Pleasanton: Sold Short could give trainer hometown win in Everett Nevin

Sam DiLaura has run two horses since getting his training license last month. Sold Short was second to undefeated City Route in the Lost in the Fog at Golden Gate Fields. Crown Over was third in last week’s Livermore Valley Wines Stakes at the Alameda County Fair last week.

DiLaura will be looking for his first training victory in Saturday’s $50,000-added Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity when he sends out Sold Short against six rivals. The 5 1/2-furlong dirt race for 2-year-olds will be run at the Alameda County Fair in DiLaura’s hometown of Pleasanton, Calif.

“To me, winning it would be better than winning the Kentucky Derby,” said DiLaura, who went to school in Pleasanton with fellow trainer Jeff Bonde.

Sold Short was freshened a bit after his race in the June 11 Lost in the Fog. DiLaura let Sold Short gallop two miles daily before finally giving him a half-mile work on July 1. He was clocked in 49.40 seconds and galloped out in 1:01 for five furlongs. DiLaura said that Sold Short is ready to run.

Sold Short is stabled at Pleasanton, and DiLaura sees that as a benefit.

“Staying here all year should help,” DiLaura said. “You don’t have to worry about shipping or anything.”

Speed has been the key to success during the early part of the meeting, and Sold Short has enough speed to be a pace contender. All three of his races came over the Golden Gate Fields Tapeta. He ran second after breaking slowly in his two-furlong debut. In his second start, which came going 4 1/2 furlongs in May, he set the early pace, was headed briefly by Sherman Bartlebort, and rallied to win by 1 3/4 lengths. In the five-furlong Lost in the Fog, he sat behind the speed City Route, was headed for second place by Mighty Monsoon, and then re-rallied to finish 2 1/4 lengths behind City Route.

“This colt has a big heart,” said DiLaura. “He came back on in all his races.”

Galex could be favored over Sold Short. An impressive June 10 debut winner at Golden Gate Fields, he is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who also trains City Route.

Also entered is the Bonde-trained Mighty Monsoon, the beaten favorite in the Lost in the Fog. Sherman Bartlebort, who lost to Sold Short in his debut before winning his second start, is also running.