Clovisconnection triumphs in Oak Tree Sprint

The versatile gelding Clovisconnection won the sixth stakes of his 14-race career in Saturday’s $66,250 Oak Tree Sprint at the Alameda county fair in Pleasanton, Calif., helped by a confident and patient ride by jockey William Antongeorgi.

Clovisconnection ($3.20) stalked pacesetter Talbot Bay to early stretch before taking the lead with a three-wide move. Clovisconnection drew away from four rivals to win the six-furlong race by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:10.06. Clovisconnection earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

Talbot Bay (23-1) held second, a length in front of 15-1 Lmlooknformischief. Top Harbor, a five-time stakes winner, finished fourth in his 2024 debut, followed by Sharona’s Wild Boy.

Doo Wop Don was scratched earlier on Saturday.

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Clovisconnection, who races for owners and breeders Bill and Judy Hedrick and trainer Blaine Wright, won his first stakes of 2024 in the Oak Tree Sprint.

Earlier this year, Clovisconnection was third in the Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in March, finished last of 11 in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on April 27, and rebounded to win an allowance race at six furlongs on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate on May 26.

At times in his career, Clovisconnection has led throughout, but displayed a more tactical style in the Oak Tree Sprint.

Clovisconnection, a 4-year-old gelding by Vronsky, has won nine races and earned $320,550.

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