the year, perhaps losing more ground than she lost by.

Shasta Star, by Ready’s Image

Last 3 Beyers: 77-68-70

◗ She has never been worse than third in nine career starts.

◗ She has come from off the pace in shorter races but tends to show speed at this six-furlong distance.

Vronilla Parfait, by Vronsky

Last 3 Beyers: 74-77-66

◗ She was beaten a neck at Golden Gate in last December’s Bear Fan Stakes after being hit by an errant whip and was moved up from third to second.

◗ She won her lone start over the track, an allowance sprint last year.