Longview Drive goes from last to first to win Oak Tree Handicap

PLEASANTON, Calif. – Longview Drive ($7.20), last for most of the race, had plenty of run in the lane, wearing down stablemate Summer Hit and favored Footbridge to win the $100,405 Oak Tree Handicap by one length Saturday in the first $100,000 race ever run here.

Coming off a narrow loss to Summer Hit in the Grade 3 All American at Golden Gate Fields, Longview Drive proved superior on the dirt and longer distance.

William Antongeorgi gave the 5-year-old Pulpit horse a confident ride as Summer Hit, virtually unbeatable on Golden Gate's Tapeta surface, was pressed through the first six furlongs by Cahill Chrome, who was claimed for $3,200 two races back. Fractions were 24.37 seconds, 48.46, and 1:12.60 through six furlongs as Summer Hit never got a breather.

Summer Hit was a head in front of Footbridge after a 1:37.65 mile but could not go on.

Footbridge took over in the stretch, but Antongeorgi, who was stuck behind horses before swinging wide approaching the quarter pole, was flying aboard Longview Drive, who had been the betting favorite before being overtaken by Footbridge and Summer Hit late in the wagering.

He quickly passed Summer Hit and had Footbridge measured as he was pulling way at the wire, winning in 1:50.33. Footbridge ran second, three lengths in front of Summer Hit.

"The dirt and the extra distance helped," said Antongeorgi. "Here, he just pulled me up to them. I think the dirt really helped. Out of the gate, he took hold of the bit. I was just hoping somebody would go with Summer Hit, but it helped feeling the horse I had under me."

Russell Baze offered no excuses for Summer Hit when asked about the dirt surface, constant pressure, and the 14 pounds he was spotting Cahill Chrome.

"It was a little bit of everything," he said.

Longview Drive earned $60,050 to lift his career total to $336,772 with four wins in 23 starts. Owned by Steve Beneto and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, he won his first stakes since capturing the Cavonnier and the Charlie Palmer Futurity as a 2-year-old.