BLAINE WRIGHT’S ANOTHERTWISTAFATE DRAWS POST 12 IN PREAKNESS
El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate drew post 12 of 13 in the 2019 $1,500,000 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes and will be ridden for the first time by world renowned rider Jose Ortiz. The Preakness goes as Race 13 on a 14-race program on Saturday at Pimlico Racecourse and has a scheduled post time of 6:48 p.m. Eastern time/3:48 p.m. Pacific. The Preakness is a one-mile and 3/16ths dirt race and the second leg of the Triple Crown series.
Anothertwistafate’s last trip to the winner’s circle came after the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby in February, a race which offered the winner a free berth into the 2019 Preakness. The free berth was an incentive presented for the first time by the Stronach Group, which runs and operates Golden Gate Fields and Pimlico as well as Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park and Laurel.
Anothertwistafate has worked twice on the Golden Gate Fields Tapeta surface since his most recent race to date: a second place finish in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. Owendale, who beat Anothertwistafate in the Lexington, is also slated to run in the Preakness and drew post 5 for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux.
“His workouts have been super since he’s come back from Keeneland,” said Anothertwistafate’s trainer, Blaine Wright. “He has trained with confidence every single day. He’s a heck of a horse.”
Wright indicated that Anothertwistafate shipped to Pimlico well and is looking forward to seeing his star equine tackle some of the best 3-year-olds in one of America’s most prestigious races.
“He’s a good shipper,” said Wright. “He traveled to Pimlico on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he ate up well and was playing in his stall. At this point, we’re [at Pimlico] and we’re going to enjoy the festivities. We hope our horse brings his ‘A’ game.”
ELLEN JACKSON’S BULLETPROOF ONE WINS FIRST 2-YEAR-OLD RACE OF THE YEAR
The first Northern California “baby” race of 2019 came in last Saturday’s third race, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. Four fillies and one colt competed in the four and a half furlong contest, which was won by the Ellen Jackson trained Bulletproof One.
Bulletproof One, sent off as the 3-5 favorite, went straight to the lead and set fractions of 22.90 and 46.37 seconds before drawing off in the final sixteenth of a mile, finishing 8 lengths ahead of second place finisher Small Surprise. Bulletproof One completed the four and a half furlongs in 52.60 seconds and earned a 58 Beyer speed figure for her effort.
“We always thought she was a special filly,” said Ellen Jackson. “She’s a mild-mannered filly. She was working really well before her race. We’re really excited about her future.”
Bulletproof One is by Grade I winner and California stallion Idiot Proof and out of the Decarchy mare Onefunsonofagun, who won 8 races as a racehorse. As a broodmare, Onefunsonofagun has produced four winners from four foals.
Victory Rose Thoroughbreds LLC (Ellen Jackson) and KMN Racing (Kevin and Kim Nish) currently own Bulletproof One. They also own her older full brother, 4-year-old colt In Our A, who broke his maiden in January against maiden special weight company.
ALCATRAZ STAKES ON SUNDAY ATTRACTS NINE
A field of nine has been assembled for the 2019 edition of the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile on the turf. The weather forecast call for rain over the weekend, meaning there is a strong possibility that the race could be moved to the main track. That said, most of the horses entered to run in the Alcatraz have run well on the Tapeta in the past, so a scratch due to a surface switch is unlikely.
The probable post time favorite is Kingly, coming off a hard fought win in the $100,000 California Derby on Gold Rush Weekend. The Bob Baffert trainee is royally bred: by top stallion Tapit out of multiple Grade 2 winning mare Justwhistledixie. Kingly is a brother to 2013 Breeders Cup champion New Year’s Day and multiple Grade 2 winner Mohayman. In fact, both aforementioned siblings are Kentucky stallions, with the former having sired this year’s unofficial Kentucky Derby winner, Maximum Security. Kingly’s full 2-year-old brother, named Enforceable, is training in the barn of Mark Casse and finished second in his career debut, a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby week.
Visitant, entered in the Alcatraz for trainer John Martin, looks to turn the tables on Kingly after finishing second in the California Derby. The son of Ghostzapper scored two impressive wins before his stakes placing and has been well regarded by his connections since the beginning of his career. He figures to get good support in the wagering.
Southern California conditioner Richard Baltas sends One Bad Boy to Northern California in hopes of a stakes victory. The Twirling Candy ridgling off a dominant maiden at Santa Anita and makes his first start against winners in this spot. 2019 Kentucky Derby winning jockey Flavien Prat has the call.
Leading Golden Gate trainer Jonathan Wong saddles a pair of Alcatraz contenders in The Creep and Our Silver Oak. The Creep, owned by Alejandro Mercado, finished fifth in the California Derby last month while Our Silver Oak, owned by Robert Jones, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, suffered a nose loss in the Silky Sullivan Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds on the turf. Both Wong entrants worked 5 furlongs on Sunday morning in preparation for this race.
Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer has an Alcatraz starter in Loud Mouth, who looks to win his third race in a row. In his two most recent afternoon appearances, the California-bred son of Boisterous scored victories against allowance company sprinting on the Golden Gate Tapeta. His lone career route try resulted in a 22-length loss behind top California-bred 3-year-old Galilean in February. Veteran rider Frank Alvarado has the call.
The allowance placed Rey Coliman, recent maiden winner Harmon and supplemental entrant Nizamdecarchy complete the field.
The Alcatraz goes as Race 8 on a 9-race program at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. First post on Sunday is 1:15 PM, while post time for the Alcatraz is approximately 4:15 P.M.