Nakatani Tries to Extend Lead in Oak Tree Jockey Standings
With 10 days left in the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita, jockey Corey Nakatani is on the verge of his second riding title in three years.
Nakatani, who topped the standings with 21 victories in 2004, holds a 17-12 lead over Victor Espinoza going into this afternoon. Nakatani is named to ride four horses on the program, including probable favorite I’ll Prey For You in the seventh race.
Owned and trained by the same connections that have horse of the year candidate Lava Man (STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood and trainer Doug O’Neill), I’ll Prey For You looks like the speed of the speed in the $42,000 allowance at six furlongs.
A 4-year-old gelded son of Tiger Ridge, I’ll Prey For You has the outside in the field of six as he seeks his first victory since a win against $80,000 maiden claimers on May 13, 2005, at Hollywood Park.
One of I’ll Prey For You’s opponents is Jack’s Kid, a 4-year-old More Than Ready gelding who has been away since finishing eighth of 10 in a turf sprint at Hollywood Park on May 26.
Nakatani’s other mounts today are Stage Fever in the fourth, Pistol Creek in the fifth and Bronzino in the eighth.
Race of the day: Stag Dancer, who lost the first 18 starts of her career, will try for her fourth win in a row in the eighth race today at Belmont Park. Mike Luzzi will ride the 4-year-old Running Stag filly in the $45,000 allowance for New York-bred fillies and mares at seven furlongs on the turf. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $53,724.
One for the road: Bee Charmer gets Lasix for his first start in the U.S. and isn’t meeting the strongest field in the eighth race today at Keeneland. Robby Albarado will ride the 4-year-old Irish-bred in the $52,000 allowance at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Bee Charmer won once in five starts in France, breaking his maiden at Chantilly in the spring of 2005.
Exotically speaking: A pick three using Mud Light, Mysterious Cat, Lord Macho and Two Turn Trick in the sixth, I’ll Prey For You in the seventh and Seastate, The Big One entry and Live Free in the eighth.
Winners: (previous day/meet total): 2/54. Money: (previous day/meet total): $12.60/$301.80. Total money bet: $276.
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