Star Student uses closing kick to repeat in Oakland
Star Student got a perfect ride from Julien Couton and rallied through the rainy stretch to score a repeat victory in the $53,500 Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
As expected, Quick and Silver set the pace holding a lead on Dream Saturday through fractions of 21.78 and 44.18 seconds. Star Student ($11.40) was seventh down the backstretch, ahead of only two rivals in the field of nine.
Trainer Dan Markle wasn’t worried watching his horse behind the fast pace and began to like his position even more on the turn.
“I was watching, and he stayed close to the fence,” said Markle.
Couton kept Star Student’s momentum going moving off the fence into the clear approaching the quarter pole before making the winning move when he saw a seam developing and angled Star Student three wide, hitting the opening in full stride just outside Indian Brut, who stuck his head in front at the eighth pole.
Star Student led a cavalry charge down the stretch winning the six-furlong race by one-half length in 1:09.03. Indian Brut won a three-nose photo for second, ahead of Mah Gellin with favored Outside Nashville having to settle for fourth.
“That was a pretty well-judged ride the way he saved all that ground,” said Markle. “He then angled out over two or three sets of heels without losing much ground.
“This is a super nice horse. He’s like Rodney Dangerfield [not getting any respect] because he’s met good horses and doesn’t have as big a bankroll as some.”
The victory was worth $30,500 for Star Student, a 5-year-old gelded son of Student Council. It was his seventh career win, all victories coming here.
He has now earned $191,252 for owners Fred and Cindy Desimone, Glyn C. Kelly, and Annie MacLennan.