Richard’s Boy brings versatility for Harris Farm Stakes

The two contenders who constitute the speed of Sunday’s $100,000 Harris Farm Stakes at the Big Fresno Fair come into the race from opposite directions, but each won his previous start.

Richard’s Boy will make his first start since winning the five-furlong Jess Jackson Owners’ Handicap on turf Aug. 15 at Santa Rosa, while Cartoonist will make his first start for new owner Scott Herbertson and new trainer Jonathan Wong after being claimed from a victory in a $12,500 claimer Oct. 1 at Golden Gate Fields.

Five rivals will be chasing them in the six-furlong sprint, including multiple stakes winners Wake Up Nick and Tamarando. Richard’s Boy, Cartoonist, Wake Up Nick, and likely longshot London Legacy are 3-year-olds.

Richard’s Boy is a multiple stakes winner on turf but also is 2 for 4 with a third on dirt.

“He’s a very versatile horse,” said trainer Peter Miller, who has been eyeing this race since Richard’s Boy beat older horses in the Jess Jackson. “He can run on the lead, but he doesn’t need to.”

That versatility will give jockey Ricardo Gonzalez plenty of options after breaking from the outside in post 7.

Cartoonist, who won a $6,250 claimer prior to the $12,500 race he was claimed from, is not a typical sharp claimer shooting for the moon. He was stakes-placed as a 2-year-old.

“Scott picked him out because he figured they’d dropped the horse just trying to build his confidence,” said Wong. “He’s a Cal-bred, and he still is eligible for the first condition. There’s not a lot of speed in here, so we decided to enter.”

Key contenders

Richard’s Boy (Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-32)

* He’s sharp and working well. He’ll be carrying 15 more pounds than he carried at Santa Rosa, where Miller took advantage of Gonzalez’s ability to ride at 105 pounds in the name-your-weight Jess Jackson. Perfectly drawn outside, he can sit just off Cartoonist or go to the lead.

Wake Up Nick (Last 3 Beyers: 64-74-71)

* He won his first five starts, so running fresh might not be a major concern for a colt making his first start as a 3-year-old after a 10 1/2-month layoff. He has 10 works, and the recent ones have been solid, with a pair of five-furlong bullets in the past month. He’s a stalker type and might have to use some speed early because of a rail draw.

Cartoonist (Last 3 Beyers: 78-66-32)

* Speed is his game, but two of his poorest starts have come on dirt. His new barn is taking a shot because of his speed, but he’s meeting much tougher, although he is used to meeting older horses.