PATIENCE AND DETERMINATION PAYS OFF FOR TERRERO
On February 2, 2019, jockey Pedro Terrero was aboard 3-year-old filly Dreaming About You in a one-mile starter allowance race on the main track. Turning for home, Dreaming About You clipped heels and unseated Terrero, who tumbled to the Tapeta. Although Dreaming About You emerged from the incident unscathed, Terrero suffered a head injury as a result of the spill. Over a two-and-a-half-year span, Terrero had surgery and took a substantial amount of time off.
“I don’t remember what happened at all,” said Terrero of the incident. “I went to different doctors. Eventually, some of the doctors said, ‘If you feel good and you feel you can do it, you can ride again. You have your helmet [that protects you].’”
Terrero, making sure he felt 100% before getting back aboard horses, began galloping in the middle of 2021. Eventually, he made his way back to working horses and, by the end of the Winter/Spring meet, started picking up mounts again with longtime agent Jay Robinson.
Northern California trainers were quick to support Pedro, who began his race riding career at Golden Gate in 2009. At the recently concluded Pleasanton meet, Terrero led all riders in wins with 13 trips to the winner’s circle. After three consecutive two-win days to kick off the summer meet at Golden Gate, Terrero sits atop the jockey standings with six wins from 24 rides.
“I can’t believe it,” said Terrero. “It just feels really good to be back to riding. I go out there, do my best and try to ride good races. I always do the best I can. I’m just happy to be back on horses again.”
Terrero, when away the track, spends time with his family. Terrero and his wife Miriam have three boys: Pedro, Pablo, and Emmanuel.
“My family has supported me all the way,” said Terrero with a smile.
TIGER QUEEN FACES WINNERS AFTER SENSATIONAL MAIDEN WIN
The date is June 13, 2021. The fillies and mares for the nightcap-with a full field of 12-are loading for the final race of the 2021 Winter/Spring meet. Trainer Bill Delia looks on as his 4-year-old filly, Tiger Queen, steps into the gate. Delia recollects he boasted plenty of confidence heading into the race, which was Tiger Queen’s second career start.
“I’ve always thought she was a real nice filly,” said Delia. “In her first race, she had to steady a few times and sort of had a rough trip. I was expecting her to run well [on June 13], but I didn’t expect her to win the way she did.”
And win she did…with authority. Sent off as the 4-1 second choice in the wagering, the daughter of Smiling Tiger went to the lead from post position 3, established a clear advantage for the first half mile, drew off from her company down the lane and hit the wire six and a half lengths ahead of silver medalist Torrey’s Girl. Tiger Queen stopped the clock for six furlongs in 1:10.60 and earned a 75 Beyer speed figure.
“She ran awesome,” said Delia. “I think she’s a pretty good one.”
Two and a half months later, Tiger Queen is enrolled to compete in the feature race this Friday, a first level allowance for fillies and mares. In the marquee eighth race, Tiger Queen draws the rail in a field of seven. Even with a somewhat undesirable post, she sits as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Oddsmaker Steve Martinelli did not forget her last afternoon showing.
“She’s on the rail, yes,” said Delia. “I think she can overcome [the post]. She’s got a lot of speed. If she gets to the front, I think she’ll be double tough. She’s training great. Her works have been real sharp. We’ve given her a bunch of half mile drills and she’s been galloping out strong.”
Golden Gate offers three live race days this week, with first post each day at 1:45 PM PT. Post time for the eighth race on Friday is 5:15 PM PT.
CALIFORNIA STALLION STRAIGHT FIRE WINNING WITH FIRST-CROP PRODIGIES
Straight Fire, a California-stallion standing at Legacy Ranch, was represented by his first Golden Gate winner last Sunday with 2-year-old filly Stopdropandroll. Stopdropandroll, owned by a large partnership consisting of Jungle Racing, KMN Racing, Legacy Ranch, LNJ Foxwoods, Old Bones Racing Stable, Rigney Racing and Jason Litt, earned a 62-beyer with the wire-to-wire score in Race 8. Stopdropandroll is out of the Super Saver mare Supersavvy, who in turn is out of 3-time stakes winner and Grade I placed, 327k earner Don’t Forget Gil.
“We expected her to show speed,” said Stopdropandroll’s trainer, Blaine Wright. “We knew she was of decent quality. Her gate work [5 furlongs in 1:01.40 on July 18] was a super gate work for Golden Gate.”
Wright was positive when asked about characteristics shown from the Straight Fire 2-year-olds in his barn.
“We have a few of his babies here at Golden Gate,” said Wright. “The Straight Fire’s are good-boned, good- minded horses. They seem to be precocious and, knock-on wood, they continue to progress.”
Straight Fire has already produced a pair of impressive maiden winners at other racetracks. Bay colt What In Blazes was a runaway victor two weeks ago at Del Mar, and Fourteeneightyfour beat open company by 9-lengths in a maiden special weight at Delaware Park on July 5.
Straight Fire, a Kentucky-bred son of Dominus out of the A.P. Indy mare Tricky Indy, was purchased as a yearling for $250,000. As a racehorse in 2016, Straight Fire broke his maiden by over 10 lengths while recording an eye-popping 98 Beyer speed figure. He returned a month later in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity and finished as the runner up to the Bob Baffert trained Klimt. His final career race in the Grade I Front Runner Stakes (now known as the American Pharoah), resulted in a third-place finish behind eventual Grade I Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley.
MANDATORY PAYOUTS HIGHLIGHT WAGERING OPPORTUNITIES THIS SUNDAY AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS
Mandatory payouts in the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager, the Rolling Super High Five and Pick 5 bets highlight the wagering menu this Sunday, August 1 at Golden Gate Fields. First post on the 9-race program is 1:45 PM PT.
The Golden Pick Six, a 20-cent minimum bet, goes as Races 4 through 9 on the Sunday program. Among the races in the sequence: a 2-year-old maiden special weight, an allowance for colts and geldings, and a pair of turf routes. Heading into the Golden Pick Six wager on Friday, there is a small carryover of $2,270. If there is not a single ticket “jackpot” winner on Friday and or Saturday, the carryover will increase by Sunday.
The Rolling Super High Five is offered in any race in which there are seven or more starters. For horseplayers to hit this $1 minimum bet, they must correctly tab the first five finishers in a race. The mandatory payout for this wager comes in the last race in which the ‘High Five is offered.
The Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5), popular amongst horseplayers nationwide, is a low 14% takeout bet every day. The Late Pick 5 (Races 5-9), like the early wager, is a 50-cent minimum bet.
Next Friday, the two-week Wine Country Racing meet begins at Golden Gate. The Wine Country meet offers live racing three days a week, Friday through Sunday. At the conclusion of the Wine Country meet on Sunday, August 15, Golden Gate takes one week off before returning for the remainder of the summer racing season, with live racing scheduled from Friday, August 27 through Sunday, October 3. For more information, please visit goldengatefields.com.
GOLDEN GATE FIELDS CLAIMS REPORT
Below are a list of claims from last week:
FRIDAY
Race 1: Big Award (New trainer Sergio Ledezma…new owners Howard and Janet Siegel)
Race 1: Big Chick (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)
SUNDAY
Race 4: Silver Claim (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)
DEL MAR WATCH LIST
Below is a list of horses from Golden Gate who race at Del Mar this week:
THURSDAY
Race 3: #3 Seven Sisters (Trainer Andy Mathis…jockey Ricky Gonzalez)
Race 3: #4 Babe’s Got Appeal (Jonathan Wong…Kyle Frey)
Race 3: #9 Livin’ At the Bu (Bill McLean…Drayden Van Dyke)
Race 5: #5 Island Life (Jonathan Wong…Jessica Pyfer)
Race 6: #2 Chasingserendipity (Jonathan Wong…Joe Bravo)
Race 6: #9 American Bourbon (Jonathan Wong…Flavien Prat)
FRIDAY
Race 1: #7 Power’s Princess (Andy Mathis…Joe Bravo)
Race 4: #7 The Great Haynes (Jamey Thomas…Kyle Frey)
Race 5: #6 Momma Mocca (Reina Gonzalez…Kent Desormeaux)
Race 5: #8 Koko’s Mom (Charles Stutts…William Barnett)
Race 6: #3 Top Harbor (Tim McCanna…Tiago Pereira)
Race 7: #10 Engram (Quentin B. Miller…Diego Herrera)
SATURDAY
Race 4: #1 Anitanewmercedes (Isidro Tamayo…Assael Espinoza)
Race 4: #2 Appreciated (Andy Mathis…Tiago Pereira)
Race 5: #3 Til I Found You (Jonathan Wong…Jose Valdivia Jr.)
Race 5: #7 Emma’s Dance (Ed Moger Jr…Drayden Van Dyke)
Race 5: #8 Gayles Evening (Jamey Thomas…Kyle Frey)
Race 6: #1 Trina (Andy Mathis…Joe Bravo)
Race 6: #8 Going to Shabooms (Bill McLean…Kyle Frey)
Race 8: #7 Charge Cash (Tim McCanna…Tiago Pereira)
Race 11: U.S. Danger (Jonathan Wong…Jose Valdivia Jr.)
SUNDAY
Race 4: #4 Christmas Diamond (Andy Mathis…Kyle Frey)
Race 5: #3 Next Flight (Steve Miyadi…Abel Cedillo)
Race 6: #6 Fliplit (Andy Mathis…Kyle Frey)
Race 7: #1 Love of the Sport (Bill McLean…Jose Valdivia Jr.)
Race 7: #3 Philipie Fast (Tim McCanna…Ricky Gonzalez)
Race 7: #4 Frost Warning (Jonathan Wong…Edwin Maldonado)
Race 8: #8 Thismustbetheplace (Andy Mathis…Jessica Pyfer)
Race 8: #14 Tiz a Speed Bomb (Isidro Tamayo…Juan Espinoza)
Race 9: #2 Clockstrikestwelve (Jonathan Wong…Kyle Frey)
FINISH LINES: Campanile Stakes winner I’m So Anna won the $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes at Del Mar last Friday, giving GGF Winter/Spring meet leading rider Kyle Frey his first career Del Mar stakes victory. Local conditioner Steve Sherman trains I’m So Anna, a homebred for owner KMN Racing LLC…Golden Gate allowance winner Top Executive, a 3-year-old colt conditioned by Blaine Wright, won the Irish Day Stakes at Emerald Downs this past Sunday. Top Executive was guided to victory by regular rider Kevin Orozco…Tim McCanna trains multiple stakes placed colt Top Harbor, who races in the $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred or sired 3-year-olds on Friday. Also entered is Silky Sullivan and Alcatraz Stakes winner None Above the Law, trained by Peter Miller…Happy birthday to trainer Debbie Winnick and starter Todd Stephens, both who celebrate birthday’s this week.