GOLDEN GATE & SANTA ANITA TO PARTNER ON NEW LOW-TAKEOUT ‘GOLDEN HOUR LATE PICK 4’ BEGINNING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

ONE DOLLAR MINIMUM WAGER WILL FEATURE LOW 15 PERCENT TAKEOUT

                Berkeley, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2020)–Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park have announced they will partner on a brand new low takeout “Golden Hour Late Pick 4,” effective Friday, September 25, the opening day of Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet.

                The wager, which features a one dollar minimum and a low takeout of 15 percent, will be comprised of the last two races at both Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park each racing day and will complement the successful “Golden Hour Late Double,” which was instituted by the two tracks this past winter.

                The “Golden Hour Late Pick 4” will begin with Santa Anita’s second to last race for Leg One, then go to Golden Gate for Leg Two, back to Santa Anita for Leg Three end up each day at Golden Gate with Leg Four, which will be the last race on their program.

                “We’ve had a very encouraging response to the ‘Golden Hour Double’ and believe our customers will respond well to this new low takeout wager,” said Santa Anita’s Aidan Butler, Executive Director, CA Racing Operations, for The Stronach Group.  “We’ve heard feedback from many of our players asking for this type of bet–one that provides a player friendly new wager with a one dollar minimum, capitalizing on the larger competitive fields at the end of the card.

“This is a fun new addition to our betting menu and will drive extra attention to both of our California tracks as the racing action across the country is winding down each day.”

                Summer racing at Golden Gate Fields will continue through Sunday, October 4 with a 1:15 p.m. daily post time.  For the latest information about the season, please visit goldengatefields.com.

JAUREGUI REFLECTS ON “EMOTIONAL” STAKES WIN WITH CAMINO DEL PARAISO

Heading into last Monday’s $50,000 Rolling Green Stakes, seven-year-old gelding Camino Del Paraiso had hit the board in 11 stakes races-five graded-but had yet to win in any of those races.

Earlier this year, Camino Del Paraiso finished third in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile. He also placed in a pair of Grade 3 races at Santa Anita: the Thunder Road and San Luis Rey. Last year, he had to settle for second in the Joseph T. Grace at Santa Rosa. In 2018, he played second fiddle to multiple graded stakes winner Editore in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap and completed the exacta in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic.

With all of the aforesaid efforts in mind, trainer O.J. Jauregui was confident Camino Del Paraiso would run well in the 2020 Rolling Green.

“He always tries,” said. Jauregui. “I knew he would finish in the top three again.”

And that he did. But this time, Camino Del Paraiso and Jauregui finally got a chance to take a photo in the winner’s circle.

Stalking the pace under jockey Catalino Martinez, Camino Del Paraiso made a move towards the early leader and eventual runner up finisher Kiwi’s Dream at the quarter pole before out finishing the aforementioned rival in deep stretch to score a victory in the mile and a sixteenth Rolling Green, the marquee turf race every summer at Golden Gate. For Jauregui, the win was special.

“It was emotional,” said Jauregui. “He’s such a cool horse. He’s run against some really nice stakes horses and finished right there with them. He’s had a couple of rough trips in a few of those races. To finally win a stake with him is very satisfying. He’s earned it and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

With the victory in the Rolling Green, Camino Del Paraiso improved his lifetime record to 6 wins, 12 seconds, and 4 third-place finishes, with career earnings of $440,092. Bred by Red Barons Barn, he was purchased by his current owners, Paradise Road Ranch, for $5,000 as a yearling.

“I’m so happy for the owners,” said Jauregui. “They have been very supportive of my crew and me since Day 1. We have done our best with Camino Del Paraiso. I feel really thankful they’ve trusted me with this horse.”

Jauregui noted that Camino Del Paraiso exited the Rolling Green in great shape. His next start is yet to be determined.

“We could run in the Berkeley Handicap at the fall meet or a stake down south,” said Jauregui. “We are leaving our options open.”

HERNANDEZ, GONZALEZ AND PETERSON SUCCEEDING

Jockeys Juan Hernandez, Ricky Gonzalez, and Ferrin Peterson all moved to different venues this summer. With the Golden Gate Fields community proudly watching, each rider has thrived at their new, respective racetracks.

Hernandez and Gonzalez moved to Del Mar and were immediately employed by barns big and small. Hernandez, who finished fourth in the Del Mar jockey standings behind Flavien Prat, Umberto Rispoli and Abel Cedillo, won 29 races at the recently concluded Del Mar meeting. He won the Solana Beach Stakes with Pulpit Rider-his only stakes win of the meet-and was very pleased with his summer at the surfside race place.

“We had a good meet,” said Hernandez. “My agent [Craig O’Brien] did a great job. I rode a lot of good horses. That’s the key; getting on good horses that run well. The owners and the trainers have been very supportive of me since I moved to Southern California and I feel very lucky that so many people have given me a chance.”

Gonzalez, who finished seventh in the Del Mar standings with 16 victories, hit the board in three stakes races at Del Mar and rode as one of the go-to riders for leading trainer Peter Miller. Gonzalez is the regular jockey for one of the top 2-year-old fillies in Southern California, Forest Caraway.

“It’s been a lot of fun riding such nice horses and riding for good trainers,” said Gonzalez. “You have to be on your game at all times. Every race, every day you need to be focused and I’m doing the best I can. I feel really good. I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities from a lot of trainers at Del Mar and I’m really excited to see how things go in the fall.”

Both Hernandez and Gonzalez will move to Santa Anita Park, where they begin riding in races there on Opening Day Friday, September 19.

Ferrin Peterson, who recently wrapped up her apprenticeship at Monmouth Park, sits second only behind Paco Lopez in the jockey standings at the Oceanport, New Jersey racetrack. Peterson, who began her career at Golden Gate Fields last year before taking a hiatus to finish vet school at U.C. Davis, has hit the wire first with 32 mounts heading into Friday afternoon’s card. The “vet-turned-jockey” has blossomed since teaming up with agent Julie Krone, a Hall of Fame jockey who Ferrin admires.

“Working with Julie has been such a privilege,” said Peterson. “I’ve learned so much from her. Every day after the races, I study replays and we talk about the races. I ask her questions all the time. We have an Equicizer that I hop on often and Julie helps me with my form and gives me tips. As an agent, she is working really hard to put me on good horses. We’ve been working hard to prove ourselves to the Monmouth horsemen and horsewomen and the hard work is paying off.”  

Peterson and Krone are still weighing their options as to where they may land next after Monmouth, which ends its yearly race meet on September 27.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are all claims reported from last week’s racing:

Thursday

Race 3: Malibu Alex (Trainer Reid France…Owners France and Lagattuta)

Friday

Race 1: Sayin Grace (Ed Moger Jr…Steve Moger)

Race 6: Buyback (Blaine Wright…Tracy and Paul Henline)

Race 7: Nice and True (Jamey Thomas…Stewball Stable and Thomas)

Race 8: Vastly Deep (Victor Trujillo…Lester Hunsucker)

Saturday

Race 3: Tristram Speaker (Jesus Ramos…Barragan, Ramos and Silva)

Race 9: C C the Bartender (Marcia Stortz…Stortz and Tirado)

Race 9: Red Shelby (Rene Amescua…Richard Barton)

Sunday

Race 2: Baby Frankie (John Martin…Hat Trick Racing and Jose Valle)
Race 2: Unstoppable Guy (Quinn Howey…Leon Scott)

Monday

Race 1: Charlie’s Belle (Guillermo Preciado…Edgar Pulido)

Race 5: Family Trips (Sergio Ledezma, Howard and Janet Siegel and Ledezma)

Race 5: Lulumaru (John Martin…John Martin and Eric Swanson)

Race 6: Soberano (Jonathan Wong…Roger Newman)
Race 6: Upo (Isidro Tamayo…Michael Demoulin)

FINISH LINES: Friday’s Golden Pick Six jackpot wager, beginning with Race 3, has a carryover of $88,169…The Super High Five pool also has a carryover of just over $2,075…Good luck to Anothertwistafate and trainer Blaine Wright in the $100,000 Grade 3 Longacres Mile later this evening. Anothertwistafate is the 8-5 morning line favorite and drew post 4 of 10 with local jockey Juan Gutierrez up. Wright also campaigns Reginella (Post 6, jockey Javier Matias) one race earlier in the Distaff Stakes at Emerald …A second good luck wish to Frank Lucarelli, who saddles Elliott Bay (Post 1, jockey Heribert “Eddie” Martinez) in the ‘Mile and Paddy’s Secret (Post 1, Jake Samuels) and Killarney Lass (Post 4, Javier Matias) in the Distaff…Shasta Star, previously trained by Sergio Ledezma in Northern California, won the opener at Kentucky Downs on Thursday….Alice Marble, the full 3-year-old sibling to six time stake winner Enola Gray, makes her second start for trainer Steve Miyadi in Race 7 on Saturday…Leg E of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday.

By Matt Dinerman

The prestigious Rolling Green Stakes is the marquee race at Golden Gate Fields every summer. This Labor Day Monday, the 2020 edition takes place, with a field of 8 contenders entered in the one-mile and-a-sixteenth turf contest. Let’s introduce you to the field, beginning with the horse who draws the inside post position.

#1 MAJESTIC EAGLE (9-2 morning line) freshens up two and a half months for Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale after an off-the-board finish in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile over this turf course. He won the Grade 3 All American Stakes at Santa Anita in 2019 but has failed to visit the winner’s circle in six starts since then.

#2 CAMINO DEL PARAISO (4-1) hits the board a lot more often than he wins; he sports a 5 for 38-lifetime record with 16 other in-the-money finishes. He completed the trifecta in the 2020 San Francisco Mile and, earlier this year, finished as the runner up in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes and Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita.

#3 NAVY ARMED GUARD (20-1) made his first start off a four-and-a-half-month vacation last month at Del Mar and finished second as a 56-1 massive longshot. He takes a significant bump up in class from the first-level allowance condition to this stakes level.

#4 THE BLACK ALBUM (7-2) races under the care of leading Del Mar trainer Peter Miller. The French-bred gelding has won a pair of minor stakes races since moving to the United States in 2018 and won a Group 3 turf race in France earlier that same year. Last time out, he won the Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial at Indiana Grand, his first start in over 8 months. He races as a gelding for the first time in the Rolling Green. 

#5 KIWI’S DREAM (5-2) was dueled into submission in his last start, the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, after setting the pace while pressured at a sizzling fast pace. He wheels back in two weeks for trainer Victor Trujillo and figures to get a much easier time of it on the lead this time around. His best effort will make him tough to reel in: he earned a 102 Beyer speed figure while finishing second in the All-American Stakes earlier this year (albeit that run came on Tapeta), and was also the runner up in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile and Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar.

#6 BUILDER (10-1) ran second in the 2019 Rolling Green and has made four afternoon appearances this year. Most recently, the son of Gio Ponti finished fourth in a salty allowance at Del Mar, used as a prep run for this race. His last victory came two starts ago against second-level allowance foes at Pleasanton. Leading Golden Gate trainer Isidro Tamayo trains, which should only be seen as a positive.

#7 IRISH HEATWAVE (6-1) is a perfect 2 for 2 over the Golden Gate Fields grass course. Last year, he pulled off a gate to wire score in the Silky Sullivan Stakes against California-breds and was a gutsy victor of an allowance race over the course this past June. 2016 Eclipse Award-winning jockey Evin Roman teams up with 2-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill.

#8 SLOANE GARDEN (6-1) is a filly facing males in the 2020 Rolling Green. The daughter of top European stallion Ifraaj has won three races in a row, including her last two starts against filly and mare stake company (the Luther Burbank and Golden Poppy Stakes) over this turf course. She enjoys sitting off the pace, making one run, and gobbling up ground late. This will be her toughest assignment to date.

Who wins? We’ll let you handicap the race and decide for yourself. Good luck!

***First post on Monday afternoon is 1:15 PM PT. The Rolling Green goes as Race 8 on a 9-race Labor Day holiday program, with post time for the Rolling Green set at 4:45 PM PT.***

SLOANE GARDEN READY TO FACE MALE COUNTERPARTS IN ROLLING GREEN

Multiple stakes-winning 4-year-old filly Sloane Garden will tackle males in her next start on Monday afternoon, the $50,000 Rolling Green Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward routing one-mile and a sixteenth on turf. Sloane Garden, who won the Golden Poppy Stakes in June and the Luther Burbank Stakes in August, is owned by Ron Charles and Sam Gordon. Regular jockey Kyle Frey is slated to ride in the Rolling Green.

“She’s doing great,” said trainer Manny Badilla. “She worked really well on Sunday. Ready to go.”  

Badilla noted that Sloane Garden ran twice against males-in a pair of handicap races-as a maiden in Europe.

“She doesn’t know how to read a racing form,” joked Badilla. “Colts, geldings, fillies, mares…she’ll run against any of them. She’s a nice filly and we’re excited to run. I think she is up for the task.”

Other probables for the Rolling Green include last year’s second-place finisher Builder (trained by Isidro Tamayo), 2020 San Francisco Mile third-place finisher Camino Del Paraiso (O.J Jauregui), 2019 Silky Sullivan Stakes winner Irish Heatwave (Doug O’Neill), and Grade 3 winner Majestic Eagle (Neil Drysdale). Multiple stakes winners Anyportinastorm (Blaine Wright) and The Black Album (Peter Miller) are also possible. All possible and probables are subject to change.

The Rolling Green is the marquee race of the current summer meet at Golden Gate Fields. Live racing on the upcoming Labor Day Monday program, a special holiday racecard, begins at 1:15 PM PT. Entries and post positions will be drawn and published on Friday afternoon.  

AMERICAN FARMER SET TO TAKE ON GRADED STAKES FOES IN DEL MAR DERBY

Robert Dupret Derby winner American Farmer races for trainer Steve Sherman and owners BKB Stables and Sherman in the Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Derby on Sunday at Del Mar. The 9-furlong turf contest is the premier grass race of the summer season for 3-year-olds each year at Del Mar.

“We’re giving it a go,” said Sherman. “It’s never easy to win a stake at Del Mar but he is doing really well and a couple of the top horses on the nominations list are in Kentucky for races there this weekend. We figured it would be a good chance to step up and see what he can do.”

In the Robert Dupret Derby, American Farmer stalked and pounced on the leaders turning for home. This was a change in running style for the son of Bluegrass Cat, and Sherman was impressed.

“I was a little surprised by the way he won the other day,” said Sherman. “I figured he’d sit off the pace and make one run like he always does. But it was nice to see him a little closer and kick on because it looks like he’s a little more versatile than he was earlier in his career. He’s gotten older, faster, and stronger. He’s growing up and knows the name of the game at this point. He knows what he’s supposed to do out there.”

Jockey Ricky Gonzalez, who recently moved to Southern California and was aboard American Farmer when he ran second in the El Camino Real Derby in February, has the mount in the Del Mar Derby. Post positions for the Del Mar Derby will be drawn on Thursday.

GOLDEN GATE FIRST POST MOVED TO 1:15 PM BEGINNING SATURDAY

Beginning Saturday, September 5, first post at Golden Gate Fields will be 1:15 PM. Golden Gate Fields continues to operate with essential personnel on-site at this time.

CLAIMS

The following is a list of claims at Golden Gate Fields last week:

Thursday

No Claims

Friday

Race 8: Eddie’s Princess (Trainer Ellen Jackson, Owner Alberto Ruvalcaba)

Saturday

Race 1: Regal Lady (Sammy Calvario, Sammy Calvario and David Angel Cota)

Race 4: Going to Shabooms (Bill McLean, Crosby, McLean, Planchon and Taylor)

Race 5: Conquest Lemonraid (Pablo De Jesus, Cindy Winschell)

Race 7: All American Hero (Andy Mathis, Bruno, Gezon, Jones and Mathis)

Race 8: T Bones Trick (Isidro Tamayo, Michael Fried)

Race 9: Glenroy (Duane Offield, David Kramer)

Sunday

Race 2: Tamarando’s Mine (Eddie Rich, Napoleon Lopez

DEL MAR WATCH LIST

The following is a list of local horses (and trainers) who are competing on Del Mar’s Closing Week programs:

Friday

Race 9: Pappy Boyington (Trainer Steve Miyadi, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 9: Doc Adams (Steve Miyadi, Ruben Fuentes)

Saturday

Race 7: Thunder Woman (Bill McLean, Juan Hernandez)

Race 7: Daniel the Dreamer (Jonathan Wong, Flavien Prat)

Race 8: Rocky Tough (Bill McLean, Juan Hernandez)

Race 9: Mister McLean (Tim McCanna, Brice Blanc)

Sunday

Entries to be drawn Thursday.

Monday

Entries to be drawn Friday.

FINISH LINES: The Golden Pick Six jackpot wager has a carryover of $58,404 heading into Thursday afternoon while the Rolling Super High Five wager for Thursday’s second race has a carryover of $3,058…Happy birthday to Earl Baze II and Chester Bonnet, both whom celebrate birthdays this week…The Steve Sherman trained I’m So Anna finished second in last Sunday’s Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar…Camilla Urso Stakes winner Tomlin ran second in Wednesday’s Unbridled Sidney’s Stakes on dirt at Churchill Downs. Now under the care of Michael Stidham, Tomlin improved her lifetime record to 5-2-5 from 17 starts, with career earnings of $243,020…Anothertwistafate worked a swift 1:12.40, the fastest of eight works at the six-furlong distance last Sunday morning, in preparation for his return to the races. Although he is nominated for the Rolling Green Stakes on Monday, he is more likely to enter into the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile on September 10 at Emerald Downs in Washington State.

OUR SILVER OAK RETURNS IN THURSDAY FEATURE

Stakes winner Our Silver Oak returns off a 15-month layoff for trainer Jonathan Wong in Race 4 on Thursday, a one-mile allowance on turf for 3-year-olds and upward. The 4-year-old California-bred son of Unusual Heat drew post 2 and is listed as the 8-5 morning line favorite. Leading jockey Kyle Frey, who has been working Our Silver Oak in the mornings, has the call.

“He’s doing really good,” said Wong. “He’s been working great and I expect him to run well. Kyle [Frey] is really happy with how he’s doing, too, so we’re excited to get him started this year.”

Our Silver Oak last raced on June 22, 2019 at Santa Anita, where he scored a come-from-behind victory in the mile and one-eighth, $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes on turf. Other career highlights include a runner up finish in the 2019 Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate and a second-place effort in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos as a 2-year-old. Wong noted that California-bred stakes races in Southern California could be in Our Silver Oak’s future if he were to show he still has what it takes to be a stakes-caliber athlete.

“With a good California-bred, you’ve got options,” said Wong. “He’s a router. We’ll take it one race at a time, but there are route races for California-bred stakes horses down south throughout the year, so those types of races would be logical options for him.”

BLUE DIVA GETS BACK TO HER PREFFERED SURFACE ON FRIDAY

Race 3 on Friday goes as the marquee event on an 8-race program. The race, for fillies and mares routing one mile on Tapeta, drew a stakes quality field and figures to be a stepping stone for higher quality races later on in the year.

2019 Miss America Stakes winner Blue Diva drew the outside post in the field of 5 and is an interesting item to consider. Although her last couple of starts have resulted in subpar efforts, she gets back to Tapeta, an angle that trainer Isidro Tamayo believes may be the key to getting her back to winning form.

“Her best surface, by far, is Tapeta,” said Tamayo. “She always trains really well over this track. Last Sunday morning she worked a half-mile and looked awesome. She’s ready.”

The numbers don’t lie, either. Her last three starts on the Tapeta ended with trips to the winner circle, including on February 28 when she defeated stakes winner Wicked Old Fashion in a salty allowance race.

Tamayo has shown a rapid ascent to the top of the trainer standings this year and noted he is proud of what he has achieved so far in his young training career.  

“To be honest, I haven’t had that much time to sit down and think about it,” said Tamayo, who went out on his own 3-years-ago with only a handful of horses. “But I’m proud. Every day, my employees and I work very hard to do the best we can to take good care of our horses, keep them fit and healthy, and put them in races where they can be competitive. I feel blessed and very lucky to have good owners who have given me a chance to train their horses.”

Another contender in Friday’s allowance feature, Wicked Old Fashion, looks to turn the tables on Blue Diva after getting acquainted in February. Conditioned by Victor Trujillo, the daughter of Colonel John won the 2019 Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar and also finished third in the Rolling Green Stakes against males at Golden Gate that same year. She ran poorly in her last start, the Luther Burbank Stakes on turf, and gets back to Tapeta for this run. Jockey Bryan Pena rides for the first time.

Ziarah, one of two runners from the Manny Badilla barn, finished second in the Luther Burbank to multiple stakes-winning stablemate Sloane Garden. Before her most recent stakes loss, Ziarah won four allowance races in a row, three of which came over the Golden Gate Tapeta main track. For that reason, she has been installed the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Friday’s third race.

Never Be Enough, the stablemate to Ziarah, and longshot Mybluebell complete the quintet entered. Post time for Race 3 on Friday is 2:54 PM PT.

CLAIMS REPORT

Last week’s claims are as follows:

Thursday

Race 1: Tuscan Warrior (Trainer Pablo De Jesus…Owner Cindy Winschell)

Race 4: Cimpl Man (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing)

Friday

Race 9: Novella (Steve Sherman…Stewball Stable, Mailloux, Richter and Sherman)

Saturday

Race 1: Gambler’s Appeal (Jonathan Wong…Battle Born Racing Stable)

Race 4: Bako Sweets (John Martin…Donald Valpredo)

Race 5: Secretly Paranoide (Milton Pineda…Lizbeth Medina)

Sunday

Race 10: Whoa Nessie (O.J. Jauregui…Danny A. Eplin)

DEL MAR WATCH LIST

Northern California connections race the following horses at Del Mar this week:

Friday

Race 2: #6 Overwhelming Love (trainer Jonathan Wong, jockey Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 3: #3 Final Final (Bill McLean, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 6: #4 Fireitup (Quinn Howey, Geovanni Franco)

Race 9: #14 Prudent (Quinn Howey, Jose Valdivia Jr.)

Saturday

Race 2: #4 King Eddie (Bill McLean, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 2: #6 Nowhere Man (Quinn Howey, Geovanni Franco)

Race 5: #1 I’ll Do It For You (Quentin B. Miller, Edwin Maldonado)

Race 11: #3 Facts Matter (Tim McCanna, Tiago Pereira)

Race 11: #4 Pure Comedy (Bill McLean, Juan Hernandez)

FINISH LINES: $35,325 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Thursday…Race 2 at Golden Gate on Friday goes as Leg E (the penultimate race) of the Stronach 5 wager this week…Trainer Blaine Wright noted that his Del Mar string returned to Golden Gate Fields earlier this week. Among them: Green Flash Handicap runner up Baja Sur, stakes winner Mucho Amor and multiple stakes winner Anyportinastorm…After a fifth-place finish in last Sunday’s nightcap, owner Johnny Taboada announced the retirement of 8-year-old gelding Giant Mark. Taboada and trainer Sammy Calvario claimed Giant Mark for $2,500 in 2018 and went on to win 9 races with the California-bred chestnut. Happy retirement, ‘Mark!… Turf Paradise jockey Ryan Barber is set to ride at Golden Gate Fields for the foreseeable future and will be represented by agent Tara Homfeldt…Last week, Irving Orozco and Evin Roman joined the mix of jockeys in the local colony. Orozco, who hasn’t ridden since November, won one race. Roman, who recently shipped his track from Southern California, won two races. Orozco: “I’m blessed to feel so healthy and strong. I feel motivated and focused to do the best I can every day and I am grateful for the trust and support of the horsemen. I’m making the most of the opportunities presented to me.” Roman quipped, “I really like it here. All of the people here have been very nice and I am working really hard. Golden Gate is a beautiful track and I am very happy to be here.”

ECLIPSE AWARD WINNER ROMAN JOINS JOCKEY COLONY WITH AN UPBEAT ATTITUDE

Eclipse Award-winning jockey Evin Roman joins the Golden Gate Fields riding colony this week and begins his Northern California tenure on Thursday in Race 6 with three-year-old colt Take Me for a Spin. Roman is scheduled to ride five additional mounts on Friday and two more on Saturday. The 22-year-old native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico will be represented by agent Leo Rodriguez and noted earlier in the week that he is eager to begin riding in races.

“I’m really excited to be at Golden Gate,” said Roman. “Jonathan Wong called me and said he would help me out if I moved to Golden Gate Fields. There were a few other trainers from [the Bay Area] that I got to know over time, like Bill McLean and Tim McCanna, and they said they would give me a chance too. I thought it was a really good opportunity to come up to Northern California. I am prepared to work hard and do my best.”

Roman became hooked on racing through his father, who took the young Roman to horse races from an early age. When he was old enough, Roman enrolled in the Escuela Vocacional Hipica, a world-renowned jockey school in Puerto Rico. The list of successful graduates from the aforementioned riding academy is both lengthy and impressive. Among the notables: Manny Franco, Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose Ortiz and John Velazquez.

After two years at Escuela Vocacional Hipica, Roman won his first race in Puerto Rico on January 5, 2017, and soon moved to the United States where he began his stateside riding career in Southern California. As an apprentice in 2017, Roman guided 161 horses to victory while earning $5 million in purse money. He won the 2017 Fall Meet riding title at Santa Anita Park and successful defended the title at the 2018 Winter/Spring meet, defeating Flavien Prat by one win.

Roman tallied his first graded stakes victory aboard Gold Rush Dancer in the 2017 Longacres Mile, Washington state’s most prestigious horse race, and competed in the 2017 Breeders Cup at Del Mar-a career highlight that Roman mentioned was special to him. To put the cherry on top of an outstanding first year, Roman was awarded the 2017 Eclipse Award for top North American apprentice jockey.

Roman has visited Golden Gate Fields from his previous Southern California base multiple times. In February of 2019, he finished second with Kingly in the El Camino Real Derby for trainer Bob Baffert. Roman and Baffert also teamed up to score in the 2018, $200,000 Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita with California-bred Cruel Intention.

MATHIS READY FOR A BIG SATURDAY WITH MIKES TIZNOW, GIVE ME THE LUTE

On Saturday afternoon, Andy Mathis campaigns a pair of his stable stars in two separate turf sprints at two different racetracks.

On Saturday at Del Mar, Mathis sends out 5-year-old gelding Mikes Tiznow in Race 3, the five-furlong $100,000 Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap. The son of Slew’s Tiznow has won the Albany Stakes at Golden Gate twice in a row, most recently finishing first in the 2020 addition by three-quarters of a length. Mikes Tiznow holds a phenomenal record while sprinting five furlongs on turf, posting 4 wins and 1 third place finish from 5 career starts at the aforesaid distance. Regular jockey Ricky Gonzalez rides back in the Green Flash.

“He’s doing well,” said Mathis. “He runs well fresh. There’s only one way for him to go; to the lead. He’s very, very fast. We can only run our race. If somebody goes out with him and wants to come along for the ride, so be it. He’s a hard-trying horse and he’ll give his best. I like that [jockey] Ricky [Gonzalez] has been at Del Mar, knows the turf course there, and knows the horse. We have a good post position. They don’t give away graded stakes wins, though, so he’ll need to bring his ‘A’ game.” 

In Race 8 on Saturday at Golden Gate, Mathis sends out Give Me the Lute in a first-level allowance race. The 4-year-old son of Midnight Lute earned a 96 Beyer speed figure after winning a five-furlong turf dash on June 7 by seven lengths. The final clocking of 55.34 seconds was .09 seconds off the track record set by 4-time stakes winner Vaca City Flyer in 2006.

“I wanted to give him plenty of time to recover after such a big effort last time,” said Mathis. “Since he’s a California-bred, he is eligible to race at the [first level allowance] condition again, so we’re taking advantage of that. He’s doing well and feeling good.”

Give Me the Lute’s easily broke his maiden routing at Del Mar last year. One start later, Mathis and owners Rod and Wendy Hogan claimed Give Me the Lute for $80,000 off of trainer Peter Miller.

“I’ve always thought he might be better routing,” said Mathis. “At some point, you might see him at two turns again.”

A field of nine enter the Race 8, five-furlong Saturday feature, where Give Me the Lute is highly likely to go off favored. Another main contender in the race, Heck Yeah, makes his first start for trainer Steve Sherman and comes off a six-and-a-half-month layoff. Previously in Southern California with Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the California-bred 5-year-old by Acclamation sports a 4 for 8 lifetime record with career earnings of $310,333. He is a three-time California-bred stakes winner and has won on duel surfaces dirt and turf.

ANOTHERTWISTAFATE NEARS RETURN

2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate continued his preparation for a return to the races with a razor-sharp 1:10 and 2/5 seconds six-furlong drill on Sunday.

Under jockey Kevin Orozco, Anothertwistafate clicked off fractional times of 12 and 1/5 seconds, 24 and 1/5, 35 and 3/5, 47 and 2/5 and 58 and 3/5 before finishing up the exercise in 1:10 and 2/5’ths and galloping out 7 furlongs in 1:23 flat.   

“He’s as good as ever,” said Orozco. “He just floated over the ground. It’s amazing because it doesn’t feel like he’s going as fast as he is. He has a very high cruising speed. He’s a really, really good horse.”

The workout was completed 30 minutes before first post on Sunday afternoon and was filmed and shown on the live track feed by the Golden Gate Fields TV crew. For a replay of the video, click the following link: https://www.facebook.com/BlaineDWrightRacing/videos/300698417867975

Anothertwistafate is listed as “possible” to make his 2020 debut in the $100,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs on Sunday, September 13.

DEL MAR WATCH LIST

Below is the “Northern California Watchlist” for horses and trainers racing at Del Mar this week:

Friday

Race 1: #4 Hurley (Trainer Blaine Wright, Jockey Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 2: #7 Drippin Sauce (Jonathan Wong, Abel Cedillo)

Race 2: #8 Eustace (Ed Moger Jr., Juan Hernandez)

Race 3: #1 Builder (Isidro Tamayo, Juan Hernandez)

Race 4: #6 Get ’em Tiger (Quinn Howey, Aaron Gryder)

Race 5: #5 Govenor’s Party (Daniel Franko, Assael Espinoza)

Race 6: #3 Punaluu (Isidro Tamayo, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 6: #4 Midnight Destiny (Jonathan Wong, Juan Hernandez)

Race 7: #12 Bigfoot City (Tim McCanna, Heriberto Figueroa)

Race 8: #5 Habobanero (Reina Gonzalez, Eswan Flores)

Race 9: #3 Mother of Dragons (Andreas Psarras, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 9: #7 Mucho Amor (Blaine Wright, Juan Hernandez)

Race 10: #5 Kiss of Congrats (Rene Amescua, Heriberto Figueroa)

Saturday

Race 1: #5 Shanghai Groove (Trainer Bill McLean, Tiago Pereira)

Race 2: #4 Loud Loud Music (Steve Miyadi, Tiago Pereira)

Race 3: #3 Baja Sur (Blaine Wright, Juan Hernandez)

Race 3: #8 Mikes Tiznow (Andy Mathis, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 6: #11 Ju Ju Guy (Rene Amescua, Ruben Fuentes)

Race 8: #2 Respect the Hustle (Bill McLean, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 11: #13 Navy Armed Guard (Quinn Howey, Jose Valdivia Jr.)

Sunday

Entries are set to be taken on Thursday.

CLAIMS

Below are all the claims made last week at Golden Gate:

Thursday

Race 3: Fruitfully (Trainer Daniel Franko, Owner Bryan M. Carney)

Race 5: Shari (Isidro Tamayo, Zach Morgan and John Tipton)

Race 7: Going to Shabooms (Tim Bellasis, O’Gorman, O’Gorman, Tschanz and Bellasis)

Friday and Saturday

None

Sunday

Race 1: Cats Blame (Victor Trujillo, Carrol Stubbs)

            My Lucky Mark (Jonathan Wong, Battle Born Racing Stable)

Race 5: Remember to Smile (Isidro Tamayo, Joel B. Gonzalez)

Race 6: Miss Indefatigable (Blaine Wright, Rollin Donut Stable)

Race 9: Arouse N Go (Owner/trainer Victor Trujillo)

FINISH LINES: Leg E (the last leg) of the $1 Stronach 5 goes as Race 2 on Friday at Golden Gate. The other races in the Stronach 5 sequence on Friday: Laurel Park Race 7 (approximate post of 12:58 PM PT), Gulfstream Park Race 9, Laurel Park Race 8, Laurel Park Race 9…Race 2 on Friday features Chase and Colorado, who is out of the dam Anabaa’s Creation. Here’s a fun fact for you: Anabaa’s Creation lost to the great Zenyatta by A HEAD in the 2009 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar…Jockey Erick Lopez picked up his first win since joining the Golden Gate Fields riding colony with old pro Cartoonist (trained by Mike Lenzini) last Saturday…Laura’s Light races in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks on Saturday at Del Mar. Laura’s Light began her racing career with trainer Jamey Thomas and broke her maiden in November of 2019 at Golden Gate. After the maiden victory, she was privately purchased by owner Gary Barber and has since won three graded stakes races under the care of Southern California conditioner Peter Miller…Happy birthday to Assistant General Manager of GGF William Rizzuto and trainers Andy Mathis and D. Wayne Baker…Happy belated birthday to trainer Marcia Stortz…$14,676 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Thursday.

TRADITIONAL SUMMER MEET BEGINS/20 CENT GOLDEN PICK SIX JACKPOT, EARLY PICK 5 AMONG WAGERS BACK IN PLAY 

The 2020 Summer Meet at Golden Gate Fields begins this Thursday, August 13, and runs through Sunday, October 4. First post each live race day is 1:45 PM. Horseplayers should take note that a number of wagers seen at the recently concluded Wine Country Racing meet will revert back to standard Golden Gate Fields bets that many are accustomed to playing.

The 20 Cent Golden Pick Six jackpot wager returns on “Opening Day” Thursday, as does the 50 Cent Early Pick 5, which comprises the first five races each afternoon and offers a low 14% takeout. Trifecta’s and Rolling Pick 3’s return to the wagering menu as 50 cent minimum bets while the Rolling Super High Five wager is set at a $1 minimum. In order for the Rolling Super High Five wager to be on the menu for a particular race, that race must have 7 or more official starters.

At the recently concluded Wine Country Racing meet, jockey Kyle Frey took home the jockey title with 11 wins, scoring 3 more victories than second-place riders William Antongeorgi III and 7-pound apprentice Santos Rivera. In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong won 8 of 26 starts (31%), finishing ahead of Andy Mathis (4 for 12.)   

MY FRIEND GEORGE RETIRES A WINNER

8-year-old My Friend George won the third race on Friday, July 31 while cutting back from a route to a sprint. After the victory, trainer Manny Badilla announced that the California-bred gelding would be retired from racing.

“He’s a cool dude,” said Badilla. “I wanted him to go out a winner.”

Owned by breeder Martin W. Bach for all 52 lifetime starts, the son of Gotham City won 13 races (25%-win rate), with 8 second and 9 thirds. He earned $140,250 throughout his six-year-career and showed versatility for the duration of his calling as a racehorse, winning on turf, dirt and synthetic while scoring victories at a variety of sprint and route distances.

“He was as versatile as you’ll find,” said Badilla. “He never ran in any allowance or stakes race. He was very effective at claiming levels and starter allowance conditions.”

“I admired his heart,” added Badilla. “Every time he raced, he gave it his all. He was a barn favorite for me. I’m going to miss him but I’m also happy he is going to be well-taken care of at the next stage of his life.”

Badilla relayed that My Friend George was currently relaxing at Woodbridge Farm, enjoy some time in the pasture. In the not-so-distance future, My Friend George will join Badilla’s assistant Julie Baker at her farm and train to be a sheriff’s pony.

“We’ll see how he does when he trains for his next job,” said Badilla. “Julie does a great job and will make sure he is up for the task before he begins a second career.”

DEL MAR WATCH LIST 

Our weekly Del Mar watchlist for Northern California horses and trainers are as follows:

 Friday

Race 1: Tip Top Gal (Trainer Quentin B. Miller, Jockey Edwin Maldonado)

Race 1: Gotham Desire (Ed Moger Jr., Tiago Pereira)

Race 2: Joymaker (Quinn Howey, Jorge Velez)

Race 7: Sadie Bluegrass (Jonathan Wong, Ricky Gonzalez)

Saturday

Race 1: La Croix (Rene Amescua, Jorge Velez)

Race 1: Thunder Woman (Bill McLean, Juan Hernandez)

Race 6: Call Sign Lucky (O.J Jauregui, Jorge Velez)

Race 6: Lemon Drop Shot (Jonathan Wong, Flavien Prat)

Race 10: Emerald Magic (Bill McLean, Ruben Fuentes)

Race 11: Mithqaal (Jonathan Wong, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 11: Harvest a Storm (Ed Moger Jr., Edwin Maldonado)

Race 11: Engram (Quentin B. Miller, Brice Blanc)

Sunday

Entries to be drawn tomorrow

FINISH LINES: Golden Gate Fields is back in the Stronach 5 mix this week, with Race 2 on Friday going as the last leg of the aforementioned Pick 5 wager…Frank Lucarelli saddles Paddy’s Secret and Killarney Lass in the co-feature at Emerald Downs on Thursday, the Boeing Stakes, for filly and mare sprinters at six and one-half furlongs. Both gals have raced at Golden Gate Fields in the past…2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate worked six furlongs in an easy 1:17.40 seconds last Sunday in preparation for his 2020 debut…$700,000 yearling purchase What a Feeling drilled a half-mile out of the gate for trainer Jonathan Wong in 49.60 seconds. Purchased by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds at last year’s Keeneland September Sale, the 2-year-old daughter of Medaglia D’Oro is out of Grade 2 winner and Grade I placed mare Magical Feeling and is a half-sibling to stakes winner Exulting…FUN FACT: Half siblings Night Gig and Union Dance both competed in Race 4 on Sunday. Later in the program, half-siblings Potente Alba and Sunrise Journey battled in the same race, Race 11…Per the TOC, expanded viewing for owners is available at Golden Gate. For morning workouts, owners may attend any morning but must check-in at the main horsemen’s gate. During afternoon racing, two owners per horse may attend, and seating will be in a designated area adjacent to the winner circle. In order for any owner to access on-site morning workouts and or afternoon racing, they must provide their CHRB owners license and undergo a COVID-19 health screening. Masks are required to be worn at all times!

 

ROBERT DUPRET DERBY SHOWCASES TOP BAY AREA 3-YEAR-OLDS ON SATURDAY

A field of eight 3-year-olds compete at one mile on turf in Saturday’s feature race, the $50,000 Robert Dupret Stakes. Three of the eight entrants exit a July 3 allowance race on dirt at Pleasanton: Looking for Revenge, Sacred Rider, and American Farmer.

Lookin for Revenge went gate to wire on July 3 and earned an 81 Beyer speed figure for his effort. The son of I Want Revenge has been effective over all three North American racing surfaces (dirt, turf and synthetic) and broke his maiden by 7 lengths on Tapeta, which was his last start at Golden Gate.

“He’s improved every race,” said trainer Brendan Galvin. “He’s a big, long striding horse. When he gets in a good rhythm and can just keep going…that’s when he is at his best. He doesn’t necessarily need the lead-he-he can sit a length or so off and it won’t be a problem-but if he’s not on the lead he won’t be too far away.”

Sacred Rider, a well-bred gelding trained by Steve Specht, finished second at odds of 3-5 in the July 3 allowance affair. He has the most experience in the field, with 15 starts to his name, and is out of the stakes winner and top-quality broodmare Lady Railrider. Both career victories for Sacred Rider have come on grass, but Specht noted that Sacred Rider is game on any surface.

“He can run on anything,” said Specht. “He only lost by a neck in a dirt stake at Santa Anita in January. He’s run a couple of good races on synthetic. I’ve run him back a little quickly a couple of times and he’s got good spacing between races heading into this weekend. He always tries hard.” 

2020 El Camino Real Derby runner up American Farmer made his first start off a 4-month layoff in the aforementioned July 3 allowance at Pleasanton. He sports a pair of bullet workouts leading up to this race for trainer Steve Sherman, who employs leading jockey Kyle Frey for the ride.

“He’s doing really well,” said Sherman. “His last couple of works have been great. He’ll be sitting off the pace and making one run. That’s what he likes to do. Kyle [Frey] will have to time the ride right because you can’t move him too early.”

Governance most recently ran fourth in the June 13 Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate, finishing behind Kanderel and Ajourneytofreedom that day. Both aforementioned equines have since come back to finish in-the-money in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar and compete this Sunday in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap. Governance defeated Sacred Rider by a neck in an allowance race on May 30 and is trained by top Golden Gate conditioner Jonathan Wong.

“The race came up tough,” said Wong. “The last time he won, he went wire to wire. It appears there’s a good amount of speed in the race so we may find ourselves sitting off the pace this time. He is pretty versatile.”

Too Late is the only Southern California shipper in the field, racing for trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam. The California-bred son of Square Eddie was last seen sprinting five furlongs on turf in a California-bred allowance race at Del Mar, finishing third against older foes. The only time this guy has ever competed at a distance farther than six furlongs, he finished six lengths behind Governance in a maiden special weight at Santa Anita.

Allowance placed colt Awesome Summer, first-time router Returray and 10 length starter allowance winner Jedi Knight complete the field. Post time for the Robert Dupret Derby, which goes as Race 8 on an 11-race card, is set for 4:55 PM.

Race 8 on Saturday: the $50,000 Robert Dupret Derby

(Post time: 4:55 P.M. Pacific Time) 

#1 American Farmer (Kyle Frey, Steve Sherman, 6-1 morning line)

#2 Too Late (Alejandro Gomez, Doug O’Neill, 9-2)

#3 Lookin for Revenge (David C. Lopez, Brendan Galvin, 4-1)

#4 Awesome Summer (Kevin Orozco, Bob Hess Sr., 5-1)

#5 Sacred Rider (Frank Alvarado, Steve Specht, 3-1)

#6 Jedi Knight (Catalino Martinez, Andreas Psarras, 20-1)

#7 Governance (William Antongeorgi III, Jonathan Wong, 7-2)

#8 Returray (Daniel Vergara, Andy Mathis, 15-1)

WRIGHT CONTINUES A BUSY SUMMERTIME SCHEDULE

Trainer Blaine Wright is always a very busy man in the summertime. This year, he has a string of horses at Golden Gate, Del Mar and Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. Wright conditions horses at all talent levels, ranging from claimers to stakes caliber equines that compete at the highest stages. Below, we give a handful of updates on Wright’s top-quality stock.

One of Wright’s best horses in training, 2019 Breeders Cup Juvenile runner up Anneau D’Or, most recently finished fourth in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and makes his next start this Sunday in the $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky. The son of Medaglia D’Oro drew post position 2 and picks up the services of jockey Tyler Baze for the first time.

“He’s safe and sound in Kentucky,” said Wright. “We originally entered in the Los Alamitos Derby on July 4 and were hoping to run him there. He came up with an elevated temperature before the race and we had to scratch. We rerouted him to the Ellis Park Derby and he’s healthy now.”

The Runhappy Ellis Park Derby offers 85 qualifying points, with 50 of those points awarded to the winner. Heading into this weekend, Anneau D’Or sits 18^th on the Kentucky Derby points list with 32 points.

“He is still on the [Kentucky] Derby trail,” said Wright. “We’ll see how he runs on Sunday and go from there. He shipped to Kentucky earlier this week and got there in really good shape.”

Racing fans will be happy to read that Wright’s 2019 stable star, Anothertwistafate, is back on the worktab. The 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner hasn’t been seen since competing in last year’s Preakness Stakes and is currently training at Golden Gate for his 2020 debut. Since rejoining Team Wright in the spring, the son of Scat Daddy has worked seven times over the main track Tapeta, with a pair of five-furlong drills most recently recorded.

“He’s doing super,” said Wright. “We haven’t picked out a comeback race for him yet. We’re putting stamina-type works into him. I want to give him a solid foundation before he is entered in a race. In his works, it’s important that he finishes well and gallops out strong. He’s a pure route horse and he’ll be running against really nice horses this year. I want to have him as fit as possible by the time he hits the track in the afternoon.”

Ajourneytofreedom, the younger half-sibling to Anothertwistate, ran third in the Oceanside Stakes on Opening Day at Del Mar and gets back to turf in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Sunday. The last time Ajourneytofreedom raced at Golden Gate, he lost by a neck to the Richard Mandella trained Kanderel in the Alcatraz Stakes. Ajourneytofreedom breaks from post 4 in the La Jolla and will be ridden by regular pilot Ricky Gonzalez.

“He’s a hard-trying little dude,” said Wright. “He reminds me of [million-dollar earner] Alert Bay. He’s not a big horse but he’s shown us a nice turn on foot on grass and gives it his all every time. He had a little bit of traffic trouble in upper stretch in the Oceanside but was able to get out quickly and showed a good kick to the wire. The waters are a little deeper [in the La Jolla] but he’s doing well.”

Wright also campaigns Baja Sur, who finished third in a salty July 26 allowance optional $100,000 claimer at Del Mar. The aforementioned race drew a stakes caliber field. In fact, Baja Sur beat 2019 San Francisco Mile winner Blitzkrieg for third. Wright indicated Baja Sur, who ran second in the June 6 Albany Stakes at Golden Gate, would run next in the five-furlong $100,000 Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap for turf sprinters on August 22 at Del Mar.

2019 Lost in the Fog Stakes winner Anyportinastorm finished off the board in last weekend’s Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar after dueling on the lead with four other rivals, all whom also weakened down the stretch. Wright noted that Anyportinastorm came out of the race with a clean bill of health and will train on before a decision is made on where he will make his next start.

LOPEZ, VERGARA JOIN GOLDEN GATE JOCKEY COLONY

Jockeys Erick Lopez and Daniel Vergara joined the Golden Gate Fields jockey colony last weekend, adding to a solid list of riders who compete daily at Golden Gate.

Lopez, who ships in from Parx Racing in Pennsylvania, hails from a riding family. He is the older brother of David C. Lopez and the son of veteran C.C. Lopez. The New Jersey native was the regular jockey for Baja Sur when riding at Emerald Downs in 2017 and has competed against some of the top riders in the country at Monmouth Park and Aqueduct. Lopez has been working horses since last weekend and is represented by Fernando “Shoes” Navarro.

Vergara, who won last Sunday’s sixth race with Random Pleasure, is a regular at Turf Paradise in Arizona. Beginning his career in 1998, Vergara has gained steady business throughout the years, and is eight victories shy of 1,400 career wins. Earlier in the summer, Vergara rode at Lone Star Park, but opted to move his tack to Golden Gate after heavy consideration. He makes his Northern California stakes debut aboard Returray in the Robert Dupret Derby this Saturday for trainer Andy Mathis. Vergara is represented by Jay Robinson. 

DEL MAR WATCH LIST

Friday

Race 1: Shadrack (Trainer Tim McCanna, Jockey Abel Cedillo)

Race 4: Crown Kitten (Bill McLean, Evin Roman)

Race 4: Sweet Rafaela (Rene Amescua, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 5: Honeymoonz Over (D. Wayne Baker, Eswan Flores)

Saturday

Race 5: Mylittlerunaway (O.J. Jauregui, Tiago Pereira)

Race 8: Ben’s A Goalie (Quinn Howey, Geovanni Franco)

Race 8: Charge Cash (Tim McCanna, Evin Roman)

Sunday

Race 4: Big Moon (Steve Sherman, Abel Cedillo)

Race 5: No Name Fred (Jonathan Wong, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 5: King Eddie (Bill McLean, Evin Roman)

Race 6: Kaline (Quinn Howey, Geovanni Franco)

Race 10: Ajourneytofreedom (Blaine Wright, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 10: Indian Peak (Quinn Howey, Mike Smith)

Race 11: Bigfoot City (Tim McCanna, Ricky Gonzalez) 

FINISH LINES: Trainer Jonathan Wong campaigns Keeper Ofthe Stars in Del Mar’s Saturday co-feature: the $150,000 Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at one mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Abel Cedillo rides for owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds…Two Arabian-bred races kicked off the Saturday and Sunday programs at Golden Gate Fields last week. On Saturday, Aura Makarina picked up a victory in Race 1 for trainer Abel Borg while Prestons Lady AA won the opener on Sunday under the care of trainer Ron White…Arabian-bred action concludes this Sunday with the $15,000 California Bonus Bonanza for 3-year-olds and upward sprint six furlongs on Tapeta…Golden Gate Fields offers a $1 Pick 6 carryover of $16,375. This is not a jackpot carryover…MANDATORY PAYOUTS take place on Sunday afternoon…Next Thursday is Day 1 of the traditional summer meet at Golden Gate.

BADILLA HOLDS THE ACE IN LUTHER BURBANK STAKES

Six live racing days comprise the 2020 Wine Country Racing meet at Golden Gate Fields, which commences Friday, July 31 and runs through Sunday, August 9. First post each day is 1:15 PM PT. The feature event of Week 1 goes as the eighth on Saturday: the $50,000 Luther Burbank Stakes for filly and mare turf routers. The one mile and a sixteenth affair drew seven entrants, including the top three finishers in the Golden Poppy Stakes on June 7.

Sloane Garden, who won the Golden Poppy for trainer Manny Badilla and owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon, is listed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Luther Burbank. Purchased by her current North American connections for $33,642 at the 2019 Tattersalls Horses of Racing Age sale in Europe, the daughter of Iffraaj kicked off her U.S. career with maiden and allowance wins before scoring her first career stakes victory in the Golden Poppy. Kyle Frey navigated last time out and will be back aboard on Saturday.

“Sloane Garden is doing great,” said Badilla. “I gave her a little time after she ran so well in her last start. She put up a really big effort. She’s working well and ready to go.”

Badilla also saddles Ziarah, who finished off-the-board in the July 12 Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar. A European bred like her stablemate, this 5-year-old mare had won five consecutive allowance races before the Osunitas loss. Regular rider Frank Alvarado is back aboard in the ‘Burbank.

“Ziarah had a beautiful work over the Tapeta on July 25,” said Badilla. “I’m really satisfied with how she is coming into this race. We wheeled her back in two weeks for the Osunitas after a big win at Pleasanton and the Osunitas came up tough. There were some good ones in there.”

Meal Ticket, second to Sloane Garden in the Golden Poppy, looks to turn the tables on the aforementioned rival. A Southern California shipper trained by Matt Chew, Meal Ticket finished ahead of Ziarah in the Osunitas but has failed to find the winners circle in her last six starts. 2019 was a notable year for Meal Ticket: she beat a salty second-level allowance field at Santa Anita and was the runner up behind multiple Grade I winner Vasilika in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes.

Wicked Old Fashion finished a length and three-quarters behind Sloane Garden in the Golden Poppy and looks to snap a three-race losing streak. Her most recent afternoon appearance, a one mile try on dirt against allowance company, resulted in a third-place finish behind Ziarah. Wicked Old Fashion possesses backclass; she won the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in November and was third against males in the Rolling Green Stakes on turf last summer.

Allowance winners Heathers Gray and Mybluebell are also entered in the Luther Burbank. Longshot Augure rounds out the field.

Race 8 on Saturday: $50,000 Luther Burbank Stakes (one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

Post time: Approximately 4:45 PM

#1 Heathers Grey (Jockey William Antongeorgi III, Trainer Sean McCarthy, 6-1 morning line)

#2 Meal Ticket (David C. Lopez, Matt Chew, 5-2)

#3 Augure (Julien Couton, Eddie Rich, 30-1)

#4 Ziarah (Frank Alvarado, Manny Badilla, 7-2)

#5 Mybluebell (Kevin Orozco, Bob Hess Sr., 10-1)

#6 Wicked Old Fashioned (Catalino Martinez, Victor Trujillo, 6-1)

#7 Sloane Garden (Kyle Frey, Manny Badilla, 9-5) 

APPRENTICE RIVERA ALREADY A HOT COMMODITY

20-year-old apprentice jockey Santos Rivera has quickly made a favorable impression amongst Northern California horsemen. And believe it or not, that may be a bit of an understatement.

From a racing family, Rivera galloped and worked horses for many years under trainer Bill Delia before applying for a jockey’s license. After receiving the license, Rivera sought to jumpstart his riding career with the help of agent Brent Harmon, who took the fledgling apprentice under his wing immediately. Rivera rode at the recently concluded Pleasanton summer meet and racked off 7 wins from his first 26 mounts (26%). Rarely do you see an apprentice have that much success right off the bat, says Harmon.

“This kid is a real student of the game,” Harmon alliterated on Thursday morning. “How he goes about doing his work is impressive. He watches film every day. He seeks advice from fellow riders, all who really enjoy his presence in the jockey’s room. He has a great attitude. He tells me, ‘I have a lot to learn and I want to learn.’ That tells you his mindset. He is doing all the right things to improve his skill set.”

“But Santos is good on horseback too,” continued Harmon. “I see him doing certain things that experienced journeymen do. The first race I saw him ride he was switching sticks like it was nothing. I said, ‘Holy smokes. Apprentices this early in the game don’t ride like this.’ I’ve represented about a half dozen apprentice jockeys and he is the best of the group.”

Rivera rides 6 of the 8 races on the Opening Day Friday card, 7 on Saturday, and 8 more on Sunday.

“He has a lot of business right now,” said Harmon. “In a few races, I have multiple calls and need to start picking and choosing who he rides. He has ridden 26 races in his entire life and he’s already in demand. It’s sort of unbelievable, to be honest. But people can see that Santos has a bright future. He’s the whole package.”

GOLDEN GATE SHIPPERS AT DEL MAR

Below is the “Northern California Watchlist” for horses and trainers racing at Del Mar this week:

FRIDAY

Race 6: Rocky Tough (Jockey Ricky Gonzalez, Trainer Bill McLean)

Race 7: Tribal War Chant (Victor Espinoza, Ed Moger Jr.)

Race 9: Let’s Rejoyce (Ricky Gonzalez, Jonathan Wong)

Race 10: Exeter (Geovanni Franco, Quinn Howey)

Race 11: Pure Perfection (Juan Hernandez, Bill McLean)

SATURDAY

Race 8: I’m So Anna (Ricky Gonzalez, Steve Sherman)

Race 8: Jasmine Chieftain (Juan Hernandez, Isidro Tamayo)

Race 10: Anyportinastorm (Juan Hernandez, Blaine Wright)

Race 11: Get’em Tiger (Abel Cedillo, Quinn Howey)

Race 11: La Gata Elegante (Eswan Flores, D. Wayne Baker)

SUNDAY

Race 4: Red Livy (Ricky Gonzalez, Bill McLean)

Race 6: Facts Matter (Tiago Pereira, Tim McCanna)

Race 7: Shanghai Groove (Tiago Pereira, Bill McClean)

Race 9: Breakfast Ball (Tiago Pereira, Tim McCanna)

FINISH LINES: Congratulations to Kyle Frey and Isidro Tamayo, winners of the jockey and trainer titles at Pleasanton…The first-ever Arabian race over Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields takes place this Saturday and goes as the opener on a 10-race program. Seven Arabian-breds sprint five and one-half furlongs in Race 1, with #1 Aura Makarina installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite…Jockey Erick Lopez, the older brother of David C. Lopez, is set to join the Golden Gate riding colony in the coming days…Fans of California Chrome will surely be tuning into Golden Gate on Friday. In the nightcap, ‘Chrome’s half-brother Fort McHenry races in a one-mile turf claimer. Fort McHenry, trained by Doug O’Neill, is a son of Tapit. Also on Friday, trainer Steve Sherman sends out Cold Brew Kelly, a 2-year-old filly by California Chrome out of the Trippi mare Decennial. Cold Brew Kelly drew the rail in Race 5. “She does a lot right,” said Sherman. “She has a good temperament and has been working OK.” It would be fitting if Cold Brew Kelly won: owner/breeders Perry and Denise Martin also co-own California Chrome, and Cold Brew Kelly would become the first North American winner for California Chrome as a stallion…I’m So Anna races for Sherman in the CTBA Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar while Anyportinastorm, conditioned by Blaine Wright, carries the hopes of Northern California in the Grade 2 Bing Crosby for sprinters that same afternoon…Jockeys Juan Hernandez, Ricky Gonzalez and Kent Desormeaux are off to a hot start at Del Mar, where all three journeymen have relocated. Hernandez sits fourth in the jockey standings with 6 wins. Gonzalez has won 4 races from 23 mounts (21%) and Desormeaux has scored victories atop 3 of his 14 rides (21%)…Ollie’s Candy competes in Sunday’s Grade I Clement Hirsch at Del Mar. The daughter of Candy Ride began her career at Golden Gate in 2018 and has blossomed into one of the top filly and mare dirt routers in the United States…Please note: the Rolling Super High Five at the upcoming Wine Country meeting is a 50 cent minimum bet and the Pick 6 is a $1 based bet…Happy birthday to trainer Debbie Winnick, who celebrated her birthday on Wednesday.