When you’re undefeated, have led at every call, and won three straight open-company stakes, running in a stakes race restricted to California-bred or -sired runners sounds like a piece of cake. But trainer Blaine Wright isn’t looking at it that way as Baja Sur lines up against five 3-year-old and up rivals in Saturday’s $100,000 Harris Farms Stakes at the Big Fresno Fair.
“He’s a 3-year-old facing older,” Wright said. “He’s shipping for the first time. He’s never really been hooked yet, and we’re not sure how good he is yet.”
All four of Baja Sur’s starts have come at Emerald Downs in Washington. Last year, he won his debut easily by 5 1/4 lengths and doubled that margin in winning the King County Express before going to the sidelines with sore shins.
When he came back this year, he won two straight sprint stakes in May and June. In the Coca-Cola Stakes on June 16, Baja Sur was challenged down the backstretch for the first time and responded to win by 1 3/4 lengths under a hand ride.
Wright had planned to stretch him out in the Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald later in summer, but the Smiling Tiger gelding injured himself in his stall and will be making his first start since the Coca-Cola.
Baja Sur, who breaks from the rail, is unlikely to get an easy lead in the six-furlong Harris Farms with the presence of My Friend Emma, who drew the outside post in the field of six. My Friend Emma, 7, returned from a 13-month layoff in September and showed he hasn’t lost any of his speed. He led to midstretch and tired to fourth in an allowance sprint on the Golden Gate Tapeta on Sept. 1, then was nipped late in a similar race there Sept. 22.
Drawn between the two speedballs is the stakes winner Summersimage, who should get a good trip just behind the leaders. Fashionably Fast ships up from Southern California and also should get a stalking trip. He comes off a pair of allowance wins at Del Mar, one over statebreds and the other over open company.
Harris Farms Stakes (race 8)
KEY CONTENDERS
Baja Sur, by Smiling Tiger
Last 3 Beyers: 86-87-70
◗ Although Wright thinks this will be Baja Sur’s biggest test yet, he thinks the gelding will run well.
“There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to compete with these,” Wright said.
My Friend Emma, by Tannersmyman
Last 3 Beyers: 88-83-71
◗ Last year, he won the Albany Stakes going five furlongs on the turf at Golden Gate, and he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98 for a second-place finish at a mile on Tapeta in the Grade 3 All American there.
◗ His outside post may give him a tactical advantage over Baja Sur.
Summersimage, by Slew’s Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 87-86-84
◗ Consistent sprinter has hit the board in 8 of 9 starts this year
◗ He traded decisions with My Friend Emma in his last two starts.
◗ He won the Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton in July.
