DADDYSPRIZE RETURNS TO THE RACES IN TOP FORM 

Since Day one, trainer Tim McCanna has thought highly of Daddysprize, a ridgling by Scat Daddy out of the stakes-winning mare YoutheprizeandI. In the middle of 2018, he broke his maiden at first asking before winning a pair of allowance races, signifying right away that McCanna’s early evaluation of his talented sprinter was correct. Daddysprize made his stakes debut in the 2018 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar in July and ran a better than looked second that day, finishing a half-length behind even-money favorite Take the One O One after dueling on the lead and setting fast fractions.

“With a little bit of a better set up, he might have won,” said McCanna. “He ran a winning race.”

After the Real Good Deal, Daddysprize suffered a setback and was sent to a farm for recovery. He returned in a March 22, 2019 allowance race at Golden Gate, finished at the back of the field, and was given over a year off after another issue arose.

Making his 2020 debut in a second-level allowance sprint last Sunday, Daddysprize stalked the pace before taking the lead in upper stretch and holding off Southern California invaders Oiseau de Guerre and Brandothebartender. Under jockey Kent Desormeaux, Daddysprize won the six-furlong contest by three-quarters of a length and earned an 84 Beyer speed figure for his effort.

“He ran great,” said McCanna. “He was training really well, but you never really know how they are going to perform coming off such a long layoff. We’ve always known he was a really nice horse and he showed it against a good field on Saturday.”

“I think we’ll keep him at one turn,” continued McCanna. “Maybe we’ll shoot for some California-bred stakes races, but we’ll take it one race at a time.”

BADILLA OFF TO A GOOD START AFTER GOLDEN GATE’S “REOPENING”

We’ll cut right to the chase: trainer Manny Badilla had his entrants ready to roll last week. From eight starters, the longtime Bay Area horseman won four races with two additional seconds, one third and a fourth-place finish.

On Thursday, Badilla scored with maiden claimers Takes a Village and Please Zip It. Both fillies went off favored in their respective races. Two days later, Irish-bred Promote easily won a starter allowance race against fellow female sprinters.

Sunday was the busiest afternoon for Badilla, who saddled five runners on the ten-race card. He kicked off his day in a high-level claimer with hard knocker Qafilah, who ran second, and first-time North American starter Never Be Enough, who checked in third. Another Badilla first-out North American important, Fuente, finished fourth in an allowance race to end the Sunday program.

The highlight of the week for Manny may have come in Race 5 on Sunday when his duo of entrants, five-year-old mare Ziarah and four-year-old filly Morning Cynn, finished first and second in the filly and mare second-level allowance route affair. Ziarah won her third race in a row while Morning Cynn put up a very respectable effort racing two turns for the first time.

“Ziarah is a monster,” said Badilla. “The more she wins, the more competitive she gets.”

Ziarah is likely to compete next in the Golden Poppy Stakes on June 7, which will be run at a mile and one-sixteenth on turf. Morning Cynn will also be nominated to the Golden Poppy, but where she lands next is yet to be determined.

“Morning Cynn…she’s a runner,” said Badilla. “I’m really proud of her. The owner wanted to see if she could route and I thought it was a good time to try it. [Jockey] Juan [Hernandez] has gotten her to stalk the pace in sprint races and said that he thinks she can rate her in a route, too.”

This week, Badilla has three noteworthy entrants, all of whom are barn favorites: 9-year-old Gratzie, 10-year-old On the Key, and 8-year-old My Friend George.

“All three of them are hard-knockers,” said Badilla. “I love ’em. They enjoy running and they go out and try to win every race. They’re all happy and doing well.”

WONG AND TOMMY TOWN THOROUGHBREDS EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE   

With a barn full of horses at Golden Gate Fields, a string of trainees at Santa Anita Park, and equines both young and seasoned on multiple farms, trainer Jonathan Wong has a lot to look after.

Not surprisingly, the leading trainer at Golden Gate Fields was extremely active in the entry box last week. Five of his 20 Golden Gate starters picked up victories, including a trio of maiden special weight winners that Wong is eager to develop. All three maiden graduates are owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds.

Kicking off the list of maiden victors is 3-year-old filly Don’t Unzip Me, the winner of a one-mile turf route last Friday. Purchased for $130,000 as a yearling, she is sired by fledgling stallion Honor Code and out of the 9-time stakes-winning turf sprinter Unzip Me.

“She has always shown us in the mornings that she wants to route,” said Wong. “It took her a little time to figure things out, but the light bulb is turning on now. Heading into her race on Friday, she was training really well-as well as she ever had. She’s getting the hang of things.”

One day later, 3-year-old filly Praise and Honor won a five-and-a-half-furlong sprint on Tapeta against eight other rivals. Praise and Honor was purchased for $330,000 as a yearling and is another that possesses attractive pedigree, by Honor Code out of the stakes-winning Speightown mare Going to Kukaro. Wong was “very impressed” with Praise and Honor’s effort.

“She won by a nose and really got going late in the race,” said Wong. “She was fourth at the sixteenth pole, flew in the final yards and galloped out really well. I thought she could win the race on talent but there were some other trainers that were high on their fillies in the race, too, and I knew my filly wanted a little more ground. I was excited to see her run the way she did.”

Wong indicated that he plans on nominating Don’t Unzip Me and Praise and Honor to the $75,000 California Oaks, a May 31 stake for 3-year-old fillies to be contested at one-mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta. That said, Wong and Tommy Town already have a strong probable for the ‘Oaks in Dynasty of Her Own, a March 29 allowance winner currently in training at Santa Anita.

The third maiden special weight victory of the week came on Sunday with the Tommy Town homebred I am Allthatyouare, a 4-year-old son of Tale of the Cat out of the versatile stakes-winning mare U R All That I Am. He won Race 6 on Sunday, a five-furlong Tapeta sprint, and had plenty left in the tank as he hit the wire four lengths ahead of the second-place finisher.

“He’s a really nice horse,” said Wong. “The race was taken off the turf, but I didn’t mind. He was training really well heading into the race and we were just happy to run him.”

In other news, Wong noted that he is excited to debut another Tommy Town Thoroughbreds racer, 3-year-old colt Let’s Rejoyce, in a California-bred maiden special weight this Sunday. This Monday, Wong sends out Grade 2 winner Keeper Ofthe Stars in the Grade 1, $300,000 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Abel Cedillo is slated to ride for Wong and Tommy Town.

A number of Tommy Town Thoroughbreds 2-year-olds are either with Wong at Golden Gate Fields or prepping at local farms to be shipped to the Bayside racetrack in the coming weeks. Out of the large crop of their 2-year-olds, one to keep an eye on is the Honor Code colt Honorable One, a $600,000 sale purchase and a half-sibling to Grade I winner It Tiz Well.

“I’m really, really grateful for the opportunity to train so many nice horses,” concluded Wong. “It keeps me busy, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

ALL AMERICAN STAKES THE HIGHLIGHT ON MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY

This Monday, Golden Gate Fields offers a special holiday/Memorial Day program. First post is 12:45 PM.

The feature race on the Memorial Day Monday card features some of the best older horses on the grounds: the one mile and a sixteenth, $100,000 All American Stakes for three-year-olds and upward. Among the leading probable’s include the Michael McCarthy trained pair of Cono and Ohio. Victor Trujillo’s Kiwi’s Dream, and Grade 2 placed Camino Del Paraiso for trainer O.J  Jauregui. Entries for the 2020 All American Stakes will be drawn on Friday, along with the rest of the Monday program.

FINISH LINES: Juan Hernandez picked up right where he left off-winning races-and holds a massive lead in the jockey standings with four more weeks left to go at the current meeting. Trainer Jonathan Wong paves the way in the trainer standings….Jockey Kyle Frey has rejoined the riding colony after a stint at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania. Frey is represented by agent Fernando “Shoes” Navarro. “Kyle will be working a lot of horses this week and hopefully the business in the mornings will transfer to live business in the afternoons,” said Navarro…Bettor Trip Nick (trained by Bill Delia) and Tomlin (Steve Specht) finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in two separate stakes last weekend at Santa Anita Park…The first 2-year-old race of the season goes as Saturday’s fourth race for 2-year-old fillies. Miss Ever Ready (trained by Brendan Galvin) and I’m So Anna (Steve Sherman) are two fillies who sport solid workouts leading up to their career debuts and are likely to go off as the top two betting choices…The Golden Pick Six pool saw a mandatory payout last Thursday afternoon. Heading into this Thursday’s card, Golden Gate Fields has a Golden Pick six jackpot carryover of $24,243. The sequence goes as Races 2-7…Also in Thursday’s second race, there is a Super High Five carryover of $2,867.

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS WILL TEMPORARILY CLOSE FOR LIVE RACING EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

BERKELEY, CA. (April 2, 2020)–In accordance with instructions received this morning from the Alameda County Public Health Officer, Golden Gate Fields will temporarily close for live racing effective immediately in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Golden Gate Fields is abiding by the instructions issued two weeks ago by the California Horse Racing Board to operate under the sanction of the local health authorities.

At Golden Gate Fields, the health, safety and welfare of every person and every horse in our community is our top priority.  At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Golden Gate Fields.  This measure is being taken in response to a mandate from Alameda County officials.

At Golden Gate Fields, there are over 1,200 horses stabled who require daily care. That care is provided by the 400 backstretch team members, most who live on-site and have been operating under stringent new measures for protection aligned with the best guidance from local and international health and government authorities on COVID-19. The track has been closed to the general public and to closed all but essential personnel since March 12, 2020.

We will continue to work with authorities to familiarize them with the protocols which have been put in place to protect the health and safety of those who work with the horses and the horses themselves.

We look forward to the return of live racing at Golden Gate as soon as approval is received from local regulators.

 

FORT MCHENRY MAKES GOLDEN GATE DEBUT THIS THURSDAY

Horse racing fans around the globe will be hard-pressed to find another horse running on Thursday that is as royally bred as Fort McHenry.

Fort McHenry, by top North American stallion Tapit, is out of the broodmare Love the Chase, who produced 2-time Horse of the Year California Chrome. Fort McHenry was purchased as a yearling for $1,100,000 and broke his maiden in lifetime start number two while racing under the care of leading East Coast conditioner Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park. After multiple disappointing efforts on the East Coast, Fort McHenry was privately purchased by Purple Rein Racing and sent to the barn of current trainer Doug O’Neill, who resides in Southern California.

In his first start for Team O’Neill, Fort McHenry lost by a large margin-29 length to be exact-in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita earlier this month. He gets significant class relief in the Golden Gate featured sixth race, a starter allowance event, and is listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Formidable synthetic local colts and geldings look to put a stern test to the well-bred Fort McHenry. Among the main contenders: starter allowance winners Bottle of Smoke (trained by O.J. Jauregui) and Megameister (Jonathan Wong), and Mahi Mahi, making his first start off the claim for trainer Isidro Tamayo.

Post time on a 7-race card this Thursday is 12:45 PM PT. The 2^nd race on Thursday begins the 20-cent Golden Pick Six jackpot wager, which features a jackpot carryover of $315,457.

BULLETPROOF ONE WHEELS BACK QUICKLY IN SEARCH OF A SECOND BAY AREA ALLOWANCE TRIUMPH

 The last race on Golden Gate Fields’ 8-race program this Friday is also the feature race on the program: an allowance optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies sprinting five and one-half furlongs on the Tapeta.

Bulletproof One was an easy winner at this condition on March 5, defeating five other runners by 5 lengths while earning an 86 Beyer speed figure in the process. Although she faces 8 rivals this time around, she doesn’t necessarily face a tougher field. Morning line oddsmaker Steve Martinelli reflected how strongly she is likely to be supported in the wagering, setting the California-bred daughter of Idiot Proof at even money.

Bulletproof One sports an impressive resume; after a pair of runaway wins to kick off her career in Northern California for trainer Ellen Jackson, she was privately purchased by owners Gary and Cecil Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Wachtel Stable, and immediately moved to the Southern California string of Peter Miller.

As a 2-year-old for Miller, Bulletproof One was victorious in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar. After a runaway win in the CTBA, she finished as the runner up in the Speakeasy Stakes on turf against males and the California Cup Oaks routing on grass. After a fourth-place finish against boys in the Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita, she was shipped to Golden Gate for a “confidence booster” in her most recent afternoon appearance (as mentioned in paragraph two.) Ricky Gonzalez was aboard for her last win and retains the mount on Friday.

The second-morning line favorite in Friday’s nightcap, 7-2 shot Cakewalk, makes her 3-year-old debut for trainer Blaine Wright and is worthy of a second look. A $110,000 sale purchase as a youngster, the daughter of Majesticperfection finished second behind eventual stake winner Been Studying Her in a maiden race at Pleasanton before returning to break her maiden in an Emerald Downs stakes race: the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes. Cakewalk posts a series of sharp drills leading up to her return to the races, with leading jockey Juan Hernandez set to ride for Wright.

Post time on Friday is 1:15 PM PT.

FINISH LINES: Juan Hernandez and Jonathan Wong continue to lead in the jockey and trainer standings, respectively…Happy birthday to trainers Leobardo Rivera and Genaro Vallejo, both who celebrate birthdays within the next seven days…Also, happy belated birthday to jockeys William Antongeorgi III, Franklin Ceballos, and Juan Hernandez.

SANTA ANITA AND GOLDEN GATE FIELDS TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19; 

RACES TO CONTINUE WITH LICENSED PERSONNEL

BERKELEY, CA – With the utmost regard for the safety and well-being of our customers and employees and in following the best available guidance from local and international health authorities, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields will temporarily close to the public effective immediately.

Both tracks will continue live racing as scheduled with personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board in attendance which will provide our fans at home with the opportunity to stay connected to the action via our 1/ST BET and Xpressbet apps.

We will continue to monitor the situation and will look forward to welcoming our fans and guests back again soon.

BULLETPROOF ONE RETURNS IN THURSDAY FEATURE

Multiple stakes winner Bulletproof One is back in the Bay Area and faces 3-year-old male counterparts in the feature race on Thursday afternoon, a 5-and-a-half-furlong allowance sprint on Tapeta.

Bulletproof One was the first 2-year-old winner at Golden Gate Fields in 2019. Off at odds of 3-5, the California-bred daughter of Idiot Proof went to the lead and never looked back, winning the 4-and-a-half-furlong contest by eight convincing lengths for trainer Ellen Jackson. She repeated against males in the Everett Nevin Stakes on dirt in lifetime start number two, scoring by 9 lengths while finishing ahead as a gate to wire winner. After the two breathtaking victories, she was privately purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, and Cecil Barber and moved to the barn of Southern California conditioner Peter Miller.

For the Miller stable, she was victorious in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar by open lengths in lifetime start number, tallying her third career win from three starts. Since then, however, she has lost five straight races, including last time out when favored in the $75,000 Baffle Stakes on turf at Santa Anita. She takes a drop-down in class and is likely to go off favored again on Thursday.

Five locals sign up to compete against Bulletproof One. Three of those horses (Foreign Protocol, Little Cents and Smileforme) have already won at this allowance condition while Admirably has hit the board twice at this level. Jive Talkin, a recent victor against maiden special weight company, breaks from the rail post position and faces winners for the first time.

First post time on the 7-race card is 12:45 PM. This featured allowance for 3-year-olds goes as Race 6.

ARCH PRINCE LOOKS LIKE THE ONE TO BEAT IN MARQUEE RACE ON FRIDAY

To date, old pro Arch Prince has thoroughly enjoyed 2020. From 3 lifetime starts so far this year, the Sammy Calvario trained 6-year-old gelding has won 2 races-both at the second level allowance condition-with his lone loss resulting in a fourth-place finish behind next out Grade 2 placed racer Camino Del Paraiso. This Friday, Arch Prince goes for his third victory in a row in the fourth race, a second-level allowance for older colts and geldings routing one mile and a sixteenth.

One interesting contender to challenge Arch Prince comes in the form of Kiwi’s Dream, a Victor Trujillo trainee who wheels back in just two weeks after a four-place finish sprinting at Santa Anita. That afternoon, he ran against a salty group of allowance foes. He makes his career debut going two turns in this spot and gets the services of leading Golden Gate jockey Juan Hernandez.

Mithqaal makes his second start off a seven-and-a-half-month layoff for leading trainer Jonathan Wong after a fifth-place finish to kick off his 2020. The son of Speightstown finished three lengths behind Arch Prince in his last afternoon appearance and will need to run faster to make an impact on the likely favorite late. That said, the Wong Stable has been on fire as of late and is not to be dismissed in any race these days.

Cupid’s Claws and More Power to Him, both who have settled for minor awards behind Arch Prince in their last two starts, rounds out the quintet.

In other Friday news, the fifth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies, attracts the likes of Southern California maiden special weight winner She’s So Special and romping two-back allowance winner I’m A Rockette. Both figures to get the most play in the six-furlong affair and goes as the first leg of the Late Pick 4.

EL CAMINO REAL DERBY PARTICIPANTS BACK AT IT ON SATURDAY

10 races kick off at 12:45 PM on Saturday afternoon, with the co-feature going as Race 8: a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds traveling one-mile. Ajourneytofreedom, Final Final, Mysterious Stones, and Wine and Whisky, all participants in last month’s El Camino Real Derby, throw their hat in the ring and face new a quarter of new shooters to the route condition: Awesome Summer, Cajun Bettor, Call Me Peppy and Prince de Prince.

Wine and Whisky finished fourth in the El Camino Real Derby and has run two bang-up races since removing blinkers for trainer Felix Rondan. Ajourneytofreedom, the half-sibling to 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate, suffered traffic issues in the 2020 edition of the El Camino Real’ and could run a winning race with a better trip this time. Mysterious Stones performed poorly in the El Camino Real Derby but beat Ajourneytofreedom two races ago at this condition. Final Final, in the meantime, has finished well behind in his last two starts and will need to improve to pick up the top prize on Saturday.

Awesome Summer may be the colt with the most appeal who enters the race as a new participant to the first level allowance route level for 3-year-olds. The son of Vronsky has always been well regarded and was a super impressive one-mile maiden special weight winner on March 7. The Bob Hess Sr. trainee has worked once since the maiden breaker and retains the services of Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Another race that catches the eye on Saturday is Race 10, the second leg of the Golden Hour Double. In the full field of 10, Southern California shippers Liberal and Cono travel North for trainers Paddy Gallagher and Michael McCarthy and will likely get bet. Although the former has not raced since a visually impressive maiden win over this track in May, he is a first-time gelding from an outfit that succeeds when shipping runners to Golden Gate. The latter, a recent runner up finished behind sharpie Ernie Banks, won at this level over this track three races ago.

A number of local entrants hold home-field advantage in Race 10. One interesting entry is 2019 Alcatraz Stakes winner Tortosa, in for a $25,000 tag for trainer Jose Bautista. The son of Cape Blanco has not been seen since a fourth-place finish at the second-level allowance condition in November.

CLAIMS

The following is a list of claims for last week:

Thursday

Race 4: Arno’s Mane Man (trainer Blaine Wright, owners Blaine Wright Racing Stable LLC & August Serena)

Race 5: Papaya (trainer Ed Moger Jr., owner Steve Moger)

Race 7: Tim’s Buddy (trainer Marcia Stortz, owner Gustavo Adolfo Tirado)

Friday

Race 7: Mahi Mahi (trainer Isidro Tamayo, owner Jessica Reyes)

Saturday

Race 8: Indian Zip (trainer Sammy Calvario, owner Mary Tucker)

Sunday

Race 2: Regal Lady (new trainer Jacqui Navarre, new owner Scott Herbertson) 

FINISH LINES: PLEASE NOTE: POST TIME FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON IS 1:15 PM…First-out Golden Gate Fields maiden special weight winner Sherilinda has moved to the barn of George Papaprodromou and will race in Saturday’s China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita routing two turns on the turf. Previously, Sherilinda was conditioned by Quinn Howey…2019 San Francisco Mile runner up River Boyne, 2019 California Derby winner Kingly and Berkeley Handicap second-place finisher Ohio all compete in Saturday’s Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on Saturday…2019 Lost in the Fog Stakes winner Anyportinastorm returned to the work tab on March 1, drilling 3 furlongs in 37.40 seconds for trainer Blaine Wright…$172,859 has been carried over into Thursday’s Golden Pick Six Jackpot wager. We also have a Super High Five carryover on Thursday of $9,570…Leg D of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday…The Golden Hour Double, a Daily Double wager combining Santa Anita’s last race with the Golden Gate nightcap, was a smashing success, seeing six-figure pools in both days’ wager. The Golden Hour Double, a $5 minimum bet and a 15% takeout wager, returns this Friday-Sunday…Happy birthday to jockey Juan Hernandez, trainer Frank Lucarelli, GGF TV producer Frank Matthews, and GGF Marketing Manager Ryan Hilton, all who celebrate birthdays within the next seven days.

BROODMARE LADY KATFISH ON A ROLL WITH HER OFFSPRING AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS

Trainer Sherrie Monroe and owner/breeder Deron Pearson (DP Racing) have won with two maidens this month, both being first-time starters out of the Exchange Rate mare Lady Katfish. Lady Katfish won two races sprinting at Santa Anita in 2013 and, evidently, has passed her one-turn genetics to her foals.

On February 7, three-year-old Ecologist went off at 43-1, the longest shot in the field of seven. After breaking a step slowly, the chestnut gelding sat at the back of the pack before producing a strong rally in the final furlong, passing all six rivals in the final stages of the race. He finished a length and a half clear of the second-place finisher and galloped out with an abundance of energy.

Last Saturday afternoon, four-year-old filly Lady of Perception kicked off her racing career with a length and a quarter victory against maiden 25k claimers. Like little brother Ecologist, Lady of Perception sat towards the rear of the field before displaying a sharp turn of foot down the stretch. Bet down from a 12-1 morning line to her 9-2 post-time odds, Lady of Perception did not disappoint her backers.

“I knew both horses could run a little bit,” said Monroe. “The barn-all my help-was so excited when they won. It’s really rewarding to work hard every morning and see [the horses] perform so well in the afternoon. I was thrilled for the horses, Deron [Pearson] and my team back at the barn.”

So what’s next?

“At the moment, I’m leaning towards running them both in a starter allowance,” said Monroe. “I think they’ll be able to run effectively at longer distances, too. Ecologist galloped out great. The jockey had a hard time pulling him up after the race. He was just getting started. Lady of Perception finished up her race with plenty of energy and also galloped out nicely.”

Ecologist is by California stallion Tom’s Tribute, a Grade I winner who raced primarily on the turf. Tom’s Tribute won the Grade I Eddie Read at Del Mar in 2014 and, one race later, tallied another first-place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile. Lady of Perception is also by a California stallion, Richard’s Kid, who amassed over $2.4 million throughout his 46-race career. Richard’s Kid is one of three racehorses who have won Del Mar’s Grade I Pacific Classic two years in a row, scoring victories at the seaside racetrack’s most prestigious event in 2009 and 2010.

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS TRACK RECORD HOLDER KEEPER OFTHE STARS NOW A GRADE 2 WINNER

Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ Keeper Ofthe Stars picked up her first career Grade 2 victory with a 36-1 upset in the Grade 2, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes on turf at Santa Anita last Saturday. Trained by Jonathan Wong, the recently turned 4-year-old filly stalked the pace before pouncing on early leader and 3-5 favorite Jolie Olympica late to take the one-mile race by a half-length. Abel Cedillo was aboard for the ride.

“I loved how she was doing coming into the race,” said Wong. “I thought [Jolie Olympica] would be tough to beat, but I also felt our filly had a big chance to at least hit the board. She’s had a couple of rough trips in her last couple of races and she hasn’t really been able to put her best foot forward. This time, she got a great trip and ran her best race yet. It was really exciting.”

Keeper Ofthe Stars sports an impressive resume. Her lifetime record reads 6 wins, 1 second and 3 thirds from 14-lifetime starts, with career earnings of $321,931. She broke the mile and one-sixteenth turf track record at Golden Gate last summer, stopping the clock in 1:40.55 seconds. That day, she raced against older fillies and mares as a 3-year-old, which made her effort even more impressive. Later in the season, Keeper Ofthe Stars won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita and completed the superfecta in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks. Her pedigree is attractive: by Kentucky stallion Midnight Lute, Keeper Ofthe Stars is out of the Run Away and Hide mare Sociable, who is a half-sibling to Grade I winner and Lanes End stallion The Factor. She was purchased for $180,000 as a yearling.

With her pedigree and race record in mind, she is projected to be worth a lot more than $180,000 now.

“She’s one of the best fillies I’ve ever trained,” said Wong. “We’re pointing her to the Grade 2 Royal Heroine (one mile on turf) on Saturday, April 4 (Santa Anita Derby Day).”

In other news, Wong noted that undefeated 3-year-old filly Tiz Fake News could show up next in the March 8, Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita or the March 14 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park. Also, Wong’s The Adrie Factor, a 2-time stake winner at Turf Paradise, will “freshen up” and is possible for the $75,000 California Oaks on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 26 at Golden Gate.

MISS AMERICA STAKES WINNER BLUE DIVA RETURNS IN FRIDAY FEATURE

Miss America Stakes winner Blue Diva is back to play at Golden Gate Fields in the Friday feature: a mile and one-sixteenth allowance on Tapeta for fillies and mares four-years-old and upward. The event is slotted as Race 4, the first leg of the Late Pick 4.

Without question, Blue Diva is the headliner. The last time we watched her race on the Tapeta, she won the Miss America Stakes under jockey Juan Hernandez, who retains the mount on Friday. That afternoon, Blue Diva beat Qafilah and Renny’s Lady, both trained by Manny Badilla who also entered in Friday’s fourth race. Blue Diva, last seen running fourth in the Grade 3 Astra Stakes on the grass at Santa Anita, makes her first start under the care of new trainer Jacqui Navarre.

“[Blue Diva] is doing really well,” said Navarre. “She’s been working super for this race. I think she’s pretty versatile; in the mornings she works like a rocket but in the afternoon she will relax and the jockey can pretty much put her anywhere based on how the race unfolds. Hopefully, she gets a good trip.”

Also entered in Friday’s fourth race is Vronilla Parfait, who attempts routing at the ripe age of seven. She is a multiple stakes placed sprinter, having run second in the 2018 Bear Fan Stakes.

“[Vronilla Parfait] is coming into the race great,” said her trainer, Sergio Ledezma. “A while ago, we tried routing her once on the grass. She ran okay, but I think she is better on Tapeta. We’re excited to see how she does going two turns over a surface we know she really likes.”

2019 Southern California stakes winner Wicked Old Fashion rounds out the field. She defeated a number of classy turf routers on November 8 in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar but, since then, has regressed and finished off the board in three straight races. Victor Trujillo trains for owners Frank Aufdermaur and Wayne Swisher, who claimed Wicked Old Fashion for $14,000 in 2018 and have won 6 races and over $100,000 with their current stable star.

CLAIMS

The claims list from this past week is as follows:

Friday

Race 3: King Eddie (new trainer Bill McLean, new owners Carpenter & McLean)

Mirror Image (Tim McCanna, Pat LePlay)

Race 4: I Declare War (Jonathan Wong, Nentwig, Madden Racing & MJVET Stables)

Race 7: Far West (Isidro Tamayo, Leon Scott)

Hot’n Notty (Jonathan Wong, Battle Born Racing)

Race 8: Magic Rate (Samuel Calvario, Johnny Taboada)

Saturday

Race 1: Perfect Sale (Jack Steiner, Remmah Racing Inc.)

Sunday
Race 1: Cash for Cass (Jacqui Navarre, Aaron Pewtherer)

Nonna Gianna (O.J. Jauregui, Adrian Gonzalez)

Race 3: Going to Shabooms (Isidro Tamayo, Michael Demoulin)

Race 8: Heatseeker Baby (Andy Mathis, Branch & Porreca)

FINISH LINES: In the second race last Friday, six runners hit the wire in post-position order. #1 Moon Rocket finished first, #2 My Idol ran second, #3 Waverly Way checked in third, etc…In the Island Fashion Stakes at Sunland Park on Sunday, Golden Gate shippers swept the trifecta. Shanghai Keely, making her first start off the claim for owners Stable H.M.A., won the $75,000 dirt mile event by three-parts of a length. Brave Cinderella, also racing in the Stable H.M.A silks for the first time, finished second. Both fillies are now trained by leading New Mexico conditioner Justin Evans. Dynasty of Her Own, sent off as the 4-5 favorite for Jonathan Wong, set a grueling pace while dueling on the lead before tiring to third…Congratulations to trainer Frank Lucarelli, who was awarded the “How We Roll Special Achievement Award” in Washington State. Last year, Lucarelli broke the record for most wins by a trainer in a single season at Emerald Downs…On Monday evening, trainer Bill Delia was honored at a special banquet dinner for winning the CTBA Trainer of the Year award. Among those in attendance: GGF Vice President and General Manager David Duggan and Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Patrick Mackey…The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover continues to climb, reaching $139,160 after Sunday’s race card…Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday. ***PLEASE NOTE: This week, the Stronach 5 pool has a carryover of $167,951***…Happy birthday to trainer Sammy Calvario and apprentice jockey Juan Espinoza, both celebrating their birthdays within the next seven days.

AZUL COAST REIGNS SUPREME IN EL CAMINO REAL DERBY

The Bob Baffert trained Azul Coast boasted his superiority in Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, stalking the pace before turning away a pair of Northern California entrees to win the 39^th running of one of Northern California’s most prestigious horse races.

Sent off at favored odds of 7-5, Azul Coast sat fourth in the early stages. Under the guidance of winning jockey Rafael Bejarano, the son of Super Saver peeled three-wide for the stretch, turned away eventual third-place finisher Indian Peak and disposed of another rival, second-place finisher American Farmer, in a driving finish.

“I figured he would get a good trip,” said Bejarano, who is based in Southern California year-round. “He was going well the entire time under me and he showed me a real nice kick when [second place finisher American Farmer] tried to come get us at the sixteenth pole.”

Bob Baffert was certainly pleased with the effort.

“[Azul Coast] handled the Tapeta well,” said Baffert immediately following the race. “The Sunland Derby is a possibility. I don’t know yet, though. There are so many options and [all of the stakes quality 3-year-olds] will be nominated everywhere.”

Local contenders American Farmer and Indian Peak put up good showings, finishing second and third respectively, and are expected to stay local for the time being. If all goes to plan, they may show up in the California Derby or Silky Sullivan Stakes on Gold Rush Weekend.

CALIFORNIA-BRED COLT AWESOME SUMMER IMPRESSES IN MAIDEN WIN

Three-year-old colt Awesome Summer was well-meant heading into his career debut on December 29. Sent off as the 9-5 favorite for veteran horseman Bob Hess Sr., the son of Vronsky sat off the pace, charged late at the eventual winner but missed by a head while settling for a runner up placing.

The aforementioned run was a good starting point. In his second lifetime start last Sunday, Awesome Summer stalked the pace before dashing clear in the final furlong, hitting the wire five lengths ahead and galloping out with plenty left in the tank. The one-mile effort left plenty to be desired.

“We always knew he was a talented horse,” said Hess Sr. “He can run all day. In both of his races, he shot out of the gate and relaxed nicely. He’s so easy to ride and control. He breaks, settles into a nice stride and when [the jockey] smooches at him he goes, ‘Alright, let’s roll.’ He’s a very nice colt.”

Hess mentioned two potential long-range goals, both on Gold Rush Weekend: the $100,000 California Derby on April 25 or the Silky Sullivan Stakes for California-bred three-year-olds over turf on April 26.

“The races are one day apart,” said Hess. “If we get to that weekend, we’ll pick out a spot and go for it.”

With a chuckle and a wink, Hess then quipped, “Back in the day, some people were willing to run their horses 24 hours apart. I haven’t done that lately.”

Awesome Summer is out of the Siberian Summer mare Summer Swimmer, who never raced. She has produced two other babies. Her 2014 foal, Summersimage, won the 2019 Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton and sports seven career victories. Oh Jerry, born in 2015, is a two-time sprint winner.

Hess Sr. also noted that impressive February 9 maiden winner Resilient was privately purchased earlier this week by owner Jay Em Ess Racing (Samantha Siegel). Resilient, a California-bred son of Curlin to Mischief, moves to the barn of conditioner Brian Koriner at Santa Anita.

ANNEAU D’OR IN GOOD HEALTH AFTER RISEN STAR STAKES  

The talented Anneau D’Or failed to fire in last Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds, drafting behind the leaders for the first three-quarters of the contest before giving way down the stretch. Off at odds of even money, the son of Medaglia D’Oro beat just two horses home in the field of 11.

For trainer Blaine Wright, owner Peter Redekop and fans of the Bay Area Triple Crown nominated colt, it was a disappointing and puzzling performance. He had never run poorly in his life…what happened?

Days removed from the race, Wright indicated Anneau D’Or was doing well, with no apparent excuses.

“I kind of wish I could give [everyone] an excuse as to why he ran the way he did, but he came out of the race just fine,” said Wright. “We did some bloodwork on him and everything came back normal. He scoped clean. He jogged sound down the shedrow. He will resume training at Golden Gate and we’ll decide what to do with him next in the coming weeks.”

Anneau D’Or, runner up in both the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity last year, earned 12 Kentucky Derby points from the pair of second-place finishes. In order to secure enough points to make the Kentucky Derby on May 2, he would need to finish first or second in a 100-point prep or win a 50-point prep.

“This game is full of peaks and valleys,” concluded Wright. “We’ll hold our heads high and keep taking good care of our horse.”

CLAIMS

Last week’s list of claims is as follows:

Thursday

Race 2: Earnest (trainer Jack Steiner, owner Leon Scott)

Zedekiah (Frank Lucarelli, owner Chad Christensen)

Race 5: Rolinga (Andy Mathis, Mathis & Panian)

Songofthedesert (Jonathan Wong, Johnny Taboada)

Race 6: Brave Cinderella (Tim McCanna, Stable H.M.A)

Friday

Race 9: Colormemoney (Reid France, Hat Trick Racing)

Saturday

Race 2: It’s Big Aine (Cliff DeLima, Barbara DeLima)

Race 4: Gregs City Zip (Cliff DeLima, Barbara DeLima)

Sunday

Race 2: La Waun (Daniel Franko, John Parker)

Race 3: Happy Issue (Reid France, Hat Trick Racing and Pagano)

Race 8: Clem Labine (Pablo De Jesus, Tim Bankers)

Race 9: War Moccasin (Rene Amescua, Richard Barton)

Monday

Race 1: Many Moods (Jonathan Wong, MVJET Stables and Villalobos)

Race 2: Candy’s Martini (Jonathan Wong, MJVET Stables)

Temple View (Jonathan Wong, MJVET Stables & Villalobos)

Race 5: Stand in Your Love (Dan Markle, Kelly & MacLennan)

Race 8: Tuscan Warrior (Monty Meier, Browne Cattle Co.) 

FINISH LINES: Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager goes as the third race at Golden Gate Fields on Friday…The Golden Pick Six jackpot wager has exceeded the six-figure mark, with just over $106,000 heading into Friday’s program…Happy birthday to jockey Julien Couton, who celebrates his birthday on Sunday…Trainer Doug O’Neill sends up a trio of runners to compete at Golden Gate Fields this Sunday: maiden special weight contender Exhort in Race 5, Mystery Messenger in Race 8 and Big Cheddar in Race 9…Congrats to local The Adrie Factor, who picked up her second straight stakes win at Turf Paradise in last Saturday’s Arizona Oaks for trainer Jonathan Wong and owner Harley Kowalsky.

Berkeley, Calif. (February 15, 2020)-The Bob Baffert trained Azul Coast boasted his superiority in Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, stalking the pace before turning away a pair of Northern California entrees to win the 39^th running of one of Northern California’s most prestigious horse races.

Sent off at favored odds of 7-5, Azul Coast sat fourth in the early stages. Under the guidance of winning jockey Rafael Bejarano, the son of Super Saver peeled three-wide for the stretch, turned away eventual third place finisher Indian Peak and disposed of another rival, second place finisher American Farmer, in a driving finish.

“I figured he would get a good trip,” said Bejarano, who is based in Southern California year-round. “He was going well the entire time under me and he showed me a real nice kick when [second place finisher American Farmer] tried to come get us at the sixteenth pole.”

Wine and Whisky completed the top four placings while The Stiff finished fifth. They were followed by Sacred Rider, Ajourneytofreedom, Czechmight, Final Final, Mysterious Stones and Praise Loudly.

Azul Coast is owned by Karl Watson, Paul Weitman and Michael Pegram. With the 2020 El Camino Real Derby in the books, Azul Coast improved his career record to 2 wins and 1 second from 3 lifetime starts, with $104,000 in earnings. Azul Coast earned 10 Kentucky Derby points and a free Preakness berth with his Saturday victory. Rafael Bejarano picked up his first El Camino Real Derby victory while Bob Baffert won the prestigious Bay Area horse race for the second time in his career, having won the 1996 edition with Cavonnier.

2020 El Camino Real Derby Draws Contenders From Both Ends Of The California Coast

A field of eleven 3-year-olds has been assembled to compete in this Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. The El Camino Real Derby, a one mile and one-furlong event on the Tapeta main track, offers 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner and a free berth into the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 16. In order for the latter incentive to be granted to the El Camino Real Derby winner, he must be nominated to the 2020 Triple Crown series.

Last year, trainer Bob Baffert saddled Grade 3 winner Kingly to a second place finish in the El Camino Real Derby. In the 2020 edition, Baffert is represented by Azul Coast, a son of Super Saver coming off a runner up performance in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita last month. The winner of the Sham, Authentic, is considered one of the top 3-year-olds on the West Coast for Baffert. Azul Coast makes his third lifetime start in the El Camino Real Derby and will be ridden by Southern California jockey Rafael Bejarano.  

Czechmight is another Southern California shipper that is likely to attract interest in the wagering. Purchased for $190,000 by his current connections after a maiden special weight win at Keeneland last October, the son of Street Sense makes his 3-year-old debut and first career start for the Richard Baltas barn. Leading up to the El Camino Real Derby, Czechmight has posted a series of sharp workouts at Santa Anita, including a bullet drill on the morning of February 8. Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. flies up to ride for Team Baltas.

In 2019, Anothertwistafate wowed racing fans with an eye-popping, eight-length runaway win in the El Camino Real Derby for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop. This year, Wright and Redekop send out the little brother to Anothertwistafate, Ajourneytofreedom. He, like Anothertwistafate, is out of the First Defence mare Imprecation and was purchased for $180,000 as a 2-year-old in training. In his most recent afternoon appearance, Ajourneytofreedom went off favored in a January 19 allowance race and finished fourth, only beaten by about a length.

In fact, the top five finishers from the aforementioned January 19 affair enter back into the El Camino Real Derby. The Stiff, trained by Southern California conditioner Michael McCarthy, won the mile and one-sixteenth contest by a head and draws the outside post position for the El Camino Real Derby. Wine and Whisky, who put up a gallant showing when finishing a neck off The Stiff, will break from post position 4. Third place finisher Mysterious Stones is one of two El Camino Real Derby contenders campaigned by trainer Steve Sherman while the Bill McLean conditioned Final Final also takes a stab at a graded stakes placing after hitting the wire behind the top four finishers in last month’s allowance prep.

The well-bred Sacred Rider, out of stakes winning race mare and producer Lady Railrider, finished an admirable second in the California Cup Derby for California-bred 3-year-olds on dirt at Santa Anita. Last December, Sacred Rider completed the exacta in the locally-run Gold Rush Stakes, indicating he is effective and versatile on multiple surfaces. Frank Alvarado teams up with trainer Steve Specht, who tuned up Zakaroff to a 48-1 shocker in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby.

Impressive December allowance winner Indian Peak suffered a traffic-filled trip in the California Cup Derby and returns to the bayside oval in search of a graded stakes win. The highly-regarded California-bred colt has dazzled in the mornings with a pair of lightning-quick five-furlong bullet workouts and impressed racegoers two starts ago with an eye-catching victory. Leading Golden Gate jockey Juan Hernandez has the call for trainer Quinn Howey.

Recent maiden winner American Farmer is the second Steve Sherman entrant in the race, having most recently defeated a maiden special weight group on January 26. American Farmer is a full brother to Blue Diva, winner of the Miss America Stakes in December. Longshot Praise Loudly rounds out the field. The chestnut gelding was last seen hitting the board in a pair of starter allowance races and is taking a massive bump up in class.

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 7 on the 9-race Saturday card, with an approximate post time of 3:45 PM. Saturday’s marquee event will be shown on “America’s Day at the Races” on Fox Sports 2 and TVG network. TVG’s Joaquin Jaime has been assigned to cover the Saturday action on-sight while XBTV’s Zoe Cadman will also be on hand providing handicapping analysis over the Golden Gate Fields track feed with GGF race caller Matt Dinerman.

Trainer Quotes:

Quinn Howey (on Indian Peak): “He was super impressive over this track two races ago. Last time out (in the California Cup Derby) he never got a chance to run. He’s worked two bullet workouts since his last start and he hasn’t been fully set down on both occasions. I was surprised he went as fast as he did (both 5-furlong workouts in under a minute). He has a lot of talent, we’ve always really liked him, and we’re excited for his race on Saturday because he’s coming into his own. I think he has a good chance.”

Bill McLean (on Final Final): “It’s not an easy spot but we’re giving it a shot. We feel he will like the distance. The more ground for him…the better.”

Steve Sherman (on American Farmer): “He just broke his maiden and he’s coming into the race well. He’s a beautiful looking horse and we’re taking a chance. It seems like his niche is to sit off the pace and make one run. Hopefully, he gets a pace to run at.”

Steve Sherman (on Mysterious Stones): “He’s my knight in shining armor. He just goes out there and tries every time.”

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Race 7: $100,000 2020 El Camino Real Derby (Post time: approximately 3:45 PM PT)

#1 Indian Peak (Jockey Juan Hernandez, Quinn Howey)

#2 Praise Loudly (Silvio Amador, Daniel Franko)

#3 American Farmer (Kent Desormeaux, Steve Sherman)

#4 Wine and Whisky (Cristobal Herrera, Felix Rondan)

#5 Mysterious Stones (William Antongeorgi III, Steve Sherman)

#6 Final Final (Kevin Krigger, Bill McLean)

#7 Sacred Rider (Frank Alvarado, Steve Specht)

#8 Ajourneytofreedom (Ricky Gonzalez, Blaine Wright)

#9 Azul Coast (Rafael Bejarano, Bob Baffert)

#10 Czechmight (Jose Valdivia Jr., Richard Baltas)

#11 The Stiff (Julien Couton, Michael McCarthy)

Anneau D’Or Looks To Punch Kentucky Derby Ticket With A Victory In The Risen Star Stakes

Trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop have good reason to watch the El Camino Real Derby from a television screen thousands of miles from Golden Gate Fields on Saturday: they’ll be campaigning star 3-year-old Anneau D’Or in Louisiana.

Anneau D’Or, who broke his maiden at Golden Gate before finishing second in both the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity last year, makes his 3-year-old debut this Saturday in the $400,000 Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at The Fair Grounds in New Orleans. The Risen Star oversubscribed with 23 contenders and was subsequently split into two divisions on entry day. Anneau D’Or races in the second division, drew post position #8 and will be ridden by top North American jockey Joel Rosario for the first time. Post time for the second division of the Risen Star (Race 13) is approximately 4:12 PM Pacific Time, 6:12 PM Central Time.

Anneau D’Or arrived at the Fair Grounds on Wednesday afternoon and was resting comfortably in his stall happy and healthy, according to Wright. His last major prep work came at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday when the son of Medaglia D’Oro drilled 6 furlongs in 1:12.80 seconds.

Jauregui Happy With Camino Del Paraiso After Thunder Road Second Place Finish

Many handicappers quickly dismissed Golden Gate Fields shipper Camino Del Paraiso in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita. When the gates opened, his odds were locked at 50-1. Luckily, horses can’t read the tote board.

Under jockey Tiago Pereira, the 7-year-old gelding by Suances stalked the pace before producing a five-wide rally turning for home. He eventually out finished Grade 2 winner True Valour, Grade 3 winner Kingly and Grade 3 placed Frontier Market for the runner up spot and picked up $20,000 for his second-place finish.

“He ran well,” said trainer O.J. Jauregui. “He doesn’t win often but he certainly competes with very nice horses on his best day. We’ll run in one more race before the [Grade 3, $250,000] San Francisco Mile [on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 25 at Golden Gate].”

Claims From Last Week

Thursday:

Race 4: Gray Lives Matter (new trainer: Blaine Wright, new owner: Dan Warden)

Friday:

Race 1: For Him (trainer/owner Ari Herbertson)

Silent Movies (trainer Jonathan Wong, owner MJVET Stables)

Race 7: Brotherciccio (trainer Samuel Calvario, owner Johnny Taboada)

Smiling Bandit (trainer Jonathan Wong, owner MJVET Stables)

Stone Groove (trainer Isidro Tamayo, owners Sheila Chung and Jerry Edwards)

Saturday:

Race 3: Ardenlee Star (trainer Frank Lucarelli, owner Chad Christensen)

Race 4: Shanghai Keely (trainer Blaine Wright, owner Stable H.M.A.

Race 5: Bako Sweets (trainer Andy Mathis, owners Bruno, Jones & Mathis)

Race 9: Awesome Silver (trainer Bob Hess Sr., owners Eaton, Finch & Hess)

Sigur Ros (trainer Frank Lucarelli, owner Chad Christensen)

Race 10: Studly Perfection (trainer Frank Lucarelli, owner Chad Christensen)

Sunday: 

Race 2: Falcone (trainer Jack Steiner, owner Randy Marriott)

Race 6: Cedars of Lebanon (trainer Leobardo Rivera, owner Nelson Martinez)

Race 8: River of Champagne (trainer Ari Herbertson, owner Scott Herbertson)

FINISH LINES: Juan Hernandez and Jonathan Wong continue to hold a large-sized lead in the jockey/trainer standings. Catalino Martinez lays second in the jockey standings while Bill Delia and Isidro Tamayo are tied for second in the trainer standings heading into Thursday’s card…Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager runs as the third race at Golden Gate on Friday…Heading into Thursday’s card, we have a Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover of $59, 641 and a Super High Five carryover of $3,556…Happy birthday to trainers Isidro Tamayo and Tirso Rivera, both of who celebrate birthdays later this week.

2020 EL CAMINO REAL DERBY DRAWS CONTENDERS FROM BOTH ENDS OF THE CALIFORNIA COAST

Berkeley, Calif. (February 12, 2020)-A field of eleven 3-year-olds has been assembled to compete in this Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. The El Camino Real Derby, a one mile and one-furlong event on the Tapeta main track, offers 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner and a free berth into the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 16. In order for the latter incentive to be granted to the El Camino Real Derby winner, he must be nominated to the 2020 Triple Crown series.

Last year, trainer Bob Baffert saddled Grade 3 winner Kingly to a second place finish in the El Camino Real Derby. In the 2020 edition, Baffert is represented by Azul Coast, a son of Super Saver coming off a runner up performance in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita last month. The winner of the Sham, Authentic, is considered one of the top 3-year-olds on the West Coast for Baffert. Azul Coast makes his third lifetime start in the El Camino Real Derby and will be ridden by Southern California jockey Rafael Bejarano.  

Czechmight is another Southern California shipper that is likely to attract interest in the wagering. Purchased for $190,000 by his current connections after a maiden special weight win at Keeneland last October, the son of Street Sense makes his 3-year-old debut and first career start for the Richard Baltas barn. Leading up to the El Camino Real Derby, Czechmight has posted a series of sharp workouts at Santa Anita, including a bullet drill on the morning of February 8. Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. flies up to ride for Team Baltas.

In 2019, Anothertwistafate wowed racing fans with an eye-popping, eight-length runaway win in the El Camino Real Derby for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop. This year, Wright and Redekop send out the little brother to Anothertwistafate, Ajourneytofreedom. He, like Anothertwistafate, is out of the First Defence mare Imprecation and was purchased for $180,000 as a 2-year-old in training. In his most recent afternoon apperance, Ajourneytofreedom went off favored in a January 19 allowance race and finished fourth, only beaten by about a length.

In fact, the top five finishers from the aforementioned January 19 affair enter back into the El Camino Real Derby. The Stiff, trained by Southern California conditioner Michael McCarthy, won the mile and one-sixteenth contest by a head and draws the outside post position for the El Camino Real Derby. Wine and Whisky, who put up a gallant showing when finishing a neck off The Stiff, will break from post position 4. Third place finisher Mysterious Stones is one of two El Camino Real Derby contenders campaigned by trainer Steve Sherman while the Bill McLean conditioned Final Final also takes a stab at a graded stakes placing after hitting the wire behind the top four finishers in last month’s allowance prep.

The well-bred Sacred Rider, out of stakes winning race mare and producer Lady Railrider, finished an admirable second in the California Cup Derby for California-bred 3-year-olds on dirt at Santa Anita. Last December, Sacred Rider completed the exacta in the locally-run Gold Rush Stakes, indicating he is effective and versatile on multiple surfaces. Frank Alvarado teams up with trainer Steve Specht, who tuned up Zakaroff to a 48-1 shocker in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby.

Impressive December allowance winner Indian Peak suffered a traffic-filled trip in the California Cup Derby and returns to the bayside oval in search of a graded stakes win. The highly-regarded California-bred colt has dazzled in the mornings with a pair of lightning quick five-furlong bullet workouts and impressed racegoers two starts ago with an eye-catching victory. Leading Golden Gate jockey Juan Hernandez has the call for trainer Quinn Howey.

Recent maiden winner American Farmer is the second Steve Sherman entrant in the race, having most recently defeated a maiden special weight group on January 26. American Farmer is a full brother to Blue Diva, winner of the Miss America Stakes in December. Longshot Praise Loudly rounds out the field. The chestnut gelding was last seen hitting the board in a pair of starter allowance races and is taking a massive bump up in class.

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 7 on the 9-race Saturday card, with an approximate post time of 3:45 PM. Saturday’s marquee event will be shown on “America’s Day at the Races” on Fox Sports 2 and TVG network. TVG’s Joaquin Jaime has been assigned to cover the Saturday action on-sight while XBTV’s Zoe Cadman will also be on hand providing handicapping analysis over the Golden Gate Fields track feed with GGF race caller Matt Dinerman.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Race 7: $100,000 2020 El Camino Real Derby (Post time: approximately 3:45 PM PT)

#1 Indian Peak (Jockey Juan Hernandez, Quinn Howey)

#2 Praise Loudly (Silvio Amador, Daniel Franko)

#3 American Farmer (Kent Desormeaux, Steve Sherman)

#4 Wine and Whisky (Cristobal Herrera, Felix Rondan)

#5 Mysterious Stones (William Antongeorgi III, Steve Sherman)

#6 Final Final (Kevin Krigger, Bill McLean)

#7 Sacred Rider (Frank Alvarado, Steve Specht)

#8 Ajourneytofreedom (Ricky Gonzalez, Blaine Wright)

#9 Azul Coast (Rafael Bejarano, Bob Baffert)

#10 Czechmight (Jose Valdivia Jr., Richard Baltas)

#11 The Stiff (Julien Couton, Michael McCarthy)

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