BERKELEY, CA – Golden Gate Fields has announced the reopening of the racetrack to a limited capacity of fans starting on Friday, April 16, for the remainder of the Winter/Spring Meet that runs through to June 13. The limited capacity reopening is scheduled one week before Gold Rush Weekend, the Bay Area’s marquee Thoroughbred horse racing event of the year. Gold Rush Weekend will run April 24-25 and features eight graded stakes races including the prestigious Grade III $250,000 San Francisco Mile.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, fans will be required to reserve tickets for the duration of the Winter/Spring Meet and for Gold Rush Weekend online. General Admission and walk-ups are not permitted at this time. Fans are encouraged to sign-up online at www.goldengatefields.com to be the first to receive notification when tickets go on sale.

“We are delighted to be able to welcome racing fans back to Golden Gate Fields”, said David Duggan, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Golden Gate Fields. “Our team has worked tirelessly and in collaboration with the officials from the Berkeley Public Health Division to plan for the reopening of Golden Gate Fields to the public. It is our goal to deliver a world-class Thoroughbred racing meet for our guests and the community in a safe and memorable way.”

Since the outset of the pandemic, 1/ST and Golden Gate Fields have implemented stringent, industry-leading COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Reopening protocols for the Winter/Spring Meet will include social distancing, mandatory masking when not actively eating or drinking, contactless thermal temperature scanning, accessible hand sanitization stations and enhanced cleaning throughout the facility. For more information on the health and safety protocols at Golden Gate Fields, please visit www.goldengatefields.com/Covid-19.

Berkeley Public Health Division and their operating partner Curative have used the large north side parking lot at Golden Gate Fields for priority tier-based vaccinations for Alameda County residents since February. Those who work on the backstretch at Golden Gate Fields and categorized in the agricultural priority tier were also eligible to receive the vaccine.

“Since the initial COVID-19 outbreak on our campus, we have successfully and sustainably reduced COVID-19 transmission to zero, minimized morbidity and proactively promoted vaccination of our community,” said Dr. David Seftel, MD, Track Physician, Golden Gate Fields. “Thanks to the efforts of the Berkeley Public Health Division and Curative, I am pleased that all of those who work on the backstretch and the employees at Golden Gate Fields have been fully vaccinated.”

While the track will reopen to fans in limited capacity for live racing, the Turf Club Restaurant and simulcast facilities will remain closed until further notice.

Contactless wagering can be enjoyed regardless of where fans are viewing the races with handicapping tools available on the 1/ST BET app, the official betting app of Golden Gate Fields. Part of the 1/ST TECHNOLOGY suite of handicapping and betting products, 1/ST BET is changing the game by delivering a user-friendly experience that suits everyone from the experienced horseplayer to the first-timer.

To stay up-to-date and for information regarding when tickets go on sale, please sign up below.

SHERMAN BARN SHINES IN WIN-FILLED RACING WEEK

Trainer Steve Sherman and his team had an unbelievable span of wins last week, picking up 7 first-place finishes from 13 starters. Among the accomplishments: a pair of three-win days on Thursday and Sunday, and a feature-race victory on Saturday with stakes-winning sprinter Hollywood Hills.

On Thursday, Sherman won a trio of races: Race 1 with Palm D’Oro, Race 5 with Crack a Cold One, and Race 7 with Cutetip. Sherman mentioned that Palm D’Oro, who was previously trained by his father Art, was an especially fun horse to win with.

“It’s always fun to work with my dad,” said Sherman. “I was his assistant for many years when he was training up here. We must’ve won a couple thousand races together and over the years we were lucky enough to take care of some really nice horses. My dad is a pure racetracker. He loves the game and loves training. He’s been doing it for over 60 years. He thought [Palm D’Oro] would need some class relief and figured coming up here would help her.”

Sherman won the feature race on Saturday, a second level allowance for filly and mare sprinters, with 5-year-old mare Hollywood Hills. The George Krikorian homebred has shown an affinity for the Golden Gate Tapeta main track, having now won six times from 10 starts, with three other in-the-money finishes over the surface.

“She really likes being [at Golden Gate],” said Sherman. “She has a great record on the Tapeta. I think she likes it up here and enjoys training up here. We’re going to run her next in the Camilla Urso Stakes on turf [on Saturday, April 24]. There’s always a lot of speed in those turf sprints so she’ll get a pace to run at and she ran a really good second in a stake on turf as a 3-year-old at Santa Anita, so the surface won’t be an issue.”

On Sunday, Sherman saddled three runners and won with all of them. Counting Cards, a 4-year-old gelding trying routing for the first time, bumped up from maiden claiming company to the maiden special weight ranks and scored an upset in Race 3, defeating a pair of even money co-favorites. Class-dropper Grinningeartoear beat a salty group of higher-level, hard-knocking claimers in Race 8, and Mecklenburg picked up his second win in a row in the nightcap, a first-level allowance.

“I figured Counting Cards would like routing because I haven’t seen a lot of giddy-up in his step when he works,” said Sherman. “I thought routing would be a lot easier on him and he’d stay on well, which he did. Grinningeartoear breezed really well in her final workout before her race and I thought she had a big chance to win as long as she took to the Tapeta.”

“Mecklenberg] is really improving,” continued Sherman. “You can just see him getting better and better. The main thing with him is getting him to settle. We have a little trouble with him into the first turn-he gets keen early on in his races. If we can get him to settle on the first turn like he does on the backside and the far turn, I think he’s going to be good. He’s got sneaky good breeding to be a good horse. We’ll run him in a second condition [allowance] next time at the end of April.”

When asked about his overall thoughts on last week’s success, Sherman was quick to answer the question.

“Things fell into place,” said Sherman. “As a trainer, you might think you have ‘live horses’ in races, but a lot of things come into play to actually win. You have to get lucky sometimes. This week, everything went really well. We got good post positions, we got good trips, the riders put up good rides and the horses ran their best.”

TURF RACING RESUMES ON THURSDAY

With the 2021 spring season well underway, turf racing will be back in play at Golden Gate beginning Thursday afternoon. A pair of turf races present themselves on Thursday and, on Friday, three more turf routes are scattered throughout an 8-race card. Two of the three Friday turf events have attracted double digit entrants (10 and 11, respectively) while the third route has nine.

Every year, Bay Area racing is run solely on Tapeta from January to early April. The hiatus in grass racing is for a couple of reasons. The Bay Area, for one, typically produces the most rain during the winter months. It also allows the track maintenance crew a chance to renovate and freshen up the course for the second half of the year.

“We’re going to move the [inner] rail as much as we can to keep the course fresh,” said Director of Racing/Racing Secretary Patrick Mackey. “We are also limiting the number of turf sprints this month and will gradually get back into writing more of those races as our meeting progresses.”

Horseplayers, as we know, are always game to play turf racing. With that in mind, riders of our equine athletes are equally delighted to ride in races over the grass. One of them is Kyle Frey, who leads the way in the jockey standings with 56 wins at the current meeting.

“I’m excited to get back to turf racing,” said Frey. “I look forward to seeing some of my horses improve on the turf. The turf looks beautiful right now and they’ve done a really good job getting it ready for this meet.”

Jockey William Antongeorgi III, who won the San Francisco Mile last year aboard Neptune’s Storm, echoed Frey’s message on the condition of the course.

“The turf course looks great from what I can see,” said Billy. “Hopefully getting back to turf brings in some good competition. The course here plays fair; horses can win from well off of it, wire-to-wire, stalking, mid-pack. Anybody can win.”

Jockey Irving Orozco, like his fellow riders, also expressed eagerness to get back to the grass course.

“I’m really excited to get back to turf racing,” said Orozco. “Some of the horses, they find their best stride on the grass. The [Golden Gate Fields turf] course reminds me of a European-style turf track because the grass is a little bit longer. I’ve had some good success on this course in recent years and it’ll be fun to get back out there.”

GRADE I WINNER KEEPER OFTHE STARS MAKES 2021 DEBUT IN SATURDAY FEATURE

5-year-old mare Keeper Ofthe Stars makes her 2021 debut in Race 8 on Saturday, an allowance race for fillies and mares at one mile and a sixteenth on turf. The daughter of Midnight Lute won the Grade I Gamely at Santa Anita last May and has not competed in the afternoon since a pair of off-the-board finishes last summer.

“She’s a classy mare,” said trainer Jonathan Wong. “This is a good prep for a stake race next time. I think she’ll get a lot out of this race conditioning wise.”

Before the aforementioned Grade I score, Keeper Ofthe Stars won two other stakes races: The Grade 3 Autumn Miss in 2019 and the Grade 2 Beuna Vista in February of last year. In June of 2019, Keeper Ofthe Stars won an allowance race at Golden Gate and broke the track record that day, stopping the clock for 8.5 furlongs on turf in 1:40.55 seconds. The record still stands today.

Keeper Ofthe Stars, owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, will be guided by jockey Evin Roman for the first time. Other major players entered in Race 8 are Sloane Garden, winner of the Luther Burbank Stakes and Golden Poppy Stakes last year, multiple stakes-placed mare Heathers Grey, and multiple second-level allowance winner Northwest Factor.

10 races are scheduled for Saturday, with first post at the normal 1:20 PM time slot.

Race 8: Allowance for fillies and mares (one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

#1 Babe Didrikson (Jockey Alejandro Gomez, Trainer Jose Bautista)

#2 Sloane Garden (Frank Alvarado, Manny Badilla)

#3 Heathers Grey (Kyle Frey, Sean McCarthy)

#4 Gettin Sideways (Santos Rivera, Dan Markle)

#5 Keeper Ofthe Stars (Evin Roman, Jonathan Wong)

#6 Northwest Factor (Irving Orozco, Manny Badilla)

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are a list of claims from last week:

Thursday
Race 3: Bigfoot City (New trainer Tim McCanna…New owner Royal Victory Thoroughbreds LLC)
Race 4: Four O’Five (Terry Johnson…Laurie Johnson)
Race 5: Crack a Cold One (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing, Cynthia Kahuanui & Kim Medearis)
Race 5: Surprise Fashion (Angelo Tekos Jr…Steve Dietrich)

FRIDAY
No claims

Saturday
No claims

Sunday
Race 1: Dark Saber (Salvador Naranjo…Silvia Soto)
Race 1: Final Rose (Blaine Wright…Wright Racing Stable and Steve Meme)
Race 2: Union Smartie (Frank Lucarelli…William Meikle)
Race 8: Persuasive Lips (Tim Bellasis…O’Gorman, O’Gorman, Tschanz and Bellasis)
Race 9: More Power to Him (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing)

FINISH LINES: 2021 El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer runs in the $800,000 Grade 2 Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland this Saturday. Trainer Michael McCarthy employs jockey Florent Geroux to ride from post position 5…2020 Snow Chief Stakes winner Indian Peak has been transferred back to trainer Quinn Howey after a stint in Southern California with conditioner Brian Koriner. He competes at Golden Gate in Race 9 on Saturday, a second-level allowance. Among the main contenders entered are Southern California stakes winner Encoder, Cono (a half-sibling to Rombauer), stakes-placed gelding and recent allowance winner Sacred Rider, and stakes winner American Farmer…Newly turned 3-year-old colt Top Harbor returns to the races for trainer Tim McCanna on Saturday in the $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for California-breds at Santa Anita. As a 2-year-old, Top Harbor won the Everett Nevin Stakes at Pleasanton and has been working steadily at Golden Gate in preparation for his 3-year-old debut. Top Harbor is out of the stakes-winning mare Reba Is Tops, who has produced 5 winners from 5 foals…Trainer Steve Sherman sends out 2020 Pike Place Dancer Stakes winner I’m So Anna in the $150,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds fillies at Santa Anita on Saturday….Also entered in the Evening Jewel is Maybe I Will, conditioned by Brendan Galvin. The California-bred daughter of Will Take Charge tries stakes company after a decisive allowance win at Golden Gate three weeks ago…Happy birthday to trainer Ed Moger Jr., who celebrates his birthday on Monday…$37,892 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Thursday’s card…Leg E of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 4 at Golden Gate on Friday.

MOGER JR. HAS BIG AFTERNOON WITH TRIO OF WINS ON SATURDAY

Last Saturday afternoon, longtime Bay Area trainer Ed Moger Jr. posted three wins from three starters. In a sport where much has to go right for the end game to result in an almighty victory…well…things could not have gone any smoother for Team Moger.

Amazen Grazen, a 3-year-old filly by Grazen, kicked off the three-win day with a maiden special weight score in Race 4. Irving Orozco was aboard for the victory. A filly owned by Ed’s younger brother, Steve, Amazen Grazen was making her fourth lifetime start.

“I’ve always liked [Amazen Grazen],” said Moger Jr. “She can sprint, obviously, but her breeding suggests she will really like running longer on turf. I’m looking at the Campanile Stakes [on Sunday, April 25 for California-breds] with her. I think she’s only going to get better as she gets older. She’s a nice filly.”

Two races later, 3-year-old gelding Prince On the Run broke his maiden for a $12,500 tag. Ridden by Evin Roman, Prince On the Run was the second winner of the afternoon trained by Moger Jr. and owned by Steve Moger.

Toni Two Pocket, a vastly improving filly, completed the hat trick for Moger Jr. with a length and a quarter win in the feature race, a first level allowance for filly and mare sprinters. William Antongeorgi III guided the California-bred filly to victory for owner/breeders Paul Conley and Anthony Randazzo.

“She broke her maiden for $8,000,” said Moger Jr. “For [Toni Two Pocket], she has really improved with maturity. Earlier in her career, she would run fast early and tire. She’d run like a half mile and then start to stop. But over time, she’s learned to settle early in the race. She’s really improved with time.”

Moger Jr. also noted that since Toni Two Pocket is a California-bred, she is still eligible to win at the first level allowance condition once more.

3-YEAR-OLD’S AUDITION FOR GOLD RUSH WEEKEND STAKES’ IN FRIDAY CO-FEATURE

Five colts and geldings and a duo of fillies compete in the co-feature on Friday afternoon, a first level allowance for 3-year-olds at one mile on Tapeta. The eight-furlong contest is carded as the seventh race on an eight-race program.

The morning line favorite is Seattle Bold, who drew post position 3 for trainer Jamey Thomas. The son of Bold Chieftain broke his maiden at first asking, defeating Gallant Guy, who Golden Gate Fields race watchers saw win a maiden special weight last week. Most recently, Seattle Bold tried turf and ran fourth behind solid company at Santa Anita. This is his second start going a route of ground.

Stalking Shadow wheels back in eight days for leading trainer Jonathan Wong after a decisive 2-length victory against starter allowance foes last week. Jimmy Blue Jeans and Bernalinho won California-bred maiden special weight races in February and make their first starts against winners. Cristiano’s Dream broke his maiden in stylish fashion to kick off his career but has since finished well behind in a pair of first level allowance sprints. His breeding suggests he will enjoy added ground: he is by Breeders Cup Mile winner Tourist and a half sibling to Grade 3 Longacres Mile victor Gold Rush Dancer.

Two fillies in the race, Party Spirit and Misty Cat, draw the inside and outside post positions. The former, a Great Britain bred trained by Manny Badilla, broke her maiden in the U.S. debut over the fall going a route of ground but has since finished off the board in a sprint race. California-bred Misty Cat made a burst to the front against maiden special weight company on February 12 and freshens up for her career debut against proven winners.

There is a chance that we will see quite a few of these horses in stakes races on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 24, or Sunday, April 25. Gold Rush Weekend, featuring six stakes’ races on Saturday and a pair of California-bred stakes over turf on Sunday, is the biggest racing day of the year in Northern Caliifornia.

All colts and geldings in this race will be eligible to race in either the $100,000 California Derby on Saturday over Tapeta or the $75,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes for California-bred or California-sired horses over turf on Sunday. Although Bernalinho is a Kentucky-bred, he is still eligible to run in the Silky Sullivan as his sire, Mr. Big, is a California stallion.

Party Spirit could compete in the $75,000 California Oaks over Tapeta on Saturday while Misty Cat would have the choice to enter in either the ‘Oaks or the $75,000 Campanile Stakes for California-bred or California-sired fillies over grass on Sunday.

Race 7 (Friday, March 26, 2021, One mile on Tapeta)

#1 Party Spirit (Jockey Irving Orozco, Trainer Manny Badilla)

#2 Bernalinho (William Antongeorgi III, Isidro Tamayo)

#3 Seattle Bold (Kyle Frey, Jamey Thomas)

#4 Cristiano’s Dream (Erick Lopez, Mike Lenzini)

#5 Stalking Shadow (Evin Roman, Jonathan Wong)

#6 Jimmy Blue Jeans (Assael Espinoza, Andy Mathis)

#7 Misty Cat (Cristobal Herrera, Dan Franko)

CLASSY SPRINTERS CLASH ON FRIDAY

A half dozen sprinters voyage six furlongs in the co-featured sixth race on Friday, a second level allowance on Tapeta. Keep their names in mind; a good effort in this race may result in a trip to the $75,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes for sprinters on Saturday, April 24.

Drawing the inside, El Chavo Del Ocho cuts back from a route to a sprint after a fifth-place finish while racing two turns for the first time. The Jonathan Wong trainee won a pair of races at this condition last year and, when he raced at six furlongs two starts ago in Arizona, he finished as the runner up behind a next-out stakes winner. William Antongeorgi III retains the mount.

Slam Dunk Sermon, breaking from post 4, enters this race a perfect 3 for 3 in 2021. Trained by Steve Specht, the Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams homebred won a first level allowance in January and subsequently scored a pair of starter allowance victories. Most recently, Slam Dunk Sermon defeated next-out winner Facts Matter, who won sprinting last weekend.

Ready for a Fight wheels back to the races in less than two weeks for trainer Steve Miyadi after a terrific runner-up finish in his first career route try. Setting the pace with apprentice Santos Rivera aboard, the Gary Barber homebred led almost every step of the way, getting run down in the final strides by stakes winner Our Silver Oak. Rivera retains the mount for Team Miyadi.

Jeffnjohn’sthundr has not been seen since a first level allowance win against restricted 3-year-olds in 2020. The son of Union Rags was purchases for $170,000 as a 2-year-old and enters this race with a number of sharp workouts on the page for trainer Jeff Bonde. In 2019, he ran second in a maiden race to eventual Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Classic winner Authentic. In two other races that year, he had to settle for a minor award behind eventual El Camino Real Derby winner Azul Coast and Arkansas Derby winner Nadal.

Turf Paradise shipper Darnquick, who has won over this track twice before, makes his first start for the Isidro Tamayo barn. Sunset Dragunn also makes his first start for Tamayo while slated as the longest shot on the morning line in the field of six.

Race 7 (Friday, March 26, 6 furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 El Chavo Del Ocho (Jockey William Antongeorgi III, Jonathan Wong)

#2 Jeffnjohn’sthundr (Irving Orozco, Jeff Bonde)

#3 Sunset Dragunn (Francisco Monroy, Isidro Tamayo)

#4 Slam Dunk Sermon (Frank Alvarado, Steve Specht)

#5 Darnquick (Kyle Frey, Isidro Tamayo)

#6 Ready for a Fight (Santos Rivera, Steve Miyadi)

LONGTIME BREEDER LILA LANNING PASSES AWAY

Lila Lanning, who along with her husband Curt owned and bred hundreds of racehorses in California for over four decades, passed away in Arizona on Monday, March 15. She was 82 years old.

Along with being a passionate horsewoman, Lila was adamant about giving back to her community and was a longtime supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project and the Humane Society. She was a seamstress in her free time, enjoyed golfing, and was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

The Lannings have been longtime supporters of California racing and, more specifically, Golden Gate Fields, racing many of their horses in the Bay Area. The Lannings compiled 442 wins from over 3,200 starters in the 21st century alone, with purse earnings of $11,496,120. All of their racehorses were campaigned under the watchful eye of trainer Ed Moger Jr.

CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims from last week:

Thursday
Race 5: Miss Ski (New Owner/Trainer Isidro Tamayo)
Race 7: Passionate Road (Owner/Trainer Leobardo Rivera)

Friday
Race 3: In the Wind (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owner Lucas Downs Ltd.)
Race 3: Made in Karoo (Jack Steiner…Remmah Racing Inc. and Steiner)
Race 4: Mark Whats Mine (Marcelino Trujillo…Nancy Salas-Ibarra and Trujillo)
Race 6: Lolo Paniolo (Isidro Tamayo…Peter McGoldrick and John Tipton)

Saturday
Race 1: Miss Arrowhead (Aggie Ordonez…McLean Racing Stables)
Race 3: Jumping Jill Flash (Sammy Calvario…Johnny Taboada)
Race 6: Effective Union (Owner/Trainer Steve Miyadi)
Race 7: Facts Matter (Rene Amescua…Deliver the Groceries Inc. and Amescua)
Race 7: Oiseau de Guerre (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)

Sunday
Race 4: Regal Lady (Tim Bellasis…Cassandra Tschanz and Bellasis)
Race 9: No Parking Here (Sammy Calvario…Rhonda Kirby)

FINISH LINES: Grade I Gamely Stakes winner Keeper Ofthe Stars worked six furlongs last Saturday morning in 1:14.20 for trainer Jonathan Wong. According to Wong, the daughter of Midnight Lute is “possible” to run in the Golden Poppy Stakes on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 24…Dyn O Mite, who broke his maiden at Golden Gate for trainer Keith Desormeaux last fall, is entered to run in the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park in Kentucky. Since the maiden victory at GGF, Dyn O Mite has raced in the Midwest, winning an allowance race at The Fair Grounds before hitting the board in a pair of stakes races…2019 Alcatraz Stakes winner Visitant is also entered at Turfway on Saturday; he goes in the $150,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at one mile and a sixteenth…$21,928 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager this Thursday…Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as the third race at Golden Gate this Friday…Happy birthday to trainer Leobardo Rivera, who celebrates his birthday early next week.

DYNASTY OF HER OWN RULES SUPREME IN SUNDAY FEATURE

4-year-old filly Dynasty of Her Own sizzled on the lead and never looked back in the feature race last Sunday afternoon, an allowance for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward. The daughter of Shanghai Bobby was sent off as the 1-2 heavy favorite and did not disappoint her backers, though she had to run hard every step of the five-and-a-half-furlong journey.

Under jockey Evin Roman, Dynasty of Her Own found herself in a 3-way battle on the lead in the early stages, setting blistering fast fractions of 21.65 and 44.34 alongside Ima Happy Cat and Square Peggy. She outkicked her two aforementioned spped adversaries down the lane, who were out of gas by the 3/16ths pole, and stayed on to beat hard knocker Gotham Desire and stakes winner Hollywood Hills, both who were closing from the back of the field.

“The margin of victory might not look that impressive, but it was the way she won that was impressive,” said winning trainer Jonathan Wong. “She’s all heart.”

Dynasty of Her Own is as versatile of a racehorse as you’ll find. She has already won at distances ranging from five-and-a-half furlongs to one mile and a sixteenth. Last year, she won the California Oaks in gate to wire style over the Golden Gate Tapeta and made a last-to-first move to the front in the Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park over dirt.

“Honestly, I would love to have a shedrow full of horses like [Dynasty of Her Own],” said Wong. “She does anything you ask of her. She is good at going short and long. She trains forwardly all the time and loves to run. She’s just all racehorse.”

Wong noted that the $75,000 Camilla Urso Stakes, a five-furlong turf dash of Saturday, April 28, is a possible next target for Dynasty of Her Own.

DR. WYSONG BACK AT HOME AND READY TO ROLL

5-year-old mare Dr. Wysong was last seen on February 21 in the Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita, finishing a fast-closing third against California-bred stakes company. Trainer Isidro Tamayo was pleased with the effort.

“She ran a good race [at Santa Anita],” reflected Tamayo. “I think she’s a little better on turf, but she ran well against tough fillies.”

About one month after her stakes placing, Dr. Wysong is entered in the feature race this Saturday at Golden Gate: a first level allowance for fillies and mares on Tapeta. Nine contenders have entered to compete in the six-furlong contest.

“[Dr. Wysong] still has her [allowance] conditions,” said Tamayo. “It looks like there’s some speed in the race [on Saturday] for her to run into.”

Tamayo noted that Dr. Wysong has gotten better with time, and that he believes she has improved since the Tamayo team has been able to figure out her most effective running style, which is to sit off the pace and make one run. Tamayo also mentioned that Dr. Wysong has a quirkiness about her that makes her a project to work with in the mornings.

“She’s not the easiest mare to train,” said Tamayo. “She’s not nervous or crazy but she’s on her toes all the time. When she gallops you can’t take too much of a hold; you sort of have to let her do her own thing. In some of her workouts she’s gone [really slow]. That’s when she works by herself. When you work her in company, she’ll work a minute and change [quick time for the Tapeta].”

Other main contenders in Saturday’s feature race include speedy mare Ana Lisa, who won at this condition three weeks ago and, as a California-bred, can still win at this level once more. This Is the One, coming off a maiden win for white-hot trainer Steve Specht, faces winners for the first time and is a new shooter to the allowance conditions while Sheza Girly Girl possesses backclass and would be a major player if she can produce her best effort.

70 horses entered into a 9-race program this Saturday, which includes a trio of maiden special weight races, the featured allowance eight race, and Pick Six, Late Pick 5 and Late Pick 4 sequences that consists of good quality, competitive fields.

STRONACH 5 CARRYOVER OF $154,931 THIS FRIDAY

The Stronach 5 wager, an industry-low 12% takeout bet, has a carryover of $154,931.69 heading into Friday’s sequence. Punters will be able to play the wager through Laurel Park/Maryland Jockey Club (MJC).

The Stronach 5, a $1 minimum play every week, is a Pick-5 sequence featuring races from The Maryland Jockey Club (Laurel Park), Gulfstream, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields. This week’s sequence goes as follows:

Leg A: Laurel Park Race 8 with an approximate post time of 1:30 PM PT
Leg B: Gulfstream Race 8 with an approximate post time of 1:48 PM PT
Leg C: Laurel Park Race 9 with an approximate post time of 2:03 PM PT
Leg D: Santa Anita Race 3 with an approximate post time of 2:08 PM PT
Leg E: Golden Gate Race 3 with an approximate post time of 2:25 PM PT

The last leg of the wager, Race 3 from Golden Gate, attracts eight maiden claimers at one mile on the Tapeta. All entrants are in for an $8,000 tag. The morning line favorite is even money shot Made in Karoo, shipping North for the Steve Miyadi barn after a third place finishing routing on dirt for a $28,000 tag at Santa Anita. The Gary Barber owned filly by Empire Maker has gone off favored in her last two starts against tougher and should benefit from the class relief she will find on Friday.

Another Southern California shipper, In the Wind, draws the inside post for trainer Carlo Vaccarezza. Southern California apprentice Alexis Centeno is named to ride. The daughter of turf marathoner Big Blue Kitten cuts back in distance and plummets in class after a double-digit length loss against maiden special weight foes on turf at ten furlongs. She wheels back in just one week for her third lifetime start.

Malibu Jewel is a local contender from the Jonathan Wong barn, slated to break from post position 2. She started her career in the Bay Area and returns after a pair of poor performances routing on dirt at Santa Anita. A filly by notable Kentucky stallion Malibu Moon, Malibu Jewel races on Lasix for the first time.

Rounding out the list of main contenders is Handcuffed, trained by Quinn Howey, who tries routing for the first time after a fourth-place finish against maiden $12,500 claiming sprinters. Two starts ago, she ran for an $8,000 tag sprinting and lost by three-quarters of a length, finishing ahead of a next out winner. Two full siblings to Handcuffed scored victories in route stakes races: 341k earner Handfull and 397k earner Weewinnin. In total, 5 of 7 winning siblings of Handcuffed have won going two turns.

POST TIME CHANGE

Please note horseplayers, fans and horsemen: Beginning this Friday, first post each day moves to 1:20 PM PT.

Congratulations. You have just finished reading the shortest “News and Notes” article ever written at Golden Gate Fields…or possibly any other racetrack. Somebody call the Guinness Book of World Records committee…we just broke a record!

CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims from last week:

Thursday
No claims

Friday
Race 2: Hypersonic (New trainer Jack Steiner…new owner Leon Scott)
Race 3: Big City Bane (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott and Jack Steiner)

Saturday
Race 1: Arouse N Go (Reid France….Francis Lagattuta and Reid France)
Race 2: Lil Awecim (Monty Meier…William Branch)
Race 5: Discernment (Jamey Thomas…Lester Hunsucker and Troy Thomas)
Race 7: Our Silver Oak (Blaine Wright…Chappell Alpine Farms LLC, Becker, Becker and Wright)
Race 8: Cheap Cheap Cheap (Jamey Thomas…Rob Smolich)
Race 8: Midnight Sunrise (Blaine Wright…Alten, Andersen Isetta and Wright)

Sunday
Race 2: Music Babe (Isidro Tamayo…Peter McGoldrick and John Tipton)
Race 3: On Ice (Owner/Trainer Reid France)
Race 6: Concur (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables, Hon Cheung Kum and Hsiu Mei Tsai)
Race 6: Toro de Toro (Jonathan Wong…Hon Cheung Kum and Hsiu Mei Tsai)
Race 8: Implicitly (Tim McCanna…Bob Newport and Maryellen Silva)

FINISH LINES: Sadie Bluegrass ran a respectful third in last week’s Sunday feature at Santa Anita: the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred filly and mare sprinters. Jonathan Wong trains the daughter of Grazen, who has amassed earnings of $147,080 since being claimed for $12,500 in March of 2020…The Race 1 exacta on Sunday was completed by Surely a Smile and Raelee, both trained by Victor Trujillo. Five races later, Reid France pulled off a training-exacta of his own, when his geldings Studly Perfection and Maxinamillion ran 1-2 in the sixth race…10-year-old mare Crimson Cloud has been retired from racing after her 59th lifetime start last Sunday. This week, she’ll head to her new home at Harris Ranch where she will be bred to Grade I winner and $1.2 million earner Majestic Harbor. Crimson Cloud, who won 8 races in her career and earned $164,498, was the last horse in training that was bred by longtime California breeder Kjell Qvale. The daughter of All The Gears was trained by Roger Hansen and co-owned by Roger and Mad Hansen Racing LLC…Happy birthday to jockey William Antongeorgi III and racing officials John Leon and Morgann Schlesser, all who celebrate birthday’s this week…One sharp handicapper took home over $128,000 on Saturday when hitting the Golden Pick Six jackpot. The carryover amount heading into Thursday: $3,912.

MAYBE I WILL FACES WINNERS AFTER SPARKLING MAIDEN VICTORY

A five-and-a-half-furlong allowance for 3-year-old fillies is the marquee race on a 7-race program this Thursday at Golden Gate Fields. The feature, which goes as Race 6, includes a pair of Southern California shippers and a number of locals looking to play their hand against the visitors.

The most appealing local contender is Maybe I Will, making the third start of her career for trainer Brendan Galvin. Last time out, the daughter of Will Take Charge went to the lead, never stopped, and finished the race full of run while hitting the wire a length and three-quarters ahead of Hot Rageous, who returned to trounce maiden special weight foes two weeks ago. The third-place finisher, Ranger Molly, also came back to win her next start.

“She’s got a great mind,” said Galvin of Maybe I Will. “She ran very well last time and is getting better. [Owner] Mr. [Thomas] Bachman thinks she will be able to run longer and so do I. Hopefully, she’ll continue to improve, and we can run her in some California-bred stakes races later on in the year. We think we’ve got a nice filly.”

Morning-line favorite Becca Taylor draws the rail for trainer Steve Miyadi and has earned the right to hold favoritism. The daughter of Old Topper is unbeaten in three-lifetime starts, breaking her maiden at first asking before winning a pair of California-bred allowance races. Apprentice jockey Santos Rivera has the call, replacing Jessica Pyfer, an apprentice who rode Becca Taylor in all three starts at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos.

Starlight Stroll is out of the terrific broodmare Maddie’s Odyssey, who has produced stakes winners Been Studying Her, Grecian Fire, and Sneaking Out. She broke her maiden in the career debut at Golden Gate as a 2-year-old and most recently ran third behind Becca Taylor in a six-furlong turf sprint at Santa Anita. D.C. Lopez was aboard for the maiden breaker and retains the mount for trainer Steve Sherman.

Austrian Navy was a first-out winner against maiden special weight company and is out of a broodmare who has produced a number of winners, including stakes victor Kristo Skye. The red-hot jockey-trainer combination of Frank Alvarado and Steve Specht team up, adding to the appeal.

Do You Hear That has already won twice at this level and comes off a victory on February 19. She merits respect. Emma’s Dance has finished behind Do You Hear That on two occasions and is one of a duo of entrants campaigned by Ed Moger Jr., who also sends out Bold Mistress. Recent starter allowance winner Maggie’s Magic bumps up in class and completes the field.

10-YEAR-OLD MARE GRATZIE RETIRES, HAS A FOREVER HOME WITH JOCKEY WILLIAM ANTONGEORGI III

13-time winner Gratzie has been retired and will spend her post-race life in North Carolina on a farm run by jockey William Antongeorgi III and his mother. Gratzie, who went out a winner on February 4 against claiming competition, ended her racing career with earnings of $261,610.

Antongeorgi, who guided Gratzie to four lifetime wins, is excited about spending more time with her in the future. In total, Antongeorgi rode Gratzie in eight different races.

“She was always really honest,” said Antongeorgi. “Even if we didn’t win, she was right there-second or third. I would always go see her in the barn and give her lots of attention. We formed a strong relationship.

I told [trainer] Manny [Badilla], ‘I love this mare. If the owners are willing, I’ll ship her back to my place in North Carolina and she’ll be able to go out in the field and live out a good retirement on our farm.’ We were able to make it happen.”

Antongeorgi relayed that Gratzie arrived in North Carolina on Tuesday in good order.

“She’s a world traveler,” said Antongeorgi. “She’s from England. She’s traveled before. From what I understand, she had a very smooth trip across the country and looks really happy. We’ve got a pony named Dusty right next to her. They’re already hitting it off and in love with each other, so that’s really cool. We’ll take her out on the trails, and she’ll enjoy her life living out there in the pasture.”

Gratzie, by Grade 2 winner and Juddmonte homebred Three Valleys, was bred in Great Britain by John Troy and Robert Levitt and began her racing career as a 2-year-old in 2013. Three years later, she was sold to American owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon for $25,685 at the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale of 2016. Since the purchase, Gratzie won 7 races in America, raking in U.S. earnings of just over $150,000. Throughout her career in the states, Gratzie was conditioned by Manny Badilla.

“She’s a barn favorite for sure,” said Badilla. “She was always so sweet. You could come up and pet her and feed her and love on her. What I’ll remember about [Gratzie] is her heart: not only was she sweet around the barn but she tried so hard in every race she ran in. She never got sour. She always tried and loved being around our team. We’ll miss her here.”

With that, Manny had just one more thing to say.

“It’s the greatest thing ever to send her somewhere nice.”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Thursday
Race 2: Bigfoot City (New trainer Jonathan Wong…New owner Aaron Pewtherer and MJVET Stables)
Race 4: Implicitly (Jonathan Wong…MVJET Stables)
Race 4: Mister Mojo (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)
Race 6: Agent Zero (Monty Meier…William Branch)

Friday
Race 7: Harmon (Monty Meier…Donna L. Perone)

Saturday
Race 7: R M C Hook’em (Victor Trujillo…Frank Aufdermaur and Wayne Swisher)
Race 9: My Sunshine (Miguel Ramirez…Joel Fihn)

Sunday
Race 1: Hula King (Marcelino Trujillo…Trujillo and Salas-Ibarra)
Race 1: Northern Quest (Reid France…France and Laggatuta)
Race 3: Papaya (Jack Steiner…Marriott and Steiner)
Race 3: Simply Perfect (Owner/Trainer Isidro Tamayo)
Race 5: City Champ (Frank Lucarelli…Bill Meikle)
Race 6: Sunrise Journey (Owner/Trainer Isidro Tamayo)

FINISH LINES: The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover has increased to $90,289 heading into Thursday’s card, while a Super High 5 carryover of $4,239 will be offered in the first race Thursday in which there are seven or more starters…Per trainer Manny Badilla, 2020 Kathryn Crosby Stakes winner Never Be Enough has been retired and now resides in Kentucky, where she will be bred later this year…My Pharoah Lady, who debuts in Race 6 on Saturday, is a 3-year-old filly by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of the Smart Strike mare Striking Scholar, making her a half-sibling to multiple Grade 3 winner Stryker PHD. My Pharoah Lady is trained by Blaine Wright and will be ridden by Kyle Frey…Recent Golden Gate Fields second-level allowance winner Clockstrikestwelve races for Jonathan Wong and jockey Tiago Pereira in the $300,000 Grade I Beholder Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita…Big Duke is a 7-5 morning line chance to win the feature on Friday, an allowance race for 3-year-old colts and geldings. Big Duke, who won at the aforementioned condition in January, spots a 3-2-0 lifetime record from 7 starts. The Sergio Ledezma trainee was purchased for $1,200 and has made $76,620 so far for his connections; not too shabby!

2015 CALIFORNIA BROODMARE OF THE YEAR ASHLEY’S FOLLY CONTINUES TO THROW WINNERS

21-year-old Ashley’s Folly continued her success as a broodmare on Sunday afternoon when her son, 3-year-old gelding Ashley’s Valentine, won a five-and-a-half-furlong, California-bred maiden special weight at Golden Gate for owner/breeder Bran Jam Stables and Ciaglia Racing LLC. The son of Vronsky, off at odds of 5-1, stalked the pace on the rail before threading his way through between horses in upper stretch and out finishing 2-1 favorite Gallant Guy and early pacesetter Exceed Speed Limit in the final furlong. Evin Roman was aboard for the winning ride.

“He is a very nice horse,” said Roman. “He was inside of other horses the whole way and he responded well when I asked him to move between horses. I really like him, and I think he will get better.”

Andy Mathis, who trains Ashley’s Valentine, noticed early on that his 3-year-old gelding had ability.

Good genes have certainly played a part, right?

“With young horses, I like to see them overcome adversity and I thought [Ashley’s Valentine] did that,” said Mathis. “I was impressed with how he responded between horses [in the stretch.] He finished well. Before the race, I wasn’t sure if five and a half furlongs was a little too short [of a distance] for him. I think he’ll enjoy added ground.”

Younger horses showing talent are types of horses that are, for me, really exciting to watch and train,” continued Mathis. “[Ashley’s Valentine] has a nice pedigree and showed us in the mornings he had some talent. Hopefully he can continue to blossom.”

Ashley’s Folly, who won the California Broodmare of the Year Award in 2015, has now produced six winning babies from seven foals to race. Her most notable foal, Ashleyluvssugar, was a $1.4 million earner who won a quintet of Grade 2 route races on turf while in the barn of Southern California conditioner Peter Eurton. Another sibling to Ashley’s Valentine, Ashley’s Sassy, was a 3-time stakes placed filly with career earnings of $209,610. In 2019, Ashley’s Folly foaled a grey/roan filly named Ashley’s Rainbow. She is by Grade I-winning turf router Tom’s Tribute and may hit the track later this year.

WELL-REGARDED QUEEN MOLOTOV IMPRESSES IN CAREER DEBUT

California-bred 3-year-old filly Queen Molotov was highly thought of heading into last Saturday’s second race. Good news: she did not disappoint.

Leaving the gate at low odds of 3-5, the daughter of Kentucky stallion Mizzen Mast broke alertly, set the pace for the first half-mile, and powered home in the final furlong and a half as a good filly would. The margin of victory was six lengths.

“She worked in the mornings like a nice filly,” said Queen Molotov’s trainer, Jamey Thomas. “She never worked super-fast, but she always did it really well. We were excited to get her started. I think she’ll really enjoy going longer.”

Irving Orozco rode Queen Molotov, who was purchased for $52,000 by owners Jason Hall, Rob Smolich and Stewball Stable at the OBS March “2-year-olds In Training” sale last year.

“I really appreciate Jamey [Thomas] and the owners trusting me with this filly,” said Orozco. “Jamey and his team did a good job getting her ready. She’s a nicely built filly. Turning for home she was moving pretty effortlessly. She’s got a nice long, athletic stride and she’s smart; everything I asked her to do, she did it very professionally. I definitely think she can run farther.”

Thomas noted that the one-mile Campanile Stakes on Sunday, April 25 is a reasonable long-term goal for Queen Molotov, who is out of the stakes placed Speightstown mare Starship Duchess.

“She’s a California-bred so there’s plenty of opportunities to run in some nice races,” said Thomas.  

While in discussion, Thomas also noted that El Camino Real Derby fourth place finisher It’s My House has been transferred to the barn of Bob Hess Jr. It’s My House came out of the aforementioned ‘Derby in great shape, according to Thomas.

“He’s a Florida-bred, so there are races in Florida that he is eligible for and Bob has a string over there,” said Thomas. “We were thrilled with his effort [in the El Camino Real Derby.] I was really excited during the race because it looked like he had a chance to win it. We were wheeling him back in two weeks off a maiden, sprint win and the [El Camino Real Derby] wasn’t just a mile or a mile and a sixteenth; it was a mile and an eighth. He ran a big race and I think he’ll be a pretty good horse down the line.”

FINISH LINES: Kyle Frey and Evin Roman are tied atop the jockey standings with 33 wins apiece. Catalino Martinez is not far behind in third with 26 victories…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong holds a 19-15 lead over Steve Specht...Golden Gate Fields welcomes apprentice jockey Santos Rivera back to the Bay Area. Rivera finished second at the Golden Gate Fields Summer and Fall meets last year and returns after stints at Santa Anita and The Fair Grounds…El Camino Real Derby third-place finisher Govenor’s Party returns to the races in a much tougher spot, the Grade 2 $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Mario Gutierrez rides for owner/trainer Dan Franko...The first foal out of multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Fast and Foxy is a 2-year-old this year. Named Fox Proof, the chestnut colt is by Grade I winning sprinter Idiot Proof...Happy birthday to Evin Roman, trainer Frank Lucarelli and Golden Gate Fields TV producer Frank Matthews, all who celebrate birthday’s this week…The Golden Pick Six jackpot pool has a carryover of $65,332 heading into Thursday’s program…Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday.

GOLDEN STAR LADY BACK IN CALIFORNIA FOR SATURDAY FEATURE

Golden Star Lady, making her first start for Southern California conditioner Peter Miller, returns to California and faces a field of six local contenders in the featured seventh race on Saturday at Golden Gate: a first level allowance for fillies and mares at five and one-half furlongs on Tapeta.

A 4-year-old filly, Golden Star Lady is by Candy Ride, out of the Grade 3 placed mare Empressive Lady. She began her career in California in 2019 before moving to the East Coast the following year. In the barn of Wesley Ward, Golden Star Lady broke her maiden at Belterra Park in Ohio and won an allowance race at Mountaineer Racecourse. Most recently, she finished third in a second level allowance over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface.

The strongest Northern California contender may be Pentewan, making her first start off an 11-month layoff for trainer Manny Badilla. After being purchased in Europe by her current connections, the daughter of Havana Gold beat maiden special weight foes to kick off her United States career in February of 2020. In her next start less a month later, she completed the exacta in an allowance restricted to 3-year-old fillies, finishing behind lightning-quick stakes winner Bulletproof One. As a 4-year-old this Saturday, she’ll be trying her hand against older foes.

Hey Wilmaaa, also entering this race off a vacation, sports fast workouts leading up to her 2021 debut for trainer Jacqui Navarre. After finishing third to next out Santa Anita allowance winner Loud Loud Music, Hey Wilmaaa broke her maiden at Pleasanton on dirt. Shortly after earning the maiden diploma, she was given time off. The two aforementioned races are her only afternoon appearances to date.

Trainer Cliff DeLima saddle a pair of contenders in Perfect Stories and Smiling Spirit. Smiling Spirit easily defeated a group of maiden special weight foes on January 18 and faces winners. Perfect Stories was a maiden special weight winner in October but has since finished off-the-board in two starts at this first-level condition.

Recent Los Alamitos winner Ana Lisa and comebacker I’m A Rockette complete the lineup. Golden Gate offers a 9-race program this Saturday, with first post slated for 12:45 PM PT.

SEATTLE BOLD TRIES ROUTING, TURF IN SECOND LIFETIME START

Trainer Jamey Thomas entered 3-year-old California-bred colt Seattle Bold in the opener on Saturday at Santa Anita Park, a California-bred allowance race at one mile on grass. Umberto Rispoli has the riding engagement for Thomas and owner/breeder Myles McMahon.

Seattle Bold was an impressive maiden winner sprinting at Golden Gate on February 7, setting the pace before finishing the contest full of run, hitting the wire a length and a half in front of the runner up. He completed the final furlong in 12 seconds flat and earned a 62 Beyer speed figure for his effort.

“I knew [Seattle Bold] could run well sprinting, but I’ve always told the owner that I thought this horse would like running long,” Thomas told us in the February 10 edition of the News and Notes. “He wasn’t blowing [after his first race] at all. He wasn’t tired…Physically, he looks just like his [sire Bold Chieftain].”

Another Northern California horse competing at “The Great Race Place” on Saturday is Six Point Rack, conditioned by Aggie Ordonez and owned by McLean Racing Stables. Kent Desormeaux hops aboard the son of Lucky Pulpit in Race 4, a 10k claimer at one mile on dirt.

Santa Anita Park has a scheduled first post time of 12:30 PM PT on Saturday.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Friday
Race 3: Of Good Report (New trainer Dan Markle…new owner Peerenboom-Boyer Stable LLC)

Saturday
Race 6: Truly Fabulous (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)
Race 9: Tink’s Twirl (Tim McCanna…Morning Line Racing LLC)

Sunday
Race 2: Spun Away (Tim Bellasis…Bellasis, O’Gorman, O’Gorman and Tschanz)
Race 6: Boyson (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing and Cynthia Kahuanui)

FINISH LINES: In the jockey standings, Kyle Frey has made the most trips to the winners circle out of any rider at the current meet with 31 wins. Evin Roman holds second place with 27 wins and Catalino Martinez completes the top 3 placings with 22 victories…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong sits atop the list with 15 wins at the current meet. Steve Specht is right behind with 13 wins while Isidro Tamayo checks in third with 10 first place finishes…$45,582 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager on Thursday…Race 3 on Friday is Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager…Happy birthday to trainer Sammy Calvario, who celebrates his 40th birthday next Monday.

MISTER BOLD AND WINDY CITY RED FACE EASIER, CRISTIANO’S DREAM TRIES WINNERS IN INTRIGUING FRIDAY NIGHTCAP

An appealing finale on Friday afternoon ends a good-quality Friday card at Golden Gate Fields. Race 8, a 6-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds, features a Southern California contender as the one to beat and a half-dozen local contenders looking to play spoiler.

Mister Bold, a winner in all three career starts going one turn, is tabbed as the 8-5 morning line favorite. In his only career loss, he finished a length and a quarter behind the winner in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos. Mister Bold won a California-bred allowance race at Santa Anita in his most recent start for trainer Jeff Bonde, who is pleased with how his 3-year-old enters the Friday co-feature.

“He has steadily improved with racing experience,” said Bonde. “We wanted to get a race into him before some California-bred stakes and this race popped up. It’s a good spot. I don’t think racing over a synthetic surface will be a problem for him.”

Windy City Red, who finished third in the Speakeasy Stakes in September and competed in last year’s Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, faces easier allowance foes at Golden Gate after a third-place finish at the aforementioned condition on turf at Santa Anita. He makes his first start as a gelding and breaks from the rail for trainer Jonathan Wong.

“We’ve always liked him and he’s training OK,” said Wong. “There’s not an abundance of speed in this race so if he breaks, I’d be happy to see him close to the pace. If he doesn’t get the lead he can run on; he’s pretty versatile. He’s had a hard campaign to this point, but the class relief should help and being a gelding now, we’re hoping that helps his focus.”

Cristiano’s Dream, installed at 4-1 by linemaker Steve Martinelli, broke his maiden like a horse with a bright future for trainer Mike Lenzini on January 17. A son of Breeders Cup Turf mile winner Tourist, Cristiano’s Dream is out of the In Excess mare Dances on Water, making him a half sibling to Grade 3 winner and 500k earner Gold Rush Dancer.

“I’m expecting a solid effort,” said Lenzini. “He’s training great heading into this race. I knew he had talent [before his first start], but I was surprised with how easily he won the other day. He’s begging for a mile, but I want to have him fit to go two turns, so we’ll give him one more sprint and then stretch him out. He’s got a great mind and is very push button. You can pretty much do whatever you want with him.”

Big Duke draws the outside post and comes off a victory at this level. Since he is a California-bred, he is eligible to win at this level twice. Raging Waters seeks his fourth win in a row, having most recently defeated a group of starter allowance foes last month. Longshots Corsican and A Little Bit Lucky complete the field of seven.

Race 8 on Friday (Allowance for 3-year-olds at six furlongs)

#1 Windy City Red (Jockey Evin Roman, trainer Jonathan Wong)

#2 Cristiano’s Dream (Erick Lopez, Mike Lenzini)

#3 Raging Waters (Irving Orozco, Jedd Josephson)

#4 Corsican (Assael Espinoza, D. Wayne Baker)

#5 Mister Bold (Frank Alvarado, Jeff Bonde)

#6 A Little Bit Lucky (Jose Rodriguez, Efrain Miranda)

#7 Big Duke (Kyle Frey, Sergio Ledezma)

Two other allowance races catch the eye on the Friday card. Race 2, a second level allowance sprint for fillies and mare 4-years-old and upward, features recent winner Coco Bee, the well-bred Tiz Fake News and stakes winner Princess Vivian. Race 7 is an allowance for 3-year-old fillies. Among the entries: recent maiden winners Party Spirit, Silk Road Sally and Ten the Smart Way, allowance winner Do You Hear That and the ultra-consistent Emma’s Dance.

KING OF SPEED RETURNS, CONO GETS BACK TO TAPETA IN SATURDAY FEATURE

Saturday’s feature race, a second level allowance at one mile and a sixteenth, features a strong Southern California presence and some of the best local handicap horses at Golden Gate. The marquee Saturday event runs as Race 8 on a 9-race program.

Fivestar Lynch, racing for the first time under the care of Southern California conditioner Phil D’Amato, makes his second start off a four-month layoff. Last time out, the Irish-bred was well beaten against a second level allowance group at Santa Anita. His only victory against winners came two starts ago in a first level allowance at Del Mar. He’ll be guided by jockey Evin Roman for the first time.

Roman was aboard King of Speed in his last start-a race in which he beat Our Silver Oak and Lymebird at this condition on January 30. That afternoon, King of Speed held off Our Silver Oak throughout the length of the lane.

“He really fought hard when [Our Silver Oak] came up alongside of him,” said King of Speed’s trainer, Jeff Bonde. “The owners are from Northern California and he’s been training at Golden Gate since the win. We figured we’d keep him up here for now. This is a good condition for him.”

Our Silver Oak, a stakes winning California-bred trained by Jonathan Wong, went off favored in his last start three weeks ago, finished a neck behind King of Speed. Earlier in his career, the grey gelding won the Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita.

“I was happy with his trip last time. He really had no excuses,” said Wong. “[Jockey] Irving Orozco rode him and gave him a good ride. [Our Silver Oak] just hung a little bit. He’s a big, long striding horse so the key with him is to keep him going and time it right so he hits the wire in front.”

Cono, an older-half sibling to El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer, is a Kentucky-bred by Lucky Pulpit who has run three times over the Tapeta main track at Golden Gate. Two of those three showings resulted in a trip to the winner’s circle while the lone loss was a respectable effort, as he ran second to a horse in top form at the time.

“Cono is not really like his brother, actually,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “Rombauer is really laid back. Cono is a little more aggressive. His last start [a loss against stakes company off a layoff] is a total toss-out race. We know he likes the Tapeta, and I expect he’ll run well this time. He doesn’t need the lead but he’s quick enough to where he’ll be close to the pace. He draws a great post position and he should be able to work out a good trip from there.”

Another interesting contender, 4-year-old Ready for a Fight, tries two-turns for the first time. The son of turf router Boisterous is out of a Giant’s Causeway mare and enters this race off a pair of first level allowance wins. Now he tackles tougher company. Stake winners American Farmer and More Power to Him and synthetic specialist Lymebird complete the lineup.

Race 8 on Saturday (Allowance for 4-year-olds and up at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta)

#1 Our Silver Oak (Jockey Irving Orozco, Trainer Jonathan Wong)

#2 Lymebird (Catalino Martinez, Angelo Tekos Jr.)

#3 More Power to Him (Kevin Orozco, Faith Taylor)

#4 American Farmer (Frank Alvarado, Steve Sherman)

#5 Fivestar Lynch (Evin Roman, Phil D’Amato)

#6 Ready for a Fight (Kyle Frey, Steve Miyadi)

#7 King of Speed (William Antongeorgi III, Jeff Bonde)

#8 Cono (Assael Espinoza, Michael McCarthy)

ROMBAUER DOING WELL AFTER EL CAMINO REAL DERBY WIN; JOCKEY FREY AND AGENT NAVARRO REFLECT ON “A BIG WIN”

Trainer Michael McCarthy reported that 3-year-old colt Rombauer, winner of last Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, returned to his home base at Santa Anita Park in “good order” earlier this week. In winning the 40^th El Camino Real Derby, the son of Twirling Candy was making his first start since a fifth-place finish in the Grade I Breeders Cup Juvenile last November.

“Rombauer is doing great,” said McCarthy. “All signs indicate he is a healthy and happy horse. He went back to the track on Wednesday morning. We’re really proud of his effort.”

McCarthy noted that he would observe how Rombauer trains in the coming weeks before mapping out a game plan with owners John and Diane Fradkin.

“At this point, all options are on the table,” said McCarthy. “The good news is he’s pretty fit now with a mile and an eighth race under his belt.”

With the El Camino Real Derby victory, Rombauer earned 10 Kentucky Derby points. Heading into this weekend, Rombauer sits sixth on the list with 14 points; he earned 4 additional points last fall when finishing second in the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes as a 2-year-old. Rombauer also picked up an all-expenses-paid, free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. This year, the Preakness will be run on Saturday, May 15.

Winning rider Kyle Frey, who also piloted Zakaroff to a 48-1 massive upset in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby, was thankful for the opportunity to hop aboard his second El Camino Real Derby winner.

“I’m eager to watch Rombauer [on the Derby trail]. I’ll be rooting for him,” said Frey. “He really showed a nice turn of foot down the stretch. It was a real honor to ride for Mr. McCarthy and [owners] Mr. and Mrs. Fradkin.”

Frey is off to a flying start at the current Winter/Spring meet. The third-generation horseman has posted the most wins out of any rider so far, with 28 victories from 109 mounts, boasting a 26%-win percentage. He has also earned the most purse money out of any rider, with $550,898 in winnings. Frey was gracious when asked about his success, noting that every victory is the result of a team effort.

“The trainers and their help-the grooms, the hotwalkers, everybody working on the backstretch-they deserve the credit,” said Frey. “They get the horses ready to go. I just feel really blessed to be given some wonderful opportunities to ride good horses.”

Frey, born and raised in the Bay Area, is excited for the remainder of 2021.

“Everyone in our racing community is working hard to make the show go,” said Frey. “The management team at Golden Gate is doing an amazing job and pursuing new and innovative ideas to help us grow. The owners continue to support the product and supply our backside.”

Frey’s jockey agent, Fernando “Shoes” Navarro, was all smiles’ days removed from an El Camino Real Derby victory. For Navarro, it was a cheerful yet emotional win.

“When I was a little kid, my Uncle Juan would take me to Bay Meadows,” said Navarro. “He loved horse racing and the El Camino Real Derby was one of his favorite races. He loved [1994 El Camino Real Derby winner] Tabasco Cat and [1996 El Camino Real Derby winner] Cavonnier.

My uncle passed away a few years ago,” continued Navarro. “I know he was up there cheering Rombauer on. When Rombauer hit the wire, it was pretty emotional. I have a framed photo, right above the TV, of my uncle and I at Bay Meadows. I was looking at the photo and reminiscing about when we would go to the track together. Those childhood memories will last a lifetime.”

Navarro indicated winning the El Camino Real Derby was certainly a highlight of his career in horse racing.

“I’m a Northern California guy and have always loved the ‘Derby myself,” said Navarro. “It’s a really neat race and an important race for all of us Bay Area racing people. I remember I was ecstatic the first time I ever represented a rider in the race. To actually win the El Camino Real Derby…it was a very memorable experience.”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is the list of claims from last week:

Thursday

Race 6: Year of the Ox (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owner MJVET Stables)

Race 7: Kincaid Park (Isidro Tamayo…Michael Wickman)

Race 7: Shootin Money (Frank Lucarelli…William Meikele)

Friday

Race 1: Sunrise Journey (Dan Markle…Bruce Cudahy)

Race 2: Street Dancing (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)

Saturday

Race 1: Sharp Move (Owner/Trainer Andreas Psarras)

Race 6: Friday’s At Shady (Jack Steiner…Marriott and Steiner)

Sunday

No claims

Monday

Race 4: Creative Romance (Tim McCanna…Alan Mindell)

Race 4: Miss Indefatigable (Blaine Wright…Blaine Wright Racing Stable LLC and Pascual Garcia)

Race 7: Crookhaven Lass (Owner/Trainer C C Perkinson)

Race 8: Diamond Blitz (Jesus Ramos…Candelario Barragan and Jose Cruz Ramos)

Race 8: Dirt Road Red (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing)

FINISH LINES: Happy birthday to jockey Julien Couton and trainers Sammy Calvario and Tirso Rivera, all who celebrate their birthdays this week…$31,154 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Friday’s card…Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager on Friday goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate…Good luck to members of the Daily Gallop Twitter Handicapping Contest. The 72 entrants will be playing all of the races at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

ROMBAUER EARNS 10 KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS, FREE BERTH INTO THE PREAKNESS WITH EL CAMINO REAL DERBY WIN

3-year-old colt Rombauer made his sophomore seasonal debut a winning one in the feature race at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby for 3-year-olds at one mile and an eighth. With the victory, Rombauer earned 10 Kentucky Derby points and an all-expenses paid, free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, on Saturday, May 15. Jockey Kyle Frey guided the son of Twirling Candy to victory for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of eight, Rombauer sat last for the first three quarters of a mile before making an outside move on the far turn. Swinging for home while still in the clear, Rombauer quickly picked off six rivals in midstretch before digging down deep to collar runner up finisher Javanica in the final 50 yards. Javanica, a filly racing against boys for Team Godolphin, finished a neck off of Rombauer at the finish. 99-1 shot Govenor’s Party completed the trifecta and It’s My House, who set the pace before fading in the final furlong, held on for fourth place. Waspirant, Petruchio, Tesoro and Play Chicken completed the order of finish.

Rombauer covered nine furlongs on Tapeta in 1:51.64 seconds. With the El Camino Real Derby victory in the bag, Rombauer improved his overall record to 2 wins and 1 second place finish from 5 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $210,500. Rombauer is a homebred colt bred by owners John and Diane Fradkin. Winning trainer Michael McCarthy picked up his second El Camino Real Derby victory with today’s score, having finished first with Paved in 2018.

This is the second El Camino Real Derby win for Jockey Kyle Frey who won aboard Zakaroff in 2017.

See below for race photos, race replay and jockey interview.

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