TRAINER TAMAYO WINS 7 RACES IN 3 DAYS

Trainer Isidro Tamayo was all smiles Wednesday morning, days removed after a 7-win week which saw the 33-year-old conditioner springboard to second place in the trainer standings at the current fall meeting. Tamayo won a duo of races on Friday and Saturday before capping off his week with a 3-bagger on Sunday. In 2 of the 7 races that Tamayo won, he also saddled the second-place finisher.

“It was about as good of a week as you could have asked for,” said Tamayo. “I’m very lucky to have good help in my barn that works hard every day. My owners have been very supportive and I am very thankful for the opportunity to train their horses.”

Tamayo was born into a racing family. In fact, he entered the world on the property of Old English Rancho Farm where his father, Alfonzo Tamayo, was a longtime assistant for trainer Don Warren. Alfonzo also worked for trainer Lonnie Arterburn in a career caring for horses that lasted many decades.

In 2004, Isidro began working for longtime Northern California trainer Gil Matos as a hotwalker and groom. Three years later, Tamayo picked up his assistant trainer’s license and stayed with the Matos barn for an additional 10 years.

“I learned a lot from Gil and his crew,” said Tamayo. “Gil did not claim nearly as many horses as I do. He developed a lot of younger horses. I learned about how to be patient with younger horses and how to develop them into successful, improving racehorses over time.”

Isidro voyaged out on his own in 2017 and started out with 3 horses given to him by owner Graeme Chung, who is still a major supporter of the Tamayo barn. Tamayo has grown his stable from 3 horses to 50 in just about two years.

“I’ve picked up many owners along the way. We’ve claimed a lot of nice horses. This was the first year where I was given about a dozen 2-year-olds to train.”

Tamayo credits his father Alfonzo as a mentor.

“My dad is retired now but lives close to the track,” said Tamayo. “I always pick him up early in the morning and he comes to the barn with me and helps out during morning training. He’s taught me a lot about good horsemanship. I want to be in this business for the rest of my life. I love horses and I love what I do.”

JOCKEY LUIS R. REYES SHIPS TACK TO GOLDEN GATE

New York-based rider Luis R. Reyes will begin riding at Golden Gate Fields this weekend and has picked up the services of jockey agent Fernando “Shoes” Navarro, who will be handling his book. Reyes is named on 7 horses this Saturday.

“The process of Luis coming here happened very quickly-within a matter of days,” said Navarro. “I spoke over the phone with [New York jockey] Jose Ortiz, who is really good friends with Luis. Jose told me [Luis] is a good rider and he has talent, but he wanted to see his buddy get an opportunity somewhere else other than New York because [Luis] wasn’t getting as much business as he would have liked.”

No harm, no foul. The New York riding colony has arguably the strongest roster of jockeys in the United States, which makes it very difficult for any rider to break in there.

The 24-year-old Reyes is a graduate of the Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school in Puerto Rico, where he was born and raised. Other highly rated riders to graduate from the school include John Velazquez, Manny Franco, Jose Ortiz and his brother Irad. All four aforementioned journeyman riders are based in New York and sit at the top of their profession.

“I’ve watched replays. Luis looks great on a horse,” said Navarro. “He told me he is ready to work hard. People are genuinely interested in using him right away, which is a positive sign. I think he can do well here. He just needs to get the right opportunities. I think we’ve got some live mounts for him this week and hopefully we get the ball rolling with a few winners right off the bat.”

$100,000 GUARANTEED LATE PICK 4 POOL FEATURED ON EXCEPTIONAL SATURDAY PROGRAM

Golden Gate Fields management announced Wednesday afternoon that the bayside track will offer a $100,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 pool on Saturday, which features a 10 race program and a first post time of 12:45 PM. The 50-cent minimum Late Pick 4 drew 44 horses in the 4-race sequence, which averages out to 11 horses per race.

The first leg of the Late Pick 4 sequence (Race 7) attracts a full field of 12 starter allowance runners. Post time for the mile and a sixteenth Tapeta contest is 3:45 PM PT, although that time is subject to change. The second leg (Race 8), a maiden special weight on the turf, drew ten 2-year-olds, with one also-eligible. #5 A.P. Pharoah is a well-regarded colt sired by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah who makes his career debut. The Peter Redekop owned equine was purchased for $300,000 by his current connections and will be ridden by trainer Blaine Wright’s go-to rider, Juan Hernandez. Also entered in the race is #1 Penman, trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Neil Drysdale, and #10 American Farmer, a full sibling to stakes-placed filly Blue Diva. Leg 3 (Race 9), a one-mile allowance on Tapeta for fillies and mares three-year-olds and upward, also drew a full field with an also-eligible. Among the leading contenders is (none other than) #2 Blue Diva, Pacific Northwest stakes winner #5 Little Dancer and Southern California shipper #8 Noble Contessa. The last leg (Race 10), lists a field of ten $12,500 claiming sprinters on the main track.

The Saturday program is enticing from beginning to the end. The first five races comprise the Early Pick 5 sequence, which is a 50 Cent minimum bet and a low 14% takeout wager. The Golden Pick Six Jackpot wager, a 20 cent minimum bet, starts in Race 5. 94 horses are entered on the 10 race program, which equates to over 9 horses per race.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Juan Hernandez leads in the jockey standings with 26 wins, 3 more than Frank Alvarado…Trainer Jonathan Wong has a 16-13 lead over Isidro Tamayo in the trainer standings…Leg D of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday…Nominations for the Golden Gate Debutante (to be run Friday, November 29) and the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap (on Saturday, November 30) close Thursday…Heading into Thursday’s card, there is an $8,895 carryover in the 20 Cent Golden Pick Six jackpot wager. The $1 Rolling Super High Five wager has a $9,015 carryover in Race 4, given 7 starters remain in the field…Good luck to jockeys Kevin Orozco and David C. Lopez. Orozco moved to Turf Paradise over the weekend and already won a race there on Tuesday while Lopez has relocated to Parx.

Berkeley, Calif. (November 16, 2019)-3-year-old gelding Baja Sur transferred his winning form from Emerald Downs to Golden Gate Fields in the feature race at Golden Gate on Saturday afternoon, displaying a lethal turn of foot down the stretch to win the $50,000 Oakland Stakes for sprinters 3-years-old and upward.

After breaking alertly from post position 2, Baja Sur dueled on the lead for the first quarter mile with eventual runner up finisher Sigur Ros. After conceding the lead to the aforementioned rival by the far turn, Baja Sur came on again in upper stretch, opened up on the competition late and finished the six-furlong contest 4 and a 1/4 lengths clear of Sigur Ros. 8-5 favorite Oiseau de Guerre could only manage to be third while Smokey Image, the longest shot in the field, rounded out the superfecta. Indian Zip, My Friend Emma and Quick and Silver completed the field.

“It looked like there was a lot of pace in the race,” said winning jockey Juan Hernandez. “I wanted to get him out of the gate and put him in a good spot. In the race, I saw Sigur Ros going at the far turn and I took back. [Baja Sur] relaxed pretty well for me at that point. I was waiting to make my move on the far turn but for a moment I didn’t think [Sigur Ros] would stop. When I asked my horse to go at the quarter pole, though, he moved really well to the wire to win. He is a very nice horse.

Winning trainer Blaine Wright was extremely pleased with his sophomore gelding’s performance.

“We knew early on this was a good horse,” said Wright. “He ran great at Emerald and we decided to test the waters in Northern California. He’s proven to be very good down here so I’m very thankful. Many thanks to the owners, John and Janene Maryanski and Riverbend Farm (Gayle and Gerald Schneider). Without them, I would have never gotten this horse.”

Baja Sur, a sale topper at the 2017 Washington Yearling Sale, won four races at Emerald Downs in Auburn Washington by a combined 21 lengths. His two-back effort, a second-place finish behind sharp Southern California gelding Fashionably Fast, was his first career loss. With the Oakland Stakes victory, Baja Sur improved his career record to 5-4-1-0 with career earnings of $136,800. The Washington bred son of Smiling Tiger is out of the mare Premo Copy, a stakes winner herself and dam of 7 other winners.

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OAKLAND STAKES DRAWS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHIPPERS AND LOCALS

7 contenders sprint 6 furlongs on Tapeta in the feature race at Golden Gate this week: the $50,000 Oakland Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward. The Oakland is Race 7 on a 9-race program this Saturday and has a scheduled post time of 3:48 PM PT.

The morning line favorite is Oiseau de Guerre, who draws the rail post position for trainer Michael McCarthy. The son of War Front has won three races in a row-all over the Golden Gate Tapeta-and clearly has an affinity for the bayside track’s Tapeta course. He is expected to sit off the pace early and make one run late.

Baja Sur is campaigned by Blaine Wright and faces older horses for the second time in his career. The 3-year-old son of Smiling Tiger was sensational in four races at Emerald Downs to kick off his career but suffered his first career loss in lifetime start #5 last month in the Harris Farm Stakes, finishing three-quarters of a length behind older gelding Fashionably Fast. Baja Sur makes his first afternoon appearance on Tapeta but sports a pair of sharp five-furlong drills over the surface leading up to this race.

Trainer Jesus Ramos saddles a pair of contenders in Quick and Silver and My Friend Emma. The former gelding is a Tapeta specialist, with 16 of his 17 lifetime victories having come over the GGF main track. The latter is Grade 3 placed over the surface; he finished second in the All-American Stakes in 2018.

Another who thrives on Tapeta is the Andy Mathis trained Sigur Ros. The 5-year-old gelding by Gemologist possesses a 4 for 5 record over the course and has won his past two starts by a combined 10 lengths. Jockey Ricky Gonzalez was aboard for both races and retains the mount.

Indian Zip and Smokey Image round out the field. Indian Zip finished a half-length behind Oiseau de Guerre for the win in an October 26 allowance race while Smokey Image ships north for Southern California based trainer Carla Gaines after three straight off the board finishes on dirt.

Race 7 On Saturday: the $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante

#1 Oiseau de Guerre (2-1 morning line: Jockey Julien Couton, Trainer Michael McCarthy)

#2 Baja Sur (5-2: Juan Hernandez, Blaine Wright)

#3 Smokey Image (12:1: Catalino Martinez, Carla Gaines)

#4 Quick and Silver (8-1: Silvio Amador, Jesus Ramos)

#5 Sigur Ros (7-2: Ricky Gonzalez, Andy Mathis)

#6 Indian Zip (8-1: Frank Alvarado, Jack Steiner)

#7 My Friend Emma (6-1: Francisco Monroy, Jesus Ramos)

  

2018 GOLDEN GATE DEBUTANTE WINNER TOMLIN RETURNS IN SATURDAY ALLOWANCE  

Stakes winner Tomlin returned to her home base of Golden Gate Fields over the summer after a Midwest/East Coast campaign throughout the spring. This Saturday, she makes her first start off a five-month layoff for trainer Steve Specht.

Tomlin is entered in Race 5: an allowance sprint on Tapeta for fillies and mares three-years-old and upward. She drew post position six, with leading fall meet rider Frank Alvarado set to ride, and is listed at 8-5 on the morning line. Also entered in the race is synthetic specialist Left Alone (3-1 on the morning line), stakes winners Shasta Star (7-2) and Ima Happy Cat (6-1), stakes-placed mare Vronilla Parfait (4-1) and veteran Spring Heat (15-1). Post time for the fifth race on Saturday is 2:48 PM PT.

Tomlin began her career in the Specht barn, breaking her maiden in August of 2018 at Santa Rosa before winning a pair of sprint races in the fall of that year at Golden Gate: a first-level allowance for 2-year-old fillies and the Golden Gate Debutante. After the ‘Debutante victory, Tomlin was ambitiously placed in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita. She did not disgrace herself or her connections, though, finishing third behind next out Grade I winner Bellafina.

After an off the board finish going two turns against stiff Grade I competition, Tomlin was moved to the stable of Donnie Von Hemel, where she ran third in the Purple Martini Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March. After the aforesaid run, she was transferred to a new trainer once more, this time to well-regarded horseman Mike Stidham. In two starts for Team Stidham, Tomlin ran third in the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico (behind eventual Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Covfefe), and sixth in the Alma North Stakes going 7 furlongs at Laurel Park.

Tomlin is 2 for 3 on the Golden Gate Tapeta. She has 7 published workouts leading up to this race, including a six-furlong drill on November 2 and a bullet five-furlong breeze out of the gate in 1:00.40 seconds.

FRIDAY’S STRONACH 5 CARRYOVER OF 91K FEATURES GOLDEN GATE’S THIRD RACE  

$91,081 has been carried over into this week’s Stronach 5 wager, a Pick 5 sequence featuring all Stronach Group-owned tracks. The Stronach 5 is an industry low, 12% takeout wager and a $1 minimum bet.

Leg D (the second to last leg) goes as the third race at Golden Gate: a $12,500 claimer for 3-year-olds and upward routing one mile on the Tapeta. A competitive field of 9 are slated to compete in Leg D, with Van Cortlandt tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite by GGF morning-line maker Steve Martinelli.

Below is the sequence and post times for the Stronach 5 wager this week:

Leg A: 6^th race at Gulfstream Park (11 entries, seven & ½ furlongs on turf) 12:51 PM PT

Leg B: 8^th race at Laurel Park (8 entries, one mile on dirt) 1:10 PM PT

Leg C: 9^th race at Laurel Park (10 entries, one mile on dirt) 1:40 PM PT

Leg D: 3^rd race at Golden Gate Fields (9 entries, one mile on Tapeta) 1:48 PM PT

Leg E: 8^th race at Gulfstream Park (11 entries, one mile and a sixteenth on turf) 1:54 PM PT

For the Stronach 5, if a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

FINISH LINES: Trainer Bill Delia reports that Golden Nugget Stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick was in terrific shape just four days after the aforementioned gelding’s gate-to-wire victory. “He came out of the race looking like a million bucks,” said Delia. “Right now, I would like to keep him at one turn”…Good luck to jockey Kyle Frey, who ships his tack to Parx Racecourse in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. After Monday’s live race card, Frey was sixth in the GGF jockey standings with 11 wins…In other jockey news, journeyman Silvio Amador will now be represented by agent Fernando “Shoes” Navarro…In the fourth race on Saturday, six fillies and mares sprint five furlongs on turf in a maiden special weight. #2 Madame Overserved is a first-time starter and royally bred, by top stallion Curlin and out of multiple Grade 2 winning mare Foxysox. Madame Overserved is a full sibling to minor stakes winner Curlin’s Fox. Reid France trains the 3-year-old chestnut filly…Happy birthday to Golden Gate Fields General Manager and Vice President David Duggan, who turns a year older on Monday!

Saturday, November 9, 2019

THE SON OF BOAT TRIP PAYS $32 TO WIN

Berkeley, Calif. (November 9, 2019)-The California-bred gelding Bettor Trip Nick went right to the lead and never looked back, sustaining a clear lead throughout to win $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters at Golden Gate Fields. The victory gave freshman sire Boat Trip his first stakes winner as a stallion. Bettor Trip Nick went off as the 15-1 fifth choice in the wagering.

After breaking alertly from the gate, Bettor Trip Nick was able to established a clear lead up the backstretch. He maintained a comfortable advantage until the wire, holding off a late challenge from runner up finisher Doc Tommy. Bettor Trip Nick won the six-furlong contest by a half-length.

“At the 3/16ths pole I knew we had a lot of horse,” said winning jockey Catalino Martinez, who was all smiles in the winner’s circle. “He tried hard. He’s a little champion!”

Trainer Bill Delia was equally as pleased.

“I told Catalino, ‘Get him out of the gate and see what happens. They might hand you the lead.’ And they did,” said Delia. “Everybody loves to win and we’re sure happy about this one today.”

Fore Left, a Southern California shipper from the Doug O’Neill barn, went off as the co 7-5 favorite with local allowance winner No Longer Silent. Both runners stalked Bettor Trip Nick early before finishing third and last, respectively. Blaisin ‘Eamon completed the superfecta while Call Me Peppy finished fifth.

With the stakes victory, Bettor Trip Nick improved his overall record to 3 wins from 4 career starts, with career earnings of $65,180 dollars. Trainer Bill Delia, Ray Pagano and Gary Oetman co-own Bettor Trip Nick, who stopped the clock for three-quarters of a mile in 1:09.35 seconds.

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$29,341 is carried over into the 50 cent (minimum) Late Pick 5 wager, Races 3-7 today. Here’s another edition of “How I’d Play It!”

Race 3: Along with being the first leg of the Late Pick 5, this race is also Leg D of the Stronach 5 wager. #4 FRUITFULLY (1-1 ML) is clearly the one to beat here; she won by daylight at this condition two races ago and has tactical speed to where she should land a good trip. The main concern, though, is that she sports a 2 for 13 record, with 8 other in-the-money finishes. In other words, she hits the board a lot more often than she wins. #1 WARRENS LIL MARGIE (4-1) put up a respectable effort last time out in a large field and fires her best races over this track. #6 HI SKOOL SWEETHART (8-1) cuts her claiming price in half and should be more competitive with the class drop in mind.  Possible price play. (Final thoughts: Although Fruitfully may not be a mortal lock, she’ll probably be pretty tough with her best effort.)

Race 4: #2 MERCY RULE (8-5) drops in class after a third-place finish against maiden special weight company. He appears as the lone speed for leading trainer Jonathan Wong and may prove tough to reel in if he can secure a loose lead. #3 SNAPPISH (5-2) is another class dropper. All three career races have come sprinting on turf against Southern California maiden special weight competition and his fastest race is good enough to be very competitive against this group. #4 WINTER FOG (7-2) had to take up shortly after the start of his career debut but rallied down the lane to pick up the bronze medal. The victor of the race, Mr. Fireball, has since come back to win a starter allowance and, most recently, complete the trifecta in a first level allowance. Winter Fog could take a step forward in lifetime start number two, especially if he isn’t hampered with at the start. (Final Thoughts: Mercy Rule is at an advantage from a pace scenario standpoint, but the other two selections have appeal and must be respected.)

Race 5: #4 AVALON KING (5-2) faces easier company after a fourth-place finish on dirt last month. He is a speed horse that faced pressure on the front-end last time-the same level of pressure is unlikely in this race. The class relief should do him well, too. #5 DEVIOUS DETECTIVE (2-1) was given a perfect trip in his last start at this non-2 lifetime level and had to settle for third after stalking the pace. His past two races, though, have been fast enough to compete for the top spot. #1 CARTERS BLUE (9-5) finished three-quarters of a length ahead of our top pick in an October 12 claimer and will try to beat the aforementioned rival again. That said, he must overcome a poor post position. #3 CHANGING IMAGE (9-2) has improved since moving to the barn of Debbie Winick and was last seen finishing ahead of the second pick at big odds. #2 ROB’S GOT GAME (12-1) comes off an eight-and-a-half-month layoff and drops in class; maybe he is ready for a big effort off the break. (Final Thoughts: Suspect form from the top contenders means you might want to take a conservative route when strategizing what to do with Leg C of your Pick 5 ticket.)

Race 6:  #4 MISIRLOU (1-1) is the most likely winner on the card. The full sibling to El Camino Real Derby winner Zakaroff broke her maiden stylishly two starts ago before defeating males in a September 29 allowance race; the second-place finisher, No Longer Silent, came back to romp in an October 19 allowance and is considered a major player in this Saturday’s Golden Nugget Stakes. #2 JUST CLASSY (5-1) and #3 PERSUASIVE LIPS (10-1) are two “value plays” underneath in exactas, tris and supers: they were noses apart in a starter allowance on October 17 and may be competitive for an in the money placing with duplicated efforts. (Final Thoughts: We won’t mess around looking for value; Misirlou could run her “C race” and still beat this field. We’ll key her and move along to the last leg, if we’re lucky enough to make it that far.)

Race 7: #1 EMPIRE WICKET (6-5) drops to the bottom barrel after an October 18^th race in which he drifted out turning for home and faded down the lane as the favorite. With that effort in mind, the field he finds here is subpar, at best, and he should win the nightcap If he has anything left in the tank. #6 GOOCH EXPRESS (7-2) ran well at this level after stalking the pace last time and is fast enough to win if the top picks fails to fire. #4 DOMENICO (9-2) may be the best of the rest based on recent form. (Final thoughts: It’s hard to trust the favorite after such a poor performance last time out, but all signs indicate he is better than the rest in this spot. Our second and third picks make the cut on our Pick 5 ticket…just in case the top pick disappoints again.)

 

THE TICKET

50 Cent Late Pick 5 ($24)

R3: 4
R4: 2,3,4
R5: ALL
R6 4 
R7: 1,4,6

Good luck!

 ANNEAU D’OR MAKES BAY AREA RACING PROUD WITH RUNNER UP FINISH IN BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE

2-year-old colt Anneau D’Or put up a terrific showing in last Friday’s Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders Cup Juvenile, stalking the pace early before hooking up in a stretch duel with eventual winner Storm the Court. Anneau D’Or ran second and finished a head behind the aforementioned foe while earning an 86 Beyer speed figure. Local pilot Juan Hernandez was aboard for the ride.

“He ate up well and came out of the race great,” said trainer Blaine Wright on Saturday evening. “We couldn’t have asked for a better effort from him. We couldn’t be prouder.”

Anneau D’Or, purchased for $480,000 as a 2-year-old, possesses the breeding to be a classy racehorse. He is by top North American stallion Medaglia D’Oro and out of the Tapit mare Walk Close, who won the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap on turf at Arlington Park in 2015. Anneau D’Or is owned by Peter Redekop, who also owns 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner and Preakness participant Anothertwistafate.

Anneau D’Or’s lone career race before the Breeders Cup Juvenile resulted in an eight-length maiden win on turf at Golden Gate last September. The maiden affair has turned out to be very productive: from 7 horses in the event that have started since then, 4 have been next out winners while the other 3 finished second (including Anneau D’Or).

Anneau D’Or returned to his home stall at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday. Plans for his next afternoon appearance are undetermined, although it is certain that Anneau D’Or will train at Golden Gate while the connections choose his next race. Anneau D’Or earned 8 points to the Kentucky Derby with his second-place finish in the Juvenile, so no one should be surprised if the connections opt to keep him on dirt and run him in a ‘Derby points race for his third career start.

2-YEAR-OLDS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN THE GOLDEN NUGGET STAKES

The $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds is the feature race at Golden Gate Fields this week and will be run on Saturday afternoon. The six-furlong event drew a field of 6 and is carded as Race 6 on the 9-race program.

The first contender to discuss is the likely favorite, Fore Left, fresh off a win in the Sunny Slope Stakes at Santa Anita. The freshman colt by Twirling Candy won the Tremont Stakes in the spring at Belmont Park and finished third in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes over the summer at Del Mar. Local rider William Antongeorgi III is slated to ride for Kentucky Derby winning trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam.

Another Southern California shipper for the Golden Nugget, Doc Tommy, was privately purchased by 2018 Eclipse Award-winning owners Hronis Racing LLC after a convincing August 18 California-bred maiden win while under the care of Felix Rondan. Now in the John Sadler stable, the Comic Strip colt has been freshened and conditioned at Santa Anita for this race. Juan Hernandez, aboard for the maiden win, rides back for the new connections.

No Longer Silent, who was terrific in a pair of runaway wins on the Golden Gate main track earlier this fall, looks to emulate the two aforesaid victories. The Jonathan Wong trainee is a Tommy Town Thoroughbreds homebred and figures to get ample support in the wagering. Kyle Frey guided the son of Ministers Wild Cat to both career wins and retains the mount.

Blaisin’ Eamon, from the Steve Specht barn, was last seen finishing right behind No Longer Silent in a September 29 allowance. The California bred son of U S Ranger will be ridden by Frank Alvarado, who piloted the dark bay or brown colt to victory when he broke his maiden impressively on September 2.

Bettor Trip Nik was a debut winner for first crop stallion Boat Trip when he broke his maiden on August 23. Since then, the bay gelding has won a starter allowance race, and he makes his stakes debut in this spot. Call Me Peppy rounds out the field; the Andreas Psarras entrant broke his maiden going two turns on dirt at Santa Rosa and makes his first start off an almost 3-month break.

Race 6: $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes (Approximate post time: 3:15 p.m. PT)

#1 Call Me Peppy (Jockey Ricky Gonzalez, Trainer Andreas Psarras)

#2 Doc Tommy (Juan Hernandez, John Sadler)

#3 Blaisin’ Eamon (Frank Alvarado, Steve Specht)

#4 Fore Left (William Antongeorgi III, Doug O’Neill)

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

#6 No Longer Silent (Kyle Frey, Jonathan Wong)

WICKED OLD FASHION SET TO RUN AT DEL MAR

Friday afternoon is opening day of the 2019 Bing Crosby Meet at “Where the Turf Meets the Surf, ol’ Del Mar.” The main event goes as Race 7: the $75,000 Kathryn Crosby Stakes for fillies and mares routing one mile on turf. Entered in the race is 8-1 morning line shot Wicked Old Fashion, one of the top turf distaffers at Golden Gate Fields.

Trained by Victor Trujillo, the daughter of Colonel John most recently finished second behind next out Grade 3 winner Keeperof The Stars in a highly rated allowance race on the Golden Gate Fields grass course. Over the summer, Wicked Old Fashion ran third against males in the Rolling Green Stakes and sports a 3 for 6 record this year, with 2 other in-the-money finishes. Southern California jockey Evin Roman rides for the first time.

A couple of other Bay Area representatives will take part in the Friday festivities at Del Mar. In the first race, Ed Moger Jr. saddles maiden Hawk Hill, while Jonathan Wong will tighten the girth of recent Golden Gate winner Ernie Banks in Race 3. The latter gelding will be ridden by William Antongeorgi III, who flies down to ride.  

FINISH LINES: Remember: we have five racing days this week, with our normal Thursday-Sunday racing schedule and a special holiday Monday card. With the Veterans Day Monday card in effect, all veterans and active military members will receive free admission to the races…After three weeks of racing at the current meeting, veteran rider Frank Alvarado has the most wins out of any jockey in the GGF colony with 18 victories. William Antongeorgi III and Juan Hernandez are tied for second in the standings with 13 first-place finishes…Friday’s allowance feature, Race 6, is for 2-year-old fillies. Talented California-bred sprinter Misirlou, a full sibling to 2017 El Camino Real Derby winner Zakaroff, will go off heavily favored for trainer Steve Specht…2018 Camilla Urso Stakes winner Mother of Dragons is getting closer to making her 2019 debut. The Andreas Psarras trainee has posted 7 workouts since September, including a bullet six-furlong drill on the morning of October 24…Congratulations to 27-year-old conditioner Ari Herbertson, who picked up his 100^th career win as a trainer on Friday with (none other than) Friday’s At Shady…Race 3 at Golden Gate Fields this Friday is Leg D (the second to last leg) of the $1 Stronach Five wager…Happy birthday to trainers O.J Jauregui, Victor Trujillo and Bill McLean, racing official Kenny Fowler and jockey Frank Alvarado, all who celebrate birthday’s within the next seven days.

MUGARITZ KEEPS 2019 UNBEATEN RECORD INTACT IN JOSEPH T. GRACE STAKES

 Berkeley, Calif. (November 2, 2019)-4-year-old gelding Mugaritz is a perfect 4 for 4 in 2019 after a hard-fought victory in Saturday’s feature race at Golden Gate Fields, the $50,000 Joseph T. Grace Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward on turf.

Trained by Jonathan Wong, the son of Kentucky stallion Dialed In stalked the pace after a subpar break from the gate. Mugaritz took the lead at the eighth pole before fighting off a strong challenge from runner up finisher Camino Del Paraiso. The win margin was a neck.

“He loves the competition,” said winning jockey Ricky Gonzalez. “He wanted to go after the leader at the half mile pole and I said, ‘Ok buddy, you do your thing.’ When [Camino Del Paraiso] came up alongside in the stretch, [Mugaritz] just pinned his ears back and kept on going. He’s a very game horse and he’s really sharp right now.”

Mugaritz completed the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.27 seconds. Camino Del Paraiso had to settle for second after challenging Mugaritz for the length of the lane. The second Wong entrant, Sixes, set the pace for the majority of the race and held third over 8-5 favorite Grecian Fire and 6-1 shot Builder. Arch Prince, Tortosa, Café Flavor and Respect the Hustle completed the field of nine.

Mugaritz went off as the second choice in the wagering and paid $5.80 to win. Mugaritz, privately purchased out of his maiden-breaking win by owner Alejandro Mercado, has improved his lifetime record to 7 wins from 12 starts, with 1 second place finish. The dark bay or brown gelding has earned $167,125.

“This is the best horse I have ever owned,” said Mercado. “I’ll sit down with Jonathan [Wong] and we’ll figure out where to run him next. Hopefully, we put him in the right spot.”

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PLENTY OF HORSES WHO HAVE RACED AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS ARE COMPETING ON BREEDERS CUP CARDS

This Friday and Saturday, Santa Anita Park hosts the 2019 Breeders Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. A number of horses competing in the 2-day racing festival are either shipping from Golden Gate Fields or have run here in prior starts. Here are some familiar Bay Area names to watch out for:

Anneau D’Or: The Blaine Wright trainee makes his first start against winners in the $2,000,000 Grade I Breeders Cup Juvenile on dirt this Friday. He has raced just once in his career, with his lone afternoon appearance resulting in an eight-length win against maidens on turf. Juan Hernandez retains the mount on the son of Medaglia D’Oro, who was purchased for $480,000 earlier this year by owner Peter Redekop. Santa Anita morning line maker Jon White has installed Anneau D’Or as the 15-1 morning line fifth choice.

Apache Princess: This 3-year-old filly races in the first event on Breeders Cup Saturday, the Grade 3 $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mare sprinters on grass. In May, we watched Apache Princess finish third in the Campanile Stakes on Gold Rush Weekend Sunday for trainer Keith Desormeuax.

Bowie’s Hero: The Phil D’Amato trainee ran in this year’s San Francisco Mile, finishing off the board as the 7-2 third choice in the wagering. The 5-year-old has won two races since then: the Grade 2 $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar and the Grade I $1,000,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. Bowie’s Hero races in the Breeders Cup Turf Mile on Saturday and drew the far outside post position, stall #14, and has been tabbed at 12-1 on the morning line. Kentucky Derby winning jockey Flavien Prat rides back.

Brave Nation: The last time Brave Nation raced at Golden Gate Fields, he won a first level allowance on Tapeta in May. Since then, he has relocated to Hastings Racecourse in British Columbia, where the 4-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile recently won the Grade 3 $100,000 BC Premier Handicap. This Friday, he races in the $200,000 Grade 2 Marathon Stakes at one mile and three-quarters.

Bulletproof One: Bulletproof One ran in the first Golden Gate Fields 2-year-old race this year for trainer Ellen Jackson and won the May 11 maiden special weight by eight lengths. After defeating males in the Everett Nevin Stakes by an eye-popping nine and three-quarter lengths, the 2-year-old filly was privately purchased by trainer Peter Miller and owners Gary and Cecil Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Wachtel Stable. For her new connections, Bulletproof One scored an easy win in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar and, most recently, ran second in the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita on turf. She is entered against males in the Grade 2 $1,000,000 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint but sits as the first also eligible, so she will need one defection to draw into the race. If she fails to draw into the race by Friday morning, then she will compete in Friday’s $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies on dirt. She is listed as a 12-1 morning line chance in the Turf Sprint and 3-1 in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies.

Doc Tommy: We last witnessed Doc Tommy break his maiden on August 18 in a California-bred maiden special weight for trainer Felix Rondan. After the aforementioned victory, he was privately purchased by 2018 Eclipse Award winning owner Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler, who will run the son of Comic Strip in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile on Friday.

Don’t Sell: Campaigned by owner Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill, this filly broke her maiden at Golden Gate in April and has since become a stakes winner, scoring a front-running victory in the Unzip Me Stakes in September. She is entered to run in the Grade 3 Senator Ken Maddy on Saturday and is the third choice on the morning line at 3-1.

Eddie Haskell: The 9-2 morning line favorite in this year’s Grade 1 $1,000,000 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint ran in the 2018 Albany Stakes at Golden Gate Fields and finished third. In 2019, the son of Square Eddie has racked off four wins, with his most significant victory coming in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on May 25.

Kingly: The well-bred son of Tapit gave Hall of Famer Bob Baffert his first California Derby victory on Gold Rush Weekend in April. Kingly found a new home on turf this summer when he made every poll a winning one in the Grade 3 $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar. He is entered this Saturday in the Grade 2 $200,000 Twilight Derby on grass.

 Ollie’s Candy: Ollie’s Candy began her career at Golden Gate Fields, winning a pair of races under jockey William Antongeorgi III in 2018. Earlier this year, she moved down south to the barn of John Sadler, where the daughter of Candy Ride won the Grade I Clement Hirsch in August and, most recently, finished third in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes. She races next in Saturday’s Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders Cup Distaff with world renowned rider Joel Rosario in the irons. She is 15-1 on the morning line.

 Outlaw: This recent Golden Gate Fields allowance winner is on the also eligible list in the last race on Breeders Cup Friday, a 7-furlong allowance on dirt for 3-year-olds and upward. He would need one scratch to draw into the main body of the field.

Stradari: She is one of two runners trained by OJ Jauregui who will be competing in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies on Friday. Her lone career start resulted in a gate to wire score against maiden special weight company. She was well meant that day, too, going off at even money. Flavien Prat has the mount.

Warm Summer: The second Jauregui entrant in the Golden State Juvenile Filles broke her maiden at first asking and has finished second and fourth, respectively, in a pair of open allowance races. Top class jockey and East Coast based Irad Ortiz Jr. picks up the mount.

Zestful: The son of Ghostzapper has won 7 straight races; 4 of the 7 aforesaid wins came while he competed in the Bay Area. He is currently under the care of Southern California trainer Mark Glatt, who will tighten the girth before this gelding races in the Marathon Stakes on Friday. 

JOSEPH T. GRACE STAKES DRAWS A STRONG FIELD OF NINE

A field of nine will tackle a mile and a sixteenth on turf in the Joseph T. Grace Stakes for 3-year-olds and upwards this Saturday. The marquee race of the week goes as Race 8 on the 10-race program at Golden Gate.

The likely favorite is Grecian Fire, shipping North for trainer Keith Desormeaux after an off the board finish in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita. Earlier in the year, the KMN Racing homebred won the All-American Stakes at Golden Gate and was victorious in the California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar for state-breds.

Jonathan Wong starts a pair of contenders in Mugaritz and Sixes. The former gelding makes his second start off a layoff after a dominant win in the Bulldog Stakes at Fresno while the former is undefeated on the Golden Gate Fields lawn and most recently finished third in a second level allowance race on Tapeta.

Grade 3 placed Camino Del Paraiso makes his 2019 debut in the Joseph T. Grace. His biggest effort last year came in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap, finishing a head behind multiple stakes winner Editore. Juan Hernandez rides for trainer O.J Jauregui.

Builder and Café Flavor finished second and fourth, respectively, in the September 28 Rolling Green Stakes and are entered in Saturday’s marquee race. Builder has run once since the Rolling Green-a runner up effort in a second level allowance on Tapeta-while Café Flavor makes his second start off a lengthy vacation.

2018 Alcatraz Stakes winner Tortosa, recent allowance winner Arch Prince and supplemental entrant Respect the Hustle round out the field of nine. Approximate post time for the Joseph T. Grace is 3:00 p.m. PT.

$50,000 Joseph T. Grace Stakes (one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

1. Builder (Jockey Irving Orozco, Trainer Isidro Tamayo)
2. Café Flavor (Julien Couton, Paddy Gallagher)
3. Tortosa (Catalino Martinez, Jose Bautista)
4. Camino Del Paraiso (Juan Hernandez, O.J Jauregui)
5. Arch Prince (Brayan Pena, Sammy Calvario)
6. Respect the Hustle (Kyle Frey, Bill McLean)
7. Grecian Fire (William Antongeorgi III, Keith Desormeaux)
8. Sixes (Frank Alvarado, Jonathan Wong)
9. Mugaritz (Ricky Gonzalez, Jonathan Wong)

FINISH LINES: After 2 weeks of live racing at the fall meet, Frank Alvarado, William Antongeorgi III and Juan Hernandez are locked together in a three-way tie atop the jockey standings. All three journeyman riders have won 10 races at the current meeting…Jonathan Wong has the most wins out of any trainer at the meet with 7 victories…Well done to trainer Isidro Tamayo, who scored a hat trick on Friday afternoon. The 33-year-old conditioner won the second race with Mr. Q, the third with Passionate Reward and the nightcap with Conquest Sabre Cat. “This was the first time I’ve won three races in one day,” said Tamayo. “I knew going in that we had really good chances. It felt great.”…NOTE: SPECIAL FIRST POST TIMES will be in effect this Friday and Saturday. On Friday, gates open for simulcasting at 9:30 AM, with first post time set for 12:10 PM PT. On Saturday, gates open at 8:30 AM, with first post slated for 11:30 AM…Happy birthday to trainer Jeff Bonde, who turns a year older today…No Stronach 5 wager this week; the industry low 12% takeout wager will be back in play next Friday.

Berkeley, Calif. (Oct. 26, 2019)-California-bred Wise Rachel surged from the back of the field to win the first stakes race of the 2019 Fall Meet, the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes, on Saturday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields. The Pike Place Dancer was contested at one mile on firm turf for 2-year-old fillies.
After breaking well from the gate, Wise Rachel sat at the rear of the field for the first three-quarters of a mile. At the top of the lane, she angled outside for the stretch drive and finished with a flourish, racing past runner-up The Adrie Factor and third place finisher Convoluted in the final sixteenth of a mile. The win margin was a measured half-length.
Jockey Alejandro Gomez guided Wise Rachel to victory, picking up his first stakes win of 2019. Wise Rachel is trained by Quinn Howey and owned by Allen Aldrich, who purchased the daughter of English Channel for $7,000 as a yearling. Wise Rachel went off as the 4-1 fourth choice in the wagering and paid $10.20 to win. With this victory, Wise Rachel improved her career record to 4-2-0-1, with career earnings of $83,280.
Post time 9-5 favorite The Adrie Factor wound up second after stalking the pace while Southern California shipper Convoluted finished third for trainer Peter Miller after inheriting the lead for the first part of the race. No Cover Charge held off Shanghai Keely for fourth and maiden Colombian Gold completed the field of six.
Stakes action continues at Golden Gate Fields next Saturday with the $50,000 Joseph T. Grace Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward going two-turns on turf. Next Friday and Saturday, Golden Gate Fields offers simulcast wagering for the 2019 Breeders Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Santa Anita Park, as well as a live racing program on both aforementioned afternoons. Post time at Golden Gate on Friday is 12:05 PM while Saturday features a scheduled first post of 11:40 AM.

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ANNEAU D’OR PRE-ENTERED IN BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE RACES

Well regarded Golden Gate Fields 2-year-old Anneau D’Or, whose long career race resulted in an eight length romp routing on turf last month, was pre-entered in both the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf and Breeders Cup Juvenile on dirt for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop.

The Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, listed as the first preference for Anneau D’Or, oversubscribed with 21 pre-entries. Anneau D’Or was placed sixth on the “also eligible” list by the Breeders Cup committee and is unlikely to see six defections for him to draw into the race.

The Breeders Cup Juvenile Dirt did not oversubscribe, however, and Anneau D’Or is in the main body of the field. That said, Wright indicated Wednesday morning that he was unsure as to whether Anneau D’Or would race in the Juvenile Dirt.

“We probably have less than a 10% chance of getting into the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, but if we were somehow able to draw into the race, then we would like to run,” said Wright. “We are already in the Breeders Cup Juvenile on dirt and, although not 100% certain as to what we are going to do, at the moment we are leaning towards passing on that race. We can reroute him to another race if we need to.”

Anneau D’Or was purchased by Redekop and bloodstock agent Alistair Roden for a whopping $480,000 as a 2-year-old in training earlier this year. The son of Medaglia D’Oro is out of the Tapit mare Walk Close, who won the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap on turf at Arlington Park in 2015. This is her first foal.

“I always felt Anneau D’Or would be better routing,” said Wright. “[Jockey Juan] Hernandez worked him before his first race and said the same thing-he thought he would be best going two turns. We decided to run him two turns right away and obviously it worked out well. He finished his race strong and I think he got a lot out of it. We always knew he had a lot of raw talent, but the lightbulb really turned on after his first race and his workouts since then have been terrific.”

Wright was especially impressed with his 2-year-old colt’s most recent workout last Saturday morning, a 5 furlong drill timed in 59.60 seconds.

“His breeze last Saturday was one heck of a work. He started out fast and I thought to myself, ‘Let’s see how he finishes. Horses don’t always finish great when they start their works at a high speed over this track.’ But he drew off from his company down the lane, galloped out strong and racked off fast times while doing it. When I got back to the barn, [Anneau D’Or] couldn’t have blown out a candle. He wasn’t even breathing hard. It was a terrific work. We’re excited to see what the future holds for him.”
Wright also gave an update on 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate, who hasn’t been seen since an off the board finish in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes last May.

“Anothertwistafate is doing very well,” said Wright. “He is on the farm and very happy there. If all goes to plan, we’ll see him racing in 2020. He’ll be back training at Golden Gate Fields soon.”

PIKE PLACE DANCER BEGINS STAKES ACTION AT 2019 FALL MEET

The first of 9 stakes races at the 2019 Golden Gate Fields fall meet goes this Saturday as Race 7: the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on turf. A field of 6 has been assembled to contest eight furlongs in the Pike Place Dancer, with post time set at 3:45 PM PT.

Among the leading local contenders is Shanghai Keely, coming into the Pike Place Dancer off a 2-month break for young conditioner Ari Herbertson. The daughter of Shanghai Bobby won her career debut at Pleasanton by six and three-quarter lengths before running fourth in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar. In the Sorrento, Shanghai Keely finished behind the highly talented filly Amalfi Sunrise and hit the wire ahead of Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placed Comical. This will be Shanghai Keely’s career debut routing. She also races on grass for the first time.

“I’ve always thought she would be better going a route of ground,” said Herbertson. “She gallops two miles and always gallops the second mile stronger than the first. Her works leading up to this race have been good. She’s got a lovely way of moving and she’s built like a router. We’re coming into the race with a talented filly.”

Another local figuring to get support in the wagering is The Adrie Factor, who takes on winners for the first time. Conditioned by leading Golden Gate trainer Jonathan Wong, the daughter of War Front stallion The Factor raced over grass on September 28 and broke her maiden by open lengths.

“We always thought she would want to run long and her breeding suggested she would be effective on turf,” said Wong. “We had to sprint her in her first two races because there was nowhere else to go. She put it all together routing on the turf last time out and it looks like she will be a two turn filly in the long run. This is a good, next logical spot for her.”

Wong also saddles No Cover Charge, who has won two sprint races to kick off her career. The Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC homebred most recently beat a starter allowance group by a half dozen lengths.

“To be honest, I’m not sure whether she wants to route or not,” said Wong. “We will find out on Saturday. She is training terrific, though. Her last workout was really solid. Since her first race, the lightbulb has really turned on and she has steadily improved.”

Wise Rachel is a daughter of 2007 Breeders Cup turf winner English Channel and, with that in mind, possesses the pedigree to be effective routing on grass. The California-bred filly broke her maiden at Pleasanton in lifetime start number one before hitting the board in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar.

“Since Day 1, she has shown she has talent,” said Wise Rachel’s trainer, Quinn Howey. “I was not surprised she won sprinting [first time out] because she has a lot of ability. But being by English Channel, the owners and I always felt she would do really well going two turns on the grass. We are going to nominate to the Golden State Juvenile Filllies on Breeders Cup Friday at Santa Anita but I am 90% sure we will keep her in this race. I’m really excited to see how she does on turf.”

Southern California invaders Convoluted and Colombian Gold round out the Pike Place Dancer field. Convoluted, whose lone try on turf resulted in an off the board finish against stakes company at Del Mar over the summer, was last seen running second sprinting in the Phone Chatter Stakes at Los Alamitos. Colombian Gold is a maiden who has yet to hit the board in three career starts.

$75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes
1. Shanghai Keely (Trainer Ari Herbertson, Jockey Irving Orozco)
2. No Cover Charge (Jonathan Wong, Julien Couton)
3. Convoluted (Peter Miller, Juan Hernandez)
4. Wise Rachel (Quinn Howey, Alejandro Gomez)
5. Colombian Gold (Andrew Lerner, William Antongeorgi III)
6. The Adrie Factor (Jonathan Wong, Kyle Frey)

JOCKEY BRAYAN PENA JOINS THE GOLDEN GATE RIDING COLONY

Southern California jockey Brayan Pena has relocated to Northern California and will be riding full time at Golden Gate Fields starting this Friday. Agent Brent Harmon will be handling Pena’s book.

“He began working horses here today,” relayed Harmon. “He’s ready to work hard. A few people are already interested in using him and some trainers from Southern California have indicated they want to use him when they send horses this way. Actually, he’s got two mounts from Southern California trainers on Saturday. I think he can do well here for a variety of barns.”

Pena, a native of Guatemala, has worked for top outfits Wesley Ward and John Sadler since beginning his riding career. Pena has ridden 108 career winners and picked up his first career victory as a jockey in 2014.

FINISH LINES: Reina Gonzalez picked up a California-bred maiden special weight win with 2-year-old filly Habobanero last Saturday. Reina pointed out that Habobanero’s sire, Coach Bob, has sired 4 winners from 4 starters, all whom were winners at 2-year-olds. 3 of the 4 wins came against maiden special weight company. Gonzalez co-owns Coach Bob with Jeff Kitchen and Joe Daehling…. Leg D of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate Fields on Friday afternoon. Leg A is Race 9 at Laurel Park, with an approximate post time of 1:19 PM PT…Happy birthday to patrol judge Tammy Lynn McDuffie-Morris, who celebrates another birthday on Monday.