Hollendorfer has three for Joseph T. Grace Handicap

Three Jerry Hollendorfer entries, a Southern California invader, and a number of entrants who are seemingly just taking a shot add up to a diverse field of nine for the $50,000 Joseph T. Grace Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Saturday.

The Hollendorfer trio for the 1 1/16-mile turf race includes G. G. Ryder, the winner of this year’s Grade 3 All American and the runner-up in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields; Street Lad, fourth in a four-way photo in the All American; and Anythingscookin, eighth in last year’s Joseph T. Grace but coming off a victory.

Trainer Richard Baltas sends the 7-year-old gelding A Red Tie Day north from his summer base at Del Mar. A Red Tie Day has competed exclusively in stakes since October, with his lone victory in that six-race span coming in the ungraded Lure Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 30. He has not raced since a 10th-place finish in the Grade 2 Charlie Whittingham on May 28 at Santa Anita.

Among those who are seemingly just taking a shot are Squidward, Fly Lexis Fly, Pure Comedy, and Camino Del Paraiso, each of whom has placed in turf stakes.

Samuel Calvario, the late Armando Lage’s longtime foreman, sends out Fly Lexis Fly, claimed from Hollendorfer for $20,000 on April 22 and coming off a second and a win in his past two turf starts when running for a $25,000 tag.

The Badge of Silver ridgling was a stakes winner at age 2 in Peru, ran second in the Super Derby when brought back to the U.S., and finished third in the Grade 1 Eddie Read on turf at Del Mar in 2013.

“He had good races, and the owner [Mary Tucker] liked him,” Calvario said of the claim.

“His better races are on turf, and he has no other conditions. He’s training well, and I think he has a good shot, so we’re just going with it.”

Key Contenders

G. G. Ryder, by Chhaya Dance
Last 3 Beyers: 84-88-98

◗ Making his Santa Rosa debut, but he thrives in Northern California and should improve off an even Del Mar try following a two-month freshener.

◗ Rider Irving Orozco fits nicely aboard him with two wins, a second, and a third in four starts.

A Red Tie Day, by Indygo Shiner
Last 3 Beyers: 81-93-77

◗ Has worked steadily for his first start in 10 weeks and has run all right when fresh in the past.

◗ Should get his preferred stalking trip.

Fly Lexis Fly, by Badge of Silver
Last 3 Beyers: 78-82-75

◗ Runner with back class has revived his career with a return to turf and shows a solid work pattern for his first race in two months and his first stakes try in 18 months.