GENERAL CONSENSUS: GOLD RUSH WEEKEND A SUCCESS
Just days after completing its inaugural Gold Rush Weekend on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, Golden Gate Fields track officials deemed the event a successful beginning to an annual tradition that is expected to continue for years to come.
“Just an outstanding 48 hours,” reflected Golden Gate Fields General Manager and Vice President David Duggan. “Our fans, owners, horseplayers and horsemen have given us very positive feedback. Our numbers were very strong. Both days produced solid on-track crowds that were festive and exuberant. Our wagering product was fantastic and horseplayers were able to dive into competitive sequences with large pools. We are extremely pleased with how the inaugural Gold Rush Weekend went.”
Saturday, April 27 featured a 13-race program, with six of the 13 races going as stakes events for horses of varied divisions and of various ages. Saturday’s main event was the Grade III, $250,000 San Francisco Mile, won by the Doug O’Neill-trained Blitzkrieg. Ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano, the son of top class stallion War Front picked up his third consecutive win since being claimed by O’Neill for $25,000.
Sunday, April 28 saw a 12-race card with two marquee events for California-bred or sired equines at one mile on turf–the $100,000 Campanile Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and the $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings. Southern California shipper Kitty Boom Boom won the Campanile, while Unusual Heatwave won a three-horse photo in the Silky Sullivan, defeating the late-running local Our Silver Oak and recent Santa Anita stakes winner Lieutenant Dan.
All-sources pari-mutuel handle on Saturday totaled $8.1 million, up over $4.5 million from last year’s $3.6 million on the same calendar day. Sunday’s all-sources handle of $5.9 million was a $1.5 million increase over last year’s $4.3 million figure.
All-sources handle for the two-day Gold Rush Weekend was up 80 percent over a year ago, as $14,077,741 was bet on Saturday and Sunday, an increase of nearly $6.1 million over the $7,979,824 wagered over the same two days in 2018. This robust handle was made possible by the fact a total of 212 horses competed in 25 races over the Gold Rush Weekend, making for average field size of 8.48 runners per race.
GABO’S MACONDO RETURNS IN FEATURED ALLOWANCE RACE ON SATURDAY
The last time Gabo’s Macondo raced, he defeated a solid group of stakes and allowance caliber racers in the Bulldog Handicap at Fresno on October 14. Six and a half months later, he makes his 2019 debut in Race 6 on Saturday: a second level allowance event for older colts and geldings going a mile and a sixteenth on turf. Gabo’s Macondo is in for a $62,500 tag.
Two weeks ago, Wong relayed to Golden Gate media that Gabo’s Macondo, was “training well” leading up to a possible start in the Grade 3 $250,000 San Francisco Mile on April 27. With a tough field eventually assembled for the 2019 ‘Mile, it appears that Wong has found an easier spot for his 6-year-old gelding to compete off the vacation.
Entered to race against Gabo’s Macondo is Respect the Hustle, a 4-year-old colt who won the Oak Tree Juvenile Stakes as a 2-year-old at Pleasanton. The Bill McLean trainee most recently ran second to Choo Choo in an allowance race. The aforementioned rival came back to run third in the San Francisco Mile.
Builder, from the Isidro Tamayo stable, has appeal at what should be a decent price. Since being claimed by Tamayo for $25,000, the grey-son of Gio Ponto has racked up a pair of wins: one at the starter allowance condition and the other against allowance company. He has been steadily climbing up the class ladder and takes another bump up here.
Stakes winner Engram, stakes placed More Power to Him and the “other” Wong entrant, Grey Gem, complete the field.
Please note that Golden Gate Fields has an early first post on Saturday of 11:40 AM. 10 races are set to take place. Fans can watch and wager on a number of different tracks, including Churchill Downs, throughout the Saturday afternoon card at Golden Gate Fields.
Fans are also encouraged to wear the best and or most festive hat they can find; there will be a hat contest with prizes in the winner’s circle during the races on Saturday.
NEW FIRST POST TIME BEGINNING SUNDAY
Track officials announced Wednesday that there would be a new first post of 1:15 PM on select race days.
The following dates will have the post time change of 1:15 PM in effect: 5/5, 5/11, 5/12, 5/19, 5/25, 5/26, 6/1, 6/2 and 6/9.
Weekday and Memorial Day post time remains at 12:45 PM, while Preakness (5/18) and Belmont Day (6/8) is scheduled for an early first post of 11:45 AM.
FINISH LINES: Jockey Abel Cedillo, injured in an incident two weeks ago, is named on two horses this Saturday for leading trainer Jonathan Wong…Congratulations to marketing manager Ryan Hilton, who, along with his wife Mollie, welcomed a healthy baby boy, Harris David Hilton, into the world last week…Jockey Jorge Velez will be riding in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future. The 20-year-old apprentice has already picked up numerous mounts from a handful of trainers. Velez is represented by agent Nelson Arroyo, who also hustles the book of newly turned Santa Anita journeyman Heriberto Figueroa…Leg B of the $100,000 guaranteed Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 5 at Golden Gate this Friday…The Golden Pick Six jackpot pool was hit last Friday for over $383,000. Heading into Thursday’s card, there is a carryover of over $6,000. You could be the next lucky jackpot winner.