Eastern Sand, the runner-up in the Oak Tree Derby (gr. IIT), heads a field of seven 3-year-olds entered in Saturday's $100,000 Silky Sullivan (gr. IIIT) on the grass at Golden Gate Fields.Eastern Sand missed winning the Oak Tree Derby by a nose to Aragorn, who took the 1 1/8-mile turf contest in 1:46.48. Eastern Sand will race nine furlongs on the grass once again in the Silky Sullivan.Bred in Florida, Eastern Sand is a consistent son of Line In The Sand. In 13 career starts, Eastern Sand has three wins, five seconds and a third and $211,208 in earnings. All five of the second-place finishes were in stakes races.
Jeff Mullins, the leading conditioner at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, trains Eastern Sand, who will be ridden by Southern California-based Victor Espinoza. Eastern Sand will break from post six.$100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes (gr. IIIT), 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles (turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey
1. Mr. Splash, Chance Rollins
2. Eager Pharisien, Russell Baze
3. Aizarunner, Chad Schvaneveldt
4. In Excelsis, Dennis Carr
5. Sharp Writer, Roberto Gonzalez
6. Eastern Sand, Victor Espinoza
7. Funny Flyer, Frank Alvarado
All assigned 115 pounds.