Golden Gate Fields: Ourwestcoastghost prepped and ready for Oakland Stakes

The $50,000-added Oakland Stakes on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields is so competitive that a case can be made for all 10 of the runners in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.

Gallant Son is the probable favorite. He won the six-furlong Albany in February and returned from a nearly six-month layoff with a victory in an allowance prep for this race. He faces Moonshine Bay and Administer, second and third in a photo finish in the prep; the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained multiple stakes winners Ain’t No Other and Longview Drive; and Ourwestcoastghost, who was arguably Northern California’s best sprinter this spring and early summer.

Although he finished fourth in the prep, Ourwestcoastghost could turn the tables in the Oakland with a return to his best form.

After winning the Casual Lies at Pleasanton on July 4, he finished eighth in the five-furlong Jess Jackson in his turf debut. He didn’t handle the turf and came out of the race with a bad cut on his leg, trainer D. Wayne Baker said.

He returned in the prep after nine weeks on the sidelines and was beaten 3 1/2 lengths, but Baker exudes confidence heading into Saturday’s race. Abel Cedillo rides Ourwestcoastghost and was aboard for a six-furlong bullet drill Saturday.

“When he worked 1:12 last Saturday, Abel was motionless on him,” said Baker, who bred and owns the 5-year-old Muqtarib gelding with Ron and Lillian Lang. “It was like a regular gallop; he seemed to do it so effortlessly.”

Ourwestcoastghost’s past two starts mark the only time in his nine-race career that he failed to hit the board.

He won at first asking sprinting and then hit the board in three straight mile races before going to the sidelines for 13 months. He won allowance sprints at Golden Gate in May and June before capturing the Casual Lies at Pleasanton in July. Baker said Ourwestcoastghost cut his leg just above the ankle before the start of the Jess Jackson.

“I could see blood on the bandage as they entered the starting gate,” Baker said.

Baker said that Ourwestcoastghost was “a couple works short” for the prep for the Oakland, but that he’s ready now.

“We took a shot that didn’t pay off, but he came out of it great,” Baker said.

Rounding out the field are Starboardlights, Coach Bob, Scorpion Warrior, and Mel’s Game.