WEEKEND STAKES WINNERS MAY APPEAR AT DEL MAR
Freeport Joe and St Anthony, who won a pair of stakes races at Golden Gate last weekend, could show up in stakes events over the summer at Del Mar.
Monday’s $100,000 All American Stakes went to Freeport Joe, who sat off a quick pace before unleashing a rally and nailing defending champion Navy Armed Guard in the shadow of the wire. Just hours after the All-American victory, our media team caught up with trainer Gloria Haley. Understandably, she was “over the moon” with how Freeport Joe ran.
“We’re just so proud of him,” said Haley. “He’s a special horse. [Jockey] Assael [Espinoza] rode him terrific. Him and ‘Joe get along so well. We couldn’t be happier.”
Freeport Joe has shown an affinity for the Tapeta main track, but Haley is not ruling out another try on turf. A long-term goal for Freeport Joe could be the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes at one mile and a sixteenth on turf for California-bred 3-year-olds and up. The race is scheduled for Saturday, August 6 at Del Mar.
“It’s a race we’ll consider,” said Haley. “Nothing is set and stone at this point.”
Haley noted that in his last start before the All American, Freeport Joe ran a better than looked race in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on grass. That day, he broke a few lengths slow but ran on strongly in the closing stages, only losing by three lengths to race winner Vanzzy.
St Anthony won Sunday’s one-mile $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf. The gelding by Noble Mission sat off the pace, waited for racing room in upper stretch, found a clear path in midstretch and flew home in the concluding stages for a half-length score. St Anthony completed the one mile in 1:37.35 seconds with local rider Pedro Terrero aboard.
Reported earlier this week by the Daily Racing Form’s Steve Anderson, St Anthony will point for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on Opening Day Friday, July 22. The races is at run at one mile on turf. St. Anthony possesses breeding to suggest he will continue to thrive as the year progresses. His dam, Amnesia, won the 2014 Wine Country Stakes at Santa Rosa in her 3-year-old summer season.
MULTIPLE STAKES WINNER CAMINO DEL PARAISO RETIRES AT AGE 9
9-year-old gelding Camino Del Paraiso, a four-time stakes winner at Golden Gate who most recently ran third in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile, has been retired from racing per trainer O.J. Jauregui.
“We were getting ready for the All American [last Monday],” said Jauregui. “He came up with a minor issue. I would have had to give him sixty days off and then start up his training all over again. I called the owner and said, ‘It’s time.’ He’s been great to us. We owe it to him…to give him a good retirement and a good life. We had a great run with him.”
As a yearling in 2014, Camino Del Paraiso was purchased by owner Herb Moniz of Paradise Road Ranch LLC for $5,000. After six losses to kick off his career, Camino Del Paraiso made his first career trip to the winner’s circle on August 17, 2016 in a California-bred one-mile turf race at Del Mar. Following his maiden victory, Camino Del Paraiso wracked off two consecutive allowance wins at Golden Gate.
His stakes debut came in the fall of 2016 when competing in the Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar. That day, he got boxed behind horses in midstretch and was able to secure third with the unlucky trip. The following year, Camino Del Paraiso finished third in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap, his first in-the-money finish in a graded stake.
In 2019, Camino Del Paraiso came up a neck short in the Berkeley Handicap to race favorite Editore. He also placed in the Joseph T. Grace Stakes. His 2020 began with a decisive allowance victory at Golden Gate and two runner up finishes in graded stakes at Santa Anita: the Thunder Road (G3) and San Luis Rey (G3). Following two third place finishes-one in the All American and the other in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile-Camino Del Paraiso finally retrieved his first stakes win in the 2020 Rolling Green Stakes. His confidence grew from there, and he proceeded to win three additional stakes: two runnings of the Joseph T. Grace (in 2020 and 2021) and a repeat victory in the Rolling Green of 2021.
Camino Del Paraiso made his 9-year-old debut in the 2022 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita and finished second in a hard-fought decision. He returned in the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile at Turf Paradise and ran a subpar race. Jauregui attributed the off-the-board finish to the turf course; Camino Del Paraiso simply did not enjoy racing over it. His final race was a terrific effort, running third in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on April 30. He finished third behind Southern California invaders Vanzzy and Evening Sun in a full field of 14.
Camino Del Paraiso, by Suances out of the Successful Appeal mare Loni’s Appeal, raced 48 times and visited the winners circle on nine occasions. He ran second twelve times and checked in third in five other races. Bred in California by Red Baron’s Barn LLC, Camino Del Paraiso earned $650,0332.
“Honestly, he is one of the classiest horses I’ve ever been around,” said Jauregui. “He did everything right. He gave us his best. We’re going to miss him at the barn, but he had a great run.”
HARD TO SEPARATE MAIN CONTENDERS IN TURF ALLOWANCE ON SATURDAY
A large field of 11 are slated to race in the featured eighth race on Saturday, a first level allowance at one mile on turf. The race is also featured in the second leg of the Golden Hour Late Pick 4 bet.
The morning line favorite at 7-2 is Loafers Boy, who finished third in his most recent afternoon appearance at the first level allowance condition. In fact, Loafers Boy has either hit the board or won in his last four races at the aforementioned condition. He cuts back to eight furlongs-a distance that trainer Leanna Ekstrom has said in the past may be too short for him-but should be listed as a major player with his consistent form in mind.
Trip handicappers will surely take a second look at Secret Club, who dealt with traffic trouble in his most recent start. He eventually ran fourth. The son of Clubhouse Ride was claimed for $20,000 out of a California-bred allowance race at Santa Anita by trainer Ed Moger Jr. and makes his second start off the claim.
Memo Daddy won a starter allowance race in his first start off a $20,000 claim for trainer Tim Bellasis two starts ago. Most recently, he finished second at this allowance level in a one mile and a sixteenth turf race. He has yet to run a bad race in three career starts in Northern California but sports an 0 for 6 record when racing at the eight-furlong distance on turf. Nonetheless, he is a legit contender.
Lord Brancusi has run second in his last five starts at this level. In a few of those races, he received less than ideal trips whether it be due to traffic issues, wide trips, or breaking slowly from the gate. A naturally fast horse in sprints, he figures to be part of the pace for leading trainer Jonathan Wong.
Anitanewmercedes ran third in his last two races at the California-bred allowance condition at Santa Anita and returns to his home base for local trainer Isidro Tamayo. He is another that does his best work close to the pace. East Rand won a $20,000 claimer on turf and takes the next logical step to the first level allowance condition for Southern California trainer Leonard Powell, who has won with 3 of his 6 starters (with 2 other third place finishes) at the Winter/Spring meet. Black Caspian, the last of the major players, has put up a pair of subpar efforts as of late but finished ahead of morning line favorite Loafers Boy in a couple of races in March. His best run puts him in the hunt.
9-races made the Saturday overnight. First post is 1:15 PM.
Race 8 on Saturday (First level allowance for 3 YO and up at one mile on turf)
#1 Sea of Liberty (Jockey William Antongeorgi II…Trainer Jamey Thomas…morning line: 3-1)
#2 Secret Club (Silvio Amador…Ed Moger Jr…6-1)
#3 Loafers Boy (Pedro Terrero…Leanna Ekstrom…7-2)
#4 Sal N Louie (Daniel Vergara…Victor Trujillo…30-1)
#5 Kodiaction (Armando Ayuso…Jedd Josephson…10-1)
#6 Lord Brancusi (Brayan Pena…Jonathan Wong…6-1)
#7 Memo Daddy (Irving Orozco…Tim Bellasis…9-2)
#8 Black Caspian (Frank Alvarado…Manny Badilla…6-1)
#9 East Rand (Julien Couton…Leonard Powell…12-1)
#10 Anitanewmercedes (Evin Roman…Isidro Tamayo…5-1)
#11 Alvaaro (Santos Rivera…Victor Trujillo…15-1)
SOME OF THE FASTEST FILLY AND MARES AT GOLDEN GATE CLASH IN SUNDAY FEATURE
Some of the fastest filly and mare sprinters in Northern California compete in Race 4 on Sunday, an open allowance at six furlongs on Tapeta. 9 races are on the docket this Sunday with first post set for 1:15 PM.
Northwest Factor draws the rail and will need to work out a good trip from there. She cuts back from a route to a sprint after a third-place finish in the Golden Poppy Stakes routing on turf. Northwest Factor has run five times at six furlongs, with two wins and two third place finishes at the distance.
Stablemates Day Plan and The Pharaoh’s Girl exit the same race on May 20, a five-furlong turf dash. That day, Day Plan pressed the pace and placed second, unable to catch race winner Carolina Mia. This will be Day Plan’s second start off an eight-month layoff. The Pharaoh’s Girl sat at the back of the pack and failed to fire, finishing last in the field of six. She returns to a surface that we know she likes; she has won her last three races on the main track Tapeta.
Strike At Dawn has not been seen since a second-place finish in an allowance race at Woodbine in November of 2020. Sporting a pair of bullet workouts leading up to this race for new trainer Blaine Wright, Strike At Dawn has yet to compete in a sprint race in twelve lifetime starts.
The Quentin B. Miller trained pair of Rose Princess and Tip Top Gal round out the field. Rose Princess was a well beaten third in a claiming race while Tip Top Gal was a non-threatening ninth in the Camilla Urso Stakes on turf in April.
Race 4 on Sunday (Open allowance for fillies and mares 3 YO and up at 6 furlongs on Tapeta)
#1 Northwest Factor (Jockey Pedro Terrero…Trainer Manny Badilla)
#2 Day Plan (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong)
#3 Strike At Dawn (Julien Couton…Blaine Wright)
#4 Tip Top Gal (Armando Ayuso…Quentin B. Miller)
#5 The Pharaoh’s Girl (William Antongeorgi III…Jonathan Wong)
#6 Rose Princess (Jose Rodirguez…Quentin B. Miller)
CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims from last week.
Friday
Race 1: Gold Rush Gal (New trainer D. Wayne Baker…New owner Richard Barton & Kate Penner)
Race 1: Maggie Fitzgerald (Tim McCanna…Scott Gruender)
Saturday
Race 3: Hot Rageous (Trainer Ed Moger Jr…Doug Kline)
Sunday
Race 4: Forgotten Vows (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)
Race 6: Sync (Wendell McDaniel…Chris Gounalakis)
Race 9: Shaman’s Prodigy (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables and Clay Sides)
Monday
Race 3: Mary Margaret (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)
Race 9: Diamond Willow (Jeff Metz…Saratoga West)
Race 9: Refi Now (Owner/Trainer Jacqui Navarre)
FINISH LINES: With six racing days to go, Evin Roman remains at the top of the jockey standings with 75 wins at the Winter/Spring meet. Pedro Terrero is three wins behind with 72…Milestone alert: Trainer Steve Specht has won 1,492 races in his career, meaning he is 8 wins shy of career victory 1,500. Trainer Jonathan Wong has won 992 races-8 wins away from 1,000…Race 7 on Friday is the top race of the day, a first level allowance on turf for fillies and mares First post on Friday card is 1:15 PM…Jockey Abdul Alsagoor picked up his first Golden Gate Fields win with Mary Margaret in last Monday’s third race. An apprentice rider from Southern California, Alsagoor was in the Bay Area to ride a couple of races on Monday…Three of the five entrants in Saturday’s Grade 3 $100,000 Desert Stormer at Santa Anita feature runners who have competed at Golden Gate: two-time GGF allowance winner Becca Taylor (trained by Steve Miyadi), 10 time GGF winner Dynasty of Her Own (Jonathan Wong), and multiple GGF winner Annie Graham (Miyadi)…$8,444 is the carryover amount in the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Friday.