BLACKADDER EARNS AUTOMATIC PREAKNESS BIRTH WITH EL CAMINO REAL DERBY VICTORY

3-year-old colt Blackadder punched his ticket to the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, with a victory in last Saturday’s El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate. Ridden to victory by Edwin Maldonado, Blackadder defeated 3-5 race favorite MacKinnon by a neck.

Since 2018, the El Camino Real Derby has offered the winner-if Triple Crown nominated-an automatic, free berth into the Preakness Stakes. Both Golden Gate Fields and Pimlico Racecourse, where the Preakness is run, is owned by 1/ST Racing. Last year, El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer won the El Camino Real Derby and, two races later, scored a “mild upset” victory over Kentucky Derby first place finisher Medina Spirit in the Preakness. This year’s Preakness is slated for Saturday, May 21.

Blackadder is trained by Bob Baffert, who picked up his third career El Camino Real Derby win. He also won the 1996 edition with Cavonnier and the 2019 running with Azul Coast. Winning jockey Edwin Maldonado made the trip North to ride Blackadder.

“[Baffert] told me that if I’m going to win, I’m gonna have to earn it because [Blackadder] is a bit lazy,” said Maldonado. “I wanted to be behind because there were three sprinters stretching out. I knew the pace would be fast, so I wanted to stay inside and then swing out when we got to the stretch. [Turning for home], there were too many horses outside of me, so I had to wait. I was able to get through an opening, and [Blackadder] got it done.”

As a yearling in 2020, Blackadder was purchased for a whopping $620,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale. The son of Quality Road is owned by the large partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm.

Less than 24 hours after the El Camino Real Derby win, Tom Ryan from SF Racing reported that Blackadder “ate up and jogged up in great shape” on Sunday morning. Blackadder shipped back to Baffert’s Santa Anita string earlier this week and will be trained there in preparation for his next start, which is yet to be determined.

The Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free also reported that El Camino Real Derby runner up MacKinnon, a multiple stakes winner last year and third place finisher in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, will freshen up 30 days on a farm before returning to the track with a summer/fall campaign in turf races.

STAKES WINNER BETTOR TRIP NICK WHEELS BACK QUICKLY IN EL DORADO SHOOTER STAKES

Multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick is the headliner in the signature race of the week this Saturday, the $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes at 6 furlongs on Tapeta. The race is restricted to California-bred or sired horses who are 4-year-olds and upward. Bettor Trip Nick, who won the Golden Nugget and Gold Rush Stakes in 2019, returns to the races in just 13 days after a powerful effort against second level allowance company.

In his most recent afternoon appearance on February 6, Bettor Trip Nick was making his first start off a 7-month vacation. That day, he established a clear lead and proceeded to win the race by a comfortable 2-length margin. After analyzing how Bettor Trip Nick came out of his race and the El Dorado Shooter nominations list, trainer Jonathan Wong decided to enter the son of Boat Trip in Saturday’s stake.  

“I just hope he doesn’t ‘bounce’ off his last race,” said Wong. “He’s coming back quickly. He ran really well the other day.

“There was no pressure to run him [in the El Dorado Shooter] if he wasn’t ready,” continued Wong. “He came out of his last race in really good shape. He’s cleaned up his feed tub every day and has plenty of energy. I nominated [to the El Dorado Shooter] and looked at what other horses might run in the race. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of speed and he does his best when he’s on the lead, so we’re giving it a go.”

Among his main competitors is In Our A, who cuts back from a route to a sprint after a pair of close finishes behind Grade 3 winner Freeport Joe while voyaging two turns. The son of Idiot Proof went off favored in his last sprint start three races ago, the Oakland Stakes against open company, and only lost by a length and a half after badly missing the break and racing wide on the course. In Our A competed in the 2021 El Dorado Shooter, run in October last year, and suffered a nose loss at the hands of classy colt Top Harbor.

A legit wild-card possibility is Psycho Dar, who bumps up in class and makes his Northern California stakes debut in the El Dorado Shooter. The Sammy Calvario trainee was claimed for $25,000 three starts ago and has since wracked off a pair of runaway first-level allowance wins. His last out Beyer speed figure (91) was not only a career best effort, but a best last-out speed figure out of any horse entered in Saturday’s field.

Trainer Victor Trujillo entered a trio in the El Dorado Shooter: Cool Mountain Lad, who lost by 2 lengths to Bettor Trip Nick on February 6, first level allowance winner R M C Hook’em and Square Deal. Square Deal was entered in an easier spot on Sunday and will likely scratch from this stake.

Two Southern California invaders round out the field. I Stand Taller (trained by Doug O’Neill) and Riding With Dino (Bob Hess Jr.) completed the exacta in an October 9 race against California-bred allowance competition at Santa Anita and face off against the Northern California contenders. I Stand Taller has failed to hit the board in three starts since while Riding With Dino has been much more consistent, winning a California-bred allowance race in January and, most recently, running third against open-company allowance foes.

The El Dorado Shooter goes as the eighth race on a 9-race Saturday card at Golden Gate. First post is 12:45 PM PT.

Race 8 on Saturday: the $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes (For California-bred or sired 4-year-olds & upward at six furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Cool Mountain Lad (Jockey Pedro Terrero…trainer Victor Trujillo…morning line odds of 10-1)

#2 Psycho Dar (Armando Ayuso…Sammy Calvario…5-2)

#3 In Our A (Cristobal Herrera…Ellen Jackson…7-2)

#4 Riding With Dino (Assael Espinoza…Bob Hess Jr…6-1)

#5 Square Deal (Santos Rivera…Victor Trujillo …20-1)

#6 R M C Hook’em (Ruben Fuentes…Victor Trujillo…15-1)

#7 I’ll Stand Taller (Irving Orozco…Doug O’Neill…10-1)

#8 Bettor Trip Nick (Brayan Pena…Jonathan Wong…2-1)

BRAZENLY GETS BRAZEN IN BIGGEST UPSET OF THE WINTER/SPRING MEET

The biggest upset we’ve seen so far this Winter/Spring meet came in the fifth race last Saturday when 4-year-old gelding Brazenly posted a 72-1 upset, beating a half dozen first-level allowance foes. Owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shapiro, Brazenly returned $147.90 to win, $29.40 to place and $11.20 to show.

Guided to victory by Ruben Fuentes, Brazenly went to the lead from the start, set soft fractions of 24.73, 49.45 and 1:13.56 before turning away a challenge from Black Caspian, who sat on Brazenly’s tail for the first three quarters of the race and went searching for the lead at the top of the stretch. Brazenly hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead, holding off a late challenge from oncoming runner-up finisher Rocks and Salt. Brazenly is conditioned by Jedd Josephson, who was pleasantly surprised with the result.

“Yeah, I’m a little surprised,” said Josephson immediately following the race. “We wanted to go early and get out in front. It was the plan, and it worked. [Brazenly] is just kinda green. He’s just catching on right now. In his last few races, he’d make a run and then back up in the turn, and then he’d come back. Today was the first time he put it all together.”

With Sunday’s victory, Brazenly picked up his second consecutive win. He failed to win his first three career starts sprinting, but since stretching out to a route of ground, now boasts a perfect 2 for 2 record at route distances. If all goes well, Brazenly will likely race in a second level allowance condition next.

HIGHLAND GHOST GETS BACK ON TRACK IN FRIDAY SPRINT  

Trainer O.J Jauregui was “taking a shot” with 3-year-old Highland Ghost in the California Derby on January 15 at Santa Anita. It was his third start in five weeks and, in his two prior races in that form cycle, he put together a pair of solid efforts sprinting. The California Derby was a mile and a sixteenth route race.

With world-renowned jockey Flavien Prat in the saddle, Highland Ghost dueled alongside heavy favorite Straight Up G in the first three quarters of the race. Highland Ghost eventually faded to last while Straight Up G got run down late by race winner Fast Draw Munnings. Clearly, the speed duel was not ideal for either horse.

“I made an error in running him in that race,” said Jauregui. “I didn’t get the greatest [trip] in the world-I would’ve liked to have seen him laying second or third-but other than that, I was still in the wrong race.”

Since the trip to Santa Anita, Highland Ghost freshens up, posts three strong workouts and is entered in the featured eighth race this Friday, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds. He also gets back to what he does best: sprinting.

“I thought for a minute he was going to be a better router because his brother and sister routed, and [his sire] Shaman Ghost was a router,” said Jauregui. “But he has the body of a sprinter. I still think he can handle routing, but we’re going to go back to sprinting for now. I think we’re on the right track again.”

Highland Ghost’s last two sprint efforts were admirable. Three starts ago, he lost by a nose after dueling on the lead to Love’em N Leave’em, who is also entered in Friday’s seventh race. Two starts back, Highland Ghost was sent off at an overlay price of 12-1 and scored a decisive victory, winning the contest by 2 lengths while geared down in the final strides. That day, he stalked the pace and ran by the leader in midstretch. Local rider Billy Antongeorgi III was aboard for both races and retains the mount in the Friday feature.

“I’m going to leave [tactics] up to Billy,” Jauregui. “I don’t want him to be too far out of it, but he definitely doesn’t need the lead. He’s going to be in contention.”

Highland Ghost’s main competition is Tizlightning, a California-bred son of Stanford who sports an unblemished 3 for 3 record for trainer Steve Miyadi. After breaking his maiden for a California-bred maiden $50,000 claiming condition, Tizlightning won a pair of starter allowance/optional claiming races at Del Mar and Santa Anita. In his last start, he unofficially hit the wire second, but was moved up to first via disqualification after the stewards determined he was cost the opportunity of a better placing when unofficial winner Con On the Run floated out Tizlightning in midstretch.

9 races comprise the Friday program at Golden Gate Fields. Keep in mind that first post is a little earlier than usual: 12:15 PM.

8th race on Friday (Allowance for 3-year-olds at five and one-half furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Fascinated (Jockey Brayan Pena…trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 8-1)

#2 Bandera Azteca (Pedro Terrero…Victor Trujillo…10-1)

#3 Love’em N Leave’em (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong…5-1)

#4 Highland Ghost (William Antongeorgi III…O.J. Jauregui…5-2)

#5 Tizlightning (Armando Ayuso…Steve Miyadi…9-5)

#6 Tolonisito (Irving Orozco…Jesus Ramos…12-1)

#7 Mob Boss (Assael Espinoza…Jeff Bonde…4-1)

IMPORTANT RACING DATES UPDATE

Racing fans and horseplayers are reminded that Golden Gate Fields offers a four-day racing week this week: we will have our usual Friday, Saturday and Sunday race cards, along with a special Presidents Day Monday program. First post on Friday is 12:15 PM while Saturday, Sunday and Monday offer a first post time of 12:45 PM. 

Earlier in the week, racing officials announced a a slight adjustment in race days on the first weekend of March. Golden Gate will conduct live racing Friday, March 4, Sunday, March 6, and Monday, March 7. Saturday, March 5 (Santa Anita Handicap Day at Santa Anita) will be a dark day at Golden Gate, though the facility will be open for local horseplayers to attend simulcast wagering on the third floor.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Friday

Race 1: Blueberry Eyes (New trainer Jonathan Wong…New owner(s) Madden Racing, MVJET Stables and Rockstar Racing Stable)

Race 1: Carasynthia (Tim Bellasis…Bellasis, Donna Smartt and Cassandra Tschanz)

Race 1: Sacred Beauty (Victor Trujillo…Jose Parades and Isidro Rubalcava)

Race 6: Amber Louise (Andy Mathis…Donna-Kay Martin)

Race 6: Noble Contessa (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)

Race 7: Push Through (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Race 8 Seaside Dancer (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)

Saturday

Race 1: Egomania (Owner/Trainer Leobardo Rivera)

Race 3: Back Ring Luck (Librado Barocio…Mia Familia Racing Stable)

Sunday

Race 1: Bernalinho (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 2: Miss Lady Ann (Aggie Ordonez…Rancho San Miguel and William T. Clark)

FINISH LINES: Pike Place Dancer Stakes winner Vaping Angel is entered in the co-featured seventh race on Sunday, a first level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at one mile. Among her main challengers is maiden winner Music Festival and Alesha, who comes off a runner up finish behind stakes placed Sen Sen at this level two weeks ago…The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover has increased to $80,865 heading into Friday’s card…Leg C (the third leg) of the Stronach 5 this week goes as Race 3 on Friday at Golden Gate… Happy birthday to jockey Julien Couton and trainers Sammy Calvario and Tirso Rivera, both who celebrate their birthday’s this week.

FIRST, THIRD AND FOURTH PLACE FINISHERS IN DECEMBER’S GOLD RUSH STAKES HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE BIG PRIZE

9 of the 11 horses entered in this year’s El Camino Real Derby have raced multiple times or exclusively in the Bay Area. With that, few are scared to take on the likes of Breeders Cup in-the-money finisher McKinnon or Blackadder, from the powerhouse stable of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

The classiest of the local contingent in this Saturday’s ‘Derby is Boise, who won the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate in December. Before that effort, he came up three-quarters of a length short in the Qatar Golden Mile on Breeders Cup Friday at Del Mar. His most recent start, on January 2 in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita, was a headscratcher. The Jonathan Wong trainee never picked up his feet, racing in midfield throughout. Wong believes there was a legit excuse for the poor showing.

“He really didn’t get a hold of the turf [at Santa Anita],” said Wong. “He was spinning his wheels the whole time. It’s weird because he won on the turf first out [at Golden Gate] and ran really well at Del Mar. He’s doing really well since his last race. He went really good in his last two works.”

Jockey Evin Roman, who has worked Boise recently and will be aboard Saturday, concurred with Wong’s statement.

“I really liked the way he worked the other day,” said Roman.

In terms of tactics, Wong said that Boise has a preferable run style.

“We’ll let him place himself,” said Wong. “He’s got tactical speed. He can sit off and run on like he did in the Gold Rush or be close if the pace isn’t that fast. I don’t think the distance [a mile and an eighth] will hurt him at all.”

Two runners who failed to come home victorious in the Gold Rush will look to turn the tables on Boise. Dr Pescado won the Golden Nugget Stakes sprinting in November and returned one month later at a route of ground, completing the trifecta and finishing a length and a half behind Boise in the Gold Rush. He takes a two-month freshening and returns to the races with a pair of six furlong works on display for trainer Felix Rondan.

“Beautiful,” was how Rondan described Dr Pescado’s most recent morning drill. “He’s doing really good. He is ready.”

Rondan saddles a second entrant in Nuestro Engreido, coming out of sprint races. His pedigree, by Grade 3 route winner Cat Burgler out of a dam whose lone win was going a mile on the turf, suggests extra distance will not be an issue.

“Nuestro Engriedo will be on the lead,” said Rondan. “[Dr] Pescado will be off the pace.”

C’Mon Man, who like Boise also exits an off-the-board finish in the Eddie Logan Stakes, ran fourth in the Gold Rush, but was only a length and a half behind Boise and a nose away from finishing ahead of Dr Pescado. He posts a pair of 7-furlong stamina building drills for trainer Bill McLean and “should be fit and ready for his best” in the El Camino Real Derby.

“On the [longer] works, they don’t break off that fast. As long as they finish good the last three-eighths and gallop out good on the turn, that’s what we’re looking for,” said McLean. “Both times he worked, he finished really strong. [Exercise rider] Mario Cisneros came back to the barn [after both works] and gave me a high five.”

In the Eddie Logan, C’Mon Man was a non-factor. McLean said Juan Hernandez, who rode him that day, came back after the race with valuable feedback.

“Juan said he just hated the turf,” said McLean. “He couldn’t get a hold of it at all. He’s a nice horse and I think he’ll really like going the [mile and an eighth]. I think he’ll be laying in midpack and, like in his works, hopefully he comes home strong.”

The El Camino Real Derby is the eighth race on a 9-race program. If Triple Crown nominated, the winner will receive a free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, in Mid-May at Pimlico. Last year, El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer took advantage of his free berth and went on to win the Preakness three months after the El Camino Real Derby triumph. The El Camino Real Derby winner also picks up 10 Kentucky Derby points.

The El Camino Real Derby (Race 8 of 9 on Saturday at 1 1/8 miles)

#1 Stormy Samurai (Jockey William Antongeorgi III…trainer Jack Steiner…morning line odds: 8-1)

#2 McKinnon (Abel Cedillo…Doug O’Neill…8-5)

#3 Unraptured (Armando Ayuso…Tim McCanna…10-1)

#4 Blackadder (Edwin Maldonado…Bob Baffert…7-2)

#5 Nuestro Engriedo (Santos Rivera…Felix Rondan…20-1)

#6 Boise (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong…9-2)

#7 Dr Pescado (Pedro Terrero…Felix Rondan…15-1)

#8 Meetmeattheclub (Silvio Amador…Dan Franko…50-1)

#9 C’Mon Man (Irving Orozco…Bill McLean…15-1)

#10 Il Bellator (Alejandro Gomez…Jose Bautista…20-1)

#11 Del Mo (Ruben Fuentes…Doug O’Neill…10-1)

UNRAPTURED “READY TO RUMBLE” AHEAD OF EL CAMINO REAL DERBY

Florida-bred Unraptured put up a pair of strong efforts in his first two lifetime starts sprinting. In career start number three, the Tim McCanna trainee got to a route of ground and showed the world he was ready to “run long” against tougher company.

Sent off as a low odds favorite against just two other rivals in a one-mile allowance race last month, Unraptured sat off the speed, blew past his company when asked to run down the lane and won geared down, winning by open lengths.

There is no doubt that Unraptured will get the acid test in Saturday’s El Camino Real Derby. McCanna believes his colt is up for the task.

“He didn’t beat a big field last time, but he did it the right way, and he had a lot more left in the tank,” said McCanna. “He’s got a very quick recovery time. After he works, by the time he gets back to the barn he’s not even blowing. After his races, he’s still got a lot of energy.”

McCanna is confident his El Camino Real Derby contender can stretch out another furlong to the mile and an eighth distance. The key, says McCanna, is having a horse that can relax and doesn’t expand a significant amount of energy early in a race.

“He’s just so ratable,” said McCanna. “He’s very push button. From what I saw in his last race, he might even be a better route horse [than a sprinter]. The ones who are rank horses aren’t the ones who get to run this far. He’s a very manageable horse on where you want to put him. Hopefully he gets a good, clean trip and can make a run at ‘em the last eighth [of a mile.]”

CEDILLO BACK AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS FOR SATURDAY’S ‘DERBY WITH MORNING LINE FAVORITE MACKINNON

Abel Cedillo hasn’t ridden at Golden Gate Fields in a few years. The last time we saw him here, he won the 2018 Winter/Spring meet leading rider title by a colossal margin. After that meeting, he relocated to Southern California and has had great success, riding for top outfits while winning a plethora of races every meet at numerous levels, from claiming affairs to Grade 1 glories.

This Saturday, Cedillo returns to his old stomping grounds to ride 8-5 morning line favorite MACKINNON in the El Camino Real Derby. He also picked up three additional mounts on the card: Kazan in Race 3, Lonely On Top in Race 4 and Amiko Chow in the ninth and final race.

MacKinnon will take some catching if he comes with his best effort. Most recently, the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah finish fourth behind next-out Grade winner Newgrange in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. Last year, MacKinnon ran third in the Grade I Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf and, before that, picked up a pair of stakes wins at Del Mar and Santa Anita on turf. Doug O’Neill conditions MacKinnon.

GGF PERSONEL GIVE THEIR PICKS TO WIN “THE BIG GAME” ON SUNDAY

The 2022 Super Bowl commences this Sunday between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. Earlier this week, we asked a slew of personnel at Golden Gate Fields who they are rooting for to win the “big game.” These are the responses we got.

• Linda Anderson (racing official): Bengals “I hate the Rams.”
• William Antongeorgi III (jockey): Rams “[Bengals quarterback] Joe Burrow baby!”
• Jose Bautista (trainer): Rams “We’re from California!”
• Matt Dinerman (track announcer): Bengals “LA is probably the better team, but I’m rooting for the underdogs.”
• Tom “Bomber” Doutrich (jockey agent): Rams “I’m picking the Rams because Dinerman is picking the Bengals.”
• Assael Espinoza (jockey): Rams “I was born in LA, so I have to root for my hometown team.”
• Steve Fisher (Horseman/Jockeys Room Attendant): Bengals “I love Joe Burrow. I’m rooting for his team.”
• Reid France (trainer): Bengals “I like Joe Burrow, and [the Bengals] have never won a championship. They haven’t been in the Super Bowl for a long, long time so I’m pulling for them.”                       
• Ruben Fuentes (jockey): Bengals “They haven’t been in the Super Bowl since 1988. Hopefully they made it this far to win it all!”
• Brett Harmon (jockey agent): Bengals “The Rams beat my 9ers and that’s the bottom line. So, I want the Bengals to win.”
• O.J Jauregui (trainer): Rams “I’m pulling for the Rams but I gotta say…I like Joe Burrow a lot.”
• Lisa Jones (racing official): Nobody “I want the Packers to win next year.”
• Erick Lopez (jockey): Bengals “They’re the underdogs! Why not?”
• Tim McCanna (trainer): Rams “My son and [Rams wide receiver] Cooper Kupp played basketball together when they were kids. He’s from Yakima, Washington, so there’s some hometown interest.”
• Bill McLean (trainer): Bengals “I’m hoping for a good, competitive game!”
• Jacqui Navarre (trainer): Bengals “Not the Rams. They play on Hollywood Park!”
• Fernando “Shoes” Navarro (jockey agent): Bengals “Two words: Joe Burrow. Plus, I don’t like the Rams.”
• Irving Orozco (jockey): Rams “They’re my team! I’m from the LA area and I’ve always been a Rams fan since they moved there.”
• Kevin Orozco (jockey): Rams “The Rams played where Hollywood Park used to be…and I was born in LA.”
• Jerry Stone (racing official/Equibase chart caller): Rams “I gotta root for the California team.”
• Jamey Thomas (trainer): Bengals “Joey Burrows and [wide receiver] Ja’Marr Chase are the real deal. I think the Bengals are peaking at the right time. The offensive coordinator knows the game plan and can make adjustments at half time. The Rams are good but I’m rooting for the Bengals.”
• Jayme Thomas (racing official): “I’m a Seahawks fan…and the Rams are in my division. So naturally, I’m rooting against them.”
• Tina Walker Bryant (racing official): I’ve got [score squares]. At the end of each quarter, if the Rams have a 4 at the end of their score (ex: 14) and the Bengals have a 0 at the end of theirs (ex: 10) then I win a prize! So, I’m rooting for the score!”
• Jonathan Wong (trainer): Bengals “The Rams knocked my 9ers out of the playoffs!”
• Blaine Wright (trainer): Rams “A while back I was in Vegas and I wagered on the Rams to win the Super Bowl this year. I got them at 6-1!”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

FRIDAY

Race 3: Bourbonwithatwist (New trainer Reid France…new owner Lamonte Isom)

Race 7: Bandeena (Isidro Tamayo..Leon Scott)

Race 7: Brite Tan (Jamey Thomas..Hall, Merrill, Thomas & Thomas)

SATURDAY

Race 1: Hong Kong Cowboy (Terry Johnson…Reynaldo Gonzalez)

Race 4: Imperial Creed (Sammy Calvario…Huntertown Farm & Calvario)

Race 4: She’s a Lil Flirt (Blaine Wright…Chappell Alpine Farms LLC)

Race 5: Manaalaboutdamoney (Jack Steiner…Gary & Deborah Lusk)

Race 8: Megameister (Jose Puentes…Mendoza, Mendoza & Puentes)

Race 9: Cry Me a Runner (Manny Badilla…Debra Medlock)

SUNDAY

Race 1: Big City Bane (Gary Greiner…Desiree & Renee Greiner)

Race 5: Colormemoney (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott & Steiner)

Race 5: Sunrise Journey (Salvador Naranjo…Silvia Soto)

Race 7: Torpedo Away (Blaine Wright…Seamist Racing, Wright Racing Stable, Becker & Becker)

FINISH LINES: Along with the El Camino Real Derby on Saturday, there are a handful of high-quality races on the card. Race 5 is a first level allowance, Race 6 is a maiden special weight and Race 7 is a second level allowance. In the seventh race, rapidly improving stakes placed gelding Tom’s Surprise takes a bump up in class and faced another stakes placed racer, Tesoro, and recent second level allowance winner Wine and Whisky in a salty field of seven…Happy birthday to trainers Jacquie Navarre and Isidro Tamayo, who celebrate their birthday’s in the next seven days….$57,763 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager for Friday…$3,637 is carried over into the Rolling Super High Five for the first race in which the wager is offered on Friday…Leg D of the Stronach 5 is Race 3 from Golden Gate on Friday...First post on Friday and Saturday is 12:45 PM while Sunday has an early first post of 11:15 AM.

STAKES PLACED SEATTLE BOLD MAKES 2022 DEBUT IN FRIDAY NIGHTCAP

Seattle Bold, a multiple stakes placed router last year, makes his first appearance of 2022 in Race 9 on Friday, a first level allowance, for trainer Jamey Thomas. Owned and bred by Myles McMahon, the 4-year-old son of Bold Chieftain has reportedly been working lights out leading up to Friday’s festivities. He drew post position 5 of 10 and will be ridden by Evin Roman for the first time.

“He’s training like a beast,” Thomas said in a conversation last week. “He’s been working great. We’re really excited about him. From his training, I think he’s taken a step forward from 3 to 4 [years old].”

In 2021, Seattle Bold finished as the runner up in the Silky Sullivan and Alcatraz Stakes’ behind None Above the Law, who eventually went on to beat open company in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last summer. In the Alcatraz, Seattle Bold finished ahead of Jungle Cry, who returned in his next start to win the Robert Dupret Derby.

Although Seattle Bold may see longer distances as the year progresses, Thomas is starting his stable star off in a six-furlong dash this Friday. We know Seattle Bold can sprint and run well fresh: in his very first career race, Seattle Bold sprinted 6 furlongs, went off at even money and won handily.

Seattle Bold will need to be fit and come with his “A game” to win on Friday. The morning line favorite in the race, Psycho Dar, comes off a decisive two and three-quarter length victory at this first level allowance condition. Being a California-bred, he is eligible to win at the level one more time. The same rule applies for R M C Hook’em, who also won at this condition in his last start and takes another crack at the level. Armando Ayuso, off to an outstanding start at the current meeting (17 for 64), retains the mount on Psycho Dar while Brayan Pena rides R M C Hook’em.

Another intriguing entrant in the closing race on Friday is A Man’s Man, who ran third behind a likely stakes caliber racer in Hey Mate on January 9. The son of Mucho Macho Man sports a pair of sharp workouts in the interim for trainer Steve Sherman. One final notable, the Steve Miyadi trained Pappy Boyington, hasn’t been seen since the summer of last year, but was consistently running well at this level against restricted 3-year-olds. He faces older horses for the first time in the Friday finale.

9-races are on the docket for Friday’s program, with first post at 12:45 PM PT.

Race 9 on Friday (First level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at 5 and ½ furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Defense Wins (Jockey Julien Couton…trainer Jim Gilmour…morning line odds of 8-1)

#2 A Man’s Man (Assael Espinoza…Steve Sherman…6-1)

#3 Psycho Dar (Armando Ayuso…Sammy Calvario…5-2)

#4 Exhortation (Pedro Terrero…Gloria Haley…20-1)

#5 Seattle Bold (Evin Roman…Jamey Thomas…8-1)

#6 Our Bold Prince (Irving Orozco …Eddie Rich…10-1)

#7 Chief Jackson (William Antongeorgi III…D. Wayne Baker…20-1)

#8 R M C Hook’em (Brayan Pena…Victor Trujillo…7-2)

#9 Mister Bold (Heriberto Figueroa…Jeff Bonde…12-1)

#10 Pappy Boyington (Alejandro Gomez…Steve Miyadi…5-1)

2021 EL CAMINO REAL DERBY RUNNER UP FINISHER JAVANICA RETURNS TO THE BAY

Almost one year ago, 3-year-old filly Javanica was driving to the wire in search of a victory in one of Golden Gate’s most prestigious races, the El Camino Real Derby, against male counterparts. Right before she hit the wire, she looked and, in the corner of her eye, noticed a flashy dark bay or brown colt surging towards her. She did her best to out finish him, but ultimately got tagged in the last 10 yards and lost the mile and an eighth route by a neck.

The classy colt who beat her, Rombauer, went on to win the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Grade I Preakness. With that in mind, Javanica may have run the race of her life in last year’s El Camino Real Derby.

A daughter of world-class stallion Medaglia D’oro, Javanica has run six races since the runner up finish to Rombauer. Only one of those races, a salty first level allowance on the turf at Del Mar over the summertime, resulted in a trip to the winner’s circle. Other notable efforts include a bronze medal in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss and a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks.

In search of a lighter field and a confidence builder, Javanica returns to a track we know she likes in this Saturday’s feature race at Golden Gate, a one mile and a sixteenth second level allowance for fillies and mares. Set to be navigated by jockey Irving Orozco, Javanica breaks from post 5. Eoin Harty trains the Godolphin LLC homebred.

“I’m really looking forward to riding her,” said Orozco. “She has enough tactical speed and ability to where we should sit a good trip. I’m going in confident that she will run a really good race.”  

A handful of local contenders look to spoil the party for the Southern California invader. Among them are a pair of classy hard knockers trained by Manny Badilla: Northwest Factor and Scherzo. Northwest Factor, a 10-time winner in 28 lifetime starts, hasn’t routed since May 21. That day, she out kicked Grade I placed Paige Anne for the win in an open allowance race. She makes her first start in three months for Team Badilla and will be ridden by Pedro Terrero. Scherzo, with Armando Ayuso tabbed to ride, won a first level allowance over this track two starts ago and wheels back in 19 days after a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Astra Stakes at Santa Anita.

Race 7 on Saturday (Second-level allowance for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Northwest Factor (Jockey Pedro Terrero…trainer Manny Badilla…morning line odds of 5-2)

#2 Scherzo (Armando Ayuso…Manny Badilla…6-1)

#3 Gettin Sideways (Julien Couton…Dan Markle…9-2)

#4 Tiz an Edventure (Frank Alvarado…Steve Specht…12-1)

#5 Javanica (Irving Orozco…Eoin Harty…1-1)

#6 Draw Me (Alejandro Gomez…Terri Eaton…12-1)

NOMINATIONS CLOSE THURSDAY NIGHT FOR THE 2022 EL CAMINO REAL DERBY

Nominations for the 2022 El Camino Real Derby close Thursday night. To nominate your horse to any stake at Golden Gate Fields, please contact stakes coordinator Lisa Jones at (626) 388-8062 or by e-mail at lisnpac12@hotmail.com.

The El Camino Real Derby, for 3-year-olds at one mile and an eighth on Tapeta, offers a pair of intriguing incentives. The winner of the race receives not only 10 Kentucky Derby points, but an all-expenses paid, free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. That said, the winner of the EL Camino Real Derby must be Triple Crown nominated to earn the latter incentive.

A big name amongst the list of early probables is MacKinnon, a multiple stakes winner who ran third in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf last year for trainer Doug O’Neill. O’Neill will likely be represented by a second entrant, Del Mo, who won a maiden special weight at Golden Gate last month. The first and fourth place finishers in the Golden Nugget Stakes in November, Boise and C’Mon Man, are gearing up for the El Camino Real Derby as is Unraptured, fresh off a dominating allowance victory on January 14.

LONGTIME BAY AREA TRAINER DELIA PASSES AWAY

The Bay Area horse racing community is mourning the loss of popular longtime trainer and former jockey William “Bill” Delia, who passed away on Thursday, January 27 due to complications of COVID-19. Delia was 75 years old.

Delia, born on December 5, 1946, began his apprenticeship as a jockey in 1966. After a race-riding career in which he piloted 304 horses to the wire first, Delia switched to training winners. Starting in 1985 and completing a career that spanned over four decades, Delia won 975 races from 7,952 starters, with his runners amassing purse earnings of $16,735,424.

A recent accolade for Delia came when, after a stellar year for his barn in 2019, the Bay Area native was honored with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) Trainer of the Year award.

“As you can imagine, our racing family here at Golden Gate is deeply saddened,” said Golden Gate Fields General Manager David Duggan in a statement last week. “He was one guy you looked forward to seeing every morning. He was a hard worker that loved horses and racing. He had fantastic stories to share and a great sense of humor. With the news of Bill’s passing comes a dark shadow that has been cast on our backstretch.”

Jockey William Antongeorgi III, who at one point rode first call for Delia, reflected on his relationship with Bill and the good times they shared over the years. Riding in races for him, says Antongeorgi, was a treat.

“After I rode in a race for him, if we lost, he never got mad,” said Antongeorgi. “You would lose a race- you’d come back and talk to him-and he would always be the same whether you won or lost. You could have an open conversation with him, and he was very levelheaded about everything. I think part of that had to do with the fact that he was a rider and he understood what it was like to in [a jockey’s] shoes. When you go out there, that gives you confidence knowing that a trainer has confidence in you. He was a fun guy to ride for. When we won, he was always super appreciative and excited that things worked out in the race.”

Antongeorgi said his relationship with Delia was always one “of a friend, not an associate at work.”

“He was one of the highlights in the mornings,” said Antongeorgi. “With Bill, you could talk to him about business and riding and racing, but you could also talk to him about all sorts of other things. We joked around with each other all the time. We told stories and he always seemed to be in a good mood. He was never grumpy. Just a cool guy to be around. I’m really going to miss him.”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Friday

Race 2: Marilyn’s Smile (New trainer Isidro Tamayo…new owner Baseline Equine LLC)

Race 5: Miss Ski (New owner/trainer Andrew Nguyen)

Race 6: Meet the Sheriff (Isidro Tamayo…Marron Road Ventures LLC and Tamayo)

Race 6: Mohawk King (Michael Lenzini…Gary Marrone)

Race 8: Exhalting (Salvador Naranjo…Silvia Soto)

Race 8: Stone Groove (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Saturday

Race 2: Dark Prince (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)

Race 3: La Popis (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)

Race 9: Shanghai Mist (Faith Taylor…Benjamin Kelly and Taylor)

Race 9: Sunset Star (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)

Race 9: What Up Now J T (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)

Sunday

Race 1: Monstrodamous (Owner/Trainer Reid France)

Race 6: Gee Gee Whiz (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 7: Shout It Out (MJVET Stables and Sergio Salguero)

FINISH LINES: Trainer Brittany Vanden Berg saddles her first Golden Gate Fields starter in Saturday’s ninth race. Vanden Berg’s 8-year-old gelding Hannity, in for a $4,000 tag, will be ridden by veteran Frank Alvarado. Vanden Berg recently moved to California after a training sting in Illinois for three years…Synthetic specialist Dynasty of Her Own is the one to beat in Friday’s fourth race, an open allowance for filly and mare sprinters. The daughter of Shanghai Bobby holds an astounding 9 for 10 lifetime record on the Golden Gate main track. Her main competition is Grade 2 placed First Star, making her first start for the Reid France barn…Trainer Ed Moger Jr. saddled Stilleto Boy to a terrific third place finish in the Pegasus World Cup last Saturday at Gulfstream Park. In the race, Stilleto Boy earned $292,500. His next start is to be determined…Golden Gate Fields will have special on-site coverage of the El Camino Real Derby next Saturday. TVG’s Caleb Keller will be live throughout the day covering the races for his network while XBTV’s Zoe Cadman is slated to give her takes on the simulcast feed with track announcer/racing analyst Matt Dinerman…Happy belated birthday to racing official and morning line maker Steve Martinelli, who celebrated his 40^th birthday last Sunday. Also, happy birthday to assistant trainer Maryellen Silva and trainer Jamey Thomas, both who celebrate theirs this week…Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager on Friday is Race 3 from Golden Gate…$47,544 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover on Friday.

ALBANY, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2022)–The Bay Area horse racing community is mourning the loss of popular longtime trainer and former jockey William “Bill” Delia, who passed away on Thursday due to complications of COVID-19. Delia was 75 years old.

          Delia, born on December 5, 1946, began his apprenticeship as a jockey in 1966. After a race-riding career in which he piloted 304 horses to the wire first, Delia switched to training winners. Starting in 1985 and completing a career that spanned over four decades, Delia won 975 races from 7,952 starters, with his runners amassing purse earnings of $16,735,424.

         A recent accolade for Delia came when, after a stellar year for his barn in 2019, the Bay Area native was honored with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) Trainer of the Year award.

          “It’s a real honor to win an award like this,” said Delia. “I am very appreciative of all the support from my owners and help back at the barn.”

        Delia’s last winner came at Golden Gate Fields on December 10, 2021 with the Thoroughbred gelding Hands Off. His final two starters raced this past Friday, January 21.

        “As you can imagine, our racing family here at Golden Gate is deeply saddened,” said Golden Gate Fields General Manager David Duggan. “He was one guy you looked forward to seeing every morning. He was a hard worker that loved horses and racing. He had fantastic stories to share and a great sense of humor. With the news of Bill’s passing comes a dark shadow that has been cast on our backstretch this morning.”

        Jockey William Antongeorgi III, who guided some of Delia’s best stock in recent years, took to social media to express his condolences Thursday evening.

         “Not only was he great to ride for…but he was also just a great guy to be around,” said Antongeorgi. “[Delia was] always laughing and having a good time. This one hurts. I’ll miss you.”

MAIDEN WINNERS FASCINATED, TRIP TO SPAIN RETURN IN COMPETITIVE FRIDAY FEATURE FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS

Friday’s signature race, Race 7, is a first level allowance for 3-year-olds at six furlongs on the Tapeta. A field of seven are entered to compete.

We begin with Golden Gate leading trainer Jonathan Wong, who saddles a pair of contenders in Fascinated and Stanford Bay. They drew the inside and outside post positions, respectively.

Fascinated, sent off at 7-5 in his career debut on September 4, dueled on the lead and hit the wire second, beaten a head, by unofficial winner Saint Ives. However, after a steward’s inquiry involving the stretch run, the stewards ruled that Saint Ives, who drifted out and made contact with Fascinated at the sixteenth pole, cost his rival the opportunity of a better placing. Fascinated was moved up to first via disqualification.

Fascinated, who competed over turf in the career debut, makes his first afternoon appearance since earning his maiden diploma. He also races on a synthetic surface for the first time.

“We’ve always liked [Fascinated],” said Wong. “[Jockey] Armando [Ayuso] came back after his first race and said he thought [Fascinated] liked the Tapeta more. We just ran him on the turf because that’s the race that popped up in the condition book and he was ready. He’s always trained really well on the Tapeta.

He might not be 100% cranked, so he might need the race [this Friday], but he’s doing well, and we think he’s a good horse,” continued Wong. “There’s a lot of speed in this race, so I think we break, find a good spot from off the pace and hopefully work out a good trip. I don’t like being on the rail but other than that, he’s coming into the race in good shape.”

Stanford Bay, owned and bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, went to the lead and held second in the Golden Nugget Stakes in November. He returned at the first level allowance condition last month and ran poorly after attempting to stalk the pace. Wong was quick to point out what Stanford Bay’s preferred running style is.

“He needs the lead,” said Wong. “When he gets the lead, he always tries hard. We’re going to send him.”

A sophomore sprinter looking to defeat both Wong entrants is Trip to Spain. The California-bred son of Stay Thirsty kicked off his career at Golden Gate with a stylish maiden win in July. He shipped to Del Mar two weeks later and ran in the Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds, setting a pressured pace before giving way to eventual race winner Rock N Rye. Trip to Spain settled as the runner up that day and, after his stakes placing at the seaside oval, was given the rest of the year off.

As a newly turned 3-year-old, Trip to Spain returns to the races with a steady series of drills for trainer Jamey Thomas. Santos Rivera, who was aboard for the maiden victory, reunites with the son of Stay Thirsty.

“He’s doing OK,” said Thomas. “We’re getting him started in this race. He should be fit enough to run well, but this is not the race we’re gearing up to win. There are bigger and better things down the road. I want to see him maybe sit right off [the speed] and see how he finishes.”

Others that add spice to the race include Stormy Samurai, who broke his maiden in fast time before wheeling back in three weeks and finishing fourth at this level. He removes blinkers for trainer Jack Steiner and seeks to rebound. Love Candy finished behind two next out winners-Highland Ghost and Unraptured-in a recent turf start on December 11 and gets back to the Tapeta for trainer Ed Moger Jr. Recent maiden breaker Nuestro Engreido and Tolonisito, who finished ahead of Stormy Samurai for third last time out, round out the field.

8-races are on the docket for Friday’s program, with first post at 12:45 PM.

Race 7 on Friday (First level allowance for 3-year-olds at 5 and a half furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Fascinated (Jockey Armando Ayuso…trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 9-2)

#2 Tolonisito (Assael Espinoza…Jesus Ramos…6-1)

#3 Nuestro Engreido (Ruben Fuentes…Felix Rondan…8-1)

#4 Trip to Spain (Santos Rivera…Jamey Thomas…7-2)

#5 Love Candy (Francisco Duran…Ed Moger Jr…4-1)

#6 Stormy Samurai (Evin Roman…Jack Steiner…3-1)

#7 Stanford Bay (Brayan Pena…Jonathan Wong…5-1)

STILLETO BOY UP AGAINST THE BIG DOGS ONCE MORE IN PEGASUS WORLD CUP

Essential Quality. Flightline. Hot Rod Charlie. Knicks Go. Medina Spirit. These were some of the best dirt horses in the world last year, and the Ed Moger Jr. trained Stilleto Boy has finished behind all of them at least once in five starts since moving to California last summer.

At Gulfstream Park in Florida this Saturday, Stilleto Boy makes his 2022 debut in the $3,000,000 Pegasus World Cup, for 4-year-olds and upward at one-mile and an eighth on dirt, Stilleto Boy drew post position 3 in the Pegasus and is listed at 20-1 on the morning line. Regular jockey Kent Desormeaux will be back aboard.

“[Stilleto Boy] shipped in really well,” said Moger, who touched down in Florida on Wednesday evening. “He’s just a really nice horse. He never has a bad day.”

Stilleto Boy won the Iowa Derby last July while under the care of Midwest conditioner Doug Anderson. Immediately following the stakes triumph, the son of Shackleford was put up for sale in the Fasig Tipton July Horses of Racing Age auction. Stilleto Boy’s current owner, Ed’s younger brother Steve Moger, purchased Stilleto Boy for a whopping $420,000.

Although Stilleto Boy has yet to enter the winners circle in five starts for Team Moger, he has strung together extremely respectable efforts against top class company. He finished second in the Grade I Awesome Again Stakes to Medina Spirit in October and returned to run fifth in the Grade I Breeders Cup Classic, picking up a $180,000 check for the latter start. Most recently, Stilleto Boy cut back to 7-furlongs in the Grade I Malibu and finished third behind superstar Flightline. In five starts for Moger, Stilleto Boy has earned $291,000.

Stilleto Boy has no easy task ahead of him. In the Pegasus, he lines up against dual Breeders Cup winners-Classic victor Knicks Go and Dirt Mile champion Life Is Good. Even if Stilleto Boy were to finish behind the top two main contenders, he could still earn a sizeable check. The Pegasus third-place finisher is awarded $290,000 while the horse who hits the wire fourth picks up $145,000.

When asked if he is hoping for a “pace collapse” between the two heavyweights, both who are speed horses, Moger nodded.

“That’s it,” said Moger. “But if we run third, that’s OK too. We know we’re running against some super tough horses. We love [Stilleto Boy]. He just tries hard every race and always does his best. We’ve had a blast with him, running in some big races. It’s been a fun experience.”

Post time for the Pegasus World Cup is 2:34 PM PT. Golden Gate runs nine races on Saturday, with first post set at 12:45 PM PT.

FRANCE UNLEASHES “A LISTERS” ON SATURDAY

Trainer Reid France has quickly become a trainer that must be considered whenever he enters a horse in a race. So far this meet, France has accumulated a 27%-win percentage, picking up six wins from 22 starters, with nine other in-the-money finishes. Last year, France won with 30% of his starters (74 for 249).

This Saturday, France sends out a trio of allowance caliber racers. They are three of the best horses he has. All three appear to be on the up and up, and France is excited to see how they perform.

In Race 7, a first level allowance, France campaigns J T’s Watch and Uncle Fred, both 4-year-olds. J T’s Watch, who hasn’t raced since a third-place finish in September against restricted 3-year-old allowance foes, makes his 2022 debut against “older” company. He sports four workouts leading up to Saturday’s race.

“It would have been nice if we could’ve gotten him another work or two,” said France. “I was really pleased with how he breezed [five furlongs] the other morning. He wasn’t blowing at all after the work. It was a nice work. He’s a closer so he’ll be sitting off the pace. He’ll probably need this race and it will gear him up for his next start.”

Last year, J T’s Watch finished behind quality horses like Jungle Cry, None Above the Law, Stalking Shadow, and Tesoro.

“He has class,” said France. “He’s probably classy enough to run a good race, but this is a good starting spot for him.”

Uncle Fred, in the meantime, has a race under his belt this year. After breaking his maiden at the Los Alamitos Thoroughbred Daytime meet against California-breds, Uncle Fred finished off the board in a January 9 allowance against sprinters. Uncle Fred, by Mr. Big out of a versatile turf mare named Christiana’s Heat, attempts two turns for the first time.

“I’ve always sort of felt he’d be better going longer,” said France. “I’ve always liked him, too. He’s a gigantic horse. He’s got a big, long stride. He’s a beautiful mover. Last time, he was really wide. He broke outside in a big field, and he was never able to get over. He’s not an overly quick horse as it is, but going from those sprints races, I’d imagine he’ll be in a good position early in this race.”

Thirty minutes later, Reid sends out Lagatha in a first level allowance for filly and mare sprinters. In her first start of the year on January 6, Lagatha scored a two and a half-length victory at the first-level condition. Being a California-bred, she is eligible to win at the level once more.

France claimed Lagatha for $12,500 in September. Since then, she has won 3 of 4 races for France, with her lone loss resulting in a better-than-looked second place finish.

“The real key with her is we’ve gotten her to relax,” said France. “She can be quirky. She used to get really nervous before her races. She wasn’t great at the gate. We’ve worked with her a lot on getting her to relax. She’s always had ability and just getting her to relax, now she’s in a good state of mind and she’s putting it all together.”

For France, seeing hard work pay off in the afternoons is as rewarding as anything. With that, there is no time to take the foot off the gas pedal.

“We don’t get days off as trainers,” said France. “We’re working hard and doing the best we can.”

Like the old saying goes…the results speak for themselves.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week.

Friday

Race 1: Galan Gray (New trainer Jack Steiner…new owner Remmah Racing Inc.)

Race 2: Simmer Down (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)

Race 3: Quick Time (Arnold Torres…David Bishop)

Race 3: Shanghai Mist (Owner/trainer Reid France)

Saturday

Race 1: Elusive Virtue (Owner/trainer Steve Miyadi)

Race 1: Hypersonic (Salvador Naranjo…Silvia Soto)

Race 2: Will Is Chill (Jonathan Wong…Lucas Downs Ltd.)

Race 3: Maxinamillion (Isidro Tamayo…Marron Road Ventures LLC and Tamayo)

Sunday

Race 8: Squared Shady (Aggie Ordonez…McLean Racing Stables)

FINISH LINES: Sloane Garden races for trainer Manny Badilla at Santa Anita on Saturday in the $100,000 Grade 3 Megahertz for fillies and mares at one mile on turf…Badilla also tightens the girth on Lotsa Pepper in Race 1 on Saturday at Santa Anita, a starter allowance for filly and mare turf sprinters at 5 furlongs…Congratulations to jockey William Antongeorgi III and his wife Jenn, who welcomed daughter Hailey into the world last week…The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover sits at $36,184 heading into the Friday program…Also on Friday: in the first race, the Rolling Super High Five bet has a carryover of $13,553. If the race scratches down to six or less horses, the Rolling Super High Five carryover will be moved to the next race in which the wager is offered…Happy birthday to trainer Steve Sherman, who celebrates his birthday later this week.

DULAS ANOTHER EXCITING EUROPEAN-BRED PROSPECT FOR BADILLA

Go to Europe, find a horse with decent form, send them to Golden Gate, and win.

That is the unique strategy that owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon have applied when picking out winning racehorses for their stable at Golden Gate Fields.

Charles and Gordon may have another good one with 5-year-old gelding Dulas, who makes his second start for the ownership duo and trainer Manny Badilla in the seventh race on Friday, a second level allowance. Dulas is the 2-1 second choice on the morning line.

A son of Raven’s Pass, Dulas was purchased for $50,586 at Newmarket’s Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-training sale last October. In the first start for his North American connections on December 31, Dulas stalked the pace and ran third in a large field of 11, defeated only by stakes winner American Farmer and multiple stakes placed Tesoro.

“I thought he ran huge the other day,” said Badilla. “He lost to some real runners. It was his first start going over seven furlongs. Ron [Charles] couldn’t figure out why he never tried routing in Europe. Ron thought this horse would love routing and he sure looked good doing it the other day.”

Santos Rivera guided Dulas to a third-place finish in December and retains the mount. Badilla expects Rivera to put Dumas into the race out of the gate.

“He’ll be close to the pace,” said Badilla. “He went the mile just fine. We’ll see how he goes the mile and an eighth. I like my horse, but this is a good race. Jungle Cry is the one [to beat]. He’s a good horse.”

There is no doubt that Jungle Cry is the class of the field. Set as the 8-5 morning line favorite, Jungle Cry makes his second start of the year after a third-place finish behind Grade 3 Berkley Handicap winner Freeport Joe and All-American Stakes victor Navy Armed Guard in an allowance race on January 2. Last year, Jungle Cry won the Robert Dupret Derby and subsequently ran second to multiple stakes winner Camino Del Paraiso in his next start.

Another notable entrant in Friday’s feature is Santa Anita stakes winner Jimmy Blue Jeans, who took home the gold medal in the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes last spring. In his most recent afternoon appearance, the California-bred by James Street finished off the board in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on September 4. Jimmy Blue Jeans sports a half-dozen workouts leading up to his 2022 debut for trainer Andy Mathis, including a bullet-six-furlong drill on January 7.

Eight races are on the docket for Friday, with first post set at the traditional time of 12:45 PM.

Race 7 on Saturday (Second level allowance for 4-year-olds at one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Governor’s Party (Jockey Irving Orozco…trainer Dan Franco…morning line odds of 12-1)

#2 Dulas (Santos Rivera…Manny Badilla…2-1)

#3 Jimmy Blue Jeans (Assael Espinoza…Andy Mathis…8-1)

#4 Ready Say Go (Evin Roman…Sherrie Monroe…8-1)

#5 Descartes (Ruben Fuentes…Sammy Calvario…10-1)

#6 Wine and Whisky (Cristobal Herrera…Felix Rondan…5-1)

#7 Jungle Cry (Armando Ayuso…Steve Specht…8-5)

NOT MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR IN SATURDAY FEATURE FOR FILLIES AND MARES

Saturday’s seventh race, a first level allowance for fillies and mares at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta, attracts a diverse mix of talent. In what appears as a wide-open race, there is little margin for error.

The top two finishers in a December 10 allowance race, Sherilinda and Buyback, are set for a rematch in the Saturday feature. Both will be supported at the betting windows. Sherilinda, who won December’s stretch battle by a neck, makes her fourth start off the claim for trainer Andy Mathis. Since being claimed by Mathis for $12,500 in August, two of her three starts have resulted in trips to the winner’s circle.

“She broke her maiden on the Tapeta a few years ago and ran really well that day,” said Mathis. “After that, she never got back on [the Tapeta] again. I wanted to put her back on it to see how she’d do.”

Mathis says he will let Frank Alvarado, aboard Saturday after steering Sherilinda to victory on December 10, make the calls during the race.

“I’m going to stay out of the way,” quipped Mathis. “They did well last time so I’m going to let them do their thing. The only thing I’m concerned about is we’re giving up some weight [5 to 7 pounds to the other competitors]. There isn’t a lot separating these horses in this race and I think the 7 pounds could make a difference. But sometimes you overthink these things. She’s doing really well and she’s in good form, so we’re going to give it a go and see what happens.”

Buyback, up close to a moderate pace before getting run down late by Sherilinda, put up a respectable showing in the December appearance. In one other prior race at the first level allowance condition on Tapeta, Buyback finished a nose behind the winner. Trainer Blaine Wright is hoping Buyback can finally break through with a win.

“In a couple of her races, we took her back a little bit and she just didn’t finish as strong as we would’ve liked,” said Wright. “I told [jockey] Pedro [Terrero] last time, ‘Just let her run and see what happens.’ And she ran a really good race. What we’ve learned about her is she doesn’t want to be taken a hold of too much. When we just let her run, she runs her best. So, that’s what we’re going to let her do.

After her last race, we gave her a few weeks off at Premier [Thoroughbreds Farm]. She went swimming in the pool there and freshened up. She had a really nice work the other morning [on January 15].”

Trainer Steve Sherman saddles 33% of the field, with 2 of the 6 entrants in the race coming from his shedrow. The first of the pair, Assignation, was a 4-length maiden special weight winner on turf in December. Her only other Northern California start resulted in a runner up finish to Ghostly Gal, who returned to run second at the same condition Assignation runs in on Saturday.

“When you go from maidens to a first level allowance, it’s a big step up,” said Sherman. “She’s never raced over the synthetic before. You never really know how they’ll run over it until they try it, but she’s been working steady over the track. She’ll probably be pretty close to the pace.”

Sherman’s Miss Ever Ready is set to tackle tougher company after a starter allowance victory in November. That day, she ran past Sky On Ice, who wheeled back to win her next start about a month later. Sherman noted that Miss Ever Ready has been a work in progress.

“She can be a little bit tricky to ride,” said Sherman. “She used to run with her head out and didn’t run straight at times, but we’ve worked with her on that, and she’s gotten a lot better. She’s a grinder. She’ll be sitting off and making one run. Going a mile and a sixteenth, I really believe that will help her. I actually think it will help both my fillies. They’ll like a little more ground.”

Southern California based Brittle and Yoo ships North and gets back to routing after a fifth-place finish sprinting in December for trainer Ron Ellis. Her last route race, in a specialized optional claiming/starter allowance condition on October 22 at Santa Anita, ended in an easy victory. Jockey Ruben Fuentes picks up the assignment

Rounding out the field is Back On the Street, who routed for the first time in her last start and finished two lengths behind race-winner Scherzo. The aforementioned rival returned in the Grade 3 Astra Stakes last Sunday at Santa Anita and placed third.

First post on Saturday’s 9-race program is 12:45 PM.

Race 8 on Saturday (First level allowance for fillies and mares 4-year-olds at one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Sherilinda (Jockey Frank Alvarado…trainer Andy Mathis…morning line odds of 5-2)

#2 Buyback (Pedro Terrero…Blaine Wright…2-1)

#3 Brittle and Yoo (Ruben Fuentes…Ron Ellis…3-1)

#4 Back On the Street (Armando Ayuso…Jonathan Wong…10-1)

#5 Miss Ever Ready (Irving Orozco…Steve Sherman…8-1

#6 Assignation (William Antongeorgi III…Steve Sherman..9-2)

FREEPORT JOE AND NAVY ARMED GUARD: ROUND 2 SET FOR SUNDAY

Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap winner Freeport Joe and 2020 All American Stakes winner Navy Armed Guard dead heated on January 2. Three weeks later, they are set for a rematch in Sunday’s seventh race, an open allowance race for 4-year-olds and upward at one mile.

Since the dead heat on January 2, Freeport Joe breezed a “nice and easy” 3 furlongs for trainer Gloria Haley on January 14. Assael Espinoza, who rode Freeport Joe to victory in the Berkeley, retains the mount. Navy Armed Guard worked a half mile on January 16, breezing four furlongs in 49.40 seconds under the watchful eye of trainer Quinn Howey.Regular rider Frank Alvarado is back aboard for Sunday’s race.

Set to face the two “heavyweights” is American Farmer, who won a second level allowance race last month and takes a bump up in class. In Our A, a classy sprinter who tried routing for the first time on January 2 and ran fourth behind Freeport Joe and Navy Armed Guard, seeks to improve in his second career race at two turns. Front runner Descartes and synthetic specialist Harmon complete the field of six.

Live racing on Sunday begins at 12:45 PM PT. Nine races made the overnight.

Race 7 on Sunday (Allowance for 4-year-olds and upward at one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Harmon (Jockey Julien Couton…trainer Monty Meier)

#2 Navy Armed Guard (Frank Alvarado…Quinn Howey)

#3 American Farmer (Pedro Terrero…Steve Sherman)

#4 Descartes (Ruben Fuentes…Sammy Calvario)

#5 Freeport Joe (Assael Espinoza…Gloria Haley)

#6 In Our A (Cristobal Herrera…Ellen Jackson)

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week

FRIDAY

Race 2: Awesome Dude (New trainer Marcelino Trujillo…new owners Nancy Salas-Ibarra and Floriberta Trujillo)

Race 6: Big City Bane (Jonathan Wong…owners Johnny Taboada and Marcel Taboada)

SATURDAY

Race 1: Bernalinho (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott)

Race 2: Continental Union (Isidro Tamayo…Timothy Francis O’Leary and Tamayo)

Race 7: Autism Blue (Reid France…Albert and Kathleen Mattivi LLC)

SUNDAY

Race 1: Hayden’s Angel (Monty Meier…Brown Cattle Co.)

MONDAY

Race 2: Excessive Cat (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)

Race 2: Luck Is Golden (Monty Meier…Brown Cattle Co. and William Branch)

Race 4: Seaside Dancer (Tim Bellasis…Dino Bongi and Bellasis)

Race 6: Bigfoot City (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott and Steiner)

Race 6: Prince de Prince (Victor Trujillo…Lester Hunsucker)

FINISH LINES: Irving Orozco leads the jockey colony in wins at the current meeting with 14. Pedro Terrero (13 wins) sits right on his tail, followed by Frank Alvarado (11) and Armando Ayuso (10)…Not much change in the trainer standings since last week, with Jonathan Wong (12 wins), Isidro Tamayo (7) and Steve Specht (6) compiling the top three spots…Fun pedigree facts for our readers in the next few lines! Vasco makes her first career start in Friday’s nightcap, a maiden special weight, for trainer O.J. Jauregui. Vasco is by leading California freshman sire Straight Fire and out of stakes winner and Grade 2 placed sprinter American Lady…The morning line favorite in the Friday nightcap is Autism Innocence, out of 342k earner and Grade 2 placed turf router Kathleen Rose…Well done to 9-year-old pro Camino Del Paraiso, who finished second in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at one mile and an eighth last Saturday. He earned $38,000 for the runner up finish, raising his career earnings past the $600,000 mark…$20,598 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Friday’s card…Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as the third race on Friday…Happy birthday to jockey Brayan Pena, who celebrates his birthday this week.

ALLOWANCE ON FRIDAY HAS EL CAMINO REAL DERBY IMPLICATIONS

3-year-old colts and geldings route one mile in the co-featured seventh race on Friday. For the horses that put up a strong showing, they may find themselves in the El Camino Real Derby starting gate on Saturday, February 12.

8-5 morning line second choice Il Bellator is an intriguing item from the Jose Bautista stable. The Kentucky-bred son of Shackleford comes off a decisive maiden victory in his first career start at two turns in November. The second-place finisher in the race, Del Mo, returned last week to easily defeat maiden special weight routers. On Friday, Alejandro Gomez fills in for Il Bellator’s regular jockey Catalino Martinez, who suffered a shoulder injury two weeks ago.

“We always thought Il Bellator would be a better router,” said Bautista. “He’s doing really well. Alejandro got on him on Sunday morning and he really likes him. If the pace isn’t too fast, we can be on the lead, but I think we’re going to be stalking the pace. He’ll work out a good trip.

If he runs first or second-as long as he runs a good race-we’re looking to run in the El Camino Real Derby,” concluded Bautista. “Honestly, I think he’s a really nice horse. We’re excited about him.”

Set to tackle Il Bellator are a pair of legit contenders that try routing for the first time. One of them is the 7-5 morning line favorite, Unraptured, who blew the doors off his competition in a maiden special weight sprint on the Tapeta last October. In his next and most recent start on December 11, he finished a nose behind next out allowance winner Highland Ghost and first-place finisher Love’em N Leave’em in a five-furlong turf dash. Love Candy, trained by Ed Moger Jr, finished fifth in the aforementioned turf sprint and is also entered to compete in the Friday co-feature.

Tim McCanna, who conditions Unraptured, also saddles Brookys Tapit. By top stallion Tapit, Brookys Tapit is the first foal out of stakes winner and six-figure earner Brookys Star. Brookys Tapit broke his maiden for a $20,000 tag in November and wheeled back one month later for a gate-to-wire score against starter allowance company. This Friday’s assignment will be his toughest task yet.

Washington stakes winner Midnight Mojo and Dimmi Quando exit the Gold Rush Stakes on December 4. Both runners finished towards the back of the field and find class relief in Friday’s seventh race.

Eight races are on the docket for Friday, with first post slated for 12:45 PM. Golden Gate offers 4-racing days this week: our regularly scheduled Friday through Sunday programs and a special holiday card on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday.

Race 7 on Friday: Allowance (for 3-year-olds at one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Brookys Tapit (Jockey Assael Espinoza…trainer Tim McCanna…morning line odds of 12-1)

#2 Midnight Mojo (Kevin Orozco…Blaine Wright…10-1)

#3 Il Bellator (Alejandro Gomez…Jose Bautista…8-5)

#4 Unraptured (Armando Ayuso…Tim McCanna…7-5)

#5 Love Candy (Ruben Fuentes…Ed Moger Jr…7-2)

#6 Dimmi Quando (Santos Rivera…Dan Franko…20-1)

GOLDEN GATE SHIPPERS TRAVEL SOUTH FOR CAL-CUP DAY AT SANTA ANITA

The phrase “it pays to be a Cal-bred” rings true on Saturday afternoon, when Santa Anita Park offers a full card of races for California-bred or sired horses. Five of the 10 races on the program are stakes events, with a combined total of $900,000 in prize money up for grabs in the quintet of stakes. A number of Golden Gate-based racers fit the conditions for Saturday’s stakes and make the trip south for a try at a sizeable check.

In the signature race on the program, the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, old-pro Camino Del Paraiso faces tough customers in the one mile and an eighth turf-affair. The newly turned 9-year-old by Suances haswon in four of his last five starts against Northern California stakes company. He freshens up after his lone loss in said sequence: a runner up finish behind next out winner Freeport Joe in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap. Camino Del Paraiso drew post position five of eight and is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. Jockey Ricky Gonzalez teams up with trainer O.J. Jauregui.

In the $200,000 California Derby, for 3-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth on dirt, Jauregui tightens the girth on Highland Ghost, a son of Shaman Ghost who enters the ‘Derby fresh off a two-length allowance score against sprinters on December 31 at Golden Gate. Although Highland Ghost has run well on turf and synthetic, we know he likes dirt too; he broke his maiden on the Pleasanton dirt main track. His only career race at two turns resulted in a third-place finish against allowance company last fall. He has improved greatly since then. Highland Ghost will be ridden by one of the top riders in the nation, Flavien Prat, and breaks from the rail post position.

The $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Oaks attracts a pair of Northern California players. Pike Place Dancer Stakes winner Vaping Angel makes her 2022 debut, having not raced since the aforesaid stakes triumph in October. Trainer Felix Rondan employs Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who will have to work out a good trip from the 12 post position. Breaking from post 2 is Ellamira, who most recently won the Golden Gate Debutante for trainer Steve Specht and tries routing for the first time. Tyler Baze is scheduled to ride. The California Derby for 3-year-old males is run on dirt, but the one-mile ‘Oaks for 3-year-old fillies takes place on the Santa Anita turf course.

Two additional Bay Are entrants are part of a full field in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, run down the distinctive hillside turf course at approximately six and one-half furlongs. Bear Fan Stakes winner Rebalation and runner up finisher Nardini clash once more in this $150,000 stake. The former is out of the stakes winning turf mare Reba Is Tops and has shown a lethal closing kick from off the pace for trainer Tim McCanna, while the latter makes her second start off a lengthy layoff and will be in peak condition for trainer Andy Mathis. Kyle Frey hops aboard Rebelation while Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux steers Nardini.

In other Santa Anita stakes news, the Grade 3 Astra Stakes on Monday attracts a duo of Golden Gate contenders. Allowance winners Reiwa (trained by Jonathan Wong) and Scherzo (Manny Badilla) face a trio of local players in the one mile and a half turf marathon for fillies and mares.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Friday

Race 1: Ruler of Angels (New owner/trainer Marcelino Trujillo)

Race 3: Our Bold Prince (New trainer Tim Bellasis…new owners Bellasis, Smartt and Schanz)

Race 4: Loud Fusaichi (Blaine Wright…Wright Racing Stable LLC, Dermody and Kenneally)

Race 9: Breaking the Code (Blaine Wright…Seamist Racing LLC, Wright Racing, Becker & Becker)

Saturday’

Race 1: Seaside Dancer (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 2: Bandeena (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott and Steiner)

Race 3: Lucas McCain (Isidro Tamayo…Lenberg, Tamayo and Wickman)

Race 9: Jays Angel (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)

Race 9: Rock N Roll Song (Quinn Howey…Leon Scott)

Sunday

Race 1: Harbor Kitty (Owner/Trainer Jim Gilmour)

Race 4: K P Silver Bullet (Jonathan Wong…Clay Sides)

Race 4: Surplus (Isidro Tamayo…The Quarter Company LLC)

FINISH LINES: Heading into Week 3 of the Winter/Spring meet, Irving Orozco and Pedro Terrero are tied with 13 wins apiece atop the jockey standings…Jonathan Wong paves the way in the trainer standings with 7 wins. Isidro Tamayo sits in second place with 5 victories. Bill McLean, Steve Sherman and Blaine Wright have accrued 4 wins apiece and are tied for third…Undefeated 3-year-old filly Lady’s Sermon takes on four other rivals for trainer Steve Specht in the co-featured fourth race on Friday, a one-mile allowance. This will be the first time Lady’s Sermon races a route of ground. Pedigree suggest she will enjoy it, being out of 7-time route winner and multiple stakes champion Lady Railrider. Morning line maker Steve Martinelli has tabbed Lady’s Sermon at even money. The second choice on the ‘line is 5-2 stablemate Sen Sen, last seen running third in the Golden Gate Debutante…Saturday’s marquee event is the eighth race. For starter allowance company, it attracts an above average group for the level. Strut to the Wire has been working quickly in preparation for his 2022 debut off a long layoff for trainer Mike Lenzini. He runs well fresh; in his first career race he won by 8. His only other start resulted in an off the board finish on dirt. Doncic invades for Southern California trainer Vladimir Cerin and seeks a win on Tapeta. Gator Shining comes off a solid runner up finish at Del Mar for trainer Quinn Howey while Refi Now, now in the barn of D. Wayne Baker, broke his maiden in November of 2020 at Del Mar and makes his first start in 13-and-a-half-months… Sunday’s nightcap, Race 9, is the highlight of the day. Table for Ten and Tom’s Surprise finished one-two at this level on December 26 and enter Sunday’s feature as the two likely favorites in the race…$5,972 is carried over into Friday’s Golden Pick Six jackpot wager…Happy birthday to trainer Aggie Ordonez, who celebrates her birthday on Saturday.

2021 STAKES WINNERS FREEPORT JOE AND NAVY ARMED GUARD DEAD HEAT

In last Sunday’s ninth race, stakes winners Freeport Joe and Navy Armed Guard produced an exciting stretch run which, after examining the photo finish, the stewards ruled a dead-heat tie between the two.

Navy Armed Guard, who had not raced since a triumphant victory in the All-American Stakes last May, stalked the pace and took the lead at the eighth pole. Freeport Joe, winner of the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap, sat off the pace and came up alongside of Navy Armed Guard to engage in the final 100 yards. The final furlong was completed in 12 seconds-a swift finishing time for a route race on the Tapeta-and both horses hit the wire together while finishing full of energy.

Thursday morning, trainers Gloria Haley and Quinn Howey reported that their geldings exited the race in tip-top shape.

“He came out of the race great,” said Haley, who conditions Freeport Joe. “We’re just so happy with how he’s progressed and how he’s run. We’ll look and see what races are out there for him. We’ll probably nominated to the Unusual Heat Turf Classic [at Santa Anita next Saturday] but the turnaround would be a little quick. We’ll see.”

“He’s doing really good,” said Quinn Howey, the trainer of Navy Armed Guard. “He’s won on the dirt and he’s won on the turf, but he just loves the Tapeta. He’s actually still eligible for a second level allowance condition in Southern California, so we could run him in a race like that or find another stake next. The All American [in May] is on the calendar for him later on [in 2022]. We’ll have some fun with him this year.”

UP AND COMER J AND K EXPRESS LOOKING TO BUILD ON FIRST TWO STARTS

4-year-old filly J and K Express looks to build on two promising lifetime starts in the marquee eighth race on Saturday, a first level allowance for filly and mare sprinters. A California-bred daughter of Richard Kid’s, J and K Express is trained by Leanna Ekstrom.

J and K Express kicked off her career with a half-length victory against maiden special weight company on November 27. That day, she defeated Twilight Empire, who wheeled back to win her next start. On a two-week turnaround, J and K Express faced 12 other rivals in her second and most recent start, the $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes. Sent off at a massive price of 85-1, J and K Express sat a length off a 21.63 and 44.26 quick pace, stayed on down the lane and was nosed out for third, finishing two lengths behind race winner Rebalation. Considering J and K Express was running against classy sprinters that had much more experience than her, it was an admirable effort.

“When she won her first start, [jockey] Cristobal [Herrera] said she really didn’t have to try too hard,” said Ekstrom. “He didn’t feel like she was overly tired or anything like that. The owners had mentioned before, ‘Maybe if we have a good horse, we could consider running in a Cal-bred stake.’ She came out of her first race really well, so after discussing [to run in the Bear Fan] with the owners and the jockey, we decided to give it a try. We were very happy with how she ran.

She’s a smart filly,” continued Ekstrom. “Once we started getting some good works into her, we knew she had talent. Since the day she got here [to Golden Gate from the farm], she’s known what her job is. She’s all racehorse.”

Since her December 11 stakes debut, J and K Express has worked once-an easy five-furlong drill on January 2-and runs against eight other contenders this Saturday. Regular pilot Cristobal Herrera will be back aboard.

“For the most part, she can make her own pace,” said Ekstrom. “In her first start, she wanted to take the front and she did. In the stakes race, she was clear on the outside and found a good spot right off [the lead]. She’s one of these horses that just gives you her all. She’s doing very well, and she’s ready to run.”

J and K Express, bred in California by owners Patrick Harney and Tom Hudson, is 7-2 on the morning line and will break from post position 3. First post on a 9-race program this Saturday is 12:45 PM.

Race 8 on Saturday: First level allowance (for fillies and mares at six furlongs on the Tapeta)

#1 Atlantic Strike (Jockey Evin Roman…trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 8-1)

#2 The Great Haynes (Armando Ayuso…Andy Mathis…6-1)

#3 J and K Express (Cristobal Herrera…Leanna Ekstrom…7-2)

#4 Mommy Rose (Ruben Fuentes…Ed Moger Jr…20-1)

#5 Swanee (Santos Rivera…Guillermo Preciado…8-1)

#6 Kitty’s Candy (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…10-1)

#7 Lagatha (Irving Orozco…Reid France…5-2)

#8 Styledome (William Antongeorgi…Steve Sherman…5-1)

#9 Chieftain’s Lady (Pedro Terrero…Eddie Rich…10-1)

OVERSUBSCRIBED ALLOWANCE RACE SPLITS INTO TWO DIVISIONS ON SUNDAY

This Sunday’s featured allowance race, written as Race 8 in the first Winter/Spring meet condition book, received 17 entrants on entry day and has been split into two divisions. The first division, Race 7, drew a field of 8, while Division 2, Race 9, has 9 runners.

Division 1 includes R M C Hook’em, who has hit the board numerous times at this level while earning above average speed figures for the condition. Last fall, he finished a couple lengths behind Top Harbor and In Our A, two of the top sprinters in Northern California. His turf debut came five weeks ago, when he finished third behind speedy gelding Silver Claim. Other main contenders include hard-knocking gelding Torpedo Away and Long Lance, who cuts back from a route to a sprint. The last time Long Lance sprinted on the Tapeta, he earned a career high 82 Beyer when easily beating starter allowance foes.

Division 2 attracts a diverse group of sprinters. A Man’s Man, fresh off a runner up finish at this level, tries Tapeta for the first time. Before a 19-month layoff from May 2020 to December of last year, the son of Breeders Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man was running competitively against salty Southern California competition. Truth Seeker picked up the silver medal in his last start, a one-mile route at this level, and two starts ago lost by a half-length sprinting on dirt to Clem Labine, who returned on December 10 to beat Torpedo Away (5-1 morning line in Division 1) at this condition. Impressive maiden winners Hey Mate and Uncle Fred face proven winners for the first time in the Sunday finale while Southern California shipper Jazz Hands, who won a restricted 3-year-old allowance race at Golden Gate last April, gets back to Northern California for trainer Edward Freeman.

9-races are on the Sunday overnight, with first post once again at 12:45 PM.

Race 7 on Friday: First level allowance (for 4-year-olds and upward at six furlongs on the Tapeta)

#1 Torpedo Away (Jockey Armando Ayuso…trainer Manny Badilla…morning line odds of 5-1)

#2 Long Lance (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…2-1)

#3 Meet the Sheriff (Assael Espinoza…Cliff DeLima…15-1)

#4 Paint Me Lucky (Evin Roman…Marcia Stortz…8-1)

#5 Exhortation (Pedro Terrero…Gloria Haley…8-1)

#6 Bang for your Buck (Ruben Fuentes…Jed Josephson…10-1)

#7 Thegloryisallmine (Alejandro Gomez…Ed Moger Jr…20-1)

#8 R M C Hook’em (Brayan Pena…Victor Trujillo…9-5)

Race 9 on Friday: First level allowance (for 4-year-olds and upward at six furlongs on the Tapeta)

#1 Flic Flac (Jockey Silvio Amador…Trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 6-1)

#2 Hey Mate (Assael Espinoza…Bill McLean…10-1)

#3 Truth Seeker (William Antongeorgi III…Manny Ortiz…3-1)

#4 Mister Bold (Armando Ayuso…Jeff Bonde…6-1)

#5 A Man’s Man (Pedro Terrero…Steve Sherman…7-2)

#6 Jazz Hands (Alejandro Gomez…Edward Freeman…10-1)

#7 Copper Halo (Santos Rivera…Manny Badilla…20-1)

#8 Square Deal (Evin Roman…Victor Trujillo…8-1)

#9 Uncle Fred (Irving Orozco…Reid France…9-2)

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

FRIDAY

Race 1: Hot Sean (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owner Madden Racing and MJVET Stables)

Race 2: What Up Now JT (Isidro Tamayo…John Tipton)

Race 4: Night Proof (Owner/Trainer Faith Taylor)

SATURDAY

Race 1: Circulodeganadoras (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 4: Coal Shaft (O.J Jauregui…Highland Yard LLC)

Race 6: Honeymoonz Over (Victor Trujillo…Marron Road Ventures LLC and Trujillo)

SUNDAY

Race 5: Hurley (Owner/Trainer Miguel Ramirez)

Race 7: Bronze Warrior (Blaine Wright…Wright Racing Stable, Steve Menne and Johnny Taboada)

Race 7: Claim of Passion (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Race 8: Scratchy Apache (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

FINISH LINES: In Race 6 on Saturday, a maiden special weight sprint for 3-year-old fillies, Ayellowroseoftexas makes her first start in Northern California for trainer Steve Miyadi. The daughter of Dialed In is a half sibling to 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate…You won’t find a better bunch of 32k claimers in Race 5 on Sunday. Entered is stakes winner Blue Diva and allowance winners Gettin Sideways, Ida Claire, Miss Super Saint, Rev Ree, and Tiz an Edventure…Congratulations to jockey Brayan Pena, who won 4 races last Sunday. He finished second once and third twice with 3 other mounts who did not win…Golden Gate Debutante winner Mimajoon faces five others in the signature race on Saturday at Santa Anita, the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-olds fillies at 7 furlongs on dirt. Kyle Frey rides for trainer Jonathan Wong…$15,512 is carried over into the Golden Pick jackpot wager for Friday, while the first race with a Rolling Super High five bet has a substantial carryover of $11,031…Three jockeys-Armando Ayuso, Assael Espinoza and Evin Roman-get back to riding this Saturday after taking suspension days issued by the stewards for riding infractions in December…Happy birthday to trainer Jedd Josephson, who celebrate his birthday early next week Monday.

TESORO EXITS STAKES COMPANY, FACES OLDER IN FRIDAY FEATURE

3-year-old colt Tesoro ends his 2021 campaign in the featured eighth race on Friday, a second level allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta. 

Trained by O.J Jauregui, Tesoro was last seen running second, beaten a length and a quarter, to Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock in the November 23 Zia Park Derby. That day, Tesoro stalked the pace, challenged Super Stock at the top of the stretch and was outfinished in the latter stages. He earned a career high 89 Beyer speed figure for the runner up finish.

“I thought he ran well,” said Jauregui. “We ran him [in the Zia Park Derby] because of the purse [$250,000], and I know Super Stock is a good horse. I figured running against him, we would see where we were at with [Tesoro]…how well we stacked up against a horse with good quality.”

Tesoro’s only start against older horses came two starts ago in the Bulldog Stakes at Fresno, where he sat off the speed before rallying for third behind Zestful and Honos Man. This time around, Tesoro runs on Tapeta and faces another salty group of experienced routers. Even though his two most recent starts have come on dirt, Tesoro has won twice on the Golden Gate synthetic.

“I’m hoping he’s three, four lengths off the lead and can run on from there,” said Jauregui, when asked about what type of trip he expects Tesoro to get in a large field of 11 on Friday. “He likes the dirt, but he always trains well on the Tapeta and he’s run well at Golden Gate before.”

Tesoro possesses the pedigree to be a decent racer. He is by Grade 2 winner Anchor Down and out of a half sibling to 2020 Belmont Stakes and Travers winner Tiz the Law. Tesoro has improved with racing experience, and Jauregui believes that trend will continue in the upcoming new year.

“I really think this horse is going to get better with time,” said Jauregui. “He could be one of these horses that peaks in the spring and summer [of 2022]. Even though he’s run well, he’s still green and he’s still figuring things out. We just need to give him more time and more races and I really think he can get better. This race is a good stepping stone going into his 4-year-old season.”

Live racing at Golden Gate on Friday begins at 12:45 PM. 79 horses are entered on the 9-race card, which averages out to 8.7 horses per race.

8th race on Friday (Second level allowance at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta)

#1 I’mgonnabesomebody (Jockey William Antongeorgi…trainer Bill McLean…6-1 morning line)

#2 Descartes (Ruben Fuentes…Sammy Calvario…10-1)

#3 Cool Mountain Lad (Brayan Pena…Victor Trujillo…20-1)

#4 Ready Say Go (Irving Orozco…Sherrie Monroe…9-2)

#5 Ted (Kevin Orozco…Victor Trujillo…15-1)

#6 Tesoro (Francisco Monroy…O.J. Jauregui…4-1)

#7 Synthesis (Frank Alvarado…Jacqui Navarre…7-2)

#8 Sacred Rider (Catalino Martinez…Steve Specht…15-1)

#9 Wine and Whisky (Cristobal Herrera…Felix Rondan…12-1)

#10 Dulas (Santos Rivera…Manny Badilla…12-1)

#11 American Farmer (Pedro Terrero…Steve Sherman…5-1)

LOVE‘EM N LEAVE’EM, STANFORD BAY COMPLETE STRONG 1-2 PUNCH FOR WONG IN FRIDAY ALLOWANCE

Trainer Jonathan Wong and owner/breeder Tommy Town Thoroughbreds enter a pair of 2-year-old colts in Friday’s fifth race, a first level allowance at five and one-half furlongs on Tapeta. Both appear with solid chances to win the contest. 

The first of the Wong duo is Love’em N Leave’em, who has won two of three lifetime starts. In his career debut last August, the son of Stanford easily defeated a large field of maidens. Sent off at 1-2 in his next start, a first level allowance, he dueled up front, at a rapid pace, before tiring to third. The winner of the race, C’Mon Man, has since come back to place twice in a pair of stakes races.

After the first career defeat in September, Love’em N Leave’m was given two and a half months between races. He returned in a first level allowance at five furlongs on turf, stalked the pace for the first time, and rallied to beat Highland Ghost and Unraptured in a three-way driving finish.

“I thought he ran really well last time,” said Wong. “He wasn’t really 100% cranked because he missed a lot of time after his second race. He stalked and ran really well, so that gives us options in this race. He doesn’t need to be on the lead. I’ve always thought he was one of our better 2-year-olds this year.”

Like his stablemate, Stanford Bay is a son of Grade 2 winner and million-dollar earner Stanford. He comes off a runner up finish in the Golden Nugget Stakes, finishing behind winner Dr Pescado and C’Mon Man. In five of six lifetime starts, Stanford has finished first or second, displaying an admirable level of consistency.

“[Stanford Bay] always trains good,” said Wong. “He does everything right. He always tries really hard. We were going to stretch him out in the Gold Rush Stakes [on December 4] but he got cast in his stall the morning of the race. We didn’t want to take any chances and scratched him.”  

Although Love ‘em N Leave’em and Stanford Bay appear as legit contenders in Race 5, neither are the morning line favorite. The always well-regarded Stormy Samurai, fresh off a gutsy maiden victory three weeks ago, faces winners for the first time and has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite by oddsmaker Steve Martinelli. Another major player in Friday’s fifth race is Highland Ghost, who finished a nose behind Love’em N Leave’em last time out. Maiden winners Bandera Azteca, Cowboy Charlie and Tolonisito complete the field.

5th race on Friday (First level allowance at five and one-half furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Cowboy Charlie (Jockey Alejandro Gomez…Quinn Howey…20-1 on the morning line)

#2 Tolonisito (Pedro Terrero…Jesus Ramos…15-1)

#3 Stormy Samurai (Catalino Martinez…Jack Steiner…9-5)

#4 Love’em N Leave’em (Heriberto Figueroa…Jonathan Wong…5-2)

#5 Bandera Azteca (Irving Orozco…Victor Trujillo…6-1)

#6 Stanford Bay (Brayan Pena…Jonathan Wong…3-1)

#7 Highland Ghost (William Antongeorgi…O.J. Jauregui…6-1)

STAKES QUALITY FIELDS HIGHLIGHT 11-RACE SUNDAY CARD

Two allowance races-one for filly and mare sprinters and the other for older router horses-are part of an 11-race Sunday program at Golden Gate. First post on Sunday is 11:45 AM PT.

The first of two open allowance races comes in Race 6, for fillies and mares at six furlongs on Tapeta. The Jonathan Wong trained Dynasty of Her Own was handed her first career loss on the Tapeta in November when dueling on the lead and tiring. She looks to rebound with a now 8 for 9 lifetime record on the Golden Gate main track. One rival that could challenge her on the lead is Maybe I Will, who made her first start on December 3 for trainer Blaine Wright. That day, she beat a sizeable field of first level allowance foes off a six-and-a-half-month vacation. She inherits the inside post position and could be sent for speed out of the gate.

Tip Top Gal is the only runner in the field that last competed in a stakes race. Most recently, the daughter of Old Topper finished third in a field of 11 in the Bear Fan Stakes for California-bred filly and mare sprinters on December 11. A tactical mare, Tip Top Gal sports peak form for trainer Quentin B. Miller.

Southern California invader First Star is also in the field. The Ron Ellis trainee won her first two career starts in 2019 and finished as the runner up to Grade I winner Bell’s the One in the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run at Keeneland that same year. Since then, she has failed to be a factor for the win in eight consecutive races and searches for a “W” against this group of Northern California racers.

Rounding out the list of entrants is Wheal Grace (trained by Jose Bautista), who has finished right behind Tip Top Gal in her last two starts, and Fresno allowance winner Empire House (Jonathan Wong).

The ninth race on the program is an allowance for colts and geldings at one mile on the Tapeta. Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap winner Freeport Joe returns to the races after a 10-1 upset over top Northern California handicap horse Camino Del Paraiso. With that effort in mind, he will likely go off as one of the favorites. Freeport Joe will be competing against another Golden Gate stakes winner in Navy Armed Guard, who hasn’t been seen since a victory in the All-American Stakes on May 31. Trained by Quinn Howey, Navy Armed Guard sports a six-furlong work and several five-furlong drills in preparation for his return to the races. A third stakes winner in the race, Jungle Cry, finished fifth behind Freeport Joe in the Berkeley and looks to turn the tables. Earlier in the year, the son of Animal Kingdom won the Robert Dupret Derby on grass, and was a neck behind Camino Del Paraiso in the Rolling Green Stakes.

In Our A has sprinted in all 11 career starts, with five wins and five seconds to his name. He suffered his first off-the-board finish last time out in the Oakland Stakes, though he had an excuse that day. When the gates opened, he leapt in the air and spotted the field many lengths. He only lost by a length and a half in the end, placing fourth in a field of seven, and could have been the winner with a better break. He attempts routing for the first time for trainer Ellen Jackson.

Synthetic specialist Harmon and the Cliff DeLima trained pair of Nowhere Man and Manila Mischief complete the field in Race 9.

GOLDEN GATE SHIPPERS REPRESENT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN SANTA ANITA STAKES THIS WEEKEND

For this write up, we relocate to Southern Californi, where several Golden Gate Fields shippers will be competing in a plethora of stakes races at Santa Anita Park over the weekend. Our local contenders are as follows.

In Saturday’s eighth race at “The Great Race Place”, the Manny Badilla trained Sloane Garden contends against older filly and mare turf routers in the Grade 3 $100,000 Robert Frankel Stakes at one mile and an eighth. The soon-to-be 6-year-old mare comes off a third-place finish in the Miss America Stakes in mid-December and will be making her second start off a layoff in the Robert Frankel. In 2020, Sloane Garden won a pair of stakes races at Golden Gate: the Golden Poppy and the Luther Burbank.

One race later, Reid France sends out 5-year-old mare Cowboys Daughter in the Grade 3 $200,000 La Canada Stakes for fillies and mares at one mile and a sixteenth on dirt. A daughter of Australia-bred Hampton Court, Cowboys Daughter has won four races in a row since being claimed by France at Del Mar for $20,000 over the summer. Her last three wins have come against allowance company.

Fast forward to Santa Anita’s Sunday afternoon, when Golden Gate leading conditioner Jonathan Wong will be saddling a handful of newly turned 3-year-olds in stakes events. In Race 8, the $100,000 Blue Norther Stakes for fillies at one mile on turf, Wong sends out Mimajoon and Shoppingforpharoah. Mimajoon last raced in Division 1 of the Golden Gate Debutante, where she went to the lead, set fast fractions, and kept chugging along for a gate to wire score as the longest shot in the field. Two starts ago, she broke her maiden sprinting five furlongs on the grass. A daughter of multiple Grade 2 winning router Fed Biz, Mimajoon tries two turns for the first time in the Blue Norther. Shoppingforpharoah broke her maiden in lifetime start number two sprinting on the turf at Del Mar. She returned two weeks later in the second division of the Golden Gate Debutante and ran seventh at 3-5, dueling at a crazy fast pace before tiring badly down the lane. Like stablemate Mimajoon, Shoppingforpharoah makes her career debut going a route of ground.

Race 10 is the $100,000 Eddie Logan for 3-year-old turf routers. Dark bay or brown colt Boise gets back to the lawn for the Wong barn after a thrilling victory against Godolphin homebred Degree of Risk in the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate. Boise, a perfect 2 for 2 so far, was victorious sprinting on the turf at first asking. Wong also enters Unreal, who attempts routing after a flashy victory in a five-furlong turf dash at Golden Gate on November 20. C’Mon Man, who finished fourth in the Gold Rush and third in the one-turn Golden Nugget Stakes, also makes the trip south for trainer Bill McLean and will run in the Eddie Logan.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from Opening Day Sunday, December 26:

Race 1: Union Bliss (New Owner/Trainer Jose Puentes)

Race 2: Continental Union (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owners MJVET Stables, Cheung and Tsai)

Race 2: Red Hot Cat (Quinn Howey…Leon Scott)

Race 3: Handsome Account (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 3: Poso Creek (Reid France…Goat Racing Stables LLC)

Race 4: Remember Sue (Jack Steiner…Remmah Racing Inc.)

Race 8: All My Hope (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Race 8: Canam Gal (Reid France…Albert and Kathleen Mattivi LLC)

Race 11: Linfield (Manny Badilla…Brett Tahajian and Badilla)

FINISH LINES: Remember the post time schedule this week: Friday’s first race goes off at approximately 12:45 PM, the Saturday opener is set for 12:15 PM, and first post on Sunday is 11:45 AM…Heading into Friday’s card, there is a $3,042 carryover in the Rolling Super High Five for Race 1. Race 4 starts the Golden Pick Six, with a small carryover in the jackpot pool of $3,716…Leg E of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate Fields on Friday…Happy birthday to jockeys Assael Espinoza and Irving Orozco, both who celebrate their birthday’s today…Also, a special birthday shout to all of our horses, who turn one year older on January 1!

STAKES PLACED NARDINI BACK IN ACTION IN A LARGE FIELD OF 13

5-year-old mare Nardini ran two bang-up races this summer: she scored a seven-length victory against second level allowance foes at Pleasanton and followed that effort up with a nose loss to stakes winner Pulpit Rider in the Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar. Both runs were going a route a ground. In the Solana Beach, Nardini finished ahead of graded stakes winners Warrens Showtime and Leggs Galore.

Nardini makes her first start off a four-month layoff in the signature race on Saturday, the $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes at six furlongs for California-bred fillies and mares on Saturday. Nardini gets back to sprinting in the Bear Fan, something she thrived at earlier in her career.

“We freshened her up after a really hard race at Del Mar. She ran two really big races routing over the summer,” said Mathis. “She’s been real flighty and I don’t think mentally, early on [in her career], she would’ve got [two turns] well. I would’ve just seen her running off early in the race or being real difficult to control. Now, with some time, maturity, and the fact that she’s gotten plenty of races under her belt, she was able to handle that stretch out a lot better.”

Nardini has worked four times in preparation for the Bear Fan: a three-furlong blowout, a half mile work, and two five-furlong breezes. Mathis is confident she is fit to run well off the break.

“I think she’s just naturally fit,” said Mathis. “She broke her maiden off a two-year layoff. I’m not worried about fitness. She’s working really good, she’s fresh, she’s happy and it’ll be a fun race for her to come back in [off a layoff].”

The best way to sum it up is that this is a good race to come back in, but it’s certainly not a prep race,” continued Mathis. “We’re 100% all in trying to win this race. Two turns on the grass is really in her wheelhouse. We’ll get there eventually.”

A large field of 13 are entered to run in the Bear Fan. Nardini is the 3-1 morning line favorite. The only Southern California entrant in the race is Hot Rageous, making her first start off the claim for trainer Richard Baltas. Six of nine lifetime starts have come at Golden Gate; in every one of those races in Northern California, she has finished first or second. In fact, her two most recent efforts in the Bay Area resulted in wins at the first level allowance condition. Other contenders likely to get significant play include Tip Top Gal, a winner of a second level allowance race in October for trainer Quentin B. Miller, 2019 Bear Fan Stakes winner Princess Vivian, multiple stakes winners Ima Happy Cat and Daffodil Sweet, and the well-bred Rebalation.

11-races are scheduled for Saturday, with an early first post time of 11:45 AM PT. The Bear Fan goes as the ninth race. 102 horses are entered on the Saturday program, equating to a 9.2 horse-per race average.

Race 9: $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes (California-bred fillies and mares at 6 furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Dee Gee (Jockey Armando Ayuso…Reid France…morning line odds of 8-1)

#2 Daffodil Sweet (Kevin Orozco…Tim McCanna…6-1)

#3 Rebalation (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…5-1)

#4 Princess Vivian (Catalino Martinez…Sergio Ledezma…8-1)

#5 Tip Top Gal (Irving Orozco…Quentin Miller…9-2)

#6 Hot Rageous (William Antongeorgi…Richard Baltas…10-1)

#7 Carolina Mia (Pedro Terrero…Felix Rondan…15-1)

#8 Draw Me (Francisco Monroy…Terri Eaton…15-1)

#9 Square Peggy (Santos Rivera…Quinn Howey…30-1)

#10 Nardini (Assael Espinoza…Andy Mathis…3-1)

#11 Getting Sideways (Brayan Pena…Dan Markle…20-1)

#12 Ima Happy Cat (Evin Roman…Dan Markle…12-1)

#13 J and K Express (Cristobal Herrera…Leanna Ekstrom…50-1)

MANDATORY PAYOUTS THIS SUNDAY

Sunday’s 11-race program completes the current fall meeting at Golden Gate Fields. With that, mandatory payouts are in play for this Closing Day Sunday, December 12.

Heading into Friday’s card, the Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover sits at $31,522. Regardless of if the jackpot is hit on Friday or Saturday, there is a definite mandatory payout of the 20-cent Pick Six on Sunday. The Pick Six begins in Race 6 on Sunday and ends in the last race, Race 11. Post time for the first leg of the Pick Six is approximately 2:15 pm. The nightcap on Sunday also features a mandatory payout in the Rolling Super High Five, a $1 minimum bet in which horseplayers must correctly tab the first five finishers in a race.

Both Pick 5 bets are also mandatory payout wagers. The Early Pick 5, a low 14% takeout bet every day at Golden Gate, is a sequence that consists of the first five races on each race card. The Late Pick 5 features the last five races on the program.

Early first post on Saturday and Sunday is set for 11:45 AM. On Friday, a 9-race program begins at 12:45 PM.

NORTHERN VS. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN MISS AMERICA STAKES

The Golden Gate fall meet stakes action ends in Sunday’s ninth race, the $50,000 Miss America Stakes for filly and mare turf routers at one mile and a sixteenth. The field includes a hearty mix of Southern California shippers and local contenders in search of the Miss America gold prize.

Although Southern California trainer Michael McCarthy is 0 for 7 at the current fall meet, he typically posts strong numbers when shipping horses to Golden Gate Fields. McCarthy campaigns Brooke, one of four Southern California contenders in the 2021 Miss America. A Group 1 winner in South America, the daughter of No Nay Never was sent to McCarthy’s barn in the spring and has run four times for the stable. So far, she has hit the board in four stakes races in Southern California: the Grade 3 Wilshire, the Grade 3 Megahertz, the Swingtime Stakes, and the Osunitas Stakes. Local rider Ruben Fuentes rides for the first time.

Grade 3 placed mare Tapwater seeks her first stakes victory in the Miss America. Her most recent start came in an allowance race at Del Mar, where she lost by a nose to Grade I winner Mucho Unusual. Earlier in her career, she finished third in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes at Santa Anita, and earlier this summer finished a quarter of a length behind Brookein the Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar. Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella shipped Tapwater to Golden Gate Fields last weekend, and she worked five furlongs on Tapeta Sunday morning in 1:02 and 1/5 seconds. Evin Roman rides for owners LNJ Foxwoods.

Northern California racing fans will likely remember Avenue de France’s last to first victory in the Luther Burbank Stakes. She has run once since then, finishing fourth (while getting beat out for third by Brooke) in the Swingtime Stakes. Assael Espinoza, who was aboard for the Luther Burbank score, retains the mount for trainer Leonard Powell.

Cordiality makes her second start off a year layoff for trainer Tim Yakteen and draws the rail. Before the lengthy vacation, Cordiality won the 2020 Swingtime Stakes, the Osunitas Stakes and the Frans Valentine Stakes. In all three starts, she was able to secure a clear lead. Expect her to be part of the pace with Catalino Martinez aboard.

A quintet of Northern California players are entered. Trainer Manny Badilla has two runners in the race, Northwest Factor and Sloane Garden. Northwest Factor is arguably better on Tapeta than turf, though she did run second by a neck to Grade I winner Keeperof the Stars in an allowance turf race on April 24. There is rain in the forecast on Sunday, so if for some reason the race is taken off the grass and moved to the main track, Northwest Factor will benefit from that. Sloane Garden, on the other hand, is better on turf than synthetic. She hasn’t raced since an off-the-board finish behind her stablemate in an allowance on Tapeta in May. She sports four workouts, including a six-furlong drill and a five-furlong gate work, leading up to this stake. In 2020, Sloane Garden won the Golden Poppy and Luther Burbank on turf, and is three for six lifetime on the Golden Gate green.

Reiwa is on a roll for leading trainer Jonathan Wong; her last two races ended in trips to the winner’s circle. Both races were against first level allowance foes. She boasts a four for six record on the Golden Gate Fields turf but is winless in eight starts on Tapeta.

Fairy Tale Bliss and Blue Diva round out the field. Both runners will likely go off at high prices. Fairy Tale Bliss finished third the last time she routed on the turf, placing behind next out winner Time Voyage. Blue Diva finished fourth against males in her most recent afternoon appearance and is 0 for 12 in her last dozen starts. Like Northwest Factor, Blue Diva is more effective on synthetic. Fairy Tale Bliss’s best races have come is turf.

Race 9: $50,000 Miss America Stakes (Fillies and mares at one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

#1 Cordiality (Jockey Catalino Martinez…Trainer Tim Yakteen)

#2 Brooke (Ruben Fuentes…Michael McCarthy)

#3 Sloane Garden (Armando Ayuso…Manny Badilla)

#4 Fairy Tale Bliss (Francisco Monroy…Sergio Ledezma)

#5 Tapwater (Evin Roman…Richard Mandella)

#6 Avenue de France (Assael Espinoza…Leonard Powell)

#7 Northwest Factor (Pedro Terrero…Manny Badilla)

#8 Blue Diva (Irving Orozco…Isidro Tamayo)

#9 Reiwa (William Antongeorgi III…Jonathan Wong)

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week.

FRIDAY

Race 5: Grigoro (New trainer Isidro Tamayo…Frankly Speaking LLC0

Race 5: Malibu Hannah (Jedd Josephson…Keith Pronske)

Race 6: This is the One (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)

SATURDAY

Race 2: Ron for My Honey (Aggie Ordonez…McLean Racing Stables)

Race 3: Babe’s Got Appeal (Jesus Uranga…Silvia Soto)

Race 5: Cocoa Cents (Owner/Trainer Tim McCanna)

Race 5: Lizzy’s Inthegame (Gary Greiner…Renee Greiner)

Race 7: Of Good Report (Tim Bellasis…Donna Smartt, Cassandra Tscanz and Bellasis)

SUNDAY

Race 4: St. Annie’s Indy (Victor Trujillo…Fred Montini and Trujillo)

Race 4: Where’s Frankie (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Race 8: Darcee’s Lovi Dovi (Bill McLean…Chris Carpenter)

FINISH LINES: With three more live racing days to go at the current Fall meet, Pedro Terrero has a 3-win lead (26 victories in total) over Evin Roman (23) in the jockey standings. Armando Ayuso sits in third with 20 wins…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong continues to lead by a convincing margin (32 wins). Reid France (16) and Tim McCanna (13) round out the top three spots…Happy birthday to trainers Jose Bautista, Tim McCanna, Eddie Rich, Jonathan Wong, jockey Pablo Flores, jockey agent Leo Rodriguez and racing official Lori Bailey, who all celebrate their birthdays in the next couple weeks…After Sunday’s festivities, live racing at Golden Gate resumes on Sunday, December 26 (the day after Christmas), Opening Day of the 2021/2022 Winter/Spring meet. Happy Holidays and we’ll see you then!!!