Oak Tree Sprint a homecoming for Touched by Autism

There may not be any superstars entered, but Thursday’s $50,000 Oak Tree Sprint at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton will require the ‘A’ game from one of the seven entrants to win the six-furlong race. Of the six with stakes experience, five have exacta finishes in stakes.

Touched by Autism may be the one to beat. The winner of the six-furlong Oakland at Golden Gate Fields last fall, the 6-year-old Touched by Autism is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 All American at a mile at Golden Gate. Prior to the Oakland, he was a close fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Bull Dog at Fresno.

And this might be considered his home track.

“This is where he started, where we broke him,” said trainer Marcia Stortz.

Touched by Autism won two starts here last year, both in routes. He finished third and fourth in two sprints here prior to that, losing to stakes winners both times.

Touched by Autism can be a handful during training, and Stortz tries hard to space out his works. He’s worked here three times since the May 27 All American and has a pair of bullet works to prepare for this.

Summersimage is among the main competition for Touched by Autism. Since running fourth after being pushed too hard early in the six-furlong Lost in the Fog in April, Summersimage has a win and a second in the Albany on turf at Golden Gate on June 8. He has a five-furlong bullet work since.

“He’s doing pretty good,” said trainer Ricardo Perez. “You’ve just gotta get lucky. He’s got speed but doesn’t need to be on the lead.”

Tribal Storm, the runner-up in both the Albany and this race last year, didn’t have the best of trips in this year’s Albany, finishing fourth off a 10-month layoff.

“I thought he’d run a little better, but he’s worked well since and has got some speed to run against,” said trainer Ari Herberston. “I think three-quarters is the best distance for him.”

Oak Tree Sprint, Race 8

Key contenders

Touched by Autism, by Sierra Sunset

Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-73

◗ Barn does well on the route-to-sprint move.

Tribal Storm, by Papa Clem

Last 3 Beyers: 75-68-74

◗ Making his second start following a 10-month layoff.

◗ Has a stakes win at the distance.

Summersimage, by Slew’s Tiznow

Last 3 Beyers: 79-87-80

◗ Recorded his career-best Beyer Speed Figure here.

◗ Solid sprinter won his lone stakes in a turf route.