Quick and Silver will have hands full early and late in Oakland Stakes

Saturday’s $50,000 Oakland could be the most contentious stakes race of the year at Golden Gate Fields. Two sharp speedsters will be gunning from the start of the six-furlong race on the Tapeta, and two solid closers will be trying to reel them in.

The Oakland attracted a field of 10 3-year-olds and up, with Quick and Silver and Spirit Rules expected to lead the way.

Quick and Silver has won three straight in front-running style, including allowance wins at Pleasanton and Golden Gate over some of his Saturday rivals. He’ll be trying to outrun Spirit Rules, who shipped up from Southern California in September and has gone wire to wire in his two Northern California starts, both against easier.

Marino’s Wild Cat, a multiple stakes winner, drew the outside post and has done his best running on the lead. Mah Gellin drew the rail and also usually sits close to the pace.

Sitting back and biding their time will be Star Student and Outside Nashville, who finished second and third to Quick and Silver in an Oct. 29 allowance sprint at Golden Gate.

Outside Nashville is looking to complete a Northern California hat trick of sprint stakes this year after winning the Lost in the Fog here in February and the Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton in July. Star Student won an allowance sprint here two starts back in September and missed by a head to Quick and Silver on Oct. 29.

Quick and Silver finished second in the 2015 Oak Tree Sprint, but has raced exclusively in allowance or claiming company during the last year.

“This is the time to take a shot,” trainer Bill Delia said. “He’s very sharp right at the moment. He loves the track, and he’s a tough customer. You’ve got to try the big boys sometimes.

“He’s the kind of horse that there’s no telling how good he can be.”

Key Contenders

Quick and Silver, by Dunkirk

(Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-88)

◗ He tends to break sharply and has been in front at the first call of his last nine races.

◗ William Antongeorgi III rides him for the 10th straight time.

Outside Nashville, by Broken Vow

(Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-90)

◗ Seven of his nine victories have come at the six-furlong distance of the Oakland.

◗ Ricardo Gonzalez has been aboard for his last four starts, but he rides Jerry Hollendorfer stablemate Dream Saturday in the Oakland. Juan Hernandez takes the mount.

Star Student, by Student Council

(Last 3 Beyers: 88-96-86)

◗ Trained by Dan Markle, he won this race last year.