Carryovers, promising fillies highlight Pleasanton card

The opening week for Oak Tree at Pleasanton brought mixed results. Conducted at the Alameda County Fair, the Pleasanton meet began last Thursday and will run through July 6.

As usual, racing officials were wishing for stronger business, and that is something they should get Thursday, with carryovers in the pick six ($20,208) and super high five ($23,664). Thursday’s card includes a 2-year-old maiden special weight race and a pair of strong starter-allowance races.

Although only six runners competed in the meet’s first stakes, the $100,000 Oak Tree Handicap last Saturday, there were 19 nominated to the race. Runner-up Footbridge was the lone Southern California-based runner in the Oak Tree Handicap, but three fillies came north for Sunday’s Betamerica.com Oaks, and six Southern California runners are among the 12 nominees for Saturday’s $100,000 Oak Tree Distaff at six furlongs.

Among the nominees are multiple stakes winner Marks Mine, Northern California’s top female sprinter; Top Kisser, who beat Marks Mine in the Spring Fever at Santa Anita; Tribal Gal, a multiple stakes winner in Arizona; Unusual Way, the winner of the $300,000 Zia Parks Oaks last fall; and Qiaona, a winner of two Southern California stakes.

Bonde fillies look fast

Who can forget She’s a Tiger’s career debut here last year? The champion 2-year-old filly of 2013, She’s a Tiger romped by nine lengths for trainer Jeff Bonde.

In the fourth race Thursday, Bonde sends out two debuting fillies in a five-furlong maiden special weight race. Could either be another She’s a Tiger?

Bonde has given Motor’n Mona 10 works here for her debut. Seven of those works earned bullets. Her dam, Sierra Sweetie, had a career record of 7-5-2-0, with three stakes victories at age 2.

Bonde also is sending out a $175,000 Keeneland yearling purchase, Indian Rocket, who has been working a Santa Anita. The daughter of Indian Charlie is a half-sister of R Heat Lightning, who won the Grade 1 Spinaway in 2010 and was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Frizette that year.

“We’re here to get them started,” said Bonde. “It’s two different ownerships, and we’re doing our best for both of them. It’s not really pressure. It’s a pleasure having talented fillies like this.”

Rodman enjoying great outdoors

The race caller at Pleasanton works on the roof, out in the open. Dave Rodman, the Pimlico race caller who is filling in here, said not only doesn’t he mind being outside, he loves it.

Rodman called the first week of racing here and will call races Thursday and Friday until Frank Mirahmadi returns from his gig at Santa Anita filling in for Trevor Denman.

“This is absolutely the most fun as far as the atmosphere goes,” Rodman said. “You’re up on the roof in the elements, but the weather has been perfect. It’s the most unique calling vantage point. You can hear the crowd respond to everything, and you hear your calls coming back from the speakers.”

Rodman joked that he checked two things off his bucket list by calling his first mule race and first Quarter Horse race. He has served as co-host at the daily handicapping seminars with publicity director Dennis Miller and enjoyed the experience.

“It’s a little different getting in front of people rather than a TV camera, but I really like the interaction,” he said. “I’m getting to know the faces there.”

Though his announcing duties conclude Friday, Rodman plans to be trackside Saturday.

“This fair is unique compared with some the fairs on the East Coast,” he said. “I love the trees. I want to have a chance to go to the paddock before the races and watch a race from the rail.”