I'mgonnabesomebody faces Tripoli, C Z Rocket in deep Pleasanton Mile
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He won stakes last September and November by leading throughout and in May from slightly off the pace.
The 5-year-old gelding I’mgonnabesomebody has been in the best form of his career in the last year in Northern California and will need another top-level performance to win the richest race of his career in Sunday’s $150,000 Pleasanton Mile at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif.
The Pleasanton Mile, actually run at a mile and 70 yards, is a new race that drew 14 entries, but will be limited to 10 starters. The Pleasanton Mile is the top race on a strong 10-race program on closing day of the Alameda County Fair. The three-week Cal-Expo fair meeting in Sacramento begins July 14.
I’mgonnabesomebody, trained by Bill McLean for a large partnership, will be challenged by Tripoli, who won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in 2021 in his last stakes win; the improving gelding Katonah, Il Bellator, who was fourth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf on May 29 at Santa Anita; and C Z Rocket, the 9-year-old gelding who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland last November.
I’mgonnabesomebody is unlikely to set the pace and has a better chance as a stalker from McLean’s perspective. Alexander Chavez, leading rider at Pleasanton through Thursday, rode I’mgonnabesomebody to a win in the All American Stakes at 1 1/16 mile on May 29 at Golden Gate Fields, the gelding’s first start since January.
In that race, I’mgonnabesomebody closed from third of seven.
“Hopefully, he’ll break good and get in contention,” McLean said Friday. “I think he could lay third or fourth.
“Chavez is riding very good. Hopefully, we’ll get a good trip.”
Katonah, winner of an allowance race at a mile on May 27 at Santa Anita, will have his stakes debut in the Pleasanton Mile and can be a factor from off the pace along with American Farmer, who was second in the All American Stakes.
The Pleasanton Mile is the second of two stakes on Sunday.
The $75,000 Everett Nevin Stakes for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs drew a field of nine – seven maiden race winners in their last starts, one gelding who finished second, and a first-time starter.
Last Call London, the winner of a maiden race for statebreds at five furlongs on June 11 at Santa Anita in his third career start, may have a slight advantage. Trained by Peter Miller, Last Call London closed from fourth of six on June 11 and could be well-placed behind what is expected to be a quick pace in the Nevin.
Shady Appeal, the easy winner of a maiden race for statebreds at five furlongs by 3 3/4 lengths on June 11 at Santa Anita, will be prominent from the start from an inside post. Edwin Maldonado will ride Shady Appeal for the first time for trainer Jeff Bonde.
The gelding Wild Jewels and filly Blevys Tiger, the winners of five-furlong maiden races in June, are two other candidates quick enough to lead.
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