2021 STAKES WINNERS FREEPORT JOE AND NAVY ARMED GUARD DEAD HEAT
In last Sunday’s ninth race, stakes winners Freeport Joe and Navy Armed Guard produced an exciting stretch run which, after examining the photo finish, the stewards ruled a dead-heat tie between the two.
Navy Armed Guard, who had not raced since a triumphant victory in the All-American Stakes last May, stalked the pace and took the lead at the eighth pole. Freeport Joe, winner of the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap, sat off the pace and came up alongside of Navy Armed Guard to engage in the final 100 yards. The final furlong was completed in 12 seconds-a swift finishing time for a route race on the Tapeta-and both horses hit the wire together while finishing full of energy.
Thursday morning, trainers Gloria Haley and Quinn Howey reported that their geldings exited the race in tip-top shape.
“He came out of the race great,” said Haley, who conditions Freeport Joe. “We’re just so happy with how he’s progressed and how he’s run. We’ll look and see what races are out there for him. We’ll probably nominated to the Unusual Heat Turf Classic [at Santa Anita next Saturday] but the turnaround would be a little quick. We’ll see.”
“He’s doing really good,” said Quinn Howey, the trainer of Navy Armed Guard. “He’s won on the dirt and he’s won on the turf, but he just loves the Tapeta. He’s actually still eligible for a second level allowance condition in Southern California, so we could run him in a race like that or find another stake next. The All American [in May] is on the calendar for him later on [in 2022]. We’ll have some fun with him this year.”
UP AND COMER J AND K EXPRESS LOOKING TO BUILD ON FIRST TWO STARTS
4-year-old filly J and K Express looks to build on two promising lifetime starts in the marquee eighth race on Saturday, a first level allowance for filly and mare sprinters. A California-bred daughter of Richard Kid’s, J and K Express is trained by Leanna Ekstrom.
J and K Express kicked off her career with a half-length victory against maiden special weight company on November 27. That day, she defeated Twilight Empire, who wheeled back to win her next start. On a two-week turnaround, J and K Express faced 12 other rivals in her second and most recent start, the $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes. Sent off at a massive price of 85-1, J and K Express sat a length off a 21.63 and 44.26 quick pace, stayed on down the lane and was nosed out for third, finishing two lengths behind race winner Rebalation. Considering J and K Express was running against classy sprinters that had much more experience than her, it was an admirable effort.
“When she won her first start, [jockey] Cristobal [Herrera] said she really didn’t have to try too hard,” said Ekstrom. “He didn’t feel like she was overly tired or anything like that. The owners had mentioned before, ‘Maybe if we have a good horse, we could consider running in a Cal-bred stake.’ She came out of her first race really well, so after discussing [to run in the Bear Fan] with the owners and the jockey, we decided to give it a try. We were very happy with how she ran.
She’s a smart filly,” continued Ekstrom. “Once we started getting some good works into her, we knew she had talent. Since the day she got here [to Golden Gate from the farm], she’s known what her job is. She’s all racehorse.”
Since her December 11 stakes debut, J and K Express has worked once-an easy five-furlong drill on January 2-and runs against eight other contenders this Saturday. Regular pilot Cristobal Herrera will be back aboard.
“For the most part, she can make her own pace,” said Ekstrom. “In her first start, she wanted to take the front and she did. In the stakes race, she was clear on the outside and found a good spot right off [the lead]. She’s one of these horses that just gives you her all. She’s doing very well, and she’s ready to run.”
J and K Express, bred in California by owners Patrick Harney and Tom Hudson, is 7-2 on the morning line and will break from post position 3. First post on a 9-race program this Saturday is 12:45 PM.
Race 8 on Saturday: First level allowance (for fillies and mares at six furlongs on the Tapeta)
#1 Atlantic Strike (Jockey Evin Roman…trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 8-1)
#2 The Great Haynes (Armando Ayuso…Andy Mathis…6-1)
#3 J and K Express (Cristobal Herrera…Leanna Ekstrom…7-2)
#4 Mommy Rose (Ruben Fuentes…Ed Moger Jr…20-1)
#5 Swanee (Santos Rivera…Guillermo Preciado…8-1)
#6 Kitty’s Candy (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…10-1)
#7 Lagatha (Irving Orozco…Reid France…5-2)
#8 Styledome (William Antongeorgi…Steve Sherman…5-1)
#9 Chieftain’s Lady (Pedro Terrero…Eddie Rich…10-1)
OVERSUBSCRIBED ALLOWANCE RACE SPLITS INTO TWO DIVISIONS ON SUNDAY
This Sunday’s featured allowance race, written as Race 8 in the first Winter/Spring meet condition book, received 17 entrants on entry day and has been split into two divisions. The first division, Race 7, drew a field of 8, while Division 2, Race 9, has 9 runners.
Division 1 includes R M C Hook’em, who has hit the board numerous times at this level while earning above average speed figures for the condition. Last fall, he finished a couple lengths behind Top Harbor and In Our A, two of the top sprinters in Northern California. His turf debut came five weeks ago, when he finished third behind speedy gelding Silver Claim. Other main contenders include hard-knocking gelding Torpedo Away and Long Lance, who cuts back from a route to a sprint. The last time Long Lance sprinted on the Tapeta, he earned a career high 82 Beyer when easily beating starter allowance foes.
Division 2 attracts a diverse group of sprinters. A Man’s Man, fresh off a runner up finish at this level, tries Tapeta for the first time. Before a 19-month layoff from May 2020 to December of last year, the son of Breeders Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man was running competitively against salty Southern California competition. Truth Seeker picked up the silver medal in his last start, a one-mile route at this level, and two starts ago lost by a half-length sprinting on dirt to Clem Labine, who returned on December 10 to beat Torpedo Away (5-1 morning line in Division 1) at this condition. Impressive maiden winners Hey Mate and Uncle Fred face proven winners for the first time in the Sunday finale while Southern California shipper Jazz Hands, who won a restricted 3-year-old allowance race at Golden Gate last April, gets back to Northern California for trainer Edward Freeman.
9-races are on the Sunday overnight, with first post once again at 12:45 PM.
Race 7 on Friday: First level allowance (for 4-year-olds and upward at six furlongs on the Tapeta)
#1 Torpedo Away (Jockey Armando Ayuso…trainer Manny Badilla…morning line odds of 5-1)
#2 Long Lance (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…2-1)
#3 Meet the Sheriff (Assael Espinoza…Cliff DeLima…15-1)
#4 Paint Me Lucky (Evin Roman…Marcia Stortz…8-1)
#5 Exhortation (Pedro Terrero…Gloria Haley…8-1)
#6 Bang for your Buck (Ruben Fuentes…Jed Josephson…10-1)
#7 Thegloryisallmine (Alejandro Gomez…Ed Moger Jr…20-1)
#8 R M C Hook’em (Brayan Pena…Victor Trujillo…9-5)
Race 9 on Friday: First level allowance (for 4-year-olds and upward at six furlongs on the Tapeta)
#1 Flic Flac (Jockey Silvio Amador…Trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 6-1)
#2 Hey Mate (Assael Espinoza…Bill McLean…10-1)
#3 Truth Seeker (William Antongeorgi III…Manny Ortiz…3-1)
#4 Mister Bold (Armando Ayuso…Jeff Bonde…6-1)
#5 A Man’s Man (Pedro Terrero…Steve Sherman…7-2)
#6 Jazz Hands (Alejandro Gomez…Edward Freeman…10-1)
#7 Copper Halo (Santos Rivera…Manny Badilla…20-1)
#8 Square Deal (Evin Roman…Victor Trujillo…8-1)
#9 Uncle Fred (Irving Orozco…Reid France…9-2)
CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims from last week:
FRIDAY
Race 1: Hot Sean (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owner Madden Racing and MJVET Stables)
Race 2: What Up Now JT (Isidro Tamayo…John Tipton)
Race 4: Night Proof (Owner/Trainer Faith Taylor)
SATURDAY
Race 1: Circulodeganadoras (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)
Race 4: Coal Shaft (O.J Jauregui…Highland Yard LLC)
Race 6: Honeymoonz Over (Victor Trujillo…Marron Road Ventures LLC and Trujillo)
SUNDAY
Race 5: Hurley (Owner/Trainer Miguel Ramirez)
Race 7: Bronze Warrior (Blaine Wright…Wright Racing Stable, Steve Menne and Johnny Taboada)
Race 7: Claim of Passion (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)
Race 8: Scratchy Apache (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)
FINISH LINES: In Race 6 on Saturday, a maiden special weight sprint for 3-year-old fillies, Ayellowroseoftexas makes her first start in Northern California for trainer Steve Miyadi. The daughter of Dialed In is a half sibling to 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate…You won’t find a better bunch of 32k claimers in Race 5 on Sunday. Entered is stakes winner Blue Diva and allowance winners Gettin Sideways, Ida Claire, Miss Super Saint, Rev Ree, and Tiz an Edventure…Congratulations to jockey Brayan Pena, who won 4 races last Sunday. He finished second once and third twice with 3 other mounts who did not win…Golden Gate Debutante winner Mimajoon faces five others in the signature race on Saturday at Santa Anita, the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-olds fillies at 7 furlongs on dirt. Kyle Frey rides for trainer Jonathan Wong…$15,512 is carried over into the Golden Pick jackpot wager for Friday, while the first race with a Rolling Super High five bet has a substantial carryover of $11,031…Three jockeys-Armando Ayuso, Assael Espinoza and Evin Roman-get back to riding this Saturday after taking suspension days issued by the stewards for riding infractions in December…Happy birthday to trainer Jedd Josephson, who celebrate his birthday early next week Monday.