Salah Champ eyes first stakes win in Bull Dog Handicap

Sunday’s $75,000 Bull Dog Handicap, the final stakes of the fair season, will be a milestone race for the nine runners entered in the 1 1/8-mile race at the Big Fresno Fair. No matter which runner is first across the finish line, it will mark his first stakes victory.

Only three of the nine runners have even placed in a stakes.

Terrys Tom Cat, the lone 3-year-old in the field, was second in this summer’s Robert Dupret Derby at Santa Rosa. Salah Champ lost by a head to graded stakes winner Pepper Crown in the Rolling Green at Golden Gate Fields on Labor Day. Both of those races were on turf.

King Kelly was second in last year’s Bull Dog, moved up from third when Positive Response was disqualified from the win.

While it may not be the most lustrous field in the race’s history, it is a solid one that should make for a contentious event.

Six of the nine have six-figure bankrolls, and all seem to be coming into the race in decent form. Adding to the handicapping puzzle is the dirt surface, which may not be the favorite surface for most.

Crusher, a longshot making his stakes debut, does have three wins and two seconds in seven dirt starts. Tiz Dynamic, a runner-up in two turf starts since arriving in Northern California, has won 4 of 10 on dirt.

KEY CONTENDERS

Salah Champ (Last 3 Beyers: 89-92-90)

◗ Since being claimed by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer on Feb. 13, he’s won five times and finished second in his other four starts. He’s won three of his past four starts, including an optional-claiming race at Stockton last time. He has two wins and a third in four dirt starts.

◗ He set a pressured pace last time but likely will get a stalking trip under Russell Baze.

Siberian Laughter (Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-85)

◗ He’s a grinder who is best on turf. He ran fifth in a Pleasanton stakes last year in his lone start on dirt. He, too, has contending-type speed and will have to use a bit of it early because of his outside draw.

◗ He is winless this year but has been running consistently during the summer.

Tiz Dynamic (Last 3 Beyers: 86-89-67)

◗ He has the most dirt wins and earnings of any runner in the field. He loses the services of Baze after finishing second as the favorite in his two previous Northern California starts. Silvio Amador, who gets the call, won last week’s $100,000 Harris Farm Stakes.

◗ He’s another who will be involved in what should be an interesting pace scenario but does come into this with a pair of strong works.