PIKE PLACE DANCER KICKS OFF STAKES ACTION AT THE FALL MEET
The $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes is the first of eight stakes events on the Golden Gate fall calendar and will be run this Saturday, October 27. The turf event for 2-year-old fillies attracted six entries, led by Southern California invader and stakes winner Lakerball.
Lakerball, to be ridden by Alonso Quinonez for the first time, comes off a 33-1 upset in the Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita. The Doug O’Neill trainee is the only stakes winner in the field and the only Southern California entrant in the race.
Tomlin, a daughter of Distorted Humor, leads the quintet of local runners. Trained by Steve Specht, Tomlin comes into the Pike Place Dancer fresh off a dominant allowance win on September 7. This will be her first try on the lawn while also making her two-turn debut.
One runner Tomlin beat in the aforementioned allowance event, Stealthediamonds, came right back to win an allowance race herself on September 28. That win was good enough for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer to enter her back in with Tomlin in this stake. Like Tomlin, Stealthediamonds makes her route and grass debut in this spot. Stealthediamonds is bred to love the lawn: her father is prolific California turf sire Unusual Heat.
Gorgeous In Grey faces winners for the first time in the Pike Place Dancer after a decisive route win against maiden company over this turf course. The same can be said for Sneaky Dianne, who enters the Pike Place Dancer after beating maiden $32,000 claiming company on our GGF turf course. Completing the field is Brahm’s Command, a recent maiden victor sprinting six furlongs for trainer Greg James.
Race 6: 2018 Pike Place Dancer Stakes (approximate post time: 3:15 PM PT)
#1 Gorgeous In Grey: Jockey Irving Orozco, Trainer Ed Moger Jr.
#2 Tomlin: Jockey Frank Alvarado, Trainer Steve Specht
#3 Sneaky Dianne: Jockey Abel Cedillo, Trainer Jonathan Wong
#4 Stealthediamonds: Jockey Juan Hernandez, Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
#5 Brahms Command: Jockey Francisco Duran, Trainer Greg James
#6 Lakerball: Jockey Alonso Quinonez, Trainer Doug O’Neill
VALDIVIA, MATIAS NEW ADDITIONS TO THE JOCKEY COLONY
Golden Gate Fields welcomes two new jockeys to the circuit: Jose Valdivia Jr. and Javier Matias. Valdivia Jr., who rode a handful of races opening week, has picked up several mounts on the next 3 race cards and is committed to riding at Golden Gate for the foreseeable future. Matias, who travels to Golden Gate from the Pacific Northwest, finished third aboard Blazinbeauty in an allowance race on Saturday and reports he has officially moved his tack to the Bay Area for the remainder of the fall meet.
Jose Valdivia Jr. is no stranger to racing fans across the country. The Panamian born rider has won over 1,800 races in his 24-year career, which began in 1994, and has won a pair of prestigious races that catch the eye: the 2001 Breeders Cup Mile with Val Royal and the 2011 Belmont Stakes atop 23-1 upsetter Ruler On Ice. This summer, Valdivia Jr. was the leading rider at Arlington Park, winning 112 races from 394 mounts (which equates to a 28% win percentage.) Longtime jockey agent Jim Pegram currently represents Valdivia Jr.
Javier Matias has been a name-stay at Emerald Downs and Portland Meadows for the past decade. The veteran jockey rode Barkley to a prestigious win in the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs earlier this summer and has been a “big money” rider in the Pacific Northwest for a number of years. With over 1,100 career wins on his resume, Matias is looking forward to the challenge of joining the Northern California jockey colony. Ramon Silva, also the agent for jockey Juan Hernandez, will represent Matias.
“I’ll be working hard,” said Matias. “The last time I was down here was in 2002. It’s good to be back. Golden Gate is a really nice track. Hopefully I get a shot on some live mounts and have some success.”
GUTSY MARE MON PETITE CONTINUES TO THRIVE AT AGE 7
Mon Petite, a 7-year-old mare from the Cliff DeLima stable, earned her eleventh lifetime victory in a second level allowance race on Tapeta last Saturday. The California-bred daughter of Papa Clem was claimed for $32,000 by DeLima and owner G C C I and has since gone on to earn over $200,000 for her current connections. Mon Petite generally runs in allowance races, but she has been competitive against stakes company; since the claim, Mon Petite has hit the board in three stakes races, including the 2016 Miss America Stakes over this turf course.
“She goes out there and tries hard every race…every single race,” emphasized DeLima. “We’re proud of her.”
BEYER SPEED FIGURES
***A list of winners last week and the Beyer speed figure they received***
THURSDAY
Race 1- Becomes a Queen: 52
Race 2- Adroit: 54
Race 3- Intessa: 50
Race 4-Exciting Dixie: 65
Race 5- Secret Paranoia: 40
Race 6- Swing Thoughts: 51
Race 7- My Audubon: 68
FRIDAY
Race 1- Champ For Justice: 45
Race 2- Foreverinsummer: 60
Race 3- Elegant Tanner: 79
Race 4- Beat the Chalk: 61
Race 5- Everybody Does It: 76
Race 6- Angelo’s Pride: 53
Race 7- Bay Muzik: 91
Race 8- Daddy Jones: 42
SATURDAY
Race 1- Capes Hot Rocket: 65
Race 2- Leonilla: 69
Race 3- Mirror Image: 73
Race 4- Playing Through: 77
Race 5- Apphia: 54
Race 6- Exactamente: 75
Race 7- Empressive Cat: 51
Race 8- Mon Petite: 82
Race 9- Alive and Well: 86
Race 10- Giant Mark: 78
SUNDAY
Race 1- Grab the Munny: 45
Race 2- Sierra Dance: 64
Race 3- Sigur Ros: 76
Race 4- Defiantly: 80
Race 5- Ballerina Headline: 56
Race 6- Phantom Rendezvous: 37
Race 7- Knust: 75
Race 8- Tivan: 63
Race 9- Vronilla Parfait: 76
Race 10- King’s Peak: 73
FINISH LINES: Through the first four days of racing, Irving Orozco sits atop the jockey standings with 8 wins. William Antongeorgi III and Catalino Martinez are tied for second in the standings with 5 wins apiece…Ed Moger Jr. and Andy Mathis each won a trio of races last week-the most victories out of any conditioner in Week 1…Kevin Orozco had a sneaky good week. The 22-year-old journeyman won with 3 of his 6 mounts last week. The same can be said for Austin Solis, who won with 2 of his 9 mounts last week while hitting the board with 7 of the 9 aforementioned rides…Birthday wishes go out to trainer Jeff Bonde, jockey valet Jay Frey, racing official Tammy McDuffie-Morris and jockey Austin Solis, all whom celebrate birthday’s in the next 7 days.