Finding right answer in Oakland Stakes no easy task

Ten sprinters signed up for Saturday’s $50,000-added Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate Fields, and handicappers will have to sift through almost as many questions to isolate the winner of the six-furlong Tapeta race.

Can 3-year-olds Zakaroff and Right Hand Man beat their elders? Can Star Student win the Oakland for the second year in a row? Which of a Jerry Hollendorfer-trained trio of Outside Nashville, Percy’s Bluff, and I Will Score has the best chance of reaching the winner’s circle?

Right Hand Man has been gelded since running third against older in the Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton on July 4. Winner of the Cavonnier Juvenile at Santa Rosa and the Golden Nugget at Golden Gate last year, Right Hand Man has started only twice this year.

“It’s been very frustrating,” said trainer Jeff Bonde. “We must have entered him 20 times; the race didn’t go. We’re hoping for a good effort.”

Zakaroff pulled a 48-1 upset in the 1 1/8-mile El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate in February. He has shown he can sprint, too, having won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race last November.

Zakaroff finished fifth against older horses in an optional-claiming sprint at Golden Gate on Sept. 8, which marked his first start in almost six months. Trainer Steve Specht said he had Zakaroff ready to run back in late October, but the horse got sick.

Outside Nashville is the most accomplished of the three Jerry Hollendorfer entrants, having won seven stakes, including the Oakland in 2015. He comes off a third-place finish in a one-mile allowance race here on Oct. 29, his first race in more than nine months.

I Will Score is coming off a win the Grade 3 Laz Barrera at Santa Anita – in May of 2016. I Will Score has raced only six times, with three wins and top-three finishes in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis at Santa Anita and the Bachelor at Oaklawn.

Percy’s Bluff was running for a bottom-level $4,000 claiming price one year ago. He has seven wins this year, including a front-running score in a five-furlong optional claimer on the Golden Gate turf a month ago.

Star Student has yet to win in seven starts since his victory in this race last year, and comes off a layoff of almost six months.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Right Hand Man, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers: 80-51-79

◗ He has been working quickly and regularly at Santa Anita

◗ All three of his wins have come sprinting

I Will Score, by Roman Ruler

Last 3 Beyers: 94-80-70

◗ His six-furlong work in 1:12 over the Golden Gate Tapeta on Oct. 21 stands out among his steady series of drills.

Mach One Rules, by Harbor the Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 77-83-88

◗ He is back on the main track after finishing sixth in his first grass race, the Obviously Mile at Santa Anita. In his lone start over the Tapeta here, Mach One Rules ran third in an allowance sprint last December.

◗ He has won three stakes this year, all at Emerald Downs.