Oliver sticking with Cal-breds for now

Oliver won the first stakes of his career in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred miles at Los Alamitos on Saturday and is likely to stay in the statebred division this fall, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

The $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for statebreds at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 24 is a long-range goal, O’Neill said in a text.

A 3-year-old, Oliver, who is owned by William Peeples, had his stakes debut against older horses in the Johnston. He closed from third in a field of eight under jockey Martin Garcia to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 22-1 Tule Fog.

The Johnston Stakes was Oliver’s first start around two turns on dirt. At the Del Mar summer meeting, the colt was second in the Real Good Deal Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on July 27 and won an allowance race with a $20,000 claiming option against older statebreds at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 17.

Garcia has been the regular rider of Oliver for all seven of his starts this year, including a sixth in the Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on June 22.

“I rode him going 1 1/8 miles on turf and he didn’t like the turf that day,” Garcia said. “I thought he could win going two turns, and I said they should give it a try. He didn’t have any problems going two turns.”

Oliver, by Papa Clem, has won 4 of 13 starts and earned $228,076.