Maiden winners Lucky Bode, Singaprayer get class test in Robert Dupret Derby

Like location in real estate, timing is important in horse racing.

Given that there aren’t many more stakes restricted to 3-year-olds this year, the recent turf maiden winners Lucky Bode and Singaprayer will seize the chance to run in Sunday’s $50,000 Robert Dupret Derby at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif. Trainers Steve Sherman and Bill Delia said their horses have a shot in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.

Lucky Bode finished 12th in the Oceanside Stakes on turf at Del Mar after his June 4 maiden victory at Golden Gate Fields.

“He actually made a pretty good move,” Sherman said of Lucky Bode’s charge to within 1 1/4 lengths of the lead at the quarter pole in the Oceanside, “then he tired and didn’t push it in. It wasn’t that bad.”

Lucky Bode has run twice in Northern California, running second to the stakes winner Aqua Frio as a 2-year-old before graduating this year.

Singaprayer was claimed by Delia at the bottom $8,000 maiden level in May and then ran for a $20,000 tag in his next two starts, a third-place finish and a win. He’s making his first start since his June 18 graduation, and Delia said the horse is maturing and improving.

Also entered is Thorny Weather, who graduated in a six-furlong sprint last out at Pleasanton, and Summersimage, who won a sprint here last year and turned in a sensational win in his 2017 debut at Pleasanton.

But the competition, headed by the stakes winner Grecian Fire, is tough. William Antongeorgi, who guided Grecian Fire to victory in the Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields, will ride him again.

Also in the field is Alsatian, who was second in the $201,035 Snow Chief for California-breds on turf at Santa Anita.

Robert Dupret Derby (race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Grecian Fire, by Unusual Heat
Last 3 Beyers: 84-88-80

◗ Strong turf breeding top and bottom, and his lone sibling to try turf won.

◗ Late rally going a mile at Del Mar fell a nose shy of third, so he should benefit from this race’s 1 1/16-mile distance.

◗ Best races have come since adding blinkers three starts back.

Lucky Bode, by Bodemeister
Last 3 Beyers: 72-70-36

◗ Hails from a turf-loving family, with seven of 11 siblings being turf winners.

◗ Despite fading last time, he earned a second straight career-best Beyer Speed Figure.

◗ Making his third start following a four-month freshening.

Alsatian, by Acclamation
Last 3 Beyers: 77-85-82

◗ This $200,000 yearling purchase has made all eight of his starts on turf, hitting the board six times.

◗ Has the right late-running style for this course.

◗ Has had two easy works since finishing strong at this distance in his most recent start.