Top Harbor goes from last to first in Everett Nevin

Trainer Tim McCanna was confident about Top Harbor's chances heading into Saturday's $68,300 Everett Nevin Stakes at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton.

But then Top Harbor acted up behind the gate, forcing jockey William Antongeorgi to dismount. The 2-year-old Harbor the Gold colt did not break sharply and was last, nine lengths behind Mando, through a 21.93 opening quarter. He was still last by 9 1/2 lengths at the quarter pole.

But Antongeorgi swung him wide into the clear, and he came flying through the lane to defeat Tom's Song by one-half length while covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.45. Top Harbor paid $7.80 as the third choice in the field. My Father Footstep, second to Top Harbor when both debuted in a June 28 maiden race here, was third another neck back.

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“I was standing near the wire and was hoping he'd hit the board as they came down the stretch, but he won,” McCanna said.

“That was a huge step forward. Billy (Antongeorgi) made the right move. We worked him behind another horse the other morning. I thought he'd try to get position so that he could swing out for room in the lane.

“The one hole is tough on babies, and, when he didn't break well, Billy kept him back so he didn't get dirt in his face and was able to get outside for a good trip.”

McCanna has always liked the colt bred by owners Gordon Jarnig, Kenny Marshall, and Eric Schweiger, and broke him on his farm at Yakima, Wash. He said that made the win for the Cal-bred special.

Top Harbor earned $40,800 and has now banked $61,080 after wins in both career starts.

McCanna said they would consider a Cal-bred stakes at Del Mar for his next start.

Favored Hendavid was pulled up past the finish line and vanned off.