EL CAMINO OFFERS KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS ON FEBRUARY 17

 The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, one of the most notable races every year at Golden Gate Fields, will be run this Saturday, February 17. The mile and an eighth contest is for three-year-olds traveling over the synthetic Tapeta surface. Along with a $60,000 check, the 2018 El Camino Real Derby champion will earn 10 points towards the 2018 Kentucky Derby, which will run Saturday, May 5. Over the years, El Camino Real Derby participants such as Chocolate Candy, Daddy Nose Best and Dance With Fate compete in The Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May.

A field of nine three-year-olds will go postward in the 2018 El Camino Real Derby. The expected morning line favorite is the 2018 California Derby winner Choo Choo, who also ran third in The Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita in December. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee is owned by Calumet Farm and has been training at Golden Gate Fields since the California Derby victory. He will be ridden, once again, by Juan Hernandez. Other local contenders include California Derby runner-up Mugaritz, multiple allowance winner Could Be the One, and recent starter allowance victor Unlawful Act.

Several Southern California invaders will try to add a stakes win to their resume. Paved, a filly facing boys in the El Camino Real, comes off a dominating five-and-a-half length score against maiden special weight company on turf. Paved was purchased for $320,000 as a 2-year-old and is trained by Michael McCarthy. Blending Citizen, conditioned by Doug O’Neill, ran fourth behind Choo Choo in the Eddie Logan and is scheduled to make his 2018 debut in the El Camino. Rounding out the Southern California entrants are the Vladimir Cerin trained Calexman, who broke his maiden on November 24 at Del Mar, and Epical, wheeling back quickly after winning his first career start for trainer James Cassidy three weeks ago.

City Plan, a three-year-old Godolphin homebred, is an interesting contender from the Eoin Harty barn. The son of Street Sense ships up to Golden Gate Fields after a poor showing in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes against Kentucky Derby hopeful McKinzie. City Plan won the Gold Rush Stakes over the Golden Gate Tapeta two starts ago and defeated Ayacara, a runner who came back to run second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, February 3.

Interestingly, of the nine entrants, six will be ridden by Southern California jockeys. Making the trip to Golden Gate Fields from Santa Anita are jockeys Drayden Van Dyke (aboard Paved), Kyle Frey (Blended Citizen), Tyler Conner (City Plan), Alonso Quinonez (Calexman), Tiago Pereira (Epical), and Mario Gutierrez (Mugaritz).

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 7 on the nine race card, with a scheduled post time of 3:45 PM Pacific Standard Time. Here is the field, from the rail post position outward:

Horse (Trainer/Jockey)

#1 Paved (Michael McCarthy/Drayden Van Dyke)

#2 Blended Citizen (Doug O’Neill/Kyle Frey)

#3 Could Be the One (Jack Steiner/William Antongeorgi III)

#4 Choo Choo (Jerry Hollendorfer/Juan Hernandez)

#5 City Plan (Eoin Harty/Tyler Conner)

#6 Calexman (Vladimir Cerin/Alonso Quinonez)

#7 Epical (James Cassidy/Tiago Pereira)

#8 Unlawful Act (Matthew Troy/Cristobal Herrera)

#9 Mugaritz (Jonathan Wong/Mario Gutierrez)

 

2018 EL CAMINO REAL DERBY FEATURES LUCRATIVE DERBY POINTS

The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, one of the most notable races every year at Golden Gate Fields, will be run this Saturday, February 18. The mile and an eighth contest is for 3-year-olds traveling the distance of 9 furlongs. Along with the $60,000 winner’s check, the 2018 El Camino Real Derby champion will also earn 10 points towards the Kentucky Derby. Over the years, we have seen El Camino Real Derby participants such as Chocolate Candy, Daddy Nose Best and Dance With Fate compete in The Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May.

A field of nine 3-year-olds will go postward in the 2018 El Camino Real Derby. The expected morning line favorite is California Derby winner Choo Choo, who also ran third in The Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita in December. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee is owned by Calumet Farm and has been training at Golden Gate Fields since the California Derby victory. He will be ridden, once again, by Juan Hernandez. Other local contenders include California Derby runner up Mugaritz, multiple allowance winner Could Be the One, and recent starter allowance victor Unlawful Act.

Several Southern California invaders will try to add a stakes win to their resume. Paved, a filly facing boys in The El Camino Real, comes off a dominating five and a half-length score against maiden special weight company on turf. Paved was purchased for $320,000 as a 2-year-old and is trained by Michael McCarthy. Blending Citizen, conditioned by Doug O’Neill, ran fourth behind Choo Choo in the Eddie Logan and is scheduled to make his 2018 debut in The El Camino Real Derby. Rounding out the Southern California entrants are the Vladimir Cerin trained Calexman, who broke his maiden on November 24 at Del Mar, and Epical, wheeling back quickly after winning his first career start for trainer James Cassidy three weeks ago.

City Plan, a 3-year-old Godolphin homebred, is an interesting item from the Eoin Harty barn. The son of Street Sense ships up to Golden Gate Fields after a poor showing in The Grade 3 Sham Stakes against Kentucky Derby hopefuly McKinzie. City Plan won The Gold Rush Stakes over the Golden Gate Tapeta two-starts ago and defeated Ayacara, a runner who came back to run second in The Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

Interestingly, of the nine entrants will be ridden by Southern California jockeys. Making the trip to Golden Gate Fields from Santa Anita are jockeys Drayden Van Dyke (aboard Paved), Kyle Frey (Blended Citizen), Tyler Conner (City Plan), Alonso Quinonez (Calexman), Tiago Pereira (Epical) and Mario Gutierrez (Mugaritz).

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 7 on the 9-race card, with a scheduled post time of 3:45 PM Pacific Standard Time. Here is the field, from the rail post position outward:

Horse (Trainer/Jockey)

#1 Paved (Michael McCarthy/Drayden Van Dyke)

#2 Blended Citizen (Doug O’Neill/Kyle Frey)

#3 Could Be the One (Jack Steiner/William Antongeorgi III)

#4 Choo Choo (Jerry Hollendorfer/Juan Hernandez)

#5 City Plan (Eoin Harty/Tyler Conner)

#6 Calexman (Vladimir Cerin/Alonso Quinonez)

#7 Epical (James Cassidy/Tiago Pereira)

#8 Unlawful Act (Matthew Troy/Cristobal Herrera)

#9 Mugaritz (Jonathan Wong/Mario Gutierrez)

LOST IN THE FOG STAKES HIGHLIGHTS PRESIDENT’S DAY RACING

The $50,000 Lost In The Fog Stakes will be the feature race on the Golden Gate Fields card this Monday, February 19. First post time remains the same: 12:45 PM Pacific Standard Time. The feature Monday race is named after one of the best Bay Area sprinters to ever compete, Lost In The Fog, who was conditioned by Greg Gilchrist and ridden by Hall of Famer Russell Braze.

Among the leading contenders is The Larry Rivelli trained Wellabled. Rivelli, who has a large string of horses on the East Coast, is well known for his success at Arlington Park in the summertime. Wellabled comes off a seven length win in The Forego Stakes at Turfway Park. Other local main contenders include the win machine Percy’s Bluff, defending champion Quick and Silver and Sunset Dragunn, who makes his stakes debut after a pair of sharp allowance wins.

FINISH LINES: Abel Cedillo is first in victories amongst the Golden Gate jockey colony with 26 wins, three more than Billy Antongeorgi III. Juan Hernandez sits in third place with 22 wins…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong holds an 18-17 lead over Jerry Hollendorfer…Good luck to Team Hollendorfer, whom race 3-year-old colt Instilled Regard this Saturday. The son of Arch is back at The Fairgrounds, where he won the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes, and is ready to take on nine other rivals in The Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. The winner of The Risen Star earns 50 points to The Kentucky Derby…Northern California superstar Mended worked 5 furlongs on Sunday morning. The daughter of Broken Vow was last seen running second in The Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on January 13 and is possible for a stakes race at Sunland Park next month…Happy birthday to trainers Isidro Tamayo and Samuel Calvario, both whom celebrate birthdays in the upcoming days…The Golden Pick Six Jackpot Carryover has reached $27,658 heading into Thursday’s card…PLEASE NOTE: On February 23, 24 and 25, post time for our Golden Gate Fields races will be moved to 1:15 PM, a half hour later than our usual 12:45 PM first post time.

Consolida, a European shipper making her first start in The United States for trainer Paddy Gallagher, scored an impressive victory in the $50,000 California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Golden Gate Fields. The daughter of European sire Sir Percy sat off a contentious pace before gobbling up ground in the final three-sixteenths of a mile, winning The ‘Oaks by a length and a quarter.

“She put me in a good spot,” said winning jockey Julien Couton. “She was extremely manageable, which is a big plus in a big field like that. Paddy [Gallagher] did a tremendous job with her.”

Consolida has been prepping for her United States debut at Gallagher’s stable at Santa Anita Park. Consolida last raced in October, when she broke her maiden by 2 lengths over a synthetic surface at Newcastle Racecourse in Great Britain. Luca Cumani had previously trained Consolida in Europe.

“In the mornings, she was acting like she knew what [racing] was all about,” said Gallagher. “Julien did a good job and it worked out good.”

Tinabud finished second, paying $5.60 to place and $4.00 to show, while Divine Mercy rounded out the trifecta, paying $6.00 to show.

Consolida is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Green Lantern Stable. The 3-year-old dark bay or brown filly has now won 2 of 3 lifetime starts with career earnings of $34,325.

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CALIFORNIA OAKS FIELD DRAWS A QUARTET OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ENTRANTS

A field of ten 3-year-olds fillies has been assembled for the $50,000 California Oaks, the feature race at Golden Gate Fields this week. The California Oaks, a one-mile and a sixteenth contest on the Tapeta, is the seventh of nine races on the Saturday card. Post time for the race is 3:45 PM Pacific Standard Time.

A quartet of Southern California shippers make for interesting additions to the 2018 ‘Oaks. Mapit, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, and Dr. Ann, conditioned by Doug O’Neill, race against winners for the first time after recent maiden scores at Santa Anita, while Consolida makes her United States debut for trainer Paddy Gallagher.  Tinabud, the fourth Southern California entrant, comes into the ‘Oaks fresh off a starter optional claiming win at Santa Anita. She is trained by William E. Morey, who has strings in Northern and Southern California on a year-round basis.

Local fillies that figure to get support in the wagering include Aniva Bay and Divine Mercy, the top two finishers in an allowance race in December, and Bornonvalentineday, who has won two straight races for trainer Tim McCanna. Sweetsongofthenile, a recent maiden special weight winner, is another local entrant. Arwan and Royal Lookin were each supplemented into the race by their connections and complete the field of 10.

$50,000 California Oaks

Horse (Trainer/Jockey)

#1 Sweetsongofthenile (Ed Moger Jr./Eddie Martinez)

#2 Arwan (Jose Bautista/Silvio Amador)

#3 Dr. Ann (Doug O’Neill/Saul Arias)

#4 Consolida (Paddy Gallagher/Julien Couton)

#5 Aniva Bay (Blaine Wright/Ricky Gonzalez)

#6 Tinabud (William E. Morey/William Antongeorgi III)

#7 Mapit (Jerry Hollendorfer/Juan Hernandez)

#8 Bornonvalentineday (Tim McCanna/Frank Alvarado)

#9 Divine Mercy (Steve Sherman/Rocco Bowen)

#10 Royal Lookin (Ricardo Perez/Catalino Martinez)

FINISH LINES: Francisco Duran is one win shy of 1,500 career trips to the winner’s circle while William Antongeorgi III is four wins away from 1,000 career victories…After 23 days of live racing this Winter/Spring meet, Abel Cedillo holds a 24-22 win-lead over Antongeorgi in the jockey standings. Juan Hernandez sits in third with 20 wins…Jonathan Wong sits atop the trainer standings with 18 wins, three more than Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer….Two Northern California shippers won their respective races at Santa Anita last weekend; Laynee (owned by Michael Jawl and trained by Andy Mathis) won an allowance race for 3-year-old fillies on Friday while Kochees (owned by Scott Herbertson and conditioned by Jonathan Wong) defeated ten other rivals in an 8k claiming race on Sunday…Happy birthday to Abel Cedillo, Maryellen Silva, Jamey Thomas and Jacqui Navarre, all whom celebrate birthday’s this week…To all Golden Pick Six players: there is a $11,221 carryover heading into Thursday’s card. Good luck!

TRAINER MOREY A MAJOR PRESCENCE IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Trainer William “Billy” E. Morey has been a major player at Golden Gate Fields since the early 2000’s, when the son of the late William Morey Jr. went out on his own in 2001. Now-a-days, you can find Morey traveling back and forth from Santa Anita to Golden Gate Fields, managing his 45-horse stable. Morey currently runs a 30-horse barn at Golden Gate Fields, with an additional 15 horses stabled at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California.

So far, Morey is off to a white-hot start at The Santa Anita Winter/Spring meet (and in all honesty, that might be an understatement): he has won with 9 of his first 15 starters, which averages out to a 60% win percentage. In fact, 2 of those 9 Santa Anita victories came in a pair of stakes races. Last Saturday, California-bred Rye won The $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, while 5-year-old mare Coniah beat six other fillies and mares in the Grade 3 $100,000 Las Cinegas Stakes on January 20.

“Rye has been a great horse for us,” said Morey. “We claimed him two years ago based on his breeding, which suggested he would love the turf. He is by English Channel out of an Unusual Heat mare. The Unusual Heat line gets better with age so the switch to turf, as well as time and racing experience, has helped him improve. He’s a nice horse.”

“Coniah is really good right now, both physically and mentally,” continued Morey on his other stable star. “She couldn’t have been training any better heading into [the Las Cinegas].”

Morey has also started off The Golden Gate Winter/Spring meet with a fair share of success. From 25 starters, his trainees have made 5 trips to the winner’s circle, with 11 other in-the-money finishes.

At the end of the day, Morey gives major credit to his help around the barn, who work hours on end to make sure the horses are well taken care of and ready to perform at their highest level on race day.

“I have great assistants, North and South,” said Morey. “That’s one big key. We have good help around the barn. I am lucky to have a great team working for me.” 

SUPER BOWL PICKS

We asked the Golden Gate Fields racing community, “Who do you want to win this Sunday’s Super Bowl…and why?” Here are the responses:

Linda Anderson (Assistant Racing Secretary): Patriots “It’s history in the making…Tom Brady looking for his sixth Super Bowl win.”

William Antongeorgi III (Jockey): “No pick for me. May the best team win.”

D. Wayne Baker (trainer): Patriots “I have owners on the East Coast.”

Abel Cedillo (jockey): “I want the 49er’s to win so if they are not in it, I don’t care who wins.”

Sam DiLaura (trainer): Eagles “They’re due.”

Matt Dinerman (announcer): Patriots “All of my family is from Massachusetts.”

Tom “Bomber” Doutrich (jockey agent): Patriots “The pride of San Mateo.”

Pedro Flores (jockey): Eagles “We need a different team to win. The Patriots always win.”

Ricky Gonzalez (jockey): Patriots “Tom Brady is the GOAT.”

Juan Hernandez (jockey): Patriots “They are a really good team.”

Bob Hess Sr. (trainer): Eagles “They lost their quarterback at the beginning of the year [due to injury]. That would be neat to see them win after a setback so significant.”

O.J. Jauregui (trainer): Eagles “New team…I want a new team to win.”

Lisa Jones (Placing Judge): Eagles “That’s my uncle’s favorite team.”

Mike Lenzini (trainer): Eagles “I picked them at the beginning of the year to win the Super Bowl.”

Patrick Mackey (Racing secretary): Patriots “It will make my daughter happy.”

Dan Markle (trainer): Eagles “I’ll go with the underdog.”

William E. Morey (trainer): Patriots “Tom Brady went to ‘Serra High in San Mateo.”

Irving Orozco (jockey): Eagles “They’ve never won a Super Bowl before so I will root for them.”

Kevin Orozco (jockey): Eagles “The Eagles play fair.”

Ferrin Peterson (jockey): Patriots “Tom Brady is attractive.”

Maryellen Silva (Assistant trainer to Tim McCanna): “As long as my numbers win in Super Bowl Bingo that’s all that matters to me.”

Sam Spear (Bay Area media legend): Patriots “I’m a big Tom Brady fan.”

Steve Specht (trainer): Patriots “It’s like rooting for Secretariat. Brady and Belichick are two of the best. It’s like rooting for a great horse.”

Jack Steiner (trainer): Patriots “All of us have hated Tom Brady for so long. Eventually you give in and realize he’s pretty much the greatest man on earth.”

Mark Ventersca (Director of Food & Beverage): Eagles “I think the Patriots will win but I want the Eagles to win because they have never won before.”

Fernando “Shoes” Navarro (jockey agent): Eagles “Anti Brady.”

Dennis Patterson (jockey agent): Patriots “Pro Brady. The pride of San Mateo!”

Ramon Silva (jockey agent): Eagles “Because ‘Shoes’ told me.”

FINISH LINES: Remember: 11:15 AM first post on Super Bowl Sunday…Congrats to Northern California horsemen William E. Morey and O.J. Jauregui, who swept the exacta in last week’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita Park with Rye and Camino Del Paraiso…Good luck to apprentice Ferrin Peterson, who rides in her first career race this afternoon. “I’m excited,” said Peterson. “I’ve wanted to be a jockey since I was a little kid.” Peterson rides the John Martin trained Flood Level in Race 2, a five furlong sprint for 8k maiden claimers…Congrats to jockey Kevin Orozco, who captured his first riding title at the 2017/2018 Portland Meadows race meet. The 21-year-old journeyman rider won on 46 of his 145 mounts at the meet; that equates to an outstanding 32% win percentage. He also hit the board with 72% of his rides. “It’s really cool,” said Orozco. “My agent Vito [Lucarelli] did a great job. He put me on a lot of live horses. I want to thank everyone who has given me a shot. I feel very lucky.”

CHOO CHOO EMERGES FROM CALIFORNIA DERBY WIN IN GOOD SHAPE

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is off to a hot start at the Winter/Spring meet. From 57 starters, Hollendorfer has won 14 races, which equates to a 25% win percentage. His biggest win to date came on Saturday with Choo Choo, a son of English Channel who defeated five other rivals in the $100,000 California Derby for 3-year-olds. According to assistant trainer Juan Arriaga, Choo Choo came out of the race happy and healthy.

“He came out of the race good,” said Arriaga. “He is eating well. He’s a happy horse right now.”

Choo Choo had a solid resume heading into The California Derby. The 3-year-old colt ran third in The Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita and finished fourth behind Award It in The Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Mile at Del Mar in November. The aforementioned rival is the top 3-year-old turf horse in North America. With the California Derby victory, Choo Choo improved his record to 2 wins, 0 seconds and 3 thirds in 6 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $115,188.

“I’m not sure where [Choo Choo] will run next,” said Arriaga. “I think there is a good chance he runs back in The El Camino Real Derby [on February 17] but Jerry [Hollendorfer] makes those decisions.”

G.G. Ryder, a Hollendorfer barn favorite, also won this past weekend. The 7-year-old by Chhaya Dance defeated a quartette of talented older colts and geldings in a second level allowance race on Sunday. G.G. Ryder, winner of the Grade 3 All American Stakes last May, has won 14 races and earned $666,305.

“G.G. Ryder is a really cool horse. He tries hard every race,” said Arriaga. “Our barn has a lot of horses who are trying hard and running well for us.”

PEGASUS WORLD CUP DAY HIGHLIGHTS WEEK 5

This Saturday, January 27, the richest horse race on the planet takes place at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, a $16 million mile and an eighth contest for the best dirt horses in the world, will go as the last of 12 races on the Gulfstream Park card. Gulfstream will offer seven additional stakes races on the undercard as well.

Leading the cast of characters in the 2018 Pegasus is Breeders Cup Classic winner Gun Runner and the Bob Baffert trained pair of Collected and West Coast, both whom finished behind Gun Runner in the ‘Classic. Sharp Azteca, runner up in The Breeders Cup Dirt Mile, and European shipper Toast of New York also figure to be major players.

Bay Area fans can watch and wager on Gulfstream Park at Golden Gate Fields. Golden Gate will have a 9-race program this Saturday, with a special early first post time of 12:30 PM. The gates open at 10 AM for simulcast wagering on Gulfstream and other racetracks such as Santa Anita, Laurel Park, Aqueduct and Tampa Bay Downs.

FINISH LINES: After 16 days of live racing at the Winter/Spring meet, William Antongeorgi III and Abel Cedillo are tied for first in the jockey standings with 18 victories apiece…Trainer Jonathan Wong holds a slender 15-14 lead in the trainer standings over Jerry Hollendorfer…Jockey Irving Orozco picked up two wins on Sunday afternoon to kick off his Winter/Spring meet. Orozco, who has not ridden since November, scored with Let’s Play Ball, who hit the wire first in Race 2, and C R Bullitt, a 3-year-old Washington bred who defeated ten other maiden special weight rivals in Race 9….Trainer Andy Mathis has a pair of 3-year-olds entered to compete in the $100,000 California Cup Turf Sprint Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. His two entrants are Vutzak, who was last seen in The Golden Nugget Stakes in December, and Sunrise Journey, a dominant maiden winner on January 1…Trainer John Martin saddles Roaring Rule in The $25,000 Portland Mile at Portland Meadows this Sunday. Roaring Rule has won a pair of starter allowance races at Golden Gate Fields since being claimed by Martin in July…Golden Gate shipper Drink Til You Drop is also entered in The Portland Mile, but the connections are still debating whether they will run in the race…Happy birthday to jockey agent “Oakland Ron” Freitas, who celebrates his birthday this Saturday, and trainer Steve Sherman, who turns 54 on Sunday.

Albany, Calif. (January 20, 2018) Choo Choo and jockey Juan Hernandez stalked the pace before taking the lead turning for home and shaking off a late challenge from second place finisher Mugaritz in deep stretch. The son of English Channel finished a length and three quarters ahead of Mugaritz, who ran gallantly in defeat for trainer Jonathan Wong and jockey Frank Alvarado. Intimidate, winner of The King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos Racecourse last month, completed the trifecta.

“We thought [Choo Choo] would like the synthetics and thought this would be a good spot for him,” said winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who has won The California Derby nine times since 1991. “He ran good.”

Choo Choo completed the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44.50 seconds and paid $4.00 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.80 to show. The 2018 California Derby winner was bred and owned by Calumet Farm, one of the top racing operations in North America.

Choo Choo had a solid resume heading into The California Derby. The 3-year-old colt most recently ran third in The Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita and finished fourth behind Award It in The Grade 3 Cecil DeMille at Del Mar in November. The aforementioned rival is the top 3-year-old turf horse in North America. With The California Derby victory, Choo Choo improved his record to 2 wins, 0 seconds and 3 thirds in 6 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $115,188.

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CALIFORNIA DERBY KICKS OFF WINTER/SPRING MEET STAKES ACTION

The California Derby, a final prep race for the El Camino Real Derby in February, attracted a field of eight 3-year-olds and will be run this Saturday, January 20. The California Derby is the first of twelve stakes races that will take place during the Winter/Spring meet.

Leading the list of entrants is Choo Choo, a son of English Channel who most recently ran third in The Eddie Logan Stakes on turf at Santa Anita. Choo Choo is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who has won The California Derby eight times since 1991. Other major players include Intimidate, winner of The King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos Racecourse, and Mugaritz and Kylemore, the top two finishers in an allowance race earlier this month.

Trainer Steve Miyadi has a pair of entrants in Campaigner and Ministersdontparty while Southern California conditioner Jeff Mullins ships East Rand from Santa Anita to Golden Gate for The California Derby. Generally Lucky, the second place finisher in The Golden Nugget Stakes last November, rounds out the field.

The California Derby goes as Race 7 on the 9-race card, with a scheduled post time of 3:45 PM PST. A solid number of entrants fill up the Saturday card, with a stellar Late Pick 4 sequence (40 horses in the last four races) to end the day.

Here is the $100,000 California Derby field:

#1 Kylemore (6-1) Eoin Harty/Aaron Gryder

#2 Mugaritz (3-1) Jonathan Wong/Frank Alvarado

#3 Intimidate (9-2) Bob Hess Sr./Abel Cedillo

#4 Generally Lucky (20-1) Steve Specht/Rocco Bowen

#5 Choo Choo (2-1) Jerry Hollendorfer/Juan Hernandez

#6 Campaigner (12-1) Steve Miyadi/Brayan Pena

#7 East Rand (8-1) Jeff Mullins/Heribert “Eddie” Martinez

#8 Ministersdontparty (20-1) Steve Miyadi/ William Antongeorgi III

STATISTICS SIGNIFY COMPETITIVNESS AND TALENT AMONGST THE GOLDEN GATE JOCKEY COLONY

For over 30 years, Russell Baze dominated the Northern California jockey colony in wins, money earned and stakes victories. Baze became synonymous with Northern California racing and went on to win 12,842 races in his 40+ year riding career, which is the most victories by any jockey in North American thoroughbred racing history. For his plethora of wins and achievements, Baze was inducted into the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga in 1999.

When Russell decided to hang up his tack in 2016, a considerable amount of victories was left for the rest of the Golden Gate Fields jockey colony to pick up. Although there is not a dominant presence in the jockey colony to date, riders like Frank Alvarado, Billy Antongeorgi III, Abel Cedillo, Julien Couton, Ricky Gonzalez, Juan Hernandez, Catalino Martinez and Irving Orozco have gone on to produce good numbers on a consistent basis since Baze’s retirement.

“There are a lot of good riders here,” said Billy Antongeorgi III. “Most of the top guys are pretty consistent. It’s tough. Other guys have come from all over the country and haven’t been able to break in. In my opinion, we have an underrated jockey colony [at Golden Gate.] There are a lot of very polished riders here that know what they’re doing.”

At the conclusion of the three meets in 2017, there were three different jockeys who finished on top in the standings: Abel Cedillo, Irving Orozco and Juan Hernandez.  At the current Winter/Spring meet, Cedillo and Antongeorgi are tied for first in the standings with 15 victories. Hernandez sits in third with 9 wins heading into Week 4 while Aaron Gryder holds fourth place with 8 wins. Three riders are tied for fifth with 8 wins apiece.

“You’ve got to stay on top of your game all the time,” answered Antongeorgi, when asked about the competitive nature of the Golden Gate jockey colony. “You’re in jeopardy of losing business when you do not perform at a high level because there are so many other good riders here that can take your spot. We’re friendly in the [jockey’s] room but on the track we are competitive. Like anywhere else, we all want to win.”

FINISH LINES: Irving Orozco, leading rider at the 2017 summer meet, returns to the saddle this Saturday after a 60-day hiatus. The 24-year-old journeyman rider hops aboard Whisper the Truth in Race 2 and River Joe in Race 6. “I’m really excited to get back to riding. I feel really healthy,” said Orozco. “My agent (Tom “Bomber” Doutrich) and I are going to work hard every day. I’m really thankful for all the support that is being given to me.”…Congrats goes out to Mended, who ran a terrific second in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes for owners Troy and Maritza Onorato, trainer John Martin and jockey Ricky Gonzalez. The 4-year-old filly set the pace early and fought tenaciously down the stretch late, only to lose the Grade 2 event by a nose. Assistant trainer Reid France posted on Facebook that, “[Mended] made it back [to Golden Gate] and she’s a very happy girl.”…Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has a top Kentucky Derby contender in Instilled Regard, a son of Arch who won the $200,000 LeComte Stakes at The Fair Grounds last Saturday. Instilled Regard earned 10 Kentucky Derby points for the Lecomte score…Happy ‘late’ Birthday to trainer Aggie Ordonez, who celebrated her birthday on Monday.

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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

MENDED TAKES ON THE BIG SHOTS AT SANTA ANITA

Mended, who has won 10 straight races since being claimed for $12,500 last year, looks to extend her phenomenal win streak to 11 in The $200,000 Grade 2 La Canada Stakes this Saturday at Santa Anita. According to trainer John Martin, the daughter of Broken Vow has trained very well since a decisive six and three-quarter length score in The $110,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper at Gulfstream Park last month.

“Mended is doing just as well as she was heading into her last race in Florida,” said Martin. “This will be a big test for her. One thing that’s good about her is she is tactical. I know she’s been in front early every time she’s won but I’m telling you…she doesn’t need the lead. She’s a smart filly and can stalk if she needs to.”

After being claimed by Martin on January 6, 2017, the 4-year-old filly steadily climbed the class ladder and continued to improve, with her confidence growing each and every start. One year later, Mended has earned $185,900 for owners Troy and Maritza Onorato and has won at four different racetracks: Del Mar, Golden Gate, Gulfstream Park and Pleasanton.

“The owner claimed her. All credit goes to the owner,” said Martin. “He liked her figures on the Thoro-graph sheets. She started winning with us and her confidence grew.”

The two likely favorites in The La Canada are Majestic Heat, winner of The Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos, and Mopotism, who most recently ran third in The Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita. Ricky Gonzalez, who has ridden Mended in her last 9 races, will fly down to Santa Anita to ride once again. The 22-year-old journeyman rider has plenty of confidence in his star filly, although he understands the competition is steep this time around.

“She’s a nice filly and has been working good,” said Gonzalez. “She does not need the lead so if someone decides to go crazy [up front], I can take back. I will play it by the break. We’re going to find out how good she is.”

The La Canada will go off as Race 8 on the 9-race card, with post time at 4:00 p.m. PST. Mended drew post position 3 of 8.

FINISH LINES: Northern California shipper Seattle Serenade is 12-1 on the morning line in the $75,000 Louisiana Stakes at The Fair Grounds this Saturday. Seattle Serenade was last seen running fourth in The Berkeley Handicap and won The Bulldog Stakes at Fresno earlier in the Fall. Eclipse award winning jockey Javier Castellano rides for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Hollendorfer also sends out 3-year-old colt Instilled Regard (4-1 morning line) in The $200,000 Grade 3 LeComte, a Kentucky Derby points race…Two fall meet stakes winners put up great showings against tough Southern California stakes company this past weekend at Santa Anita. Berkeley Handicap winner Editore ran third in The Grade 2 $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes on turf last Saturday while Golden Gate Debutante victor Steph Being Steph finished second in The Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday…Trainer Blaine Wright sends out stakes winner Aqua Frio in The $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile at Turf Paradise this Saturday. The one-mile turf event attracted a field of 11, with Aqua Frio (6-1 on the morning line) drawing the far outside post. Golden Gate Fields jockey Julien Couton rides…Beginning this week, Golden Gate will only run races on the Tapeta main track. Turf racing will resume in late March, just in time for The San Francisco Mile on March 31… Along with the usual Thursday-Sunday live racing schedule this week, Golden Gate Fields will also offer holiday racing on Monday, January 15. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday which was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. First post time is at 12:45 PM PST, with gates set to open at 10:00 A.M…Nominations for the $100,000 California Derby close tomorrow (Thursday, January 12.) The California Derby, a mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-olds, will be run next Saturday, January 20.

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Thursday, January 4, 2018

WONG WINS FOUR RACES ON MONDAY

New Year’s Day could not have gone much better for trainer Jonathan Wong. On Monday, the 29-year-old horseman scored victories with all four of his entrants on the first race card of 2018.

Wong started off his day with a victory from Hill Croome, who tallied his first career win when defeating five other maiden claimers in the Monday opener. Two races later, Mugaritz went straight to the lead and took a quintet of rival’s gate to wire in an allowance race for newly turned 3-year-old’s. Tammy’s Window carried the Wong barn’s winning momentum into Race 4, when the Southern California shipper easily defeated six other rivals in a starter allowance race on turf. She was making her first start for The Wong shedrow since moving up to Northern California from trainer Doug O’Neill’s stable last month. To put the icing on the cake for an already successful day, 7-year-old gelding Tribal Again won Race 7, a five and a half furlong sprint for lower level claimers. Three of the four Jonathan Wong winners went off favored, the lone runner not fitting into that category being Mugaritz, who went off as the second choice in his respective race.

“I thought all four could win,” said Wong. “I have really great help in the barn. We have good grooms who work hard and good owners who let me run the horses in the right spots. All of that helps.”

Jonathan has had much success since forming his own stable in 2015. Heading into Friday’s card, the San Francisco native has won 198 races from 697 starters in his young training career; that equates to a very high 29% win percentage. Before going out on his own, Wong worked as an assistant for trainer John Martin.

Wong has more than just winning races to look forward to in 2018; he and his fiancé, fellow horsewoman Meagan Davenport, will welcome their first child, a baby boy, into the world in May.

“I’m super excited. I can’t wait for him to get here,” said Jonathan. “If I lose at the races but go home to a healthy, happy family, that’s all that matters to me now.”

APPRENTICE LUCAS GUTIERREZ LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT AT GOLDEN GATE

Apprentice Lucas Gutierrez picked up his first win of the Winter/Spring meet last Monday aboard Hill Croome, a 3-year-old gelding who won a $5,000 maiden claiming sprint on Monday.

“He’s eager to get better and listens,” said jockey agent Ron Freitas, who represents the 20-year-old native of France. “Lucas is quiet and even keel but he is receptive to constructive criticism and wants to learn.”

Before joining The Bay Area jockey colony, Gutierrez worked horses in Southern California for trainer Phil D’Amato. He learned to ride in France, where his family currently resides. Early in 2017, Lucas rode at Golden Gate Fields and won six races at the bayside track, but had to move back to France for the remainder of the year to finalize his work visa.

“I noticed the last three weeks he was here last year, he looked good on a horse and had been progressing,” said Freitas. “I remember he rode a really smart race for Rene Amescua one day, breaking from the one hole, getting the horse out of the gate well and finishing strong on the horse. The next day he rode one for [Bill] Morey and rode another good race. I could see he was developing.”

“When I took Ricky [Gonzalez]’s book when he was an apprentice, I saw he was improving and getting better. With Lucas, I see the same thing,” continued Freitas. “He is still getting better. He’s got a lot of upside.”

“Oakland Ron” Freitas reports that Gutierrez has been working horses for top trainers like Bill Delia, John Martin, Andy Mathis, Jonathan Wong and Blaine Wright.

“He is working horses for good barns and eventually he will get his shot,” said Freitas. “There is room for a good apprentice rider [at Golden Gate Fields] and I think he can have a lot of success here.”

FINISH LINES: Jockeys Abel Cedillo and Aaron Gryder each won six races last week, propelling both riders to the top of the jockey standings after Week 1. William Antongeorgi III also had a solid week, winning five races, while Frank Alvarado, Rocco Bowen and Juan Hernandez picked up four victories apiece…Krsto Skye, winner of The Albany Stakes in June, finished eighth in The Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Monday and came out of the race in good shape, according to trainer Ari Herbertson…Congratulations goes out to Miss America Stakes winner Kathy’s Song and her connections. The daughter of Candy Ride finished third in Santa Anita’s feature race last Saturday, The Grade 1 $300,000 American Oaks, for owners Abbondanza Racing, Premier Racing Club, Jerry McClanahan and trainer Richard Baltas…City Plan, winner of The Gold Rush Stakes on December 2, drew post 7 of 7 in The Grade 3 $100,000 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita this Saturday. Tyler Connor, who rode the son of Street Sense to victory in The Gold Rush, retains the mount for trainer Eoin Harty…Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap winner Editore will also be competing in a stakes race this Saturday at Santa Anita. The Paulo Lobo trainee drew post 2 of 10 in The Grade 2 $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes for older horses going a mile and an eighth on the turf…Steph Being Steph, winner of The Golden Gate Debutante on November 24, makes her first start since the aforementioned stakes triumph this Saturday. The 3-year-old filly by Majestic Warrior will compete against eight other fillies in The Grade 3 $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at 7 furlongs.

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