MATHIS HOLDS A STRONG HAND OF TURF HORSES HEADING INTO THE SUMMER 

Not surprisingly, trainer Andy Mathis was all smiles after a stellar 48 hours at Golden Gate Fields last weekend. From 5 starters throughout Saturday and Sunday, Mathis won with 4 of those entrants. 3 of the 4 aforementioned winners won turf sprints and are likely set to stay on grass for the foreseeable future while also probable to face tougher company in the coming months.

On Saturday, Mathis won a trio of races including the headliner on the day, the $50,000 Albany Stakes for turf sprinters, with Mikes Tiznow. Mikes Tiznow, a son of Slew’s Tiznow who had not made an afternoon appearance since a victory in the 2019 Albany, zipped to the front from post position 7 and stayed on the lead throughout, completing the 5-furlong grass dash in 56.26 seconds. Mikes Tiznow earned a 93 Beyer speed figure for his effort.

“He broke his maiden off a similar layoff, so I wasn’t surprised that he was able to run well fresh,” said Mathis. “He came out of the race well. We’re going to monitor his progress in the coming weeks and see where we go from there. Nothing is set and stone. He’s run through his conditions and he’s a very fast horse that enjoys turf and the 5-furlong distance. We’re going to give him time to recover from this race and when we think he’s ready to go again, we’ll find a spot for him.”

Earlier on the day, Mathis won with lower-level claimer Fair Challenge. The nightcap on Saturday, Race 11, was won by the Mathis conditioned Nardini, a California-bred filly who defeated first-level allowance company sprinting five furlongs on the lawn.

“[Nardini] has a really strong closing kick,” said Mathis. “I told [jockey] Juan [Hernandez] in the paddock, ‘Don’t let her do too much until the final quarter-mile.’ I think she is at her best when she can make that one strong run [down the stretch.]”

“The thing that I was most impressed about with [Nardini] was that she was the only one closing,” continued Mathis. “I give horses extra credit when they are the only ones making up ground and they are able to run down speed horses and finish like she did. There were plenty of speed horses that weren’t really stopping and she was still able to run past them all. I bet [Nardini’s] final quarter-mile time was very fast.”

Less than 24 hours after Nardini’s strong showing, 4-year-old gelding Give Me the Lute won a first-level allowance-in another 5-furlong turf affair-against colts and geldings for Mathis. Give Me the Lute, who stopped the clock in 55.34 seconds and was .09 seconds off the turf track record for the aforementioned distance, earned an eye-popping 100 Beyer for his performance. Give Me the Lute was claimed for $80,000 by Mathis and owners Wendy and Rod Hogan at Del Mar last summer.

“I am still in shock with how [Give Me the Lute] ran,” said Mathis. “I knew he was a good horse and was confident he could win, but I didn’t expect him to win like that. If you look at his past performances, it looks like he might be better going two turns. I’m still convinced, even after his race on Sunday, that he could be best going a route. If this is a sign of races to come from him, we’re going to have some fun with him.”

“One thing that’s good about Give Me the Lute is that he’s still got plenty of [allowance] conditions,” concluded Mathis. “Part of the reason I claimed him was because he looked like a really nice horse that had a lot of options. He is a California-bred, so he can run in a first-level [allowance] again. He is obviously eligible for all of the California-bred stakes. The way he ran last week, he very well could be a bigger, faster, and stronger horse than he was last year. One thing’s for sure…I’m keeping him on turf!” 

ALCATRAZ STAKES ATTRACTS EIGHT TALENTED SOPHOMORES

Eight runners are set to go postward in the feature race on Saturday afternoon, the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds. The one-mile turf contest goes as Race 7 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:15 PM PT. 99 horses entered into 11 races on Saturday, equating to a 9-horse per race average.

Golden Gate Fields leading jockey Juan Hernandez has the call on Southern California entrant Kanderel, a well-bred colt by Candy Ride out of the Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Stormica. The Richard Mandella trainee broke his maiden by daylight in the career debut as a 2-year-old but has failed to hit the board in four starts since then. Two of those four races came against stakes caliber talent at Santa Anita.

The other Southern California entrant, Zimba Warrior, draws the rail for brothers Kent and Keith Desormeaux. The son of second crop stallion Khozan makes his career debut on grass but has raced two turns before; over the winter, he ran third behind the Bob Baffert trained Authentic in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on dirt.

A local who could very well go off as the favorite, Indian Peak, picks up the services of jockey David C. Lopez for the first time. The Dr. and Mrs. William T. Gray homebred has run once against stakes company, with the lone run resulting in a third-place finish behind Azul Coast in the El Camino Real Derby. Most recently, the son of Comic Strip finished a better than looked second on the turf at Santa Anita behind the well-regarded California-bred Margot’s Boy in an allowance race.

A solid pace is projected for the 2020 Alcatraz, with a number of quick horses entered in the lineup. Stretch out sprinter Darnquick makes his second start off a layoff after a poor effort against older foes last month and figures to be a pace presence. Governance, from the leading barn of Jonathan Wong, comes off a gate-to-wire score against allowance company on May 30. The front runner with the most impressive credentials, however, may be the Bill Delia trained Bettor Trip Nick. A son of turf sprinter Boat Trip, the California-bred speedster makes his career debut on the grass and has shown an affinity for the Tapeta in past races. As a 2-year-old, Bettor Trip Nick won the Golden Nugget Stakes sprinting and returned one month later to win the Gold Rush Stakes routing.

Ajourneytofreedom, trained by Blaine Wright, is an intriguing item. The half-sibling to 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate is out of a mare whose older sister, Nebraska Tornado, won the Group 1 French Oaks in 2003. Ajourneyofreedom’s second dam, Media Nox, won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes on turf at Santa Anita in 1997. With the family lineage in mind, it would make sense if Ajourneytofreedom flourished on turf. The son of Hard Spun was last seen routing on March 7 over the main track Tapeta and beat a solid group of 3-year-olds that day.

Mylittlerunaway rounds out the field. A filly facing boys for the first time, the daughter of Run Away and Hide comes off a runaway victory against starter allowance foes three weeks ago. That day, she won the one-mile turf race by 5 lengths. Trainer O.J Jauregui teams up with apprentice Juan Espinoza, who makes his stakes debut as a jockey in the Alcatraz.

Race 7: $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes (3-year-olds and upward, one mile on the turf)

#1 Zimba Warrior (Jockey Kent Desormeaux, Trainer Keith Desormeaux)

#2 Mylittlerunaway (Juan Espinoza, O J Jauregui)

#3 Ajourneytofreedom (Ricky Gonzalez, Blaine Wright)

#4 Bettor Trip Nick (Catalino Martinez, Bill Delia)

#5 Kandarel (Juan Hernandez, Richard Mandella)

#6 Darnquick (Hugo Herrera, Allen Rogers)

#7 Indian Peak (D.C. Lopez, Quinn Howey)

#8 Governance (William Antongeorgi III, Jonathan Wong)

GRADE 3 $250,000 SAN FRANCISCO MILE THE MARQUEE RACE ON CLOSING DAY 

A trio of locals and a number of Southern California shippers figure to be competitive in the marquee race of the Winter/Spring Meet at Golden Fields: the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf for 3-year-olds and upward.

The top three finishers in last month’s Grade 3 All American Stakes, Restrainedvengence, Kiwi’s Dream and Camino Del Paraiso, all enter back into the San Francisco Mile. Although the All American was run on Tapeta, all three aforementioned ‘Mile contenders have raced on turf in past starts.

Restrainedvengence, who earned a strong 103 Beyer speed figure in the All American, was victorious in the Rolling Green Stakes over this turf course last year and, with that in mind, can clearly be competitive on grass. Trained by Southern California conditioner Val Brinkerhoff, the 5-year-old gelding worked a blistering bullet half-mile drill in 46 seconds on Sunday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for this race. Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux was aboard for the All American Stakes victory and retains the mount.

Kiwi’s Dream, who ran the race of his life while finishing a neck behind Restrainedvengence in the All American, gets back to turf for trainer Victor Trujillo. While in the barn of John Martin in 2018, the Australian bred won an allowance race on grass. Leading Golden Gate jockey Juan Hernandez has the call.

Camino Del Paraiso may have run a career-best race when finishing second to Grade I winner River Boyne in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita in February. One month later, the California-bred son of Suances returned to finish as the runner up again in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes. Journeyman Catalino Martinez teams up with trainer O.J Jauregui.

Multiple allowance winner Arch Prince is definite to run…and why not? The son of Arch has won three of his past four races. In the lone loss during that four-race span, however, Arch Prince finished second behind Kiwi’s Dream. Arch Prince is trained by Sammy Calvario and will be navigated by jockey Brayan Pena.

One of the likely favorites, Neptunes Storm, races in the San Francisco Mile for Southern California trainer Richard Baltas. The son of Stormy Atlantic makes his second start off a five-month vacation after a 5 length loss in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 25. Last year, Neptune’s Storm won the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park and also hit the board in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. All three aforementioned races came against restricted 3-year-olds. Irving Orozco rides for the first time.

Another Southern California entrant, Majestic Eagle, is also a graded stake winner. Majestic Eagle,  who races as gelding for the first time in the San Francisco Mile, won the Grade 3 All American Stakes at Santa Anita in June of 2019 but has lost five straight races, including a 3-length loss in the Thunder Road Stakes to Grade I winner River Boyne and Camino Del Paraiso in February. Southern California jockey Umberto Rispoli flies up to ride for trainer Neil Drysdale, who also campaigns Simply Breathless. A mare facing boys this Sunday, Simply Breathless won the Golden Poppy Stakes in 2019 over this turf course. In her last two starts, she finished off-the-board against Grade I company in Southern California. Ricky Gonzalez rides for the first time.

Last year, trainer Doug O’Neill won the San Francisco Mile with Blitzkrieg. This year, he campaigns Murad Khan, a 7-year-old gelding stretching out from turf sprints to this one-mile route distance. The last year we saw him racing two turns, he was hitting the board while earning respectable speed figures against second-level allowance foes in Southern California. Local jockey Kyle Frey picks up the mount.

The San Francisco Mile goes as Race 8 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:15 PM. Post time for the San Francisco Mile is 3:45 PM PT.

Race 8: $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile (one mile on the turf)

#1 Camino Del Paraiso (jockey Catalino Martinez, trainer O.J. Jauregui)

#2 Arch Prince (Brayan Pena, Sammy Calvario)

#3 Majestic Eagle (Umberto Rispoli, Neil Drysdale)

#4 Murah Khan (Kyle Frey, Doug O’Neill)

#5 Simply Breathless (Ricky Gonzalez, Neil Drysdale)

#6 Kiwi’s Dream (Juan Hernandez, Victor Trujillo)

#7 Neptune’s Storm (Irving Orozco, Richard Baltas)

#8 Restrainedvengence (Kent Desormeaux, Val Brinkerhoff)

GUARANTEED LATE PICK 4 POOL OF $250,000 ON SUNDAY CAPS OFF THE WINTER/SPRING MEET

Closing Day of the Winter/Spring meet this Sunday features mandatory payouts in the 20 cent Golden Pick Six Jackpot wager (the last six races of the day), the $1 Rolling Super High Five wager, and both Pick 5 sequences.

Also on Sunday, Golden Gate Fields offers a $250,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 pool. The Late Pick 4 wager is a 50-cent minimum bet and goes as the last four races on the Sunday program. This Sunday, the Late Pick 4 sequence will be Races 8 through 11.

“We are very excited to be offering a guaranteed pool of a quarter-million dollars in the Late Pick 4 pool on Sunday,” said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. “It’s our way of saying thank you to all of the bettors who have followed Golden Gate Fields throughout the year.”

The Late Pick 4 is comprised of a quartet of turf races, making the popular wager an “all-turf” sequence. Race 8, the first leg, is the $250,000 San Francisco Mile with a field of 8. Race 9 is a one-mile, 20k claimer for 10 filly and mare routers. Race 10 catches the eye, an allowance route race with 11 entrants signed up to compete, while the nightcap is a claiming race with 10 fillies and mares. All four races are one-mile races. The turf is projected to be firm and the rails all the way in at zero feet.

Post time for Race 8, the first leg of the Late Pick 4, is approximately 3:45 PM.

FINISH LINES: Impressive Golden Gate Fields maiden winner Praise and Honor makes her second lifetime start in the Angel Flight Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters at Santa Anita on Saturday for trainer Jonathan Wong. Abel Cedillo rides for the first time…Congrats to jockey Kyle Frey, who won three races on Sunday’s program including the featured $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes with Sloane Garden…There is a Rolling Super High Five carryover of $11,735 in the first race on Thursday…The Golden Pick Six jackpot wager was hit last Sunday afternoon and begins anew on Thursday with four more live racing days to go…Happy birthday to Racing Secretary and Director of Racing Patrick Mackey and trainer Greg James, both who celebrate birthdays this week.

Berkeley, Calif. (June 7, 2020)-4-year-old chestnut filly Sloane Garden scored a last-to-first victory in her stake debut at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday, the $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes for filly and mare routers on turf. The daughter of British sire Ifraaj sat at the back of the field off a moderate pace before charging home in the final quarter mile and swooping past even money runner up Meal Ticket, 7-1 third place finisher Wicked Old Fashion and everybody else. Morning Cynn, Boundforjamaica and Blue Diva completed the order of finish.

“[Trainer] Manny [Badilla] and I chatted before the race and he said to sit off and make one-run,” said winning jockey Kyle Frey. “Down the backside, even though we were last and the fillies in front weren’t going very fast, I said to myself, ‘I’m liking this.’ [Sloane Garden] was traveling great. I wanted to save ground on the turns and we were able to do that and turning for home I swung outside and let her loose. She’s an improving filly and she’s doing really well right now. She ran great.”

Sloane Garden finished up the mile and a sixteenth grass route in 1:43.39. Purchased by owners Ron Charles and Samuel Gordon for $33,642 at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses of Racing Age sale in 2019, Sloane Garden has recorded 3 wins and 1 second from 5 starts in North America since moving to the barn of Manny Badilla from the yard of James Tate in Europe. The chestnut filly sports a lifetime record of 3 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds from 9 career starts, with career earnings of $91,857.

Off at odds of 7-2, Sloane Garden paid $9.20 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Meal Ticket paid $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show while Wicked Old Fashion paid $3.00 to show.

Live racing resumes at Golden Gate Fields on Thursday with a 9-race program. First post is 12:45 PM. Closing Day of the Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate goes on Sunday and features the marquee race of the meeting, the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile for 3-year-olds and upward routing one mile on the turf. On Saturday afternoon, the San Francisco Mile nominations list was released and featured 27 horses.

-30-

June 6, 2020 (Berkeley, Calif.)-Five-year-old gelding Mikes Tiznow went right to the lead and never stopped when defeating a strong group of older sprinters in the feature race on Saturday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields, the $50,000 Albany Stakes. Mikes Tiznow, who won the 2019 Albany Stakes last year by a length and a half, successfully picked up his second straight Albany victory while stopping the clock for five furlongs on turf in a blistering quick 56.26 seconds.

Under jockey Ricky Gonzalez, Mikes Tiznow shot to the lead from post position 7 and set fast fractions of 21.10 and 44.48 seconds. Mike’s Tiznow showed grit in the final furlong and out finished the Blaine Wright trained pair of Baja Sur and Anyportinastorm, who ran second and third and were also running fresh off vacations. Passionate Reward finished fourth, followed by Bear Chum, Sparticle, What’sontheagenda, Sunset Dragunn, and Daddysprize to complete the running order.

Mikes Tiznow clearly possesses an affinity for five furlongs and the Golden Gate Fields grass course. He has won all 3 lifetime starts on the Golden Gate turf with a 4 for 5 record while traveling the five-panel distance. Well-conditioned off the hiatus by trainer Andy Mathis, the son of Slew’s Tiznow improved his lifetime record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 9 lifetime starts with career earnings of $196,605. Mikes Tiznow was bred in California by Eagle Ridge Racing LLC and is currently owned by Mike Schott.

TALENTED WRIGHT DUO IN ALBANY STAKES AGAINST SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S WHAT’SONTHEAGENDA, SIX MORE

On Saturday, trainer Blaine Wright will be in Southern California to saddle 2019 Breeders Cup Juvenile runner up Anneau D’Or in the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. On the same day at Golden Gate, Wright campaigns two of the nine entered in the feature race on an 11-race program, the $50,000 Albany Stakes for turf sprinters voyaging five furlongs.

“Both of my Albany candidates are doing well,” said Wright. “I hope my two horses get clean trips.”

Those two candidates, Anyportinastorm and Baja Sur, are multiple stakes winners that possess an abundance of raw talent. Anyportinastorm hasn’t been seen since a gut wrenching, nose loss in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in August. The son of City Zip won the 2019 Lost in the Fog Stakes on the Golden Gate Tapeta earlier last year and was stakes placed on turf as a 3-year-old.

“We were ready for Anyportinastorm to defend his title in the 2020 Lost in the Fog and then COVID-19 came along,” said Wright. “We rerouted to this spot. He was fit to race in late April so he’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”

Baja Sur, winner of the Oakland Stakes against older horses as a 3-year-old last fall, makes his first start since a fifth place finish in the California Cup Sprint Stakes at Santa Anita in January.

“I’ve always wanted to try Baja Sur on turf,” said Wright. “Baja’ is by Smiling Tiger. The Smiling Tiger’s typically enjoy the grass. He’s fast and he’s working really well leading up to the Albany.”

Juan Hernandez, who had the choice of whether to navigate Anyportinastorm or Baja Sur, ended up siding with Anyportinastorm. Catalino Martinez picks up the mount on Baja Sur.

Jockey Julien Couton rides What’sontheagenda, the only Southern California entrant in the race, for trainer Doug O’Neill. Like the two Wright rivals, What’sontheagenda races fresh off a vacation. The son of Dialed is a multiple stakes placed turf sprinter, having finished second in the January 26 Clockers Corner Stakes and the 2019, Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita.

Mikes Tiznow has not raced since a victory in last year’s Albany Stakes and returns to the races with a steady series of morning drills leading up to this year’s rendition. The defending champion retains the services of Ricky Gonzalez, his regular jockey throughout 2019, and remains under the care of conditioner Andy Mathis.

“Mikes Tiznow broke his maiden coming off a 13 month layoff so he’s run well fresh before,” said Mathis. “This is the race we’ve been pointing for with him. I was hoping to get a prep race into him earlier this year but we had that time throughout April and some of May where we didn’t run. At that point, we had to train him up to this race. He’s run through his conditions and this is the most logical spot for him. It’s not an easy race-there are a lot of really nice horses entered-but he’s doing good.”

The ultra-gritty Bear Chum makes his second start for the Isidro Tamayo barn and appears as an intriguing “price play” prospect. The Australian-bred gelding has never run in a North American stakes race but holds peak form, having visited the winners circle in his last four races, all of which came over the Golden Gate Tapeta.

“When he raced overseas, he actually won a stake on turf,” said Tamayo. “He’s on a nice win streak right now and I think he’s a really confident horse at the moment.”

Tamayo also sends out Passionate Reward in the Albany. Claimed for $20,000 by owner Michael Demoulin, the former Richard Mandella trainee has wracked off 3 wins from 5 starts since moving to the Tamayo barn. All five aforementioned races have come on the Tapeta main track. Most recently, Passionate Reward suffered an undesirable trip and ran third to Bear Chum on May 15.

“Passionate Reward broke his maiden on the grass at Santa Anita and ran really well that day,” said Tamayo. “The surface change to turf isn’t a concern for me. Bear Chum got the first jump on Passionate Reward the other day, but I think Passionate Reward has tactical speed and hopefully he works out a good trip this time. This is a tough race but he’s training really well.”

Daddysprize, by Scat Daddy out of stakes winning mare YoutheprizeandI, makes his second start off a layoff after an easy victory against second level allowance company on Tapeta. The stakes placed ridgling is trained by Tim McCanna and will, once again, be ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeuax rides.

Sparticle and Sunset Dragunn round out the list of entrants. The Albany Stakes goes as Race 9 and has a first post time of 4:45 PM PT.

Race 9: $50,000 Albany Stakes
#1 Sunset Dragunn (David C. Lopez, Tirso Rivera)
#2 Daddysprize (Kent Desormeaux, Tim McCanna)
#3 Bear Chum (Francisco Monroy, Isidro Tamayo)
#4 Baja Sur (Catalino Martinez, Blaine Wright)
#5 Sparticle (William Antongeorgi III, Matthew Troy)
#6 Anyportinastorm (Juan Hernandez, Blaine Wright)
#7 Mikes Tiznow (Ricky Gonzalez, Andy Mathis)
#8 Passionate Reward (Kyle Frey, Isidro Tamayo)
#9 What’sontheagenda (Julien Couton, Doug O’Neill)

BLUE DIVA RETURNS IN THE GOLDEN POPPY

Miss America Stakes winner Blue Diva is the most noteworthy local entrant in Sunday’s headliner at Golden Gate Fields, the $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes for filly and mare routers. The mile and one-sixteenth turf contest was won last year by eventual Grade 3 winner Simply Breathless.

Blue Diva easily defeated a group of allowance foes on February 28 and freshens up three months for her springtime debut in the Golden Poppy. According to trainer Isidro Tamayo, the daughter of Bluegrass Cat enters the race in great shape.

“She’s doing super,” said Tamayo. “She’s a really classy filly. [Jockey] Juan [Hernandez] is sticking with her for this race and that gives me a lot of confidence.”

Among Blue Diva’s main rivals is Wicked Old Fashion, one of two entrants from the Victor Trujillo barn. She was claimed for $16,000 by Trujillo and owners Frank Aufdermaur and Wayne Swisher in 2018 and has won 7 races, including the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last fall.

“Wicked Old Fashion is doing well,” said Trujillo. “She loves the turf, that’s for sure. She’s one of those mares that tries hard and competes no matter where she is spotted.”

The other Trujillo entrant, Boundforjamaica, sprung a 56-1 upset in a first-level allowance Tapeta sprint on May 16 and makes her career debut on turf and routing in the Golden Poppy.

Trainer Manny Badilla saddles three entrants in the Golden Poppy: Morning Cynn, Sloane Garden, and Ziarah. Leading the Badilla charge is Ziarah, a mare who comes off three straight wins and is effective on turf as she is on Tapeta. Morning Cynn finished behind her stablemate the last time they met, in a second-level allowance affair on May 17 while Sloane Garden blasted past first-level allowance foes in her most recent afternoon appearance and wheels back two weeks later for her North American stakes debut.

Two Southern California entrants will get bet: Desert Oasis and Meal Ticket. The former, a Neil Drysdale trainee, last finished as the runner up in a second level allowance race and searches for blacktype, while the latter Santa Anita shipper is a Grade 2 placed mare from the Matt Chew barn who makes her second start off a layoff.

The Golden Poppy is Race 7 on the 9-race Sunday card with a scheduled post time of 4:03 PM.

Race 7: $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes

#1 Meal Ticket (Jockey Kent Desormeaux, Trainer Matt Chew)

#2 Morning Cynn (David C. Lopez, Manny Badilla)

#3 Desert Oasis (Ricky Gonzalez, Neil Drysdale)

#4 Ziarah (Frank Alvarado, Manny Badilla)

#5 Wicked Old Fashion (Catalino Martinez, Victor Trujillo)

#6 Blue Diva (Juan Hernandez, Isidro Tamayo)

#7 Boundforjamaica (William Antongeorgi III, Victor Trujillo)

#8 Sloane Garden (Kyle Frey, Manny Badilla)

ANNEAU D’OR DRAWS POST 4 IN RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY

Anneau D’Or drew post position 4 in the 2020 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby this Saturday at Santa Anita Park and will face six formidable rivals, including the Bob Baffert trained Authentic and talented Honor Code colt Honor A.P. Trainer Blaine Wright was in-route to Santa Anita Park and in good spirits when discussing Anneau D’Or’s Runhappy Santa Anita Derby chances on Wednesday afternoon.

“He’s training just fine,” said Blaine. “He shipped to Santa Anita on Monday and is resting happily in his stall there.”

The son of Medgalia D’Oro, purchased for $480,000 by owner Peter Redekop, finished second in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity last year and was considered a major player on the Triple Crown trail heading into 2020. However, his first two starts as a 3-year-old have been subpar.

After two off the board finishes in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, Wright says there are reasons to believe that Anneau D’Or can run an improved race in his third start of 2020.

“He likes the Santa Anita dirt,” said Wright. “He ran great over it in the Breeders Cup. We worked him once over the strip in April and he cruised over it.”

“He didn’t break quickly in Arkansas, either, and had to rush into contention early,” continued Wright. “Nobody was going to beat the winner, but Anneau D’Or flattened out a little bit late. I think it was partially because he had to be used up early on to get in a good spot.”

In the Santa Anita Derby, Anneau D’Or will be ridden for the first time by 3-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Victor Espinoza and is listed at 15-1 on the morning line. The Santa Anita Derby goes as Race 8 on a stakes-packed 11 race card at Santa Anita.

“It’s critical Anneau D’Or breaks [from the gate] well,” concluded Wright. “We’re going to give him more shot. If he breaks and gets a good trip, hopefully he puts up his best race.”

Also entered in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby is El Camino Real Stakes winner Azul Coast, who makes his first start since the aforementioned victory at Golden Gate. Trained by Bob Baffert, the son of Super Saver will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli for the first time.

“I hope he can get a piece of the action,” said Baffert to Horse Racing Nation’s Jonathan Litner.  “He’s a late running horse.”

FINISH LINES: El Camino Real Derby second place finisher American Farmer returned to the work tab on Saturday morning, working an easy half mile for trainer Steve Sherman…Over $93,000 was awarded to a sharp Golden Pick Six jackpot winner on Saturday afternoon. Just over $4,287 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot pool heading into Thursday’s card…The Stronach 5 wager is back in play this Friday, beginning with Laurel Park’s seventh race. The third race from Golden Gate is Leg D (the fourth leg) of the Stronach 5…Happy birthday to jockey Francisco Duran and trainer Steve Miyadi, both who turn one-year older this week.

Berkeley, Calif. (May 31, 2020)-On Memorial Day Monday, trainer Jonathan Wong and owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC collected a Grade I victory with Keeperof the Stars in the prestigious Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita Park. 6 days removed from the aforementioned Grade I score, Wong and Tommy Town struck again with Dynasty of Her Own in the feature race on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields, the $75,000 California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Dynasty of Her Own broke sharply from the gate before taking control of the race entering the clubhouse turn. After setting swift fractions of 22.93, 47.63 and 1:11.63, the daughter of Shanghai Bobby held off Southern California shipper Mind Out, hitting the wire a half-length in front of the aforementioned runner up finisher. Paige Anne, Reiwa, Molly O’ McEvoy and Eclair completed the order of finish. Dynasty of Her Own completed the mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta in 1:44.55 seconds and was ridden to victory by Ricky Gonzalez.

“[Dynasty of Her Own] is a fast filly,” said Gonzalez. “She was relaxed, even with the fast fractions we were setting. She has a high cruising speed. Turning for home I knew we were going to be tough to catch. I figured [Mind Out] would be closing, which she did, but I had plenty left in the tank with my filly. She galloped out great, too. I feel really lucky to be able to ride such a nice filly. Horses like her make my job easy.”

Dynasty of Her Own went off as the 9-5 post time favorite and paid $5.80 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show. With the California Oaks victory, Dynasty of Her Own improved her lifetime record to 4 wins and 1 third place finish from 5 starts. She has accumulated career earnings of $128,700. Dynasty of Her Own was bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kaster.
Live racing at Golden Gate Fields resumes on Thursday afternoon with a first post time of 12:45 PM. Golden Gate races Thursday through Sunday next week with two stakes on the docket: the Albany Stakes for turf sprinters on Saturday and the Golden Poppy Stakes for filly and mare grass routers on Sunday. For more information, visit goldengatefields.com.

-30-

Berkeley, Calif. (May 30, 2020)-The Steve Specht trained Tomlin blasted out of the inside post position, went right to the lead and never looked back to score a front running victory in Saturday afternoon’s feature race at Golden Gate Fields, the $75,000 Camilla Urso Stakes for filly and mare sprinters. Tomlin, setting the pace from the rail, clicked off rapid fractions of 20.72 and 44.24 seconds before completing the five-furlong turf dash in a sharp 56.10 seconds. She finished a length and a quarter ahead of runner up finisher Fantasy Heat and 25-1 longshot Mucho Amor, who checked in third. 2019 Bear Fan Stakes winner Princess Vivien completed the superfecta while Ima Happy Cat, Gotham Desire, Left Alone, Storming Lady, Coco Bee and Red Livy rounded out the list of finishers.

Ridden to victory by David C. Lopez, Tomlin picked up her second lifetime stakes victory on Saturday. Her lone previous stake triumph came in the 2018 Golden Gate Debutante Stakes as a 2-year-old. With Saturday’s turf win in the books, Tomlin improved her lifetime record to 5 wins, 1 second and 4 third place finishes from 15 starts with career earnings of $204,700. Tomlin, by Distorted Humor out of Grade 2 winning Speightstown mare Belle of Perintown, is a half sibling to Grade 3 turf winner Strike It Rich. Tomlin is currently owned by Fairview LLC., who purchased the bay filly as a yearling at Keeneland for $200,000.

“She broke really well for me,” said winning jockey Lopez. “I let her stride out and once she got in a good rhythm, I let her do her thing. When we turned for home I asked her to go and she responded. I was just a passenger. Nice fillies like her make us jockeys looks good. I picked up the mount this morning when Kyle Frey opted to stick with [#11 Mucho Amor], so I’m really thankful Steve [Specht] gave me the opportunity to ride this filly.”

Live racing resumes on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields with a scheduled first post of 12:45 PM. The feature race on Sunday is Race 7, the $75,000 California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

CAMILLA URSO STAKES ATTRACTS FULL FIELD

A full field of filly and mare sprinters contest five furlongs on the turf in this Saturday’s feature race: the $75,000 Camilla Urso Stakes. 10 is the magic number-that is, the maximum number of starters that are allowed to race five panels in any given Golden Gate Fields turf sprint. 14 total entrants slipped into the entry box for the 2020 Camilla Urso, which means four runners are on the outside looking in: Mucho Amor, Mother of Dragons, Dearborn and Bezzy. If there is a defection before scratch time at 10 AM on Saturday morning, then Mucho Amor will draw into the race. With two scratches, Mother of Dragons draws in…and so on.

The morning line favorite is 4-1 shot Storming Lady, a Southern California shipper from the Alfredo Marquez barn. The daughter of Flat Out was last seen winning a second level allowance race at Santa Anita while sprinting five and a half furlongs on their pristine grass course. Storming Lady will be ridden by Hall of Fame pilot Kent Desormeaux, who won last week’s All American Stakes aboard Restrainedvengence.

The other Southern California entrant, Fantasy Heat, makes her first start of the year for trainer Mark Glatt. In 2019, she won a pair of allowance races before finishing off-the-board in the $100,000 Unzip Me Stakes at Santa Anita in September. This is her first afternoon appearance since the aforementioned poor effort.

The majority of the field, not surprisingly of course, is comprised of locals. Ima Happy Cat ran second in this race last year behind graded stakes winner S Y Sky and looks for a victory in this year’s rendition. Trainer Dan Markle indicated that his 5-year-old grey mare by Smiling Tiger is entering the race in great shape.

“She’s doing as good as ever,” said Markle. “She ran a really good second to a really nice mare last year. We’re looking forward to getting her back on grass. [#8 Red Livy] has a lot of speed, so if we sit right off of her I’d be OK with it. But my mare is quick, too, so hopefully we get a good trip. It’s going to be a great finish, I’m sure.”

Bill McLean, who saddles Red Livy for her 2020 debut, noted that his mare, does indeed, have plenty of early gas. However, the level of competition she faces here is tougher than what she has ever seen.

“This is an awfully tough race,” said McLean. “Red Livy will be on the lead. She likes the turf, obviously, and loves the 5 furlong distance. The question is whether she’s good enough. She hasn’t run since December but she’ll be fit. She puts a lot into her gallops and has been working well.”

Trainer Blaine Wright has a duo of contenders in Coco Bee and Mucho Amor. As mentioned earlier, Mucho Amor is the first “also eligible” and will need a defection to draw into the main body of the field. Coco Bee, on the other hand, will break from post position two and makes her career debut on turf. Coco Bee also adds blinkers and tries stakes company for the first time.

Don’t count out Sergio Ledezma, who enters two runners in Saturday’s feature. Both are stakes caliber quality; 4-year-old filly Princess Vivian won the Bear Fan Stakes in December while 7-year-old mare Vronilla Parfait has hit the board twice in Northern California stakes races. Princess Vivian, 9-2 on the morning line, is the local with arguably the best recent form. On the contrary, Vronilla Parfait will go off at a big price, as projected from her 20-1 morning line odds.

Tomlin, a Grade 2 placed mare, makes her career debut on turf and draws the rail for trainer Steve Specht. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Distorted Humor wheels back quickly after an off-the-board finish in the Grade 3 Desert Stormer on dirt last month at Santa Anita. Gotham Desire, conditioned by Ed Moger Jr., has run once on turf, with that lone start resulting in a victory against allowance foes at the 5-furlong distance last year. Left Alone, campaigned by Manny Badilla, has won her last two races. In fact, she beat Ima Happy Cat and Coco Bee in a second level allowance on Tapeta just two months ago. She is 0 for 7 on grass, however, and clearly must show she can be as effective on turf as she is on synthetic.

The Camilla Urso goes as Race 8 on the 9-race Saturday card, with post time set at 4:23 p.m. PT.

$75,000 Camilla Urso Stakes
#1 Tomlin (6-1 morning line, Jockey Kyle Frey, Trainer Steve Specht)
#2 Coco Bee (6-1, Juan Hernandez, Blaine Wright)
#3 Ima Happy Cat (6-1, Ricky Gonzalez, Dan Markle)
#4 Left Alone (8-1, William Antongeorgi III, Manny Badilla)
#5 Princess Vivien (9-2, Catalino Martinez, Sergio Ledezma)
#6 Fantasy Heat (5-1, Frank Alvarado, Mark Glatt)
#7 Storming Lady (5-1, Kent Desoremaux, Alfredo Marquez)
#8 Red Livy (12-1, Alejandro Gomez, Bill McLean)
#9 Gotham Desire (12-1, Silvio Amador, Ed Moger Jr.)
#10 Vronilla Parfait (20-1, Francisco Monroy, Sergio Ledezma)
ALSO ELIGIBLES
#11 Mucho Amor (10-1, Kyle Frey, Blaine Wright)
#12 Mother of Dragons (6-1, Julien Couton, Andreas Psarras)
#13 Dearborn (15-1, Hugo Herrera, Jeff Bonde)
#14 Bezzy (20-1, Cristobal Herrera, Victor Trujillo)

CALIFORNIA OAKS DRAWS ENTRANTS FROM TOP OUTFITS

Eight races take place on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields, with the headliner spotted as Race 7: the $75,000 California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies routing one-mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta.

Among the 7 fillies entered is Eclair, winner of the Golden Gate Debutante on November 29. Trained by legendary Southern California conditioner Bob Baffert, the daughter of Bernardini has yet to run as a 3-year-old and makes her 2020 debut in this spot. Go-to Baffert jockey Drayden Van Dyke is assigned to ride Eclair and flies up north from his base in Arcadia, California for the call.

Also from the southern part of the Golden State, trainer Simon Callaghan ships a pair for the ‘Oaks. Paige Anne, who last ran fourth in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita, already has experience competing over the Golden Gate Tapeta. In January, she won an allowance race by a half dozen lengths and defeated two rivals (Reiwa and Mollie O’ McEvoy) who also enter into this race. Juan Hernandez was aboard for the runaway score that day. Coincidentally, Hernandez lands on the other Callaghan entrant, Mind Out, an $850,000 sale purchase by Tapit. After breaking her maiden and finishing second in the Surfer Girl Stakes over the summertime, she returned from a layoff to finish as the runner up behind stablemate Parkour in an allowance turf route at Santa Anita on March 22. Parkour is listed as a main contender in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita this Saturday. Mind Out makes her second start off a layoff in the California Oaks.

Leading Golden Gate trainer Jonathan Wong saddles a duo of contenders in Reiwa and Dynasty of Her Own. Reiwa has hit the board in her last three races, each time finishing behind rivals who enter back in this spot. Dynasty of Her Own is already a stakes winner, having won the Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park as a 2-year-old. Most recently, Dynasty of Her Own won an allowance race over Reiwa on March 29.

“I’ve always really liked Dynasty of Her Own,” said Wong. “Right now, she is training really well. She has been on the lead in her last couple of starts routing but if someone decides to go too quick, I have confidence she can sit off with [jockey] Ricky [Gonzalez]. Reiwa…she’ll be sitting off and making one run. We’re hoping for a good pace for her to run at, and hopefully from there she can pick up the pieces.”

Trainer Bill Delia will tighten the girth of improving 3-year-old filly Mollie O’ McEvoy. The daughter of razor sharp California stallion Clubhouse Ride won an allowance race over the Golden Gate Tapeta on March 8 and makes her stakes debut in the California Oaks.

“I’ve always thought she would be better with distance and better with time,” said Delia. “She’s improved with racing experience and she likes routing. She posted a beautiful workout the other morning. I really liked the way she went.”

Fashion Royalty, trained by Paddy Gallagher, rounds out the field. The California Oaks will go off at approximately 3:45 PM PT and goes as the penultimate race on the Sunday program.

$75,000 California Oaks

#1 Reiwa (Jockey William Antongeorgi III, trainer Jonathan Wong)
#2 Dynasty Of Her Own (Ricky Gonzalez, Jonathan Wong)
#3 Paige Anne (Catalino Martinez, Simon Callaghan)
#4 Fashion Royalty (Julien Couton, Paddy Gallagher)
#5 Mollie O’ McEvoy (Kyle Frey, Bill Delia)
#6 Mind Out (Juan Hernandez, Simon Callaghan)
#7 Eclair (Drayden Van Dyke, Bob Baffert)

FINISH LINES: Last Saturday, Lifeline won the fourth race for trainer Andy Mathis and owners Hronis Racing LLC. Lifeline possesses royal pedigree: he is by leading North American stallion Tapit and out of the 2009 Breeders Cup Ladies Classic/Distaff winner Life Is Sweet…Sacred Rider won last Sunday’s second race, an allowance optional claimer for 3-year-old turf routers, in impressive fashion. With that, trainer Steve Specht opts to wheel his stakes placed 3-year-old back in just six days for a separate allowance event on grass this Saturday. The son of stakes winner Lady Railrider is 9-5 on the morning line…The first “baby races” of the year took place last weekend. On Saturday, 2-year-old filly Gardee’s World pulled off a 20-1 upset for trainer Mike Lenzini and jockey David C. Lopez. One day later, Tom’s Song won a 4-and a half furlong dash for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Frank Alvarado was aboard for Steve Specht……Restrainedvengence earned a 103 Beyer speed figure for his victory in the one-mile, $100,000 All American Stakes on Memorial Day. Kent Desormeaux rode for trainer Val Brinkerhoff…$65,023 has been carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Friday‘s card.