Sky Preacher, Ride Hard Kowboy have best turf credentials in Alcatraz

Only two turf winners are entered in Sunday’s $75,000 Alcatraz at Golden Gate Fields, and they look like the ones to beat.

Sky Preacher, who graduated on the turf and then ran second in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf, looms as the likely favorite in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

His primary challenger could be Ride Hard Kowboy, who has three wins, including two in stakes at Turf Paradise, and a third-place finish in the La Puente at Santa Anita in four turf starts.

Two of the other three runners, Madiba and Krsto Skye, will make their turf debuts, while Harmonic, who ran third in a Del Mar maiden race in his turf debut, will be making only his second start on turf.

Following his two solid turf efforts as a 2-year-old, Sky Preacher ran last, losing to eventual Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red, in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes. He was an even fifth in a 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint in his 2015 debut while earning the highest Beyer Speed Figure in the field.

Ride Hard Kowboy won a pair of minor turf stakes at Turf Paradise and ran second in the Turf Paradise Derby on dirt.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Sky Preacher (Last 3 Beyers: 82-69-77)

◗ He has a pair of decent works since his 2015 debut one month ago, including a solid six-furlong drill for a barn that does well with second-timers following layoffs.

◗ He’s a full brother to a stakes-placed turf runner, so he seems a good fit.

◗ Having the newest member of the California Horse Racing Board as his jockey won’t be bad since Alex Solis is 1 for 1 here, having won the El Camino Real Derby.

Ride Hard Kowboy (Last 3 Beyers: 77-80-80)

◗ He has won as a stalker but has been content to sit back and make one big run in his past two starts. He ran third in his California debut in the La Puente at Santa Anita. Distance should be no problem for him since the La Puente was 1 1/8 miles. Top Arizona rider Scott Stevens comes with him.

Madiba (Last 3 Beyers: 75-81-65)

◗ He’s the first foal of a dam who earned $122,980. He’s 2 for 2 this year, winning a pair of races at today’s distance.

◗ He’s running on turf for the first time, but he’s by a good turf sire. He should be able to settle in for a nice stalking trip.

◗ Russell Baze, the world’s winningest rider, will try to guide him to another victory after beating optional-claiming rivals in his last start.