Anyportinastorm dominates Oak Tree Sprint
If it's possible to be a 1-10 overlay, that's what Anyportinastorm ($2.20) was in Saturday's $52,500 Oak Tree Sprint at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton.
The speedy multiple stakes winner was back on the main track as he made his second start after a nearly 10-month layoff.
“He's definitely a different horse on dirt and synthetics than turf,” said trainer Blaine Wright, who watched the 6-year-old son of City Zip run exactly as expected.
Breaking from the outside post in a field of four after a pair of scratches, Anyportinastorm set quick fractions and pulled clear late, winning the six-furlong race in 1:09.38 and beating Honeymooz Over by 2 1/2 lengths.
He led Touched by Autism, who was making his first start since a second-place finish in last year's Oak Tree Sprint, by a head through a 21.78-second opening quarter, wearing him out early.
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Anyportinastorm continued to race wide and led Honeymoonz Over by a head through a 44.14 half, doing it all on his own for jockey Kevin Orozco. He led by two lengths in the stretch and romped unchallenged through the lane.
“I talked with Kevin a couple times this morning,” said Wright, who wanted to take nothing for granted. “I told him he had the best horse and to control the race and not to be intimidated if someone wanted to go early.”
Wright had used Orozco to work Anyportinastorm last summer at Emerald Downs, but had always ridden Juan Hernandez, who has moved to Southern California.
“He knows the horse, and I was so glad [owner Peter Redekop] let him get a shot to ride,” Wright said.
The victory, worth $30,800, was Anyportinastorm's eighth in 16 career starts. He has failed to hit the board only once early in his career.
Wright said the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs, which Anyportinastrom lost in the closing strides last year, is the horse's ultimate goal, but he would check the stakes schedule at the upcoming Golden Gate Fields meet before deciding on his star's next race.