Tribal Gal repeats in Oak Tree Distaff

Getting a dream trip under a confident, patient ride by Ricardo Gonzalez, Tribal Gal ($2.60) successfully defended her Oak Tree Distaff title with a 2 1/4-length victory Saturday at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meeting at the Alameda County Fair.

Gonzalez let Frisco Fog set the pace as Tribal Gal sat just outside her through fractions of 21.95 and 44.30 seconds. As the field turned for home, Gonzalez let Tribal Gal go. She had her head in front at the eighth pole and pulled clear through the lane without being seriously challenged, winning the six-furlong, $100,000 stakes in 1:10.19.

Princess Bertrando, last early, closed well for second, defeating early pacesetter Frisco Fog by three-quarters of a length.

Gonzalez guided Tribal Gal to a $28 upset with a front-running victory in 2014. The daughter of Tribal Rule is owned and bred by John Pendergast and is trained by Kory Owens. She earned $60,000 with her 10th victory – and seventh stakes win – in 27 races. The Arizona-bred has earnings of $445,801.