Berkeley, Calif. (Oct. 26, 2019)-California-bred Wise Rachel surged from the back of the field to win the first stakes race of the 2019 Fall Meet, the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes, on Saturday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields. The Pike Place Dancer was contested at one mile on firm turf for 2-year-old fillies.
After breaking well from the gate, Wise Rachel sat at the rear of the field for the first three-quarters of a mile. At the top of the lane, she angled outside for the stretch drive and finished with a flourish, racing past runner-up The Adrie Factor and third place finisher Convoluted in the final sixteenth of a mile. The win margin was a measured half-length.
Jockey Alejandro Gomez guided Wise Rachel to victory, picking up his first stakes win of 2019. Wise Rachel is trained by Quinn Howey and owned by Allen Aldrich, who purchased the daughter of English Channel for $7,000 as a yearling. Wise Rachel went off as the 4-1 fourth choice in the wagering and paid $10.20 to win. With this victory, Wise Rachel improved her career record to 4-2-0-1, with career earnings of $83,280.
Post time 9-5 favorite The Adrie Factor wound up second after stalking the pace while Southern California shipper Convoluted finished third for trainer Peter Miller after inheriting the lead for the first part of the race. No Cover Charge held off Shanghai Keely for fourth and maiden Colombian Gold completed the field of six.
Stakes action continues at Golden Gate Fields next Saturday with the $50,000 Joseph T. Grace Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward going two-turns on turf. Next Friday and Saturday, Golden Gate Fields offers simulcast wagering for the 2019 Breeders Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Santa Anita Park, as well as a live racing program on both aforementioned afternoons. Post time at Golden Gate on Friday is 12:05 PM while Saturday features a scheduled first post of 11:40 AM.
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