By DRF.com
FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2022) — Claimed for $8,000 in May, California-bred A Man’s Man extended his winning streak since then to six races with a bold victory from the front in Sunday’s $76,800 Bull Dog Stakes on closing day of the Big Fresno Fair.
“It’s something you don’t expect when you claim for $8,000,” trainer Jack Steiner said.
Ridden by Assael Espinoza, A Man’s Man set a moderate pace of 24.57 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.70 for the half-mile. The race unfolded in a manner that shocked Steiner.
“That was a nice surprise,” Steiner said. “We didn’t think he’d get the lead like that. He was able to set some pretty comfortable fractions without anybody putting too much pressure on him.
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“They all laid far enough back. He had the air to go the distance.”
Racing on the inside, A Man’s Man extended his lead in early stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths over 5-2 fellow Cal-bred Coalinga Road, who rallied four-wide on the turn to reach contention. I’mgonnabesomebody (5-1) closed from eighth in a field of nine to finish third, beaten two lengths.
A Man’s Man ($9.80) was timed in 1:48.33 for 1 1/8 miles, his first start at the distance.
Lammas finished fourth, followed by Huge Bigly, Tesoro, Order and Law, Bold Endeavor and You’re the Cause. Honos Man was scratched earlier on Sunday.
A Man’s Man has won 8 of 17 starts and earned $224,866. In the six races since A Man’s Man was claimed, he has earned $142,800 for owners Howard and Dee Hammer, who races as Remmah Racing, and Steiner.
The winning streak consists of a starter allowance, a restricted $20,000 claimer, three allowance races, and the Bull Dog Stakes.
A Man’s Man, a 6-year-old Mucho Macho Man gelding bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, began the day at Steiner’s stable at Golden Gate Fields and was scheduled to be vanned back to the Bay Area track after leaving the test barn following the Bull Dog Stakes.
“I hauled him myself this morning,” Steiner said.