Respect the Hustle knew the ropes

Respect the Hustle had something his main opponents didn’t have in the $75,450 Oak Tree Juvenile on Saturday at the Alameda Fairgrounds: experience racing around two turns.

He put that to good use in the 1-mile, 70-yard race for 2-yearolds as jockey Juan Hernandez moved him into the clear at the top of the stretch and past the leaders to win by 1¾ lengths.

It was the first stakes victory for trainer Bill McLean since Taurus Forus took the Albany Handicap on Nov. 17, 1999.

“It’s been too long,” McLean said. “I’m not used to this, but I like this deal.”

Respect the Hustle finished fifth and third in sprints at Golden Gate Fields before breaking his maiden in a 1-mile grass race Aug. 12 at Del Mar. Then he finished eighth — but beaten by only 3 lengths — in the $103,105 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes.

“He’s smart, he trains well and he’s a really good-looking colt,” McLean said.

Respect the Hustle ran in fourth for most of the race as Axelrod set a legitimate pace, and Night at the Opera chased in second. Night at the Opera gained the lead in mid-stretch,

but Respect the Hustle went by him with authority.

Artie B Good, the 9-10 favorite, finished another 1½ lengths back in third.

McLean, a member of the partnership that owns Respect the Hustle, said the horse might be given a short rest.

“We’ve got to give him a break some time and get him ready for his 3-year-old campaign,” he said.

Briefly: In Grade 1 stakes Saturday at Santa Anita, undefeated Bolt d’Oro ($3.80) dominated the Frontrunner in fast time to become the early favorite for the 2018 Kentucky Derby, Moonshine Memories ($6) made it 3-for-3 in the Chandelier, Mubtaahij ($8.20) returned from a layoff to take the Awesome Again and Paradise Woods ($3) led start to finish in the Zenyatta. … In Grade 1 stakes at Belmont Park, Beach Patrol ($12) won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Elate ($2.60) romped in the Beldame and Takaful ($11.80) took the Vosburgh for sprinters. … The Oak Tree at Pleasanton fall meeting ends Sunday, and the Big Fresno Fair begins Thursday.