$200,000 Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby (run at one mile and an eighth)
Race 7 at Golden Gate Fields
Saturday, February 18, 2017 (Post time: 3:45 Pacific Standard Time)

Analysis by Matt Dinerman

Ten Kentucky Derby points are awarded to the winner of Northern California’s most prestigious race, The El Camino Real Derby. Racing greats like Bobby Frankel, D. Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert, Laffit Pincay, Gary Stevens and Mike Smith have won this event, which was first run in 1982.

Let’s dissect the 2017 El Camino Real Derby field.

#1 ZAKAROFF is a son of Slew’s Tiznow that was purchased for just $25,000 as a yearling. After winning his third career start sprinting five and one half furlongs, this Steve Specht trainee stretched out to a route of ground for his debut try against winners. That day, he ran third to #2 More Power To Him, and then finished behind that rival, as well as #6 Colonel Samson, in his most recent start, The California Derby. It looks like he’ll need to pick up the pace to hit the board in this race.

#2 MORE POWER TO HIM finished off the board in the first two starts of his career, which were both sprint races. This colt has significantly improved since racing a route of ground though, so clearly running long is what he wants to do. He broke his maiden at a mile and a sixteenth in career start number three, ran third behind #6 Colonel Samson in the Gold Rush Stakes (while facing winners for the first time), and then rebounded with a sharp win against allowance company. In his most recent race, The California Derby, this guy had the lead in deep stretch but was eventually gunned down late by Southern California three-year-old (and Risen Star Stakes contender) So Conflated. He’s a contender, not a pretender.

#3 ANN ARBOR EDDIE has three wins in four starts. You have to like the fact that the only race he lost was The Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes, a race where he ran third behind Mastery, one of the top three-year-olds on The West Coast. That day he raced seven furlongs too, and since stretching out to a route of ground, this son of Square Eddie has thrived, winning two Cal-Bred Stakes races (The King Glorious Stakes and Cal Cup Derby.) In fact, he beat California Diamond in both stakes, and that rival finished second in the Bob Hope. Now ‘Eddie faces open company again, though there are certainly no Mastery’s in this field. Mario Gutierrez rides for trainer Doug O’Neill and Reddam Racing. They won this race last year with Frank Conversation.

#4 TRIBAL STORM was victorious (and impressive) in his career debut. That day, he sprinted five furlongs on this Golden Gate Fields turf course and won with plenty of verve. The ridgling proved that nice maiden score was no fluke, as he shipped down to Del Mar and went on to win an allowance race on dirt. After taking two months off, he came back to the races and ran third behind #3 Ann Arbor Eddie in The Cal Cup Derby, which was his first start in two months and also his first try going a route of ground. He’ll probably be a little more fit in his second start going long, but I have a feeling he’s best used underneath in exotics, if anywhere.

#5 SHEER FLATTERY is the 7-5 morning line favorite for Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, who has won The El Camino Real Derby a record six times. This guy wheels back in just two weeks after a third place finish in The Robert Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. He didn’t get the most desirable trip that day, losing plenty of ground on the first turn and making a pretty early move on the backstretch. He tried hard to the wire and only finished a half-length behind the second place finisher, so he ran a better than looked third. This ‘capper thinks he was probably the second best horse in that race. The winner of The Robert Lewis (Royal Mo) would be odds if he were to run in this race, so ‘Flattery faces a little bit easier company here while also making his first start over a synthetic track. By Flatter is out of a Grand Slam mare, Sheer Flattery’s pedigree says he will love going this mile and an eighth distance.

#6 COLONEL SAMSON has the most experience out of anyone in this field. He’s been all over the map too: he ran in Philadelphia and Kentucky early on in his career but broke his maiden at Del Mar, where he defeated #7 Kona Dreams on turf in November. After the maiden triumph, he shipped up to Golden Gate and took home the gold medal in The Gold Rush Stakes. Even though he lost by over 20 lengths in his next start, The Grade 3 Sham Stakes, you can excuse that effort as the race was run over a sloppy track, something ‘The Colonel’ probably didn’t like, and he was also facing some major players on The Kentucky Derby trail (Gormley and American Anthem) that day. He came back to the races in just two weeks after the poor Sham Stakes showing and ran a respectable third behind So Conflated and #3 More Power To Him in The Cal Derby. So, you’re looking at a horse that has run two solid races over this track and now gets a little more time in between races. I could see ‘Samson being competitive once again.

#7 KONA DREAMS, another Southern California shipper, looks to break his maiden in this Grade 3 race. All four career starts for this gelding have come on turf; usually turf runners transfer their form to the synthetics pretty nicely. He only lost by a nose in his career debut in October and finished a length and a half behind #6 Colonel Samson the following month, when that aforementioned rival broke his maiden. #7 Kona Dreams adds blinkers for this race and maybe that’ll help him take a step forward. Sure it’d be a surprise if the maiden won this race, but you have to give Southern California shippers a second look. If he improves and runs a big race, an in-the-money finish wouldn’t be totally crazy…would it?

THE PACE: There is no confirmed front-runner in this race, though a few of the runners signed on here have tactical speed. #3 Ann Arbor Eddie has shown front running speed before; two starts ago he was dueling on the lead in a one-mile race. That said, he has shown the ability to rate, so Mario Gutierrez has options. #4 Tribal Storm was dueling on the lead in a six and a half furlong sprint, though he stalked the pace in his last start, which was a route race. Another one where the rider has options. #7 Kona Dreams will wear blinkers for the first time in this race. Sometimes when horses add ‘the hood’, they show more speed, so maybe he’ll be a little closer than in past starts.

I expect the pace to be contentious but not necessarily fast.

THE CLASS: Shipping up from Southern California and having faced legit stakes company down South, #3 Ann Arbor Eddie and #5 Sheer Flattery look to have the most class in this field. #2 More Power To Him and #6 Colonel Samson have proven they have legit stakes talent too though, and either runner winning this race wouldn’t be a total surprise.

Top Pick: #3 Ann Arbor Eddie- Another nice three-year-old from the O’Neill stable

Second choice: #5 Sheer Flattery- Fits in well with this group. Projected to go off at a low price, so we will try to beat him.

Third choice: #2 More Power To Him- Just getting better with racing experience. Expecting another big effort.

 Longshot to consider: #6 Colonel Samson- Two solid efforts over this track

Let’s get lucky!

Albany, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2017) — Trainer Doug O’Neil, assisted by Leandro Mora, picked up his second stakes victory of the Winter/Spring Meet with Tap It All in the $50,000 California Oaks stakes. Ridden by Kyle Frey, Tap It All went to the lead and stayed there for this 1 mile and 1/16 race. Setting all the pace, Tap It All, was able to hold off betting favorite, Tapped, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey, Alex Solis, and trained by Hall of Fame trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer. Tap It All paid $12.40 and completed the two turner in 1:45.12.

Assistant trainer Leandro Mora: “The race was exactly what I thought all day long. I was kind of worried about Hollendorfer’s horse that he might take the lead and our filly likes to be a little feisty. But once Kyle was so far out, he just went and did the right thing all the way to the wire.”

Jockey Kyle Frey: “I spoke to Doug, he was very confident the horse likes to be forwardly placed, as it shows on the form.  I agree, but I honestly thought that the 3 horse was going to show more speed. And bounce out and we could sit right off him, but when we popped out of there real easy and I just moved a little off the rail and I figured anything that had to go around would have to go real wide. And we just slowed it down from there and galloped on home. It was fun.”

Tomorrow, February 12, will be Dollar Day with $1 Mimosas $1 Beers, $1 Hot Dogs, $1 General Admission, $1 General Parking, and $1 Programs. Join us Feb 18, next Saturday, for the El Camino Real Derby, Bay Area’s Kentucky Derby prep race and the richest race in Northern California.

$50,000 California Oaks (run at one mile and a sixteenth)
Race 8 at Golden Gate Fields
Saturday, February 11, 2017 (Post time: 4:15 Pacific Standard Time)

Analysis by Matt Dinerman

This Saturday at Golden Gate Fields, 10 three-year-old fillies battle it out in the 2017 edition of The $50,000 California Oaks, the feature event on the 9-race program. Let’s dissect this field, beginning with a filly breaking from the rail. 

#1 TAP IT ALL was purchased for a whopping $800,000 as a two-year-old, so expectations have always been high. She broke her maiden by over 13 lengths while routing on the lawn at Turf Paradise two starts ago, and then faced winners in The Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita, where she lost by a head at 28-1. It was a big effort. She ran over this Tapeta surface once and even though she finished third behind two runners signed on here (#2 Smiling Ann and #4 Peaked), her last race shows it’s possible the light bulb is finally turning on. One of two runners for trainer Doug O’Neill that should be considered a contender.

#2 SMILING ANN took eight tries to break her maiden but finally got the job done on January 2, when she beat #5 Solana Wind by a little over a length. She wheeled back in just 14 days and beat allowance company in game fashion, finishing in front of #4 Peaked, #6 War Mocassin, #7 Shari and Everybody Does It, who ran third in a starter allowance race last week. Now ‘Ann will be facing a few new shooters from Southern California while making her third start in five and a half weeks.

#3 TAPPED went off at 1-5 in The Pike Place Dancer Stakes over this surface three starts ago. That day, she raced wide on both turns and was eventually outfinished by #9 Simmy’s Temple, losing by three-quarters of a length. Since then, she has run a respectable fourth in The Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos and won an allowance race sprinting on the dirt at Santa Anita. Expect her to be ready to roll for the Hall of Fame tag team of Jerry Hollendorfer, who won this race last year with Kiss N Scat, and Alex Solis, who’s up from Southern California to ride this daughter of top North American sire Tapit.

#4 PEAKED broke her maiden at 22-1 three starts ago and proved that race was no fluke with solid in-the-money finishes against allowance company in her two most recent races. That said, she’ll need to turn the tables on #1 Smiling Ann, who beat this gal by a head last time out, and will probably need to run the best race of her life to have a chance of winning.

#5 SOLANA WIND finished right behind #2 Smiling Ann on January 2, her second career start, before coming back four weeks later and beating five fillies in a two-turn event while making her first start under the conditioning of trainer Blaine Wright. This certainly isn’t an easy spot to be facing winners for the first time and even though this ‘capper thinks she’s got some talent, I’m looking elsewhere in this race.

#6 WAR MOCCASIN was super impressive beating #2 Smiling Ann two races ago in a maiden special weight, coming home in quick time while galloping out full of energy. She ran in an allowance race won by the aforementioned rival on January 16, though it’s worth noting ‘Moccasin had to take up in the stretch, while making her move in a tight spot. This ‘capper thinks she didn’t get a chance to show her best that day and with a better trip, there’s reason to believe she might have won. Could do some damage at a price.

#7 SHARI broke her maiden all the way back in July, sprinting five furlongs on dirt. Since that victory, she has finished off the board in three of four races against winners. Looks like one of the runners that will need to pick up the pace to be competitive for an in-the-money placing.

#8 SHEEZA SASSY GIRL won her most recent afternoon appearance, though that race was sprinting five and one-half furlongs against starter allowance company. She’s never raced farther than five and one-half panels and now she faces a significantly tougher level of competition at a longer distance. Her pedigree suggests she’ll be okay going a route of ground, but whether she has the class to compete here is a major question mark.

#9 SIMMY’S TEMPLE is the second runner trained by Doug O’Neill. She was the victor of The Pike Place Dancer Stakes in October, defeating likely race favorite #3 Tapped that afternoon. #9 Simmy’s Temple has finished off the board in two starts since that win, but both efforts came in Southern California against a little bit tougher company. Who knows…maybe this gal is a runner that just really likes to race over synthetic surfaces. She should be taken seriously.

THE PACE: #8 Sheeza Sassy Girl just might be the pacesetter.  She showed some sprint speed in her last start and is also stretching out to two turns for the first time here; these types are typically forwardly placed in their first route race. #3 Tapped has tactical speed; she has been the front-runner in a couple of races but has also shown the ability to rate if need-be. #1 Tap It All is another with tactical speed, but with her inside post position, we can expect her rider, Kyle Frey, to be aggressive and put her close to the pace, if not on the lead.

THE CLASS: Two Southern California invaders, #3 Tapped and #9 Simmy’s Temple, have the most class in this field. #9 Simmy’s Temple is the only stakes winner in the field and #3 Tapped finished fourth in a two-turn Grade 1 race earlier in the winter.

Top Pick: #9 Simmy’s Temple- Pace scenario should shape up well for her

Second Choice: #3 Tapped- The one to beat again

Third Choice: #2 Smiling Ann- Has hit the board in her past 7 starts

Longshot To Consider: #6 War Moccasin- Ran better than looked against our third choice last month

Win bet: #9 Simmy’s Temple

Exacta Box: #3 Tapped and #6 War Moccasin and #9 Simmy’s Temple

Let’s get lucky!

                                                                                       by Matt Dinerman

Santa Anita and former Golden Gate Fields track announcer Michael Wrona explained The 2016 Breeders Cup Classic stretch run best: “A pulsating, climax to the classic…ARROGATE TAKES THE LEAD AND WINS!” The two best dirt horses on the planet, #1 Arrogate and #12 California Chrome, started off a two-race rivalry in the ‘Classic, which turned out to be one of the best races of the year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVY3sP7_wv0). A sequel to that rivalry takes place this Saturday in The $12,000,000 Pegasus World Cup, with a dozen runners assembling to take part in the world’s richest race.

We all know what 6-5 morning line favorite #12 California Chrome can do. In this capper’s opinion, he has a better chance of beating #1 Arrogate at a mile and an eighth than he did at a mile and a quarter. In the Breeders Cup Classic, California Chrome went to the lead immediately and was there pretty much the entire way…. that is, until he was eventually run down in the final strides by Arrogate. This time we’ll probably see ‘Chrome’ stalk the pace and try to run by the aforementioned rival. ‘Chrome has a very high cruising speed and will go when Victor Espinoza pushes the button, so that’s a positive.

Post position 12 is not an easy place to win from. According to Daily Racing Form writer Marcus Hersch, since 2006 there have been 18 races where a horse broke from post position 12 going a mile and an eighth on dirt at Gulfstream Park. Just one horse has won from that post; that one horse was the very talented Big Brown, who won The Florida Derby in 2008 and went on to win The Kentucky Derby and Preakness. That said, California Chrome is much faster than most of the horses to his inside, so assuming he breaks well, he should have enough early zip to cross over and get solid position heading into the first turn.

7-5 morning line second choice #1 Arrogate breaks from post position 1. Like his main competitor, Arrogate also does not have a desirable post position. A long striding horse with a high cruising speed like Arrogate needs to run freely, and he could be taken out of his element if he’s caught behind a pack of horses heading into the first turn. Arrogate doesn’t break slowly, but he tends to take a few strides to get into rhythm, so it’s no secret he’ll be ridden aggressively out of the gate. Expect jockey Mike Smith to send HARD in an effort to have him forwardly placed.

Based on that, my guess is that Smith is going to try and take this field gate to wire, similar to what he did in The Travers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HMyD7svqEI). On Travers Day, Arrogate also broke from post position 1.

It’s also worth noting that no horse has been able to run by ‘Chrome in the final furlong of a race since the spectacular Shared Belief did it in February of 2015, when he won The San Antonio Invitational. It takes a superstar to run by a horse like California Chrome in the final furlong, but Arrogate did it. HOWEVER, remember this race is a mile and an eighth, so if for some reason Arrogate is behind California Chrome once again, he’ll have one less furlong to run down the 2016 Horse of the Year. He needed every bit of ground to do so in The Breeders Cup.

At the end of the day, my pick is #1 Arrogate. If he can get to the lead, I think he’ll be very tough to run down. I would love to see California Chrome go out a winner and it would be an incredible moment for all who have admired his sensational talent. That said, I think Arrogate could be one of the greats….he just might be THAT good.

Place a wager, sit back, relax, get out the popcorn and enjoy the race! Hopefully it’s a race worth remembering for a long, long time.

 

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Saturday, January 21, 2017) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced this evening that California Chrome, winner of the Dubai World Cup and the TVG Pacific Classic, and North America’s all-time leading money earning Thoroughbred, was voted as Horse of the Year, an honor which he also won in 2014, at the 46th Annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The Eclipse Awards, honoring excellence in North American Thoroughbred racing, presented by The Stronach Group, Daily Racing Form and the Breeders’ Cup, are voted on by the NTRA, Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB).

California Chrome becomes the first two-time Horse of the Year to win the honor in non-consecutive years since John Henry achieved it in 1981 and 1984. Owned by California Chrome LLC of Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm, and trained by Art Sherman, California Chrome received 202 first-place votes for Horse of the Year. Juddmonte Farms’ 3-year-old Arrogate, who was named Outstanding 3-year-old Male, finished second with 40 votes; Fox Hill Farms’ 3-year-old filly Songbird finished third with five votes and Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s Highland Reel (IRE), received one vote. Songbird was voted the unanimous winner of the 3-Year-Old Filly Eclipse Award earlier this evening.

California Chrome, who was also named the unanimous winner of the Older Dirt Male award, won 7 of 8 starts in 2016, including dominant victories in the $10 million Dubai World Cup and the TVG Pacific Classic, and propelled him to become the all-time leading North American money earner with $14,502,650.

Arrogate was spectacular in securing the 3-year-old title under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. A son of former 2-year-old champion Unbridled’s Song, Arrogate won the Travers Stakes by 13 ½ lengths, in 1:59.36, the fastest time in the 147-year history of the race. Eight weeks later he wore down California Chrome to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  Arrogate is the seventh Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old trained by Baffert.

Songbird, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, won seven of eight starts last year on her way to Champion 3-Year-Old Filly title. Among her wins were grade one victories in the Santa Anita Oaks, the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Cotillion Stakes. She lost the only race of her career when defeated a nose to the champion Older Dirt Female winner Beholder in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

The complete list of 2016 Eclipse Awards winners and vote totals appears below:

(Horse ages in parentheses where applicable; Country codes indicate a foreign breeding designation)

Two-Year-Old Male: Classic Empire

Two-Year-Old Filly:  Champagne Room

Three-Year-Old Male:  Arrogate

Three-Year-Old Filly:  Songbird

Older Dirt Male:  California Chrome (5)

Older Dirt Female: Beholder (6)

Male Sprinter:  Drefong (3)

Female Sprinter: Finest City (4)

Male Turf Horse: Flintshire (GB) (6)

Female Turf Horse: Tepin (5)

Steeplechase Horse: Rawnaq (IRE) (9)

Owner: Juddmonte Farms, Inc.

Breeder: WinStar Farm LLC

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Apprentice Jockey: Luis Ocasio

Trainer: Chad Brown

The Eclipse Awards

Eclipse Awards are bestowed upon the Thoroughbred horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements have earned them the title of Champion in their respective divisions. The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-Century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies.

Voting Overview

In voting that concluded January 3, 2017, Eclipse Awards voters cast their ballots to rank the top three horses and individuals in each Championship division on a 10-5-1 point system basis. This voting established the top three finalists in each division, whose names were released on Jan. 5, 2012. The tallies below represent only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities, NTRA, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers And Broadcasters. The votes were tabulated and certified by Strothman and Company.

Voter participation rate: 248/264= 93.94%

Two-Year-Old Male (Name, First-Place Votes)

Classic Empire, 248.

Two-Year-Old Filly

Champagne Room, 202; New Money Honey, 21; Lady Aurelia, 11; Pretty City Dancer, 5; Shane’s Girlfriend, 3; Abel Tasman, 2; Miss Sky Warrior, 2; Victory to Victory, 1; Voter Abstentions, 1.

Three-Year-Old Male

Arrogate, 243; Exaggerator, 2; Nyquist, 2; Gun Runner, 1.

Three-Year-Old Filly

Songbird, 248.

Older Dirt Male

California Chrome, 248.

Older Dirt Female

Beholder, 246; Stellar Wind, 2.

Male Sprinter

Drefong, 199; Lord Nelson, 29; A.P. Indian, 20.

Female Sprinter

Finest City, 185; Haveyougoneaway, 20; Paulassilverlining, 13; Taris, 12; Carina Mia, 11; Constellation, 2; Lightstream, 1; Songbird, 1. Voter Abstentions, 3.

Male Turf Horse

Flintshire (GB), 137; Highland Reel (IRE), 76; Tourist, 32; Da Big Hoss, 1. Voter Abstentions, 2.

Female Turf Horse

Tepin, 225; Found (IRE), 11; Queen’s Trust (GB), 7; Lady Eli, 2; Miss Temple City, 2; Catch a Glimpse, 1.

Steeplechase Horse

Rawnaq (IRE), 171; Top Striker, 31; Special Skills, 2; Bob Le Beau (IRE), 1; Portrade (IRE), 1. Voter Abstentions, 42.

Owner

Juddmonte Farms, Inc., 134; Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 45; Klaravich Stables, Inc., and William Lawrence, 17; Spendthrift Farm, LLC, 17; California Chrome, LLC, 16; Reddam Racing LLC, 4; Fox Hill Farms, Inc. 3; John Oxley, 3; WinStar Farm, 2; End Zone Athletics, 1 Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc., 1. Voter Abstentions, 5.

Breeder

WinStar Farm, LLC; 164; Clearsky Farms, 62; Juddmonte Farms, Ltd., 4; Darley, 3; Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, 3; Adena Springs, 2; Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 1; Machmer Hall, 1. Voter Abstentions, 8.

Trainer

Chad Brown, 208; Bob Baffert, 21, Mark Casse, 11; Art Sherman, 3; Steve Asmussen, 2; Karl Broberg, 1; Todd Pletcher, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.

Jockey

Javier Castellano, 146; Mike Smith, 44; Jose Ortiz, 41; Florent Geroux,12; Irad Ortiz, Jr., 2; Julien Leparoux, 1. Voter Abstentions, 2.

Apprentice Jockey

Luis Ocasio, 182; Lane Luzzi, 34; Eric Cancel, 1; Ashley Castrenze, 1. Voter Abstentions, 30.

Award of Merit

The recipients of the Award of Merit, voted on by a panel of representatives from the three presenting organizations and previously announced, are Andrew Beyer and Steven Crist. The Award of Merit is presented to honor outstanding lifetime achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.

Media Eclipse Awards

Media Eclipse Awards also are given in the categories of photography, audio and multi-media Internet, news/enterprise writing, feature/commentary writing, national television-feature and national television-live racing programming to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing. The 2016 Media Eclipse Awards winners, determined by a judges’ panel for each category and previously announced, are:

Live Racing Programming – NBC Sports – “2016 Breeders’ Cup World Championships,” Billy Matthews, producer; November 5, 2016.

Television Features – ESPN – E:60; “Barnyard Buddies,”. Megan Anderson, Heather Lombardo, Tonya Malinowski and Mike Johns, producers; May 3, 2016.

Audio/Multi-Media and Internet – Daily Racing Form – “Time Bandits,” Jay Hovdey (writer), Barbara Livingston (photographer) and Molly McGill (videographer); June 6, 2016.

Writing – News/Enterprise – Natalie Voss “‘Something’s Wrong With My Brain’ – The Lurking Danger of Concussions for Jockeys,” Paulick Report. December 30, 2015.

Writing – Feature/Commentary – John Scheinman “Andrew Beyer: Rebel with a Cause,” Paulick Report. November 12, 2016

Photography – Tod Marks – “George & John Sloan Hurdle,” Chronicle of the Horse, Untacked; May 14, 2016.

About the NTRA

The NTRA, based in Lexington, Ky., is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horseplayers, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity, welfare and integrity of Thoroughbred racing through consensus-based leadership, legislative advocacy, safety and integrity initiatives, fan engagement and corporate partner development. The NTRA owns and manages the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance; NTRA.com; the Eclipse Awards; the National Handicapping Championship; NTRA Advantage, a corporate partner sales and sponsorship program; and Horse PAC®, a federal political action committee. NTRA press releases appear on NTRA.com, Twitter (@ntra) and Facebook (facebook.com/1NTRA).

Albany, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2017) — So Conflated shipped in from Southern California to bring back to back $100,000 California Derby victories to trainer Doug O’Neill. Ridden by Kentucky Derby winning jockey, Mario Gutierrez, the 1 and 1/16 miles was completed in 1:44.71. So Conflated sat just off the pace for the majority of the race before rallying to the lead to beat More Power to Him. Betting favorite Vending Machine and 6 to 1 Secret House fought for the lead early with blistering fractions of 24.18, 48.92, and 1:13.32 before fading in the stretch to finish last and second to last. So Conflated’s last win came as the result of a disqualification at Santa Anita on December 26 where he was placed first in his $56,000 Maiden Special Weight.

“We were pretty excited after the last race. I know it was a win by DQ, but he still showed real good promise in that race. I figured this track would suit him really good,” said Gutierrez, who had a near perfect trip all the way around. “Halfway through the race everything was according to plan, but from the 3/8 to the ¼ pole I started worrying a little bit because all of the horses were moving, so I waited for a hole, and thankfully one opened. When I asked him to go, he responded.”

Assistant trainer Leandro Mora has been working with this horse from the start alongside trainer Doug O’Neill. “He was a late bloomer. He was not a Nyquist type horse. We had to babysit this horse. He wasn’t a professional mentality. He has good quality we need to just put him on the right track and make sure he is doing the right thing. I would love to repeat what we did last year with Frank Conversation, but that’s up to the trainer and owner for what’s up next for him. This is horse can run on dirt and Derby fever is right around the corner. Why not us?” said Mora.

Tomorrow, January 22, will be Dollar Day with $1 Beers, $1 Hot Dogs, $1 General Admission, $1 General Parking, and $1 Programs. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational will be January 28. Come out and join us for the richest horse race ever run, $12,000,000 and California Chrome’s last race. Our Chinese New Year Celebration will be February 4; Golden Gate Fields will be offering $2 Tsingtao beer, Wokitchen Food truck, Red Envelope Giveaway of over $12,000 in vouchers and Lion Dancer entertainment.

$100,000 California Derby
Race 8 at Golden Gate Fields
Saturday, January 21, 2017 (Post time: 4:15 Pacific Standard Time)

Analysis by Matt Dinerman

The 2017 edition of the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields features five runners shipping in from Southern California and three locals trying to win for the Bay Area faithful. Let’s take a look at each contender:

#1 SONATEER is still a maiden. His last race came on November 27, when he finished second behind a highly regarded runner (Royal Mo) at Santa Anita. His three-career route tries were all solid, in-the-money efforts. That said, he’ll need to pick up the pace to win it.

#2 ZAKAROFF broke his maiden impressively two starts back when sprinting five and one-half furlongs. In his most recent race (12/31/16) he made his first start going a route of ground and against winners. He sat in midfield, picked up the pace in the final furlong and finished third, a length and a quarter behind #3 More Power To Him. He gets a sixteenth of a mile more to negotiate today and maybe he can take a step forward in his second start going long. There’s upside here.

#3 MORE POWER TO HIM was the victor of that allowance race on December 31. Unlike #2 Zakaroff, this guy already had a couple of route races under his belt. Two starts back he ran a respectable third in The Gold Rush Stakes behind #6 Colonel Samson and broke his maiden three starts ago, at this distance. He’s improved with racing experience, but he’ll need to turn the tables on ‘Samson and beat some new shooters from Southern California.

#4 SO CONFLATED has only two starts. In his debut, he finished third behind American Anthem, who came back to lose a photo finish in The Sham Stakes (G1). Last time out, So Conflated finished second, a head behind a Bob Baffert runner named Dabster, but was declared the winner via disqualification. This will be So Conflated’s first try going a route of ground. His pedigree suggests he’ll love going farther and he runs like a horse who wants more ground. It’s also worth noting Dabster came back to win last week, which is a positive endorsement for So Conflated. He races for Reddam Racing, Doug O’Neill and Mario Gutierrez: the team who won last year’s California Derby with Frank Conversation.

#5 VENDING MACHINE was last seen winning The Eddie Logan Stakes on the lawn at Santa Anita. Usually turf runners transfer their form to the Golden Gate Tapeta nicely and this horse has run well on dirt and turf, so I’d imagine he’ll be OK on Tapeta too. The son of Hard Spun is a half sibling to the Grade I winner and million dollar earner Comma To the Top, so he’s bred to be nice, and his last few races have been terrific. In fact, three starts ago he won an allowance race and the second and third place finishers came right back to win. The morning line favorite for good reason.

#6 COLONEL SAMSON won the Gold Rush Stakes in early December, finishing in front of #3 More Power To Him. On January 7, he ran against Gormley and American Anthem in The Sham Stakes (G3) and was beaten by over 22 lengths. You can cross that last race out; it was against much tougher over a sloppy track, which he didn’t take kindly to. The quick turnaround is a minor concern and this is a little tougher field than what he saw in The Gold Rush last month, but he merits respect.

#7 SECRET HOUSE is the second runner shipping in from Southern California for trainer Doug O’Neill. This $125,000 sales purchase finished second in his most recent start, an allowance race for two-year-olds in October. He hasn’t been seen in almost three months and O’Neill is only 3 for 58 with runners making their first start off a 61-180 day layoff. This colt’s lone win came in his debut six starts ago, which was a four and a half furlong sprint all the way back in May. Hard to gauge.

#8 ABERDEEN ISLAND makes his first start against winners while also running in his first route race. He started off his career with a fourth place finish behind #2 Zakaroff and came back to win by a length and a quarter as the favorite in his second and most recent start to date. Now he’ll have to deal with winners who have route experience. This is a significant step up in class; not going to be an easy task.

THE PACE: There’s no confirmed front-runner so there will be some jockeying for position early on. #8 Aberdeen Island stretches out to two turns for the first time and sometimes these types are a little more forwardly placed than if they were in a sprint. #3 More Power To Him draws inside of other speed contenders, so he may be closer to the pace, similar to when he went to the lead in the Gold Rush Stakes. #7 Secret House should be within the top three early, considering he has shown speed in past starts and runners who are “fresh” sometimes show a little more early foot than they normally would. I’d expect the pace to be contentious, but not necessarily fast.

THE CLASS: #5 Vending Machine and #6 Colonel Samson are the two classiest horses. Each has a stakes win, something the others do not have.

Top Pick: #5 Vending Machine- Class of the field and the one to beat

Second choice: #4 So Conflated-I’m looking forward to seeing him run longer

Third choice: #6 Colonel Samsen- Looked good winning over this track in The Gold Rush

Longshot To Consider: #3 Zakaroff-Improving with racing experience; has talent

Win bet: #3 Zakaroff
Exacta Box: #3 Zakaroff and #4 So Conflated and #5 Vending Machine

2017 inductees to be honored at the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Banquet on Monday, April 24, 2017 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce it has selected the 2017 induction class. The inductees will be honored at the 38th Annual Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Banquet on Monday, April 24, 2017 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, Ca.

Each year, the Bay Area Sorts Hall of Fame (BASHOF) prepares a ballot and solicits votes from all major media outlets in the Bay Area. There are three ballots: Contemporary (after 1980), Veteran (Prior to 1980) and Distinguished Service. From the results of the ballots, 4-5 new inductees are selected annually. Through 2016, there have been 165 persons inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. We are very honored to present the following inductees for 2017.

 2017 Inductee Class

Russell Baze (Horse Racing)
Bill Cartwright (Basketball)
Carmen Policy (Distinguished Achievement)
Kerri Walsh Jennings (Volleyball)
Matt Williams (Baseball)

The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that began in 1979 with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s Sports Committee and Lou Spadia, former president of the San Francisco 49ers. Now in its 38th year and adhering to its goal of honoring local athletic legends in the name of benefiting youth sports, BASHOF has donated close to $4 million to youth sports programs in the Bay Area to over 600 youth organizations in the Bay Area.

We are very pleased to continue our tradition with the new 2017 Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame induction class.

Joe Fink Kevin O’Brien
Chairman President/CEO
415-405-0744

Golden Gate Fields will offer Holiday racing on Monday, January 16.  First post is slated to go off at 12:45 p.m. Gates will open at 10:00 a.m. for early bird wagering on the action taking place across the country.

Following the conclusion of the Holiday card, live racing will resume at Golden Gate Fields on Friday, January 20 and run through Sunday, January 22.

Derby season kicks off on Saturday, January 21 with the running of the $100,000 California Derby – a prep for the Grade III $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (to be contested Saturday, February 18).