Star Student from back of class to front

Star Student, the only horse in the field of eight never to have run in a stakes race, rallied around his opponents from last place and won the $50,715 Oakland Stakes on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields in a 12-to-1 upset.

After running in a series of two-turn races over the winter and spring, Star Student was rested during the summer. He returned with a fine effort in a 6-furlong allowance/optional claiming event Oct. 23, closing strongly to finish second — losing by just a neck. The Oakland Stakes also was 6 furlongs.

“I wanted to sprint him again before stretching him back out, but the only allowance race was on the turf, and he doesn’t like the grass,” trainer Dan Markle said. “So this was the only other sprint, and I’m glad I was put in this situation because it turned out so well. There were a lot of fast horses in there, and I was hoping just to hit the board (finish in the top four).”

Ourwestcoastghost and the filly City by the Bay dueled for the early lead and were joined by Aalsmeer on the turn while 3-to-2 favorite Streamside sat in perfect position 1 length behind them. Streamside surged to a narrow lead in the early stretch, but Star Student ran him down and then held off a late charge from an unlucky Ankeny Hill to win by a half-length.

Ankeny Hill got stuck behind the wall of leaders leaving the turn and twice had to angle out to find running room. He finished a neck ahead of thirdplace Glacken Too, who was 1¾ lengths ahead of a tiring Streamside.

Even though Star Student ran in last place early, he was never more than 4½ lengths from the lead.

“I thought I’d be further back,” said winning jockey Julien Couton, who is back at Golden Gate Fields, where he rode from 2010 to 2013. “He made a nice quarter-mile move, and when I asked him, he really responded.”

Star Student finished in a fine 1:09.35 for his fourth win in 18 starts to go with six seconds and three thirds.

Streamside now has won 13 of 29 starts and 11 of 22 at Golden Gate Fields and has been regarded as Northern California’s top sprinter despite having won only one stakes event — the Oak Tree Sprint at the Alameda County Fair in 2014.

“I was behind the speed just waiting for the stretch,” jockey Juan Hernandez said. “When I asked him, he moved really well, but when he changed leads (lead legs in his stride) he just stopped. He didn’t finish like before.” Hollendorfer watch: Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, winless Friday and Saturday, remained at 6,997 career victories. He has five horses entered in three races Sunday at Del Mar and two horses in the eighth race at Golden Gate Fields.