Onebadshark wins Whiting

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Onebadshark ($9.80) returned from a minor injury, wearing down a game El Dorado Shooter to win the $50,595 Sam J. Whiting Memorial Handicap at the Alameda County Fair on Saturday.

Onebadshark, who had been suffering from a cramping problem in his hind quarters, sat behind El Dorado Shooter through rapid 21.43 and 43.37 opening fractions. He pulled along side at the eighth pole and pulled away to win the six-furlong race by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:08.14. El Dorado Shooter finished three in front of Twentythreejaybird.

"I was riding very confidently, but then El Dorado got a little further ahead on the turn," winning rider Chance Rollins said. "El Dorado ran game, but I think this is the best sprinter up here."

Winning trainer Brian Koriner had hoped to be in Florida with Stormin' Lyon in the Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes, but the colt came down with a 103-degree temperature. Onebadshark's victory was a nice consolation.

"He had something happen (before the Feb. 28 San Carlos Handicap at one mile) that made him cramp up behind," Koriner said. "We sent him to the farm for a month to get over it, and he came back good.

"We may have rushed him a bit, and I was concerned after his last work when he went 57.60 for five furlongs and loped out in 1:10-and-1. But he snapped back.

"I was concerned when El Dorado ran so well on the turn because my horse didn't seem able to push after running a half mile before. He had no motor, but he finished well."

The victory was the 4-year-old colt's first stakes victory, earning $27,585 to increase his lifetime earnings to $98,800 with four wins in 10 starts.

El Dorado Shooter's jockey Alfredo Miranda was very happy with the way the 7-year-old gelding continued strongly after being passed.

"The last couple he was quitting pretty bad, and he probably need this, but he really dug in to the end," Miranda said.