Oak Tree Juvenile a proving ground for Artie B Good, Respect the Hustle

This is a time of high hopes for trainers with talented 2-year-olds. And longtime Northern California trainers Billy Morey and Bill McLean each has a colt to get excited about heading into Saturday’s $75,000 Oak Tree Juvenile at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet.

Morey saddles Artie B Good, the lone stakes winner in the field of eight going a mile and 70 yards on the dirt. McLean sends out Respect the Hustle, who went south after a pair of Golden Gate Fields sprints and won at a mile on the turf at Del Mar, then came back with a solid effort in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

Artie B Good won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race at Sacramento in his debut, then took the Jess Jackson Juvenile at Santa Rosa.

“We’re excited, but you know how much tougher it gets with each race,” Morey said.

Artie B Good sat back early and made a strong stretch move in both of his races, and Morey thinks he will handle stretching out to two turns in the Oak Tree Juvenile.

“He’s trained like he’ll like two turns,” Morey said.

Respect the Hustle is proven at two turns. He sprinted in his first two starts and blossomed when McLean sent him a mile on turf at Del Mar. He ran eighth Sept. 3 in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, but was beaten only three lengths.

“He ran respectably in the sprints, but he really ran well in that mile at Del Mar,” McLean said. “He really ran great last time, despite finishing eighth.”

Oak Tree Juvenile (race 8)

Key Contenders

Artie B Good, by Artie Schiller

Beyers: 62-67

◗ He has worked four times since his Aug. 13 stakes win.

◗ Runs as if he wants more distance, and the barn has been winning at a strong 24 percent rate with its sprint-to-route starters.

Respect the Hustle, by Colonel John

Last 3 Beyers: 67-60-48

◗ McLean bought Respect the Hustle privately at last September’s Keeneland yearling sale.

“He had good conformation, a good walk, and a good head,” said McLean, “and he’s turned into a nice horse.”

◗ He has worked twice since the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, including a bullet six furlongs on the Tapeta at Golden Gate.

◗ He has shown a strong closing kick.

Bombardeo, by Violence

Beyers: 62-60

◗ Won sprinting on the turf at Del Mar in his debut, then pressed the pace before tiring to 11th in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He should improve with that mile race under his belt.

◗ His sire won the Grade 2 Nashua at one mile and the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity going 1 1/16 miles.