JUNGLE CRY IN SEARCH OF FIRST STAKES TROPHY IN ROBERT DUPRET DERBY
3-year-old gelding Jungle Cry won a first level allowance race on the Golden Gate Fields lawn on June 13, completing the 8 furlongs in 1:36.25 seconds and picking up an 80 Beyer speed figure. After a better than looked run against salty stakes company at Del Mar last month, the son of Animal Kingdom returns to the Northern California turf course where he earned his most recent victory.
Prepared by veteran horseman Steve Specht, Jungle Cry is a major player in the feature race on Saturday afternoon, the $50,000 Robert Dupret Derby for 3-year-olds on grass. The mile and one-sixteenth route goes as Race 10 on a 12-race program.
“He’s doing great,” said Specht. “Since his last race, he’s worked a couple five-eighths, and both times he worked really well.”
In Jungle Cry’s most recent afternoon appearance on July 16 at Del Mar, a crowd of just over 16,000 were treated to an exciting stretch run on the Opening Day marquee event, the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes. Jungle Cry, in contention with a furlong to go, only lost by 2 lengths after an undesirable trip. The Robert Dupret Derby field is a significantly easier bunch than what Jungle Cry faced in the Oceanside.
“I thought he ran well at Del Mar considering he didn’t get the greatest trip,” said Specht. “He was wide on both turns and had to steady a little bit in the stretch, and still only lost by a couple lengths. With a better trip, he probably would’ve been right there.”
In the Robert Dupret, Specht noted Jungle Cry can put himself in a good spot depending on how the race unfolds.
“There’s not a special way for him to go,” said Specht. “I think he’s going to be pretty close to the pace, but if the pace is too fast, he can sit off.”
Jungle Cry has been a steady racer in 2021. After a pair of losses as a maiden back east, he was privately purchased by owner Thomas Bachman (Fairview LLC) and sent to Specht for a West Coast campaign. Specht liked Jungle Cry from the minute he stepped in the shedrow.
Making his first start for Team Specht on February 21, Jungle Cry broke his maiden in a Tapeta sprint. That day, he ran against other 3-year-olds. In his next two races (both at one turn), he hit the board against allowance company, with one of those efforts coming against older rivals. Jungle Cry’s first start routing, and debut on grass, resulted in a third-place finish behind 3-time stakes winner None Above the Law in the May 23 Alcatraz Stakes. He has remained at two turns on turf ever since.
“Tom Bachman bought this horse with the hopes he could win a stake out here at some point,” said Specht. “He owns [Jungle Cry’s] dam [the Unbridled’s Song mare Devine Aida] and winning a stake [with Jungle Cry] would help her value. We thought going long on the turf would be something he’d enjoy.”
“Jungle Cry is a cool dude,” said Specht. “At the barn, he’s a kind horse who enjoys hanging out. He’s not the biggest horse out there. Other horses sort of tower over him. But he goes to the track and always goes about his business. You want a barn full of horses like him.”
Race 10: $50,000 Robert Dupret Derby (3-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth on turf)
#1 Misty Cat (Jockey Silvio Amador…trainer Dan Franko)
#2 Shore Break (Evin Roman…Neil Drysdale)
#3 Code Duello (Assael Espinoza…Craig Dollase)
#4 Stalking Shadow (Pedro Terrero…Jonathan Wong)
#5 Joymaker (Kevin Orozco…Quinn Howey)
#6 Swift As I Am (Armando Ayuso…Jonathan Wong)
#7 Jungle Cry (Catalino Martinez…Steve Specht)
GOLDEN GATE FINISHES WINE COUNTRY RACING MEET WITH MANY SLIPS FILLING THE ENTRY BOX
With three more live race days at the Wine Country Racing meet at Golden Gate Fields, horsemen and horsewomen are eager to run their horses before a break next week. 34 races comprise three live programs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week, with first post each day at 1:45 PM PT. Fans who wish to attend the races on-track can purchase tickets online at goldengatefields.com or with walk-up admission at the track.
10 races kick off the festivities on Friday afternoon. The first two races on the card are for Arabian-bred horses. The opener, the Wine Country Racing Association purse, features a quintette of horses. The second race, the Wathba Stallion Cup, drew a field of 7.
Friday’s thoroughbred action starts in Race 3, with a pair of allowance races tabbed as the co-features on the program. Race 5, a sprint for 3-year-old fillies, drew the Steve Miyadi trained Hot Rageous and Do You Hear That, trained by Quinn Howey. Both runners are expected to receive the most support in the wagering. Hot Rageous has been very close to winning a handful of allowance races while showing an affinity for the main track Tapeta. Do You Hear That, more experienced with more wins on her resume, has already won a trio of allowance races throughout her career. 3-year-old route fillies get their chance to shine in Race 9, with the steadily improving Tiz An Edventure, the ultra-consistent La Vikina, and Irish-bred Absolute Scenes listed as the top three morning line choices in an eight-horse field.
12 races made the overnight for Saturday’s live program. The headliner, the Robert Dupret Derby on turf, is a stake for 3-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth. Trainer Jonathan Wong saddles a pair of contenders in California Derby winner Stalking Shadow and Swift As I am, looking to win his fourth race in a row. Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale ship filly Shore Break north to face boys while multiple allowance winner Joymaker and allowance placed Misty Cat also enter to run against male counterparts. Southern California Craig Dollase, not shy to send horses north for stakes races, is represented by first-off-the-claim acquisition Code Duello. You can find more information on the likely favorite, Jungle Cry, in the first article. Young “stars of the future” are also highlighted on this program: a California-bred maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies drew a full field of 12, and another 2-year-old race earlier in the card has 11 contenders.
We end our Wine Country Racing meet with a dozen more races on Sunday. Six of the 12 Sunday events are on turf, including the co-featured seventh race. For 3-year-old allowance sprinters, the 5-furlong grass affair includes the Nick Alexander hard-knocking homebred Pappy Boyington, the speedy Handr’sdream, multiple allowance winner Exhaulting and 2-time winner Cool Mountain Lad. A first level allowance for older sprinters on Tapeta goes as Race 10 and holds “co-featured race” status. The top two contenders are admirable racers. In Our A, a picture of consistency, has finished first or second in seven lifetime starts. California-bred War Games stopped the clock in good time two weeks ago at the first level allowance condition and wheels back quickly for another win at this level. A 12-horse field of 2-year-old maiden special weight colts and geldings starts off the Late Pick 5 in Race 8, and a super competitive starter allowance in Race 11 is part of late multi-race wagers that are projected to pay very well.
At the conclusion of this week’s racing action, Golden Gate Fields takes one week off before returning on Friday, August 27 for “Part 2” of the Endless summer meet. The Endless summer meet goes three days a week-Friday through Sunday-and ends on Sunday, October 2.
TICKETS STILL AVAILIBLE FOR SATURDAY’S EQUINE AND WINE FESTIVAL
Tickets are still available to attend this Saturday’s Equine and Wine Festival at the Players Patio and Trackside Court on the Clubhouse level. The Equine and Wine Festival, from 12 PM to 6 PM, is a VIP event presented by Jackson Family Wine.
Tickets for the Equine and Wine Festival are $75 dollars per person, with private tables for groups of 2,4,6 and 8 guests offered. With a ticket, VIP attendees receive Wine Tasting presented by Jackson Family Wines, a limited-edition Golden Gate Fields wine glass, Tapas for all tables, a VIP Swag bag giveaway, and a “meet and great” with Golden Gate Fields jockeys. Admission, parking, and a race program also come with the purchase of an Equine and Wine ticket.
Wines featured for guests include Carmel Road Chardonnay, Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and Cabernet, La Crema Sauvignon Blanc, Cambria Pinot Noir and Willakenzie Pinot Noir. For more information, visit Goldengateifields.com or e-mail questions@goldengatefields.com. To purchase a ticket, visit the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-equine-wine-presented-by-jackson-family-wines-814-tickets-163217916181
GOLDEN GATE FIELDS CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims made at Golden Gate last week:
Friday
Race 1: Arouse N Go (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owner MJVET Stables)
Race 1: Big Enough (Quinn Howey…Boardshorts Stables LLC and Howey)
Race 3: Maggie’s Magic (Isidro Tamayo…John Tipton and Tamayo)
Race 6: Lookin for Gold (Pablo De Jesus…Garry McNeill and Felibert Barnett)
Saturday
Race 2: June Gloom (Quinn Howey…Leon Scott)
Race 2: Second Bold (Owner/Trainer Ivan Becerra)
Race 5: Midnight Special (Mike Lenzini…Gary Marrone)
Sunday
Race 1: Gray Gem (Quinn Howey…Boardshorts Stables LLC and Howey)
Race 1: Persistence (Sammy Calvario…Johnny Taboada)
Race 2: Prince de Prince (Steve Sherman…Stewball Stable, Lyon, Richter, and Sherman)
Race 4: Ecologist (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)
Race 4: Hot Sean (Jesus Ramos…Candelario Barragan)
Race 4: Passionate Reward (Monty Meier…Michael Bean)
Race 5: Bowlmageddon (Reid France…France and Lagattuta)
Race 5: Clubhouse Saint (Quinn Howey…Boardshorts Stables LLC and Howey)
Race 9: Lauren Squared (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)
Race 9: Moon Rise (Isidro Tamayo…John Tipton)
DEL MAR WATCH LIST
Below is a list of Golden Gate horses and human connections competing at Del Mar this week:
Thursday
Race 5: Boyson (Trainer Jonathan Wong…jockey Juan Hernandez)
Race 5: Ian Glass (Andy Mathis…Geovanni Franco)
Race 6: Square Peggy (Quinn Howey…Assael Espinoza)
Race 7: Ashley’s Valentine (Andy Mathis…Geovanni Franco)
Friday
Race 6: Eustace (Jonathan Wong…Jose Valdivia Jr.)
Race 6: Hit the Seam (Jonathan Wong…Kyle Frey)
Race 7: Poso Creek (Dan Franko…Wayne Barnett)
Saturday
Race 1: #2 Mr. Pickles (Jonathan Wong…Juan Hernandez)
Race 1: Bourbonwithatwist (Ed Moger Jr…Drayden Van Dyke)
Race 4: Lounge Act (Quinn Howey…Kyle Frey)
Race 7: Naughty Niko (Debbie Winnick…Geovanni Franco)
Sunday
Race 1: Busy Paynter (Andy Mathis…Kyle Frey)
Race 1: On Deck (Bill McLean…Ricky Gonzalez)
Race 3: Never For Money (Andy Mathis…Kyle Frey)
Race 6: Angel’s Advocate (Andy Mathis…Tyler Baze)
Race 6: Bold Mistress (Ed Moger Jr…Geovanni Franco)
Race 7: Nardini (Andy Mathis…Kyle Frey)
FINISH LINES: Trainers Terri Eaton and Abel Borg condition 11 of the 12 Arabian’s set to compete in the first two races on Friday…Jockey Kyle Frey and trainer Andy Mathis team up with Nardini in Sunday’s $150,000 Solana Beach Handicap at Del Mar for California-bred fillies and mares…Happy birthday to trainers D. Wayne Baker, Andy Mathis, Marcia Stortz, assistant trainer Francisco Rodriguez and GGF Assistant General Manager William Rizzuto, all who celebrate birthdays in the next couple weeks…MANDATORY PAYOUTS this Sunday, Closing Day of the Wine Country Racing meet at Golden Gate.