The Fair circuit now shifts to the California State Fair in Sacramento. The meet runs from July 12-28. Sacramento is not one of the fair meets that I feel like I have the best handle on, but I am going to share some thoughts on what to expect and who to look out for.
While Sacramento does have a dirt track, it seems to play a bit different than Pleasanton. Tracks can change daily in terms of biases, but over the last few years Sacramento has seemed to play very kindly to the outside paths. It’s something to note when handicapping and the first few races on the card can be telling if a bias is in place.
There is only 1 stakes race during the meet and it is the 50k Governor’s Handicap on July 20th. The Governor’s Handicap is for fillies and mares 3yos and up going 6f. It looks like defending champion Alliford Bay could be pointing to this race again– she last worked 6f in 1:15.40 on July 7th for trainer Blaine Wright.
3 Trainers to watch:
John Martin- Martin tied for 3rd in the trainer standings at Pleasanton (5-14; 36%). He now returns to one of his most successful tracks. Over the last 5 years he has 19 wins from 62 starts (31% and 74% ITM).
Victor Trujillo- Now Trujillo did not have a great Pleasanton meet, where he was just 3-28 (11%). But he now returns to a place where he has had success in the past. In the last 5 years he has 19 wins from 81 starts (23% and 59% ITM).
Quinn Howey- He is coming off a strong Pleasanton Meet where he was tied for 3rd in the trainer standings (5-15; 33%). Howey in the last 5 years at Sacramento has 10 wins from 51 starts (20% win and 57% ITM).
3 Jockeys to watch:
Irving Orozco- He is coming into this meet in great form, as he was the leading rider at Pleasanton. Orozco was 3rd in the Sacramento meet standings last year (10-34; 29%) and won the jockey title 2 years ago (10-35; 29%). He is riding with a ton of confidence right now.
Juan Hernandez- Has been riding good in 2019, as he is 23% on the year. Was an amazing 15/34 (41%) to take down last year’s jockey title at Sacramento. Plenty of success over the years at this track.
Kyle Frey- Returned from a 10-month layoff due to injury towards the end of Golden Gate Fields Winter/Spring meet. While he was just 9-65 at Pleasanton, he was ITM with 52% of his mounts. He is continuing to get more comfortable, and I would look for him to show improvement at this Sacramento meet.
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