Trying to Mark Out Their Turf

Anything is liable to happen in the $50,000 Pinjara Stakes, the feature on today’s program at Oak Tree.

The one-mile turf race brings together nine 2-year-olds, six of whom have never run before on grass.

Holdthehelm, listed at 8-1 on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, and 4-1 Bishop’s Wood, a new shooter from Europe, both have turf victories. The former broke his maiden sprinting on the Hollywood Park grass in July, while Bishop’s Wood scored at seven furlongs in his final start in England on June 29. Villa Amalfi, a maiden, was beaten by a little less than two lengths in his only start on grass.

The 3-1 choice in the Pinjara is Yougottawanna, a gelded son of Candi’s Gold who has not been worse than third in his four starts for the Halo Farms and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. By his pedigree, Yougottawanna does not figure to improve on the turf. His sire was off the board in his three races on the lawn.

Another horse who could take some play is Sharper Too. A winner of two in a row, the High Brite colt wasn’t exactly flattered by Ima Mile High Guy and Gobi Dan, the 2-3 finishers in the recent California Sires Stakes. Ima Mile High Guy was fifth as the 2-1 favorite in a maiden contest on Wednesday and Gobi Dan was fourth as the 13-10 choice in an allowance race the same afternoon.

Hawk’s Top Gun, the 7-2 second choice is a colt bred for the turf and is proven around two turns. He broke his maiden going a mile Aug. 31 at Del Mar.

Race of the day: The best betting race on the Oak Tree program is the sixth, a 61/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds racing for a $40,000 claiming price. Pick three, pick four and pick six players are advised to spread.

Who’s hot: Caesar Dominguez. The trainer has been hot early in the meet and he broke another maiden Wednesday when Cinnful Bride rolled to victory in the day’s final race.

Who’s not: The field in today’s eighth. The 10 fillies and mares are a combined 0 for 48 and the race is so bad the 5-2 favorite (Smokin Affair) is a filly who has been beaten by a total of 393/4 lengths in her two starts.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Special Ring in the fifth, using Fin Entertainment, Mike And Leo, Painted Avenue and Masakado Kid in the sixth and Holdthehelm and Hawk’s Top Gun in the seventh.