STAKES WINNER BECCA TAYLOR RETURNS TO THE BAY AREA
4-year-old California-bred filly Becca Taylor is one nose away from having a perfect resume. The blossoming Nick Alexander homebred boasts a 6 for 7 lifetime record, with her lone loss coming last time out in the Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred or sired turf sprinters at Santa Anita. That day, she lost by the narrowest of margins as the 4-5 favorite.
In Saturday’s ninth race, Becca Taylor returns to the scene of a first level allowance win on January 29. That day, she was making her first start off a nine-and-a-half-month vacation at Golden Gate. She stalked the pace early and pulled away from her company down the stretch, hitting the wire four lengths clear of the runner up finisher. She was geared down in the end by jockey Armando Ayuso, who retains the mount this Saturday.
Amazingly, Becca Taylor is still eligible to win at the first allowance condition again. Taking advantage of the conditions, trainer Steve Miyadi opts to send his consistent sprinter to the Bay Area to break through at the aforementioned level one more time. Breaking from post position 8, she is projected to go off as a low odds favorite in a field of 10.
Her main competition may be Legatha, who got back to good form last time out after three consecutive poor performances. In her most recent start, Lagatha finished as the runner up-beaten just a neck-but ran a respectable race while earning a solid speed figure. Like Becca Taylor, she is a California-bred who has already won at the first level allowance condition.
Lagatha will need to turn the tables on Becca Taylor, however, as she finished five lengths behind her aforementioned counterpart on January 29. That said, Lagatha had run a career best race one race prior to “bouncing” in her next start against Becca Taylor.
Another intriguing runner in Saturday’s ninth race is My Legal Bet, making her second start off a lengthy break for trainer Jamey Thomas. She only lost by a length and a half at this level on April 1 and seeks to improve in her second start in the current form cycle. Irving Orozco was aboard last time out and decides to stick with Lagatha. With that, Evin Roman will be aboard for the first time.
10 races are on the docket for Saturday afternoon, with an early first post at 12:45 PM. Of course, fans on track can watch and wager on all races from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Race 12 from Churchill Downs is the $3,000,000 Kentucky Derby for 3-year-olds at one mile and a quarter. Approximate post time for the ‘Derby: 6:57 PM ET/3:57 PM PT.
Race 9: First level allowance (for fillies & mares 3-year-olds & upward at six furlongs on Tapeta)
1. Canam Gal (Jockey Alejandro Gomez…Trainer Bill McLean…morning line odds of 10-1)
2. Daniela Bella (Silvio Amador…Ed Moger Jr…15-1)
3. My Legal Bet (Evin Roman…Jamey Thomas…6-1)
4. Lagatha (Irving Orozco…Reid France …7-2)
5. Emma’s Dance (Assael Espinoza…Ed Moger Jr…12-1)
6. Benson (WIllam Antongeorgi III…Jonathan Wong..20-1)
7. La Aguililla (Santos Rivera…Jesus Ramos…301)
8. Becca Taylor (Armando Ayuso…Steve Miyadi…6-5)
9. Damn the Torpedoes (Brayan Pena…Victor Trujillo …15-1)
10. Tiger Queen (Pedro Terrero…Jack Steiner…10-1)
TROJAN CLUBHOUSE SEEKS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY ON FRIDAY
4-year-old chestnut filly Trojan Clubhouse failed to fire in four races to kick off her career. After a break from May of 2021 to December, she returned in a $5,000 maiden claiming condition and proceeded to wire the field at odds of 10-1. She hit the wire four lengths clear of the runner up finisher and looked like a new filly.
Her next start resulted in a third-place finish-her first try against winners-and she did not take kindly to losing that day. Since the aforementioned loss, Trojan Clubhouse won four consecutive races, including a second level allowance win in her most recent afternoon appearance on April 9.
“When she broke her maiden I thought, ‘Well, we can break a few conditions with her,’” said Trojan Clubhouse’s trainer Reid France. “I didn’t expect her to do this well. She’s just really come around.”
In Friday’s seventh race, a specialized starter allowance, Trojan Clubhouse is likely to go off heavily favored in search of her fifth consecutive trip to the winner’s circle. The race is a starter allowance for “fillies and mares three years old and upward which started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less in 2019-2022.” Because Trojan Clubhouse was in for a $5,000 condition when she broke her maiden last December, she is eligible to compete at the starter $8,000 level.
In all five lifetime victories, Trojan Clubhouse has been on the lead. With other pace signed on in Friday’s seventh race, France believes his filly is versatile enough to stalk the speed if need be.
“I don’t think she needs the lead,” said France confidently.
France mentioned two mares he worked with, Cowboy’s Daughter and Grade I placed Mended, as racers in the past who went on lengthy win streaks while continuously climbing up the class ladder.
“It seems like the fillies and mares go on these streaks more than the boys,” said France. “They get really confident. They find that will to win and they thrive.”
Eight races made the Friday overnight. Late first post time on Friday of 2:00 PM. Fans who attend the races can watch and wager on Kentucky Oaks Day from Churchill Downs and other tracks around the country.
Race 7: Starter allowance (For fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward at one mile on the Tapeta)
1. Chieftain’s Lady (Jockey Julien Couton…trainer Eddie Rich…morning line odds of 6-1)
2. Proof of Jazz (Pedro Terrero…Marcelino Trujillo…8-1)
3. Trojan Clubhouse (Armando Ayuso…Reid France…6-5)
4. Bold Article (Evin Roman…O.J. Jauregui…8-1)
5. Styledome (Irving Orozco…D. Wayne Baker…9-2)
6. Mybluebell (Brayan Pena…Sammy Calvario…5-1)
7. Mulhima (Alejandro Gomez…Mike Lenzini…8-1)
KENTUCKY DERBY PICKS
It’s this year’s addition of Kentucky Derby picks! We asked some folks from the Golden Gate Racing Community to share their top picks for this year’s big race:
Assael Espinoza (jockey): Taiba “The way he won the Santa Anita Derby first time routing was pretty impressive. He performed like a Kentucky Derby winner.”
Chris Carpenter (owner): White Abarrio “I really like the way he’s come back since the small break he received after a race in November. It just depends what kind of trip he can navigate.”
Matt Dinerman (announcer): Epicenter “I think Taiba is the most raw-talented horse in the race, but he better be special to win off of just two races against what looks like a super strong field this year. I watched Zandon win at Keeneland, and he sure looks like a horse that will relish the mile and a quarter. But the more I think about it, the more I feel that Epicenter could be the next big horse. He’s winning with more in the tank and has a good foundation of races in him.”
Reid France (trainer): Taiba “He reminds me of Justify.”
Doug Gooby (mutual manager): Taiba “He already beat his stablemate [Messier]. He’s lightly raced but I think there’s room for improvement, and he gets [jockey] Mike Smith. Money Mike always shows up for the big races. If the track comes up off, then I give longshot Tiz the Bomb a shot.”
O.J. Jauregui (trainer): Messier “He’ll be ready for his biggest effort yet.”
Steve Martinelli (racing secretary and morning line maker): Taiba “Only a special horse could do what he did last time off one maiden sprint win. He beat, up to that point, the best 3-year-old in California [Messier] on the square. If he can work out a trip, he will wear the roses after only his third trip to the post.”
Monty Meier (trainer): Classic Causeway “His trainer Brian Lynch is an old friend of mine and Classic Causeway’s gallop girl comes from a family I used to ride for. I’ve seen pictures of him on Facebook and he looks really good. Best of luck to them.”
Irving Orozco (jockey) “I don’t have a pick in the Derby; it’s really competitive. But I like Secret Oath in the Kentucky Oaks.”
Fernando Navarro (jockey agent) White Abarrio “I liked his win in the Florida Derby a lot. That was such a game effort. I’ve always been a fan of his running style.”
Bruce Philipie (owner): Epicenter and Messier “I always choose the best jockey/trainer combination. My longshot would be Charge It for Luis Saez and Todd Pletcher.”
Jonathan Wong (trainer) Zandon “He comes off a huge race. He should get some pace to run into and he won on an off-track last time. If it’s raining, that won’t hurt him.”
Blaine Wright (trainer): Epicenter “[Trainer Steve] Asmussen is due for his Derby win. His horse is winning those prep races with ease.”
CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims from last week:
Friday
Race 2: Loud Fusaichi (New trainer Reid France…new owners Albert and Kathleen Mattivi LLC)
Race 3: Lemon Zinger (Isidro Tamayo…Jerry Edwards)
Race 6: Magic Tiger (Ruby Thomas…Jeff Chain and Ray Thomas)
Race 6: Railsplitter (Ed Moger Jr…Bill Meikle)
Race 6: Sugar Beets (Victor Trujillo…Lester Hunsucker, Jose Paredes and Trujillo)
Saturday
Race 1: Action for Autism (D. Wayne Baker…Kevin Birdsall and Baker)
Race 4: Absolute Scenes (Isidro Tamayo…Leon Scott)
Race 4: Miss Ever Ready (Isidro Tamayo…Johnny Taboada)
Race 4: Nicole Grace (Ruby Thomas…Donald Jacklin and Thomas)
Sunday
Race 2: Quick Time (Mike Lenzini…John Parker)
Race 2: Rock N Roll Song (Owner/Trainer Lorenzo Ruiz)
Race 2: Stand in Your Love (Gary Greiner…Renee Greiner)
Race 8: Emerald Magic (Bill McLean…Brian Earley and McLean)
Race 8: Handsome Gary (Leobardo Rivera…Manuela Franco Sosa)
Race 10: Minoso (Tim McCanna…Patrick LePley)
FINISH LINES: The Saturday co-feature is Race 3, a first level allowance for 3-year-old sprinters at 6 furlongs. Big Papa Steve and Little Casino have both won at this condition before and take another crack at it. Other contenders include recent starter allowance winner Meetmeattheclub, the speedy Nuestro Engreido and impressive maiden winner Unto Thee…Best wishes to jockey Ruben Fuentes, who ships his tack to Canterbury Park in Minnesota after a stint at Golden Gate this winter…Also, good luck to jockey Kevin Orozco, who begins a Spring/Summer stint at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington next week…California Derby winner Il Bellator and Silky Sullivan winner Royal ‘n Rando are likely to meet in the Alcatraz Stakes at one mile on turf on May 1. Also, possible to join that cast is Boise and Highland Ghost, runner up finishers in the California Derby and Silky Sullivan, respectively…Last Friday and Saturday, one ticket holder scooped the Pick 6 jackpot. $4,868 is carried over into Friday’s Golden Pick Six jackpot wager from Sunday.