Dangerfield dominates Oak Tree Juvenile
Dangerfield, a $450,000 yearling purchase, earned the respect of Northern California as he scored an impressive victory in the $55,325 Oak Tree Juvenile on Saturday at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet.
Dangerfield ($11.60), a Mischief colt, got a dream trip in the mile-and-70-yard race for 2-year-olds as he sat just off favored Aqua Frio.
Aqua Frio had no answer when jockey Abel Cedillo began to move with Dangerfield at the quarter pole. Dangerfield had his head in front as the field turned for home and pulled clear through the stretch, defeating Aqua Frio by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:42.28. The filly Only You Babe turned in an even effort, running third another 1 3/4 lengths back.
Aqua Frio set decent fractions of 24.05 seconds, 48.22, and 1:12.78 while racing off the rail but couldn’t shake loose from Dangerfield. Dangerfield stayed outside Aqua Frio as he made his winning move.
Trained by Doug O’Neill and owned by W.C. Racing and Zayat Stables, Dangerfield earned $32,100 for the victory and now has career earnings of $47,080 as he romped in his first route try.