Santa Rosa: Outside Nashville handles turf, two turns in Robert Dupret Derby

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- Outside Nashville, making his first start on turf and around two turns, was content to sit back and accelerated in the stretch to win the $57,600 Roger Dupret Derby at the Sonoma County Fair.

Outside Nashville, a 3-year-old Broken Vow colt, won the Golden Nugget as a 2-year-old and was coming off a second-place finish in the Livermore Valley Wines, He went off the co-favorite in the 1 1/16-mile turf race with Miceli, who had four turf wins to his credit but had never placed in a stakes.

Outside Nashville ($6.60) bumped with Tribal Money leaving the gate and quickly dropped back in the field of nine 3-year-olds as Outside Nashville's stablemate Our Cognac Kid and Miceli dueled for the early lead before Miceli took command down the backstretch.

Miceli, making his first start since May 9, continued on the lead but was pressured by Our Cognac Kid and by Heat Streaker, who stuck his head in front nearing the eighth pole.

Outside Nashville had been content to settle near the back of the pack down the backstretch but began to move up while circling rivals three wide on the second turn. He had clear running in the stretch and quickly burst past Heat Streaker and Miceli, extending his margin to 4 1/2 lengths at the wire, winning in 1:42.19.

Heat Streaker was second, three lengths in front of Miceli, who held off Rush In and Prime Issue by one-half length.

"I really didn't think the distance would bother him," said winning jockey Russell Baze. "I wasn't sure about the surface, but he handled it well."

Baze was pleased with the way Outside Nashville ran.

"He used to show speed, but he's running relaxed now. He'll do what you want," he said.

The victory, Outside Nashville's third in nine starts, was worth $33,500 for Outside Nashville, who now has earnings of $110,300 for owner-trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and co-owners John Carver and Green Smith.