Combacking Tribal Storm ready to fire in Albany Stakes

When asked about the comebacking Tribal Storm in Saturday’s $50,000 Albany Stakes at Golden Gate Fields, trainer Ari Herbertson said, “We’re all pretty confident.”

Consider yourself warned.

Herbertson has a good feel for the Albany, a five-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

In 2017, he won the Albany with Krsto Skye, whom he had claimed for $8,000 two races earlier. Last year, Herbertson ran second in the Albany with Tribal Storm, whom he also had claimed two races earlier.

In this year’s Albany, the 5-year-old Tribal Storm makes his first start since running last in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar 10 months ago. During the long layoff, Tribal Storm was turned from a ridgling to a gelding.

Tribal Storm shows six works in seven weeks, but Herbertson said he wishes he had one more work in him. Irving Orozco, who has ridden Tribal Storm in seven of his last eight starts, has the mount in the Albany.

“He’s 5, and he looks phenomenal,”Herbertson said of Tribal Storm. “Irving is pretty excited and thinks he’s ready to go.”

The late-running Tribal Storm breaks from the outside in the nine-horse field.

Southern California invader Brandothebartender breaks from the rail in the Albany. Brandothebartender should find this spot easier than his last race, a fourth-place finish two weeks ago at Santa Anita in the Grade 3 Daytona, also at five furlongs on turf. Like Tribal Storm, Brandothebartender does his best running late.

Mikes Tiznow is coming off a front-running allowance win at five furlongs on the Golden Gate turf and will gun for the lead in the Albany. Summersimage and Adorned figure to be tracking Mikes Tiznow.

KEY CONTENDERS

Tribal Storm, by Papa Clem

Last 3 Beyers: 68-74-84

◗ He has two wins and a second at five furlongs on turf, including a victory on this course in an allowance race last year.

Brandothebartender, by Tribal Rule

Last 3 Beyers: 82-88-96

◗ He won the California Flag for statebreds at Santa Anita going five furlongs on turf last October.

◗ Earlier this year, he ran third in a pair of statebred stakes on turf at Santa Anita – the Crystal Water and the Sensational Star.

Adorned, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 84-89-64

◗ A 5-year-old with only six starts, he won an allowance sprint over Mikes Tiznow in April and comes off a third behind Saturday rivals Summersimage and Sequentially in an optional-claiming sprint May 17. Both races were on the Tapeta main track.

◗ He graduated with a wire-to-wire turf win at a mile in September.