More Power to Him back for another try at Bull Dog Handicap

More Power to Him missed by a neck in last year’s Bull Dog Handicap at the Big Fresno Fair, and trainer Faith Taylor is hoping he can come out on the right end of the photo in Sunday’s running of the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.

The $50,000 Bull Dog drew a field of six, including Mugaritz, who has won three straight but is making his first start in eight months, and Koa, a sprinter stretching out off two straight wins.

Trained by Faith Taylor, More Power to Him rallied from the back of the pack to win the Mt. Rainier at Emerald Downs in July. In his two starts since, More Power to Him failed to threaten in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald in August and the S.W. Randall Plate at Hastings on Sept. 7.

More Power to Him sits back early and rallies late, and the Bull Dog may set up for him if Koa, Mugaritz, and Engram go too fast early.

With 11 starts this year, there’s no doubt More Power to Him is fit.

“He’s sharp and training good,” Taylor said. “He ships well and ran well here last year. The more you do with him, the better he seems to run. He’s honest, and he runs his race.”

Koa, a 3-year-old by Bodemeister, was a last-minute entry by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. He won a first-level allowance sprint on the turf at Santa Rosa in August and stepped up dramatically in class to pull a 21-1 upset in a classified allowance on the dirt at Los Alamitos Sept. 6.

The only time Koa finished worse than third in his eight starts was also his only route try. Koa stalked the pace and faded to eighth in a one-mile allowance on the Tapeta at Golden Gate in June. On Sunday, he could find himself on the lead.

Mugaritz, the runner-up in last year’s California Derby, hasn’t raced since March 8, when he won a second-level optional claimer on the Tapeta at Golden Gate. Mugaritz left More Power to Him 4 1/4 lengths back in third.

Engram, a two-time Humboldt County Marathon champion, showed surprising speed to be on the lead in a one-mile optional claimer on the Golden Gate Tapeta a month ago. He held on for second, beaten a length at 33-1.

Bull Dog Handicap

KEY CONTENDERS

More Power to Him, by Slew’s Tiznow

Last 3 Beyers:78-75-83

◗ Leads the field with $329,316 in earnings.

◗ He and Engram are the only two runners with a race over the track.

Koa, by Bodemeister

Last 3 Beyers: 77-73-69

◗ He has improved his Beyers in his last four starts.

◗ Beat older horses in his last two races.