Clovisconnection back at better distance in Harris Farms

A few strides after the start of Sunday’s $75,000 Harris Farms Stakes for California-breds in Fresno, Calif., Clovisconnection will either be in front or near the lead.

Jockey William Antongeorgi knows Clovisconnection well, having won four times aboard the gelding in eight races. Antongeorgi’s early race tactics will be partially determined by what jockey Assael Espinoza does aboard Bob’s Blue Moon, who has shown speed at times.

Bob’s Blue Moon is drawn to the outside of Clovisconnection in the Harris Farms Stakes, which is run at six furlongs for California-breds.

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“If he guns them out of there, I can sit and try to get to the outside,” Antongeorgi said of Espinoza’s strategy. “If he doesn’t break, I can take it.”

Either way, Clovisconnection is the focus of the Harris Farms Stakes, a race he won last year for owners and breeder Bill and Judy Hedrick and trainer Blaine Wright. In the 2023 Harris Farms Stakes, Clovisconnection, ridden by Antongeorgi, fought for the lead and won by a head.

This year, Clovisconnection has won 2 of 5 starts, including the Oak Tree Sprint at six furlongs at the Alameda county fair in Pleasanton, Calif., on June 29. In his last start, Clovisconnection set the pace in the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs and was beaten a head by Five Star General, the 11-10 favorite.

“He ran a huge race,” Antongeorgi said. “That was a tough beat.”

Antongeorgi has worked Clovisconnection since the Longacres Mile in a series of fast breezes at Pleasanton. On Sept. 20, Clovisconnection zipped five furlongs in 58 seconds.

The six-furlong distance of the Harris Farms is ideal for Clovisconnection, who has won 9 of 15 starts and earned $350,550.

“I think he’s a better sprinter,” Antongeorgi said. “He can do both. He’s pretty versatile. Different surfaces, different distances. He’s a cool horse.”

The “cool” horse will be strongly favored as the only stakes winner in a field of six.

Lmlooknformischief was third at 15-1 in the Oak Tree Sprint in June, but finished a well-beaten fourth in a six-furlong allowance race for statebreds at Del Mar on Aug. 9. Lmlooknformischief will be closing from off the pace.

Disko Tribute will not be far from the front early. Trained by Craig Dollase, Disko Tribute won a five-furlong allowance race for statebreds on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 15, and was fourth in a similar race against open company on Sept. 8.

Claimed for $25,000 at Santa Anita in January, Disko Tribute has won twice on dirt this year, both at Los Alamitos – in a 1,000-yard race at the evening meeting in February and a starter allowance for former $16,000 claimers in July.

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