Our Silver Oak, Visitant looking to break out in Alcatraz

In sports, as the old cliché goes, close only counts in horse shoes.

But close has given local trainers Jonathan Wong and John Martin plenty to look forward to in Sunday’s $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. The Alcatraz is for 3-year-olds going a mile on turf.

Wong has entered Our Silver Oak, who lost the Silky Sullivan at Golden Gate by a nose April 28. The Silky Sullivan also was a one-mile turf race.

Martin is running Visitant, who lost by a half-length to Kingly in the California Derby here in his last start. The April 27 California Derby was run on Tapeta, and both Visitant and the Bob Baffert-trained Kingly will be making their turf debut on Sunday.

Our Silver Oak closed fast in the final furlong of the Silky Sullivan, finishing a nose behind Irish Heatwave and a nose in front of Lieutenant Dan. That was his first race for Wong after having been trained by William E. Morey.

“He ran really well,” Wong said.

Visitant won his first two starts and, said Martin, “ran his race” in the narrow loss to Kingly. Visitant came from 10 lengths back and raced wide in the California Derby, and he may have to deal with another wide trip in the Alcatraz from post 8 in the field of nine.

Visitant, by Ghostzapper, does have some turf in his family. His dam won 2 of 3 starts on turf, and two of his siblings have won on the surface.

“He’s a classy, good-looking horse,” Martin said. “Let’s see if he likes turf.”

Kingly has a royal pedigree, but it doesn’t scream turf. He is by Tapit and out of Grade 2 Bonnie Miss and Grade 2 Davona Dale winner Justwhistledixie, and is a sibling to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day and multiple Grade 2 winner Mohaymen. All three of those relatives had their best success on the main track. On the other hand, Baffert saddles first-time turf horses at a strong win rate of 24 percent.

Recent maiden winner One Bad Boy finished second in February to the scratched Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach, then won a Santa Anita maiden race by 4 1/4 lengths going a mile on turf April 6 in his last start. His trainer, Richard Baltas, sent Kitty Boom Boom here to win the Campanile on the turf. One Bad Boy must break from the outside post.

KEY CONTENDERS

Our Silver Oak, by Unusual Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 78-66-67

◗ Although he has just one win in his 10 races, he has been second or third in stakes three times.

Visitant, by Ghostzapper

Beyers: 87-70-62

◗ He defeated two of his Sunday rivals – Rey Coliman and Our Silver Oak – two starts back in a one-mile optional claimer on the Tapeta.