It Shapes Up as Fight to Finish

With five days to go at Oak Tree, three riders are separated by one winner at the top of the jockey standings.

Laffit Pincay Jr. has 21 winners entering this afternoon, one more than Patrick Valenzuela and David Flores, who was the leader in 1999.

The trio will go head-to-head in five of the eight races on the card, starting in the first, a mile on turf for 3-year-old maiden fillies and mares.

Flores has the one to beat in Lasting Pleasure. She was third in her career debut at Del Mar.

All are longshots against prospective favorite Gambler’s Mark in the third and all are on logical contenders in the fifth, another mile turf race for older fillies and mares.

Pincay retains the mount on Belongstospeed, Valenzuela is aboard Battante and she has run her best races for the jockey, and Flores will try to lead all the way with Rubin’s Rose.

Valenzuela is aboard Parisian Heart in the seventh at a mile on the grass, Pincay will try to repeat with Cease Span and Flores will ride longshot Thermostatic before they complete the day in the eighth, a seven-furlong race for $25,000 maidens.

Klem, Valenzuela’s mount, comes off a near-miss at a higher level, Flores is aboard Spoonman and Pincay will ride Foxy Johnny.

Race of the day: Glitteringmischief will try for her fourth victory in a row since being claimed by Jack Carava in today’s sixth. The gray filly will be ridden by Martin Pedroza.

Who’s hot: Bud Klokstad. The veteran trainer has won with 11 of 26 starters at Bay Meadows.

Who’s not: Jockeys named Vergara. Octavio and Daniel Vergara are winless in 46 at Oak Tree.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Lasting Pleasure in the first, using all in the second and singling Gambler’s Mark in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 5/59. Money: Previous day/meet total: $21.20/$325.40. Total money bet: $374.