Obermeister wires field in Pleasanton Stakes

Obermeister ($15.80), claimed for $8,000 on March 26, recorded his first stakes victory, winning the $49,900 Pleasanton Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion Wednesday at the Alameda County Fair.

Obermeister defeated Allwood, who was second the entire way, by 3 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. His winning time was 1:41.64.

"I claimed him because of the raw speed he showed. If you have speed, you win races," owner-trainer Armando Lage said. "Speed is a great tool, and, when you go long, it's an extra asset."

After winning a $12,500 starter-allowance sprint in his first race for Lage, Obermeister set the pace and finished third behind Cinema Handicap winner Just Wonder in his turf debut in the Ascot Handicap. He then finished second in an allowance race on the turf before his stakes victory.

"My horse popped the gate so I didn't have to rush him to get the lead," winning jockey Roberto Gonzalez said after the Pleasanton. "After that, he relaxed, and, when I asked him, he had another gear."

Obermeister earned $29,700, lifting his career earnings to $119,780 with his sixth win in 14 starts.