Ritzy A.P. brings sharp Southern California form to Joseph T. Grace

A Southern California invader looms the one to beat in Saturday’s $50,000 Joseph T. Grace Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair at Santa Rosa.

So what else is new?

Southern California runners won the meet’s first two stakes races last weekend. The Tulip captured the Luther Burbank last Saturday, and the filly Streetwithnoname defeated males in the Robert Dupret Derby on Sunday. It was the first stakes victory for each runner.

Although he’s also looking for his first stakes victory, the Dan Blacker-trained Ritzy A.P. has faced the strongest company among the five entered in the Joseph T. Grace, for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on turf.

In his last two starts, Ritzy A.P. has beeen second in second-level optional claimers in Southern California. He was beaten a half-length on July 18 at Del Mar by the California-bred stakes winner Ann Arbor Eddie.

A 4-year-old owned by Calumet Farm, Ritzy A.P. drew the rail and should get a stalking trip behind likely pacesetter Sixes.

Sixes will be making his stakes debut off a wire-to-wire victory in an optional claimer on the Golden Gate turf June 1. Sixes put together a three-race win streak last winter after being sent north from the Doug O’Neill barn to Jonathan Wong.

Taima the Hawk is coming off a third in the Oak Tree Sprint on the dirt at Pleasanton, but is at his best going two turns on the turf. He won a second-level optional claimer at Golden Gate in May the last time he ran on turf.

Touched by Autism has won three straight – two at Pleasanton and one at Sacramento – but is 0 for 2 on turf. More Power to Him is 0 for 5 on turf and has been beaten by one of his Saturday rivals in his last three starts.

Joseph T. Grace Handicap

Key contenders

Ritzy A.P., by English Channel

(Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-89)

◗ His rider on Saturday, Ricardo Gonzalez, guided The Tulip to victory in the Luther Burbank.

◗ His 2-5-2 record in 16 starts speaks to his penchant for dropping close finishes. In his last three starts on turf, he was beaten by a half-length, a half-length, and a neck.

Sixes, by Cape Blanco

(Last 3 Beyers: 85-69-82)

◗ Frank Alvarado rides him for the eighth consecutive race Saturday. They are 4 for 7 together.