Tribesman looks much the best at Sacramento

Can anyone dethrone Tribesman, the defending champ of the $75,000 California State Fair Sprint on Saturday?

Fortunately for his five opponents at the Sacramento fair track, the six-furlong sprint will be run on dirt - because their chances don't look all that good on paper.

Entered against Tribesman are Jack Hes Tops, last year's runner-up; Bamaha Breeze, second to Tribesman in his last start in the Sam Whiting at the Alameda County Fair; the comebacking Frumious; recently claimed Dance With Gable; and Junior Brown, who graduated at the bottom $8,000 maiden claiming level as an $86.20 longshot two races back.

As if he needed any luck in the draw, Tribesman will break from the outside post 6.

Tribesman is riding a four-race win streak. Following his 4 1/2-length victory over Jack Hes Tops in last year's State Fair Sprint, Tribesman won the Cal Cup Sprint by 1 1/2 lengths. Given an eight-month break, he came back to win a June 5 allowance race at Golden Gate Fields before beating Bamaha Breeze in the Sam Whiting on July 18 at Pleasanton.

Both his victories this year were by 1 1/2 lengths and earned identical 94 Beyers. Only Bamaha Breeze has a higher Beyer this year, a 97 coming in his May 2 victory in the El Segundo on the turf at Hollywood Park.

Trainer Roger Hansen is not predicting a repeat for Tribesman, but he says the 5-year-old Tribal Rule gelding continues to train well. Russell Baze was aboard for his works, and he rides Saturday.

Frumious has not started since setting the pace in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park last December. He would be hard-pressed to find a tougher spot for his 3-year-old debut, but he showed talent last year, running third in the Solano County Juvenile in his debut before running off three straight victories prior to his start in the CashCall.

Frumious has trained well for his return with six-furlong drills of 1:11.40 (from the gate) and 1:11.80. Since those drills, he's worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds and three furlongs in 35.20 at Pleasanton for trainer Jeff Bonde.

Bamaha Breeze, who drew the rail, won six of his first eight starts before running second to Tribesman at Pleasanton. He finished off the board for the first time in his career in his last start, the Aug. 19 Green Flash Handicap on the turf at Del Mar. He drew the rail.

Jack Hes Tops has hit the board in four of five start this year but has trailed both Tribesman and Bamaha Breeze in their only meetings.