Hollendorfer has two for Oakland Stakes

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will saddle two former claimers who figure to be quite competitive in Saturday’s $50,000-added Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. The six-furlong sprint is brimming with contenders, including the Hollendorfer duo of Annie’s Candy and Awesome Anywhere.

Awesome Anywhere, who has won two straight at Santa Anita since being claimed for $32,000 from a win Sept. 16 at Golden Gate, seemingly lives up to his name. He’s on a roll and has shown vast improvement in his last three starts leading up to his stakes debut. He sat just off Mah Gellin, who is drawn inside him for Saturday, and pulled away through the lane on the day Hollendorfer claimed him from Tim McCanna.

Awesome Anywhere dueled for the lead and pulled clear late in a first-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Santa Anita in his first start for Hollendorfer on Oct. 6. On Oct. 26, in a second-level allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option, he scored a front-running 7 1/4-length victory while notching a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Annie’s Candy, who won the Oak Tree Sprint in June, two races after being claimed by Ari Herbertson, is a sharp and consistent runner with four wins in five starts here. Herbertson, who lost Annie’s Candy for $40,000 in his last start on Oct. 28, said he’s rooting for the 5-year-old gelding.

“He’s my favorite horse I’ve ever had,” Herbertson said. “He always gave his best.”

Trainer Manny Badilla will send recent winner Midnight Ming and J C’s Nightcap, who had four straight exacta finishes before a disappointing try on turf. Blaine Wright has entered Mah Gellin, a runner-up to the Hollendorfer pair in his past two starts, and Quick and Silver.

Oakland Stakes, Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Awesome Anywhere, by Awesome of Course
Last 3 Beyers: 100-92-87

◗ Makes his stakes debut after three straight wins. Improving runner destroyed a solid optional-claiming field last out.

◗ Two wins and a third in three starts here.

Annie’s Candy, by Twirling Candy
Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-84

◗ Sharp runner has had two works for new barn.

◗ Won the Oak Tree Sprint after a runner-up effort on turf here in the Albany.

◗ Should have a fast pace to chase.

Mah Gellin, by Skimming
Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-75

◗ Runner-up to Awesome Anywhere and Annie’s Candy in his last two starts.

◗ Ran third in the 2016 Oakland, beaten a half-length.

◗ Has earned more than $250,000 here.

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