Robert Dupret Derby gets six for second-chance running

The $50,000 Robert Dupret Derby closes out the Sonoma County Fair race meeting in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Sunday after failing to fill for its scheduled running on Saturday.

And the runner that might have made the race go for Sunday could end up being the one to beat.

Contagion was not originally entered for the Robert Dupret Derby, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, but trainer Doug O’Neill put him in for Sunday and the race will now go with a field of six.

Contagion is coming off a win for $40,000 claiming going a mile on turf at Del Mar, and before that ran second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in an optional claimer on the turf at Santa Anita. In four starts on turf, Contagion has two wins and a second.

O’Neill also entered Collins Ave in the Robert Dupret Derby. O’Neill claimed Collins Ave for $40,000 out of a fifth-place finish going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Belmont Park on June 15. Collins Ave has made all seven of his starts at Gulfstream or Belmont.

Tiz Plus also makes his California debut in the Robert Dupret Derby. He makes his first start for trainer Manny Badilla off two one-mile allowance victories on the turf at Lone Star Park. Badilla shows good numbers with new faces and with runners on the turf.

Tivan also makes his debut for a new barn, having gone from Jerry Hollendorfer to Steve Sherman. He’s the lone member of the field with a stakes victory, having won the Golden Nugget at Golden Gate last November.

Tivan has not raced since running third in the California Cup Turf Sprint in January.

“He might need a race,” said Sherman, who has given him four drills during July.

“A stakes may not be the best way to come back, but we have enough miles in him. Hopefully, he’ll handle the turf course.”