Outside Nashville wins Oakland Stakes in return

Outside Nashville ($18.20), whose first stakes victory came at Golden Gate Fields as a 2-year-old, made his first start since March 15 and since being gelding a winning one as he pulled away from a strong field with an impressive stretch run Saturday in the $55,070 Oakland Stakes.

A $115,000 purchase as a 2-year-old, Outside Nashville was in mid-pack early, crept up while saving ground on the turn, then shifted out to the two path as he made his winning move for jockey Dennis Carr.

Marino’s Wild Cat and Ain’t No Other, one of three Jerry Hollendorfer trainees in the race, dueled through fast fractions early.

“The instructions were not to let him get too far back. My toughest job was keeping him in the race down the backside,” said Carr, who was 6 1/2 lengths back at the half-mile pole and was still 3 1/2 back at the quarter pole. “At the five-sixteenths, we were really rolling, but it felt like we were galloping. I mean, that’s how easy he was doing it. He won well within himself. Man, did he fire today. When he’s right, he’s tough.”

Outside Nashville, a son of Broken Vow, won the race by four lengths in 1:08.62. Marino’s Wild Cat held on, defeating the 6-5 favorite Streamside and Ourwestcoastghost for second.

Owned by Hollendorfer, John Carver, and Green Smith, Outside Nashville earned $30,450 and now has a bankroll of $169,880 with four wins – three in stakes – in 16 starts.