DYNASTY OF HER OWN RULES SUPREME IN SUNDAY FEATURE

4-year-old filly Dynasty of Her Own sizzled on the lead and never looked back in the feature race last Sunday afternoon, an allowance for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward. The daughter of Shanghai Bobby was sent off as the 1-2 heavy favorite and did not disappoint her backers, though she had to run hard every step of the five-and-a-half-furlong journey.

Under jockey Evin Roman, Dynasty of Her Own found herself in a 3-way battle on the lead in the early stages, setting blistering fast fractions of 21.65 and 44.34 alongside Ima Happy Cat and Square Peggy. She outkicked her two aforementioned spped adversaries down the lane, who were out of gas by the 3/16ths pole, and stayed on to beat hard knocker Gotham Desire and stakes winner Hollywood Hills, both who were closing from the back of the field.

“The margin of victory might not look that impressive, but it was the way she won that was impressive,” said winning trainer Jonathan Wong. “She’s all heart.”

Dynasty of Her Own is as versatile of a racehorse as you’ll find. She has already won at distances ranging from five-and-a-half furlongs to one mile and a sixteenth. Last year, she won the California Oaks in gate to wire style over the Golden Gate Tapeta and made a last-to-first move to the front in the Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park over dirt.

“Honestly, I would love to have a shedrow full of horses like [Dynasty of Her Own],” said Wong. “She does anything you ask of her. She is good at going short and long. She trains forwardly all the time and loves to run. She’s just all racehorse.”

Wong noted that the $75,000 Camilla Urso Stakes, a five-furlong turf dash of Saturday, April 28, is a possible next target for Dynasty of Her Own.

DR. WYSONG BACK AT HOME AND READY TO ROLL

5-year-old mare Dr. Wysong was last seen on February 21 in the Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita, finishing a fast-closing third against California-bred stakes company. Trainer Isidro Tamayo was pleased with the effort.

“She ran a good race [at Santa Anita],” reflected Tamayo. “I think she’s a little better on turf, but she ran well against tough fillies.”

About one month after her stakes placing, Dr. Wysong is entered in the feature race this Saturday at Golden Gate: a first level allowance for fillies and mares on Tapeta. Nine contenders have entered to compete in the six-furlong contest.

“[Dr. Wysong] still has her [allowance] conditions,” said Tamayo. “It looks like there’s some speed in the race [on Saturday] for her to run into.”

Tamayo noted that Dr. Wysong has gotten better with time, and that he believes she has improved since the Tamayo team has been able to figure out her most effective running style, which is to sit off the pace and make one run. Tamayo also mentioned that Dr. Wysong has a quirkiness about her that makes her a project to work with in the mornings.

“She’s not the easiest mare to train,” said Tamayo. “She’s not nervous or crazy but she’s on her toes all the time. When she gallops you can’t take too much of a hold; you sort of have to let her do her own thing. In some of her workouts she’s gone [really slow]. That’s when she works by herself. When you work her in company, she’ll work a minute and change [quick time for the Tapeta].”

Other main contenders in Saturday’s feature race include speedy mare Ana Lisa, who won at this condition three weeks ago and, as a California-bred, can still win at this level once more. This Is the One, coming off a maiden win for white-hot trainer Steve Specht, faces winners for the first time and is a new shooter to the allowance conditions while Sheza Girly Girl possesses backclass and would be a major player if she can produce her best effort.

70 horses entered into a 9-race program this Saturday, which includes a trio of maiden special weight races, the featured allowance eight race, and Pick Six, Late Pick 5 and Late Pick 4 sequences that consists of good quality, competitive fields.

STRONACH 5 CARRYOVER OF $154,931 THIS FRIDAY

The Stronach 5 wager, an industry-low 12% takeout bet, has a carryover of $154,931.69 heading into Friday’s sequence. Punters will be able to play the wager through Laurel Park/Maryland Jockey Club (MJC).

The Stronach 5, a $1 minimum play every week, is a Pick-5 sequence featuring races from The Maryland Jockey Club (Laurel Park), Gulfstream, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields. This week’s sequence goes as follows:

Leg A: Laurel Park Race 8 with an approximate post time of 1:30 PM PT
Leg B: Gulfstream Race 8 with an approximate post time of 1:48 PM PT
Leg C: Laurel Park Race 9 with an approximate post time of 2:03 PM PT
Leg D: Santa Anita Race 3 with an approximate post time of 2:08 PM PT
Leg E: Golden Gate Race 3 with an approximate post time of 2:25 PM PT

The last leg of the wager, Race 3 from Golden Gate, attracts eight maiden claimers at one mile on the Tapeta. All entrants are in for an $8,000 tag. The morning line favorite is even money shot Made in Karoo, shipping North for the Steve Miyadi barn after a third place finishing routing on dirt for a $28,000 tag at Santa Anita. The Gary Barber owned filly by Empire Maker has gone off favored in her last two starts against tougher and should benefit from the class relief she will find on Friday.

Another Southern California shipper, In the Wind, draws the inside post for trainer Carlo Vaccarezza. Southern California apprentice Alexis Centeno is named to ride. The daughter of turf marathoner Big Blue Kitten cuts back in distance and plummets in class after a double-digit length loss against maiden special weight foes on turf at ten furlongs. She wheels back in just one week for her third lifetime start.

Malibu Jewel is a local contender from the Jonathan Wong barn, slated to break from post position 2. She started her career in the Bay Area and returns after a pair of poor performances routing on dirt at Santa Anita. A filly by notable Kentucky stallion Malibu Moon, Malibu Jewel races on Lasix for the first time.

Rounding out the list of main contenders is Handcuffed, trained by Quinn Howey, who tries routing for the first time after a fourth-place finish against maiden $12,500 claiming sprinters. Two starts ago, she ran for an $8,000 tag sprinting and lost by three-quarters of a length, finishing ahead of a next out winner. Two full siblings to Handcuffed scored victories in route stakes races: 341k earner Handfull and 397k earner Weewinnin. In total, 5 of 7 winning siblings of Handcuffed have won going two turns.

POST TIME CHANGE

Please note horseplayers, fans and horsemen: Beginning this Friday, first post each day moves to 1:20 PM PT.

Congratulations. You have just finished reading the shortest “News and Notes” article ever written at Golden Gate Fields…or possibly any other racetrack. Somebody call the Guinness Book of World Records committee…we just broke a record!

CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims from last week:

Thursday
No claims

Friday
Race 2: Hypersonic (New trainer Jack Steiner…new owner Leon Scott)
Race 3: Big City Bane (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott and Jack Steiner)

Saturday
Race 1: Arouse N Go (Reid France….Francis Lagattuta and Reid France)
Race 2: Lil Awecim (Monty Meier…William Branch)
Race 5: Discernment (Jamey Thomas…Lester Hunsucker and Troy Thomas)
Race 7: Our Silver Oak (Blaine Wright…Chappell Alpine Farms LLC, Becker, Becker and Wright)
Race 8: Cheap Cheap Cheap (Jamey Thomas…Rob Smolich)
Race 8: Midnight Sunrise (Blaine Wright…Alten, Andersen Isetta and Wright)

Sunday
Race 2: Music Babe (Isidro Tamayo…Peter McGoldrick and John Tipton)
Race 3: On Ice (Owner/Trainer Reid France)
Race 6: Concur (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables, Hon Cheung Kum and Hsiu Mei Tsai)
Race 6: Toro de Toro (Jonathan Wong…Hon Cheung Kum and Hsiu Mei Tsai)
Race 8: Implicitly (Tim McCanna…Bob Newport and Maryellen Silva)

FINISH LINES: Sadie Bluegrass ran a respectful third in last week’s Sunday feature at Santa Anita: the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred filly and mare sprinters. Jonathan Wong trains the daughter of Grazen, who has amassed earnings of $147,080 since being claimed for $12,500 in March of 2020…The Race 1 exacta on Sunday was completed by Surely a Smile and Raelee, both trained by Victor Trujillo. Five races later, Reid France pulled off a training-exacta of his own, when his geldings Studly Perfection and Maxinamillion ran 1-2 in the sixth race…10-year-old mare Crimson Cloud has been retired from racing after her 59th lifetime start last Sunday. This week, she’ll head to her new home at Harris Ranch where she will be bred to Grade I winner and $1.2 million earner Majestic Harbor. Crimson Cloud, who won 8 races in her career and earned $164,498, was the last horse in training that was bred by longtime California breeder Kjell Qvale. The daughter of All The Gears was trained by Roger Hansen and co-owned by Roger and Mad Hansen Racing LLC…Happy birthday to jockey William Antongeorgi III and racing officials John Leon and Morgann Schlesser, all who celebrate birthday’s this week…One sharp handicapper took home over $128,000 on Saturday when hitting the Golden Pick Six jackpot. The carryover amount heading into Thursday: $3,912.

MAYBE I WILL FACES WINNERS AFTER SPARKLING MAIDEN VICTORY

A five-and-a-half-furlong allowance for 3-year-old fillies is the marquee race on a 7-race program this Thursday at Golden Gate Fields. The feature, which goes as Race 6, includes a pair of Southern California shippers and a number of locals looking to play their hand against the visitors.

The most appealing local contender is Maybe I Will, making the third start of her career for trainer Brendan Galvin. Last time out, the daughter of Will Take Charge went to the lead, never stopped, and finished the race full of run while hitting the wire a length and three-quarters ahead of Hot Rageous, who returned to trounce maiden special weight foes two weeks ago. The third-place finisher, Ranger Molly, also came back to win her next start.

“She’s got a great mind,” said Galvin of Maybe I Will. “She ran very well last time and is getting better. [Owner] Mr. [Thomas] Bachman thinks she will be able to run longer and so do I. Hopefully, she’ll continue to improve, and we can run her in some California-bred stakes races later on in the year. We think we’ve got a nice filly.”

Morning-line favorite Becca Taylor draws the rail for trainer Steve Miyadi and has earned the right to hold favoritism. The daughter of Old Topper is unbeaten in three-lifetime starts, breaking her maiden at first asking before winning a pair of California-bred allowance races. Apprentice jockey Santos Rivera has the call, replacing Jessica Pyfer, an apprentice who rode Becca Taylor in all three starts at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos.

Starlight Stroll is out of the terrific broodmare Maddie’s Odyssey, who has produced stakes winners Been Studying Her, Grecian Fire, and Sneaking Out. She broke her maiden in the career debut at Golden Gate as a 2-year-old and most recently ran third behind Becca Taylor in a six-furlong turf sprint at Santa Anita. D.C. Lopez was aboard for the maiden breaker and retains the mount for trainer Steve Sherman.

Austrian Navy was a first-out winner against maiden special weight company and is out of a broodmare who has produced a number of winners, including stakes victor Kristo Skye. The red-hot jockey-trainer combination of Frank Alvarado and Steve Specht team up, adding to the appeal.

Do You Hear That has already won twice at this level and comes off a victory on February 19. She merits respect. Emma’s Dance has finished behind Do You Hear That on two occasions and is one of a duo of entrants campaigned by Ed Moger Jr., who also sends out Bold Mistress. Recent starter allowance winner Maggie’s Magic bumps up in class and completes the field.

10-YEAR-OLD MARE GRATZIE RETIRES, HAS A FOREVER HOME WITH JOCKEY WILLIAM ANTONGEORGI III

13-time winner Gratzie has been retired and will spend her post-race life in North Carolina on a farm run by jockey William Antongeorgi III and his mother. Gratzie, who went out a winner on February 4 against claiming competition, ended her racing career with earnings of $261,610.

Antongeorgi, who guided Gratzie to four lifetime wins, is excited about spending more time with her in the future. In total, Antongeorgi rode Gratzie in eight different races.

“She was always really honest,” said Antongeorgi. “Even if we didn’t win, she was right there-second or third. I would always go see her in the barn and give her lots of attention. We formed a strong relationship.

I told [trainer] Manny [Badilla], ‘I love this mare. If the owners are willing, I’ll ship her back to my place in North Carolina and she’ll be able to go out in the field and live out a good retirement on our farm.’ We were able to make it happen.”

Antongeorgi relayed that Gratzie arrived in North Carolina on Tuesday in good order.

“She’s a world traveler,” said Antongeorgi. “She’s from England. She’s traveled before. From what I understand, she had a very smooth trip across the country and looks really happy. We’ve got a pony named Dusty right next to her. They’re already hitting it off and in love with each other, so that’s really cool. We’ll take her out on the trails, and she’ll enjoy her life living out there in the pasture.”

Gratzie, by Grade 2 winner and Juddmonte homebred Three Valleys, was bred in Great Britain by John Troy and Robert Levitt and began her racing career as a 2-year-old in 2013. Three years later, she was sold to American owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon for $25,685 at the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale of 2016. Since the purchase, Gratzie won 7 races in America, raking in U.S. earnings of just over $150,000. Throughout her career in the states, Gratzie was conditioned by Manny Badilla.

“She’s a barn favorite for sure,” said Badilla. “She was always so sweet. You could come up and pet her and feed her and love on her. What I’ll remember about [Gratzie] is her heart: not only was she sweet around the barn but she tried so hard in every race she ran in. She never got sour. She always tried and loved being around our team. We’ll miss her here.”

With that, Manny had just one more thing to say.

“It’s the greatest thing ever to send her somewhere nice.”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Thursday
Race 2: Bigfoot City (New trainer Jonathan Wong…New owner Aaron Pewtherer and MJVET Stables)
Race 4: Implicitly (Jonathan Wong…MVJET Stables)
Race 4: Mister Mojo (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)
Race 6: Agent Zero (Monty Meier…William Branch)

Friday
Race 7: Harmon (Monty Meier…Donna L. Perone)

Saturday
Race 7: R M C Hook’em (Victor Trujillo…Frank Aufdermaur and Wayne Swisher)
Race 9: My Sunshine (Miguel Ramirez…Joel Fihn)

Sunday
Race 1: Hula King (Marcelino Trujillo…Trujillo and Salas-Ibarra)
Race 1: Northern Quest (Reid France…France and Laggatuta)
Race 3: Papaya (Jack Steiner…Marriott and Steiner)
Race 3: Simply Perfect (Owner/Trainer Isidro Tamayo)
Race 5: City Champ (Frank Lucarelli…Bill Meikle)
Race 6: Sunrise Journey (Owner/Trainer Isidro Tamayo)

FINISH LINES: The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover has increased to $90,289 heading into Thursday’s card, while a Super High 5 carryover of $4,239 will be offered in the first race Thursday in which there are seven or more starters…Per trainer Manny Badilla, 2020 Kathryn Crosby Stakes winner Never Be Enough has been retired and now resides in Kentucky, where she will be bred later this year…My Pharoah Lady, who debuts in Race 6 on Saturday, is a 3-year-old filly by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of the Smart Strike mare Striking Scholar, making her a half-sibling to multiple Grade 3 winner Stryker PHD. My Pharoah Lady is trained by Blaine Wright and will be ridden by Kyle Frey…Recent Golden Gate Fields second-level allowance winner Clockstrikestwelve races for Jonathan Wong and jockey Tiago Pereira in the $300,000 Grade I Beholder Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita…Big Duke is a 7-5 morning line chance to win the feature on Friday, an allowance race for 3-year-old colts and geldings. Big Duke, who won at the aforementioned condition in January, spots a 3-2-0 lifetime record from 7 starts. The Sergio Ledezma trainee was purchased for $1,200 and has made $76,620 so far for his connections; not too shabby!

2015 CALIFORNIA BROODMARE OF THE YEAR ASHLEY’S FOLLY CONTINUES TO THROW WINNERS

21-year-old Ashley’s Folly continued her success as a broodmare on Sunday afternoon when her son, 3-year-old gelding Ashley’s Valentine, won a five-and-a-half-furlong, California-bred maiden special weight at Golden Gate for owner/breeder Bran Jam Stables and Ciaglia Racing LLC. The son of Vronsky, off at odds of 5-1, stalked the pace on the rail before threading his way through between horses in upper stretch and out finishing 2-1 favorite Gallant Guy and early pacesetter Exceed Speed Limit in the final furlong. Evin Roman was aboard for the winning ride.

“He is a very nice horse,” said Roman. “He was inside of other horses the whole way and he responded well when I asked him to move between horses. I really like him, and I think he will get better.”

Andy Mathis, who trains Ashley’s Valentine, noticed early on that his 3-year-old gelding had ability.

Good genes have certainly played a part, right?

“With young horses, I like to see them overcome adversity and I thought [Ashley’s Valentine] did that,” said Mathis. “I was impressed with how he responded between horses [in the stretch.] He finished well. Before the race, I wasn’t sure if five and a half furlongs was a little too short [of a distance] for him. I think he’ll enjoy added ground.”

Younger horses showing talent are types of horses that are, for me, really exciting to watch and train,” continued Mathis. “[Ashley’s Valentine] has a nice pedigree and showed us in the mornings he had some talent. Hopefully he can continue to blossom.”

Ashley’s Folly, who won the California Broodmare of the Year Award in 2015, has now produced six winning babies from seven foals to race. Her most notable foal, Ashleyluvssugar, was a $1.4 million earner who won a quintet of Grade 2 route races on turf while in the barn of Southern California conditioner Peter Eurton. Another sibling to Ashley’s Valentine, Ashley’s Sassy, was a 3-time stakes placed filly with career earnings of $209,610. In 2019, Ashley’s Folly foaled a grey/roan filly named Ashley’s Rainbow. She is by Grade I-winning turf router Tom’s Tribute and may hit the track later this year.

WELL-REGARDED QUEEN MOLOTOV IMPRESSES IN CAREER DEBUT

California-bred 3-year-old filly Queen Molotov was highly thought of heading into last Saturday’s second race. Good news: she did not disappoint.

Leaving the gate at low odds of 3-5, the daughter of Kentucky stallion Mizzen Mast broke alertly, set the pace for the first half-mile, and powered home in the final furlong and a half as a good filly would. The margin of victory was six lengths.

“She worked in the mornings like a nice filly,” said Queen Molotov’s trainer, Jamey Thomas. “She never worked super-fast, but she always did it really well. We were excited to get her started. I think she’ll really enjoy going longer.”

Irving Orozco rode Queen Molotov, who was purchased for $52,000 by owners Jason Hall, Rob Smolich and Stewball Stable at the OBS March “2-year-olds In Training” sale last year.

“I really appreciate Jamey [Thomas] and the owners trusting me with this filly,” said Orozco. “Jamey and his team did a good job getting her ready. She’s a nicely built filly. Turning for home she was moving pretty effortlessly. She’s got a nice long, athletic stride and she’s smart; everything I asked her to do, she did it very professionally. I definitely think she can run farther.”

Thomas noted that the one-mile Campanile Stakes on Sunday, April 25 is a reasonable long-term goal for Queen Molotov, who is out of the stakes placed Speightstown mare Starship Duchess.

“She’s a California-bred so there’s plenty of opportunities to run in some nice races,” said Thomas.  

While in discussion, Thomas also noted that El Camino Real Derby fourth place finisher It’s My House has been transferred to the barn of Bob Hess Jr. It’s My House came out of the aforementioned ‘Derby in great shape, according to Thomas.

“He’s a Florida-bred, so there are races in Florida that he is eligible for and Bob has a string over there,” said Thomas. “We were thrilled with his effort [in the El Camino Real Derby.] I was really excited during the race because it looked like he had a chance to win it. We were wheeling him back in two weeks off a maiden, sprint win and the [El Camino Real Derby] wasn’t just a mile or a mile and a sixteenth; it was a mile and an eighth. He ran a big race and I think he’ll be a pretty good horse down the line.”

FINISH LINES: Kyle Frey and Evin Roman are tied atop the jockey standings with 33 wins apiece. Catalino Martinez is not far behind in third with 26 victories…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong holds a 19-15 lead over Steve Specht...Golden Gate Fields welcomes apprentice jockey Santos Rivera back to the Bay Area. Rivera finished second at the Golden Gate Fields Summer and Fall meets last year and returns after stints at Santa Anita and The Fair Grounds…El Camino Real Derby third-place finisher Govenor’s Party returns to the races in a much tougher spot, the Grade 2 $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Mario Gutierrez rides for owner/trainer Dan Franko...The first foal out of multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Fast and Foxy is a 2-year-old this year. Named Fox Proof, the chestnut colt is by Grade I winning sprinter Idiot Proof...Happy birthday to Evin Roman, trainer Frank Lucarelli and Golden Gate Fields TV producer Frank Matthews, all who celebrate birthday’s this week…The Golden Pick Six jackpot pool has a carryover of $65,332 heading into Thursday’s program…Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday.

GOLDEN STAR LADY BACK IN CALIFORNIA FOR SATURDAY FEATURE

Golden Star Lady, making her first start for Southern California conditioner Peter Miller, returns to California and faces a field of six local contenders in the featured seventh race on Saturday at Golden Gate: a first level allowance for fillies and mares at five and one-half furlongs on Tapeta.

A 4-year-old filly, Golden Star Lady is by Candy Ride, out of the Grade 3 placed mare Empressive Lady. She began her career in California in 2019 before moving to the East Coast the following year. In the barn of Wesley Ward, Golden Star Lady broke her maiden at Belterra Park in Ohio and won an allowance race at Mountaineer Racecourse. Most recently, she finished third in a second level allowance over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface.

The strongest Northern California contender may be Pentewan, making her first start off an 11-month layoff for trainer Manny Badilla. After being purchased in Europe by her current connections, the daughter of Havana Gold beat maiden special weight foes to kick off her United States career in February of 2020. In her next start less a month later, she completed the exacta in an allowance restricted to 3-year-old fillies, finishing behind lightning-quick stakes winner Bulletproof One. As a 4-year-old this Saturday, she’ll be trying her hand against older foes.

Hey Wilmaaa, also entering this race off a vacation, sports fast workouts leading up to her 2021 debut for trainer Jacqui Navarre. After finishing third to next out Santa Anita allowance winner Loud Loud Music, Hey Wilmaaa broke her maiden at Pleasanton on dirt. Shortly after earning the maiden diploma, she was given time off. The two aforementioned races are her only afternoon appearances to date.

Trainer Cliff DeLima saddle a pair of contenders in Perfect Stories and Smiling Spirit. Smiling Spirit easily defeated a group of maiden special weight foes on January 18 and faces winners. Perfect Stories was a maiden special weight winner in October but has since finished off-the-board in two starts at this first-level condition.

Recent Los Alamitos winner Ana Lisa and comebacker I’m A Rockette complete the lineup. Golden Gate offers a 9-race program this Saturday, with first post slated for 12:45 PM PT.

SEATTLE BOLD TRIES ROUTING, TURF IN SECOND LIFETIME START

Trainer Jamey Thomas entered 3-year-old California-bred colt Seattle Bold in the opener on Saturday at Santa Anita Park, a California-bred allowance race at one mile on grass. Umberto Rispoli has the riding engagement for Thomas and owner/breeder Myles McMahon.

Seattle Bold was an impressive maiden winner sprinting at Golden Gate on February 7, setting the pace before finishing the contest full of run, hitting the wire a length and a half in front of the runner up. He completed the final furlong in 12 seconds flat and earned a 62 Beyer speed figure for his effort.

“I knew [Seattle Bold] could run well sprinting, but I’ve always told the owner that I thought this horse would like running long,” Thomas told us in the February 10 edition of the News and Notes. “He wasn’t blowing [after his first race] at all. He wasn’t tired…Physically, he looks just like his [sire Bold Chieftain].”

Another Northern California horse competing at “The Great Race Place” on Saturday is Six Point Rack, conditioned by Aggie Ordonez and owned by McLean Racing Stables. Kent Desormeaux hops aboard the son of Lucky Pulpit in Race 4, a 10k claimer at one mile on dirt.

Santa Anita Park has a scheduled first post time of 12:30 PM PT on Saturday.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Friday
Race 3: Of Good Report (New trainer Dan Markle…new owner Peerenboom-Boyer Stable LLC)

Saturday
Race 6: Truly Fabulous (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)
Race 9: Tink’s Twirl (Tim McCanna…Morning Line Racing LLC)

Sunday
Race 2: Spun Away (Tim Bellasis…Bellasis, O’Gorman, O’Gorman and Tschanz)
Race 6: Boyson (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing and Cynthia Kahuanui)

FINISH LINES: In the jockey standings, Kyle Frey has made the most trips to the winners circle out of any rider at the current meet with 31 wins. Evin Roman holds second place with 27 wins and Catalino Martinez completes the top 3 placings with 22 victories…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong sits atop the list with 15 wins at the current meet. Steve Specht is right behind with 13 wins while Isidro Tamayo checks in third with 10 first place finishes…$45,582 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager on Thursday…Race 3 on Friday is Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager…Happy birthday to trainer Sammy Calvario, who celebrates his 40th birthday next Monday.

MISTER BOLD AND WINDY CITY RED FACE EASIER, CRISTIANO’S DREAM TRIES WINNERS IN INTRIGUING FRIDAY NIGHTCAP

An appealing finale on Friday afternoon ends a good-quality Friday card at Golden Gate Fields. Race 8, a 6-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds, features a Southern California contender as the one to beat and a half-dozen local contenders looking to play spoiler.

Mister Bold, a winner in all three career starts going one turn, is tabbed as the 8-5 morning line favorite. In his only career loss, he finished a length and a quarter behind the winner in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos. Mister Bold won a California-bred allowance race at Santa Anita in his most recent start for trainer Jeff Bonde, who is pleased with how his 3-year-old enters the Friday co-feature.

“He has steadily improved with racing experience,” said Bonde. “We wanted to get a race into him before some California-bred stakes and this race popped up. It’s a good spot. I don’t think racing over a synthetic surface will be a problem for him.”

Windy City Red, who finished third in the Speakeasy Stakes in September and competed in last year’s Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, faces easier allowance foes at Golden Gate after a third-place finish at the aforementioned condition on turf at Santa Anita. He makes his first start as a gelding and breaks from the rail for trainer Jonathan Wong.

“We’ve always liked him and he’s training OK,” said Wong. “There’s not an abundance of speed in this race so if he breaks, I’d be happy to see him close to the pace. If he doesn’t get the lead he can run on; he’s pretty versatile. He’s had a hard campaign to this point, but the class relief should help and being a gelding now, we’re hoping that helps his focus.”

Cristiano’s Dream, installed at 4-1 by linemaker Steve Martinelli, broke his maiden like a horse with a bright future for trainer Mike Lenzini on January 17. A son of Breeders Cup Turf mile winner Tourist, Cristiano’s Dream is out of the In Excess mare Dances on Water, making him a half sibling to Grade 3 winner and 500k earner Gold Rush Dancer.

“I’m expecting a solid effort,” said Lenzini. “He’s training great heading into this race. I knew he had talent [before his first start], but I was surprised with how easily he won the other day. He’s begging for a mile, but I want to have him fit to go two turns, so we’ll give him one more sprint and then stretch him out. He’s got a great mind and is very push button. You can pretty much do whatever you want with him.”

Big Duke draws the outside post and comes off a victory at this level. Since he is a California-bred, he is eligible to win at this level twice. Raging Waters seeks his fourth win in a row, having most recently defeated a group of starter allowance foes last month. Longshots Corsican and A Little Bit Lucky complete the field of seven.

Race 8 on Friday (Allowance for 3-year-olds at six furlongs)

#1 Windy City Red (Jockey Evin Roman, trainer Jonathan Wong)

#2 Cristiano’s Dream (Erick Lopez, Mike Lenzini)

#3 Raging Waters (Irving Orozco, Jedd Josephson)

#4 Corsican (Assael Espinoza, D. Wayne Baker)

#5 Mister Bold (Frank Alvarado, Jeff Bonde)

#6 A Little Bit Lucky (Jose Rodriguez, Efrain Miranda)

#7 Big Duke (Kyle Frey, Sergio Ledezma)

Two other allowance races catch the eye on the Friday card. Race 2, a second level allowance sprint for fillies and mare 4-years-old and upward, features recent winner Coco Bee, the well-bred Tiz Fake News and stakes winner Princess Vivian. Race 7 is an allowance for 3-year-old fillies. Among the entries: recent maiden winners Party Spirit, Silk Road Sally and Ten the Smart Way, allowance winner Do You Hear That and the ultra-consistent Emma’s Dance.

KING OF SPEED RETURNS, CONO GETS BACK TO TAPETA IN SATURDAY FEATURE

Saturday’s feature race, a second level allowance at one mile and a sixteenth, features a strong Southern California presence and some of the best local handicap horses at Golden Gate. The marquee Saturday event runs as Race 8 on a 9-race program.

Fivestar Lynch, racing for the first time under the care of Southern California conditioner Phil D’Amato, makes his second start off a four-month layoff. Last time out, the Irish-bred was well beaten against a second level allowance group at Santa Anita. His only victory against winners came two starts ago in a first level allowance at Del Mar. He’ll be guided by jockey Evin Roman for the first time.

Roman was aboard King of Speed in his last start-a race in which he beat Our Silver Oak and Lymebird at this condition on January 30. That afternoon, King of Speed held off Our Silver Oak throughout the length of the lane.

“He really fought hard when [Our Silver Oak] came up alongside of him,” said King of Speed’s trainer, Jeff Bonde. “The owners are from Northern California and he’s been training at Golden Gate since the win. We figured we’d keep him up here for now. This is a good condition for him.”

Our Silver Oak, a stakes winning California-bred trained by Jonathan Wong, went off favored in his last start three weeks ago, finished a neck behind King of Speed. Earlier in his career, the grey gelding won the Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita.

“I was happy with his trip last time. He really had no excuses,” said Wong. “[Jockey] Irving Orozco rode him and gave him a good ride. [Our Silver Oak] just hung a little bit. He’s a big, long striding horse so the key with him is to keep him going and time it right so he hits the wire in front.”

Cono, an older-half sibling to El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer, is a Kentucky-bred by Lucky Pulpit who has run three times over the Tapeta main track at Golden Gate. Two of those three showings resulted in a trip to the winner’s circle while the lone loss was a respectable effort, as he ran second to a horse in top form at the time.

“Cono is not really like his brother, actually,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “Rombauer is really laid back. Cono is a little more aggressive. His last start [a loss against stakes company off a layoff] is a total toss-out race. We know he likes the Tapeta, and I expect he’ll run well this time. He doesn’t need the lead but he’s quick enough to where he’ll be close to the pace. He draws a great post position and he should be able to work out a good trip from there.”

Another interesting contender, 4-year-old Ready for a Fight, tries two-turns for the first time. The son of turf router Boisterous is out of a Giant’s Causeway mare and enters this race off a pair of first level allowance wins. Now he tackles tougher company. Stake winners American Farmer and More Power to Him and synthetic specialist Lymebird complete the lineup.

Race 8 on Saturday (Allowance for 4-year-olds and up at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta)

#1 Our Silver Oak (Jockey Irving Orozco, Trainer Jonathan Wong)

#2 Lymebird (Catalino Martinez, Angelo Tekos Jr.)

#3 More Power to Him (Kevin Orozco, Faith Taylor)

#4 American Farmer (Frank Alvarado, Steve Sherman)

#5 Fivestar Lynch (Evin Roman, Phil D’Amato)

#6 Ready for a Fight (Kyle Frey, Steve Miyadi)

#7 King of Speed (William Antongeorgi III, Jeff Bonde)

#8 Cono (Assael Espinoza, Michael McCarthy)

ROMBAUER DOING WELL AFTER EL CAMINO REAL DERBY WIN; JOCKEY FREY AND AGENT NAVARRO REFLECT ON “A BIG WIN”

Trainer Michael McCarthy reported that 3-year-old colt Rombauer, winner of last Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, returned to his home base at Santa Anita Park in “good order” earlier this week. In winning the 40^th El Camino Real Derby, the son of Twirling Candy was making his first start since a fifth-place finish in the Grade I Breeders Cup Juvenile last November.

“Rombauer is doing great,” said McCarthy. “All signs indicate he is a healthy and happy horse. He went back to the track on Wednesday morning. We’re really proud of his effort.”

McCarthy noted that he would observe how Rombauer trains in the coming weeks before mapping out a game plan with owners John and Diane Fradkin.

“At this point, all options are on the table,” said McCarthy. “The good news is he’s pretty fit now with a mile and an eighth race under his belt.”

With the El Camino Real Derby victory, Rombauer earned 10 Kentucky Derby points. Heading into this weekend, Rombauer sits sixth on the list with 14 points; he earned 4 additional points last fall when finishing second in the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes as a 2-year-old. Rombauer also picked up an all-expenses-paid, free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. This year, the Preakness will be run on Saturday, May 15.

Winning rider Kyle Frey, who also piloted Zakaroff to a 48-1 massive upset in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby, was thankful for the opportunity to hop aboard his second El Camino Real Derby winner.

“I’m eager to watch Rombauer [on the Derby trail]. I’ll be rooting for him,” said Frey. “He really showed a nice turn of foot down the stretch. It was a real honor to ride for Mr. McCarthy and [owners] Mr. and Mrs. Fradkin.”

Frey is off to a flying start at the current Winter/Spring meet. The third-generation horseman has posted the most wins out of any rider so far, with 28 victories from 109 mounts, boasting a 26%-win percentage. He has also earned the most purse money out of any rider, with $550,898 in winnings. Frey was gracious when asked about his success, noting that every victory is the result of a team effort.

“The trainers and their help-the grooms, the hotwalkers, everybody working on the backstretch-they deserve the credit,” said Frey. “They get the horses ready to go. I just feel really blessed to be given some wonderful opportunities to ride good horses.”

Frey, born and raised in the Bay Area, is excited for the remainder of 2021.

“Everyone in our racing community is working hard to make the show go,” said Frey. “The management team at Golden Gate is doing an amazing job and pursuing new and innovative ideas to help us grow. The owners continue to support the product and supply our backside.”

Frey’s jockey agent, Fernando “Shoes” Navarro, was all smiles’ days removed from an El Camino Real Derby victory. For Navarro, it was a cheerful yet emotional win.

“When I was a little kid, my Uncle Juan would take me to Bay Meadows,” said Navarro. “He loved horse racing and the El Camino Real Derby was one of his favorite races. He loved [1994 El Camino Real Derby winner] Tabasco Cat and [1996 El Camino Real Derby winner] Cavonnier.

My uncle passed away a few years ago,” continued Navarro. “I know he was up there cheering Rombauer on. When Rombauer hit the wire, it was pretty emotional. I have a framed photo, right above the TV, of my uncle and I at Bay Meadows. I was looking at the photo and reminiscing about when we would go to the track together. Those childhood memories will last a lifetime.”

Navarro indicated winning the El Camino Real Derby was certainly a highlight of his career in horse racing.

“I’m a Northern California guy and have always loved the ‘Derby myself,” said Navarro. “It’s a really neat race and an important race for all of us Bay Area racing people. I remember I was ecstatic the first time I ever represented a rider in the race. To actually win the El Camino Real Derby…it was a very memorable experience.”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is the list of claims from last week:

Thursday

Race 6: Year of the Ox (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owner MJVET Stables)

Race 7: Kincaid Park (Isidro Tamayo…Michael Wickman)

Race 7: Shootin Money (Frank Lucarelli…William Meikele)

Friday

Race 1: Sunrise Journey (Dan Markle…Bruce Cudahy)

Race 2: Street Dancing (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)

Saturday

Race 1: Sharp Move (Owner/Trainer Andreas Psarras)

Race 6: Friday’s At Shady (Jack Steiner…Marriott and Steiner)

Sunday

No claims

Monday

Race 4: Creative Romance (Tim McCanna…Alan Mindell)

Race 4: Miss Indefatigable (Blaine Wright…Blaine Wright Racing Stable LLC and Pascual Garcia)

Race 7: Crookhaven Lass (Owner/Trainer C C Perkinson)

Race 8: Diamond Blitz (Jesus Ramos…Candelario Barragan and Jose Cruz Ramos)

Race 8: Dirt Road Red (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing)

FINISH LINES: Happy birthday to jockey Julien Couton and trainers Sammy Calvario and Tirso Rivera, all who celebrate their birthdays this week…$31,154 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 on Friday goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate…Good luck to members of the Daily Gallop Twitter Handicapping Contest. The 72 entrants will be playing all of the races at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

ROMBAUER EARNS 10 KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS, FREE BERTH INTO THE PREAKNESS WITH EL CAMINO REAL DERBY WIN

3-year-old colt Rombauer made his sophomore seasonal debut a winning one in the feature race at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby for 3-year-olds at one mile and an eighth. With the victory, Rombauer earned 10 Kentucky Derby points and an all-expenses paid, free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, on Saturday, May 15. Jockey Kyle Frey guided the son of Twirling Candy to victory for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of eight, Rombauer sat last for the first three quarters of a mile before making an outside move on the far turn. Swinging for home while still in the clear, Rombauer quickly picked off six rivals in midstretch before digging down deep to collar runner up finisher Javanica in the final 50 yards. Javanica, a filly racing against boys for Team Godolphin, finished a neck off of Rombauer at the finish. 99-1 shot Govenor’s Party completed the trifecta and It’s My House, who set the pace before fading in the final furlong, held on for fourth place. Waspirant, Petruchio, Tesoro and Play Chicken completed the order of finish.

Rombauer covered nine furlongs on Tapeta in 1:51.64 seconds. With the El Camino Real Derby victory in the bag, Rombauer improved his overall record to 2 wins and 1 second place finish from 5 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $210,500. Rombauer is a homebred colt bred by owners John and Diane Fradkin. Winning trainer Michael McCarthy picked up his second El Camino Real Derby victory with today’s score, having finished first with Paved in 2018.

This is the second El Camino Real Derby win for Jockey Kyle Frey who won aboard Zakaroff in 2017.

See below for race photos, race replay and jockey interview.

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ROAD TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS BEGINS FOR ROMBAUER IN SATURDAY’S EL CAMINO REAL DERBY

Grade I placed Rombauer begins his 3-year-old season in this Saturday’s feature race, the 2021 El Camino Real Derby at one mile and an eighth. Rombauer, to be ridden for the first time by local jockey Kyle Frey, was last seen finishing fifth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile at Keeneland and has been working at Santa Anita Park under the watchful eye of Southern California trainer Michael McCarthy.

“Rombauer is doing really well,” said McCarthy. “He’s been working like he’s ready to race. We’ve got him fit and ready to roll. I’m hoping he gets some pace to run at on Saturday. He’s a horse that puts himself in a good spot, gets in a nice steady rhythm, and finishes strong in the end.”

Rombauer, who ran second last year in the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita, seeks 10 Kentucky Derby points and an all-expenses-paid, free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness, with an El Camino Real Derby victory. In order for the winner to earn the latter incentive, he or she must be Triple Crown nominated.

“The incentives create appeal to run in the El Camino Real Derby,” said McCarthy. “[Owners] John and Diane [Fradkin] are excited to see their horse in the race and I’m looking forward to seeing him run too.”

McCarthy, before starting his own stable in 2014, worked as a longtime assistant for one of the sport’s world-renowned horsemen, Todd Pletcher.

“I’ve been around a lot of really nice horses over the years,” said McCarthy. “I think this horse fits the bill. There are some other nice horses in the race, but I’m hopeful that if Rombauer gets a good trip then he’ll have the class to get the job done. He’s a nice horse.”

“BIRTHDAY BOY” THOMAS WINS A PAIR OF RACES WITH IMPRESSIVE FIRSTERS

Birthday presents came in the form of first place finishes last Sunday for trainer Jamey Thomas. For any thoroughbred racehorse trainer, wins are always a welcoming gift.

Thomas, who indeed celebrated his birthday on Sunday, won the sixth race with 3-year-old colt Seattle Bold and the nightcap, Race 9, with 4-year-old filly My Legal Bet. Both were entered in maiden special weight races-the former for California breds and the latter against open company-and were making their career debuts.

Seattle Bold, owned by breeder Myles McMahon, is a California-bred son of Bold Chieftain who was entering his first career race with a number of sharp workouts on the tab. Before the race, Thomas was optimistic he would run well.

“You never really know how they’re going to run in the afternoon until they go out there and perform,” said Thomas. “But in a lot cases, the horses will give you an indication that they have some ability. [Seattle Bold] was working like a nice horse and I figured if he got out of the gate in good shape, he would run well.”

Seattle Bold, sent off by the betting public as the even money favorite, went to the lead and set moderate fractions before finishing full of run in the final furlong, hitting the wire a length and three-quarters ahead of runner up finisher Gallant Guy.

“I knew [Seattle Bold] could run well sprinting, but I’ve always told the owner that I thought this horse would like running long,” said Thomas. “He wasn’t blowing [after the race] at all. He wasn’t tired. I think I’ll stretch him out [in distance]. Physically, he looks just like his dad.”

Four races later, Thomas debuted My Legal Bet, a 4-year-old California-bred filly by Coach Bob. She was a well-kept secret; sent off at 15-1 while breaking from the inside post position, My Legal Bet stalked the pace before splitting leaders in midstretch and outfinishing race favorite This is the One. According to Thomas, My Legal Bet was another who strung together a series of eye-catching drills leading up to her first career start for owner Timothy Francis O’Leary.

“[My Legal Bet] showed in the mornings that she had talent,” said Thomas. “I was a little concerned about drawing the rail. She was on the inside with a large field [11 entrants], so she needed to work out a good trip and [jockey] Kyle [Frey] did a good job on her. I couldn’t have been happier with how she ran. We’ll see what comes up next in the condition book and go from there.”

Heading into this week, Thomas confirmed that recent maiden winner It’s My House will race in Saturday’s El Camino Real Derby. William Antongerorgi III is set to hop aboard for the first time.

“We’re going to the ‘Derby,” said Thomas. “He’s been bucking and squealing and playing around back at the barn. He has a good energy level and came out of his maiden win two weeks ago a happy horse. You can’t win it if you’re not in it, right? This is a big race in Northern California and you only get one crack at it. We’re asking a lot of him but we’re going to take a shot and see what happens.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INVADERS BRING TALENT & CLASS TO THE 2021 El CAMINO REAL DERBY

Berkeley, Calif. (February 10, 2021)- A field of nine is entered to take flight in the feature race at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday afternoon, the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby for 3-year-olds. The El Camino Real Derby, run at the distance of one mile and an eighth on the “all-weather” Tapeta main track, offers ten Kentucky Derby points to the winner and an all-expenses paid, free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. In order for the winner to earn the latter incentive, he or she must be Triple Crown nominated.

This year’s El Camino Real Derby field is packed with Southern California shippers. The likely favorite, Rombauer, draws the outside post in the field of nine and is one of six entrants who make the trip north from their home base at Santa Anita Park. Rombauer makes his 3-year-old debut in the El Camino Real Derby, having most recently placed fifth in the Grade I Breeders Cup Juvenile in November. Earlier in the fall, Rombauer finished as the runner up in the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita. The current leading rider at the Golden Gate Winter/Spring meet, Kyle Frey, picks up the mount for trainer Michael McCarthy. Frey won the 2017 El Camino Real Derby aboard longshot Zakaroff while McCarthy scored a victory one year later with the filly Paved.

Javanica seeks to become the second filly in the El Camino Real Derby’s 39-year history to take home the gold medal. Javanica, a royally bred gal by Medaglia D’Oro out of Grade 2 winning mare Shuruq, has finished second in her last three starts, all against stakes competition. Eoin Harty trains for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Godolphin LLC, with veteran rider Frank Alvarado slated to navigate. Javanica will be breaking from post position 7.

Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella saddles a 2021 El Camino Real Derby contender in Petruchio, by white-hot stallion Into Mischief. After breaking his maiden on turf two starts ago, Petruchio tried winners for the first time in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity and completed the trifecta. Local jockey Irving Orozco rides for the first time.

Trainer John Shirreffs sends Waspirant to the Bay Area for another shot against stakes company. Most recently, Waspirant ran fourth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes behind two of the top 3-year-olds in California, the Bob Baffert trained pair of Life Is Good and Medina Spirit. The son of Union Rags is out of the Storm Cat mare Life Is Sweet, who won the 2009 Grade I Breeders Cup Ladies Classic (now named the Breeders Cup Distaff). Jockey Assael Espinoza has the call for owners Pam and Marty Wygod.

Owner Reddam Racing LLC and trainer Doug O’Neill won the 2016 El Camino Real Derby with Frank Conversation and, five years later, campaign the California-bred Play Chicken. Winner of the King Glorious Stakes for state-breds at Los Alamitos last December, Play Chicken looks to rebound after an off-the-board finish in the California Derby on January 16 at Santa Anita. Evin Roman is named to ride; Roman guided Kingly to a second-place effort in the 2019 El Camino Real Derby.

Positivity rounds out the list of Southern California contenders. His best run to date came in the summertime as a 2-year-old, winning the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar while sprinting on dirt. He also ran second in his next start, the Golden State Juvenile. Both aforementioned races came against California-breds. Trainer Paddy Gallagher employs his go-to Northern California rider, Julien Couton, to ride.

Three local contenders look to play spoiler for the heavy hitters from Southern California. It’s My House, trained by Jamey Thomas, broke his maiden sprinting two weeks ago and stretches out in distance. Tesoro, who unofficially hit the wire first in his career debut, was disqualified for interference with another rival and enters the El Camino Real Derby still a maiden. Recent starter allowance winner Govenor’s Party completes the trio of local talent and is expected to go off at a big price for trainer Dan Franko. William Antongeorgi III rides It’s My House, Catalino Martinez hops aboard Tesoro and Cristobal Herrera retains the mount on Govenor’s Party.

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 8 on a 9-race program at Golden Gate Fields. First post on Saturday is 12:45 PM PT, with scheduled post time for the El Camino Real Derby stamped at 4:15 PM PT.

The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby (3-year-olds at one mile and an eighth)

1. Positivity(trainer Paddy Gallagher, jockey Julien Couton)
2. Waspirant (John Shirreffs, Assael Espinoza)
3. Tesoro (O.J. Jauregui, Catalino Martinez)
4. It’s My House (Jamey Thomas, William Antongeorgi III)
5. Petruchio (Richard Mandella, Irving Orozco)
6.  Play Chicken (Doug O’Neill, Evin Roman)
7.  Javanica (Eoin Harty, Frank Alvarado)
8.  Govenor’s Party (Dan Franko, Cristobal Herrera)
9.  Rombauer (Michael McCarthy, Kyle Frey)

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are a list of claims from last week:

Thursday

Race 7: Harvest a Storm (New trainer Sammy Calvario…new owner Mary Tucker)

Friday

Race 6: Okoye (Isidro Tamayo…Jerry Edwards)

Saturday

Race 1: Galloping Uno (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 6: Push Through (Aggie Ordonez…McLean Racing Stables)

Sunday

Race 1: Family Trips (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 2: Leme At Em (Owner/Trainer Isidro Tamayo)

FINISH LINES: Please note that first post on Friday is later than usual: 1:20 PM. Golden Gate Fields also offers a special Presidents Day live racing card on Monday…Jamey Thomas was not the only trainer who won a race on his birthday last weekend. On Saturday, Southern California trainer Edward Freeman shipped 3-year-old filly Righteously north for a hard-earned victory in Race 7. On Saturday, Freeman was celebrating his 61^st birthday…Trainer Andy Mathis won Races 3 and 4 last Friday, with the $2 “Mathis Double” paying $121.20. Here’s the interesting tidbit, though: in each race, Mathis saddled two entrants, and both races were won by the longer shot of the two…Happy birthday to trainers Jacqui Navarre and Isidro Tamayo, both who celebrate their birthday’s this week…$3,071 is carried over into the Rolling Super High Five wager for Race 2 on Thursday…Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 2 at Golden Gate this Friday.

STAKES WINNER BEEN STUDYING HER RETURNS IN SATURDAY FEATURE

Multiple stakes winner Been Studying Her makes her 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s marquee race, Race 8, a first level allowance for filly and mare sprinters at six furlongs. Been Studying Her also makes her first start for Northern California conditioner Steve Sherman, who has been happy with his filly’s progression leading up to this run.

“She took the rest of the year off after the summer meet at Del Mar,” said Sherman. “It was nothing major. She was just getting a little body sore and needed some time to freshen up. She’s getting over the Tapeta well in her workouts and I think she’ll be fit enough to run well off the break. She is eligible for this condition, so this is a perfect starting point for her. She’s very healthy and happy.”

Been Studying Her, who won the Golden State Juvenile Fillies on Breeders Cup Friday 2019, is out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Maddie’s Odyssey. This makes her a half-sibling to 2019 Grade 3 All American Stakes winner Grecian Fire and Grade 2 winner Sneaking Out. Both aforementioned siblings have won on the Golden Gate Tapeta main track.

Another new shooter to the Golden Gate first level allowance condition is Sheza Girly Girl, moving back to the barn of trainer Angelo Tekos Jr. A newly turned 4-year-old filly by Richard’s Kid, she began her racing career under the care of Tekos Jr. and, as a 2-year-old, won a California-bred maiden special weight at Golden Gate. She was soon moved to the stable of Steve Knapp in Southern California and won a pair of California-bred allowance races there. Although her recent form is poor, Tekos feels this is the right spot for her to bounce back.

“Recently she ran in a couple of stakes races and those [races] came up tough,” said Tekos. “I’m really happy with how she’s training over this [Tapeta] track. I hope we get some pace to run at in this race because she likes to sit off and make a run.”

Continued Tekos, “She’s eligible for this first level [allowance] condition. It’s a logical spot for her. The class relief should do her good. Been Studying Her is a nice filly and she’s the one to beat, no doubt, but if there’s a time to try and beat her it’s probably now when she’s coming off a layoff.”

First post for a 9-race card this Saturday is 12:45 PM. Please note that on Sunday, first post will be earlier than usual, 11:45 AM, to accommodate all who wish to watch “The Big Game” later in the afternoon and into the evening.

HECK YEAH IN HAS FOUND HIS NICHE IN THE ROUTE GAME

Trainer Steve Sherman was delighted to see Golden Gate shipper Heck Yeah perform as well as he did in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-breds at Santa Anita on January 16. Sent off at odds of 21-1, the son of Grade I winner Acclamation sat off the pace before producing an eye-catching move turning for home. He battled for the victory for the length of the lane but was eventually outfinished by the winner, North County Guy. Heck Yeah lost no admirers in defeat.

“He ran great,” reflected Sherman. “I was proud of him. He faced a good field that day and ran his heart out. I couldn’t have asked him to try any harder.”  

Heck Yeah began his career with trainer Bob Baffert and won three stakes, all against California-breds, as a younger horse. He displayed poor form in 2019 and 2020 and was eventually turned-out last February for some much-needed farm time. From there, it was decided that he would be transferred to Sherman’s stable at Golden Gate Fields with the hopes that he would regain winning form against easier company.

Returning to the races last summer, Heck Yeah ran poorly in a pair of sprint efforts for Sherman. When Sherman opted to route him in his third start off the layoff, Heck Yeah looked like a different-and much improved-racehorse. That day, he sat off a fast pace, overtook the early leader turning for home, and won the race easily while earning an 86 Beyer speed figure. In his next start, he won again, earning another 86 Beyer. In the Unusual Heat Turf Classic, Heck Yeah was given a career high 96 Beyer.

“Sometimes horses get older and they change,” said Sherman. “He used to be able to sprint just fine. He could sprint and route. Now, for whatever reason, he’s telling us routing is what he wants to do. We’ll keep him going two turns.”

Heck Yeah has resumed light training at Golden Gate since the Santa Anita second-place finish and may return to the work tab this weekend, according to Sherman.

NOMINATIONS FOR 2021 EL CAMINO REAL DERBY CLOSE THURSDAY

The deadline for horsemen to nominate their contenders to one of the most prestigious races every year in Northern California, the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, is Thursday at midnight. The 2021 edition of the El Camino Real Derby, a one mile and an eighth race for 3-year-olds on Tapeta, will be run next Saturday, February 13.

The El Camino Real Derby is an intriguing race for any horse on the Triple Crown trail. Not only does the winner receive 10 Kentucky Derby points, but they also pick up an all-expenses-paid, free berth into the Preakness Stakes. In order for a horse to receive the latter incentive, however, they must be triple crown nominated.

Major El Camino Real Derby news broke last Saturday when Rombauer, who finished second in the 2020 Grade I American Pharoah Stakes in September at Santa Anita, was listed as “likely” for the race. His owner, John Fradkin, took to Twitter last week to indicate that his star 3-year-old was being pointed for next Saturday’s feature. Michael McCarthy trains the son of Twirling Candy, whose lone win came last summer at Del Mar in a maiden race.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week, with new human connections listed.

Thursday
Race 2: Ben Wade (New trainer Isidro Tamayo…new owner Sergio A. Salguero)
Race 5: Hot Socks (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing, MJVET Stables, and Cynthia Kahuanui)

Friday
Race 1: Union Leader (Tirso Rivera…Beth Rivera)
Race 6: Galwalksintoabar (Jonathan Wong…Paul K. Girdner)

Saturday
Race 4: Kaline (Bill McLean…Fred Desimone, Gary Smith, and Bill McLean)
Race 4: My Sunshine (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing and Jose Valle)
Race 6: Awesome Amanda (Jonathan Wong…Terri Tucket)
Race 8: Discernment (Aggie Ordonez…McLean Racing Stables)

Sunday
Race 2: Baby Frankie (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing and Jose Valle)
Race 2: Megameister (Pablo De Jesus…Tim Bankers)
Race 3: Irish Declaration (Reid France…Goat Racing Stable LLC and Reid France)

FINISH LINES: After three weeks of live racing at the current meet, jockey Kyle Frey sits atop the jockey standings with 18 wins. Evin Roman holds second place with 14 victories while Catalino Martinez rounds out the top three spots with 12 trips to the winner’s circle…Trainer Steve Specht has won eight races, the most out of any trainer. Tied for second in the trainer standings are a trio of conditioners: Isidro Tamayo, Jonathan Wong and Blaine Wright, all with five wins apiece…Grade I winner Keeper Ofthe Stars, currently on the comeback trail for a 5-year-old season, worked a half-mile on Thursday morning for trainer Jonathan Wong. The daughter of Midnight Lute won the Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita last May, finished off the board twice in two subsequent starts, and was then given the rest of 2020 off…2020 All American Stakes winner Restrainedvengence makes his 2021 debut in the one-mile, Grade 3 $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes on turf at Santa Anita. Val Brinkerhoff employs jockey Ruben Fuentes for the ride…Happy birthday to trainer Jamey Thomas, who celebrates his birthday this week…Leg D (the second to last leg) of Friday’s Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate…$29,520 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Thursday’s card.

TIZ FAKE NEWS RETURNS IN FRIDAY FEATURE

Race 7 on Friday, a second level allowance for filly and mare sprinters, features the return of Tiz Fake News. The daughter of Tiznow, who hasn’t been seen since competing in the Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita last March, sports a steady series of works leading up to her 2021 debut and will be ridden by Evin Roman for the first time.

“This is a good starting spot for her,” said Tiz Fake News’s trainer, Jonathan Wong. “I wish I had a couple more works into her [off the layoff], but this race came up in the [condition] book and this is where she fits. She’s grown physically [from age 3 to 4] and she’s training really well. She’s a nice filly. When she broke her maiden, she went 21 and change, so she has speed and I think she’ll be up on the pace.”

Trainer Blaine Wright saddles a pair in Diamonds R and Coco Bee, who drew posts 5 and 6 respectively. Coco Bee, who has not raced since an off the board finish in the Camilla Urso Stakes last May, sport two bullet workouts leading up to this run. In late 2019 and early 2020, Coco Bee won three straight allowance races on the main track Tapeta.

“I thought she’d really like the turf, but she never handled it at any point [in her last start],” said Wright. “She couldn’t be training better, runs well fresh and obviously like the Tapeta. It’s good to get her back up and running again. She’s a nice mare.”

Diamonds R, who exits stakes company at Emerald Downs in Washington state, races for the first time in three months. Throughout her 21-race career, she has competed exclusively at Emerald under the care of Pacific Northwest trainer Tom Wenzel. After Emerald’s season ended in October, Diamonds R was transferred to the barn of Blaine Wright, who is slated to condition the 6-year-old mare throughout the winter.  

“The owners wanted to try her [in California]. I’ve gotten to know her over the last couple months,” said Wright. “She’s training super over this track. The distance of this race might be a little bit short for her, but I wanted to start her out sprinting off the layoff and go from there.”

The morning line favorite is Gotham Desire, a daughter of Gotham City who has finished as the runner up in her last two starts at this level. The Ed. Moger Jr. trainee is a versatile mare that has shown the ability to run her “A” race no matter how the pace scenario unfolds and wherever she is placed in the race. Her last win came three starts ago when she dead heated for the victory in an allowance race against similar company to what she’ll face on Friday. 

Stakes winner Princess Vivian also makes the field. The Sergio Ledezma trained mare is lightly raced, with just 11 starts to her name, but sports an ultra-consistent 4-1-4 record. Most recently, the daughter of Uh Oh Bango ran third on October 30 as the favorite behind the talented Praise and Honor and Gotham Desire.  

Draw Me, who finished fourth in the aforementioned October 30 allowance event, rounds out the field. Terri Eaton trains and Hugo Herrera rides the California-bred filly by Last Draw, who makes her 4-year-old debut in the Friday feature.

LYMEBIRD BACK HOME AND READY TO GET BACK TO ROUTING

Looking at the past performances of 8-year-old gelding Lymebird, it’s pretty clear what he thrives at: routing on Tapeta.

“We didn’t get too many opportunities to route him on the Tapeta last year,” said Lymebird’s trainer, Angelo Tekos Jr. “The stoppages we had due to COVID-19 was a factor. A couple times races just weren’t filling.”

Nonetheless, the Tekos stable star was still able to run “long” on Tapeta twice in 2020, and both efforts resulted in better than looked runner up finishes. In one of those starts, he finished second behind stakes caliber racer Navy Armed Guard, who broke the track record that day. In his other start, he ran second again, this time to multiple 2020 stakes winner Camino Del Paraiso.

Since a poor performance at Santa Anita three weeks ago on turf, Lymebird has worked two easy half mile drills leading up to this Saturday’s main event at Golden Gate, Race 7, a second level allowance at one mile. Lymebird drew post 2 of 6 and picks up the services of jockey Catalino Martinez.

“He should be fit and ready to roll,” said Tekos. “In his last start, the owner wanted to take a shot at Santa Anita and we saw it as getting a run into him before this race. We’re excited to run him on Saturday. if he puts his best foot forward, we definitely have a shot to win.”

Other main contenders in Race 7 on Saturday: stakes placed gelding Our Silver Oak, Southern California shipper King of Speed and Robert Dupret Derby winner American Farmer. Stretch-out sprinter Wine and Whisky and Jammers Justice will likely go off at a price and complete the group of a half dozen entrants.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are the list of claimed horses and their new connections from last week:

January 22

Race 2: Playing Through (New trainer Isidro Tamayo…new owner Johnny Taboada)

Race 2: Tanners Pride (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables and Johnny Taboada)

Race 2: Trump Um (Frank Lucarelli…Bill Meikle)

Race 3: Extractor (Jesus Ramos…Candelario Barragan and Jose Cruz Ramos)

Race 3: Hold Me Close (Sammy Calvario…Johnny and Marcel Taboada)

Race 4: Kate Boss (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)

Race 5: She’s So Pretty (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing, MJVET Stables and Cynthia Kahuanui)

Race 6: Miss Indefatigable (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing and Cynthia Kahuanui)

Race 8: Tom’s Surprise (Jonathan Wong…Kam Racing Stables and Brent Malmstrom)

January 23

Race 2: Malibu Cat (Owner/Trainer Tim McCanna)

Race 7: Ziarah (Owner/Trainer Tim McCanna)

January 24

Race 3: Agent Zero (Jonathan Wong…Hon Cheung Kum and Hsiu Mei Tsai)

Race 6: Coolcross (Monty Meier…Browne Cattle Co. and William Branch)

FINISH LINES: Notable workers last week who are on the comeback trail after taking time off: The well-regarded Jeffnjohn’sthundr (3F in 38.20 for trainer Jeff Bonde), multiple stakes winner Time for Gold (4F in 50.60 seconds for trainer Frank Lucarelli), and stakes winner Top Harbor (5F in 1:02.00 seconds for trainer Tim McCanna)…Per Gary Dougherty of “Racing Stats and Info” on Twitter, jockey William Antongeorgi III made his 1,003rd trip to the Golden Gate Fields winners circle on Sunday when guiding Shot Of A Lifetime to victory in Race 7… Jockey Francisco Duran is back in the Bay Area after a quick stint at Turf Paradise in Arizona and will represent himself…Happy birthday to trainer Steve Sherman, who celebrates his birthday on Thursday…$15,029 is carried over in the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Thursday’s card.

CRISTIANO’S DREAM A “DREAM COME TRUE” FOR HIS CONNECTIONS

First-time starter Cristiano’s Dream scored a sharp-looking win in Race 7 last Sunday, a California-bred maiden special weight for 3-year-olds. Cristiano’s Dream, conditioned by Mike Lenzini and ridden to victory by Erick Lopez, won the five-and-a-half-furlong contest by three and a half lengths and earned a 68 Beyer speed figure for his effort.

Cristiano’s Dream is owned by John Parker, Lopez’s father-in-law. The horse is named after Lopez’s son, 18-month-old Cristiano.

“[The race] was special,” reflected Erick. “It was really cool that things worked out. How often does this type of thing happen? It was pretty amazing. I was smiling ear to ear when I got back to the [jockey’s] room.

Down the backstretch, he was cruising along. When I asked him at the quarter pole he took off. Turning for home I knew we were going to win. It was impressive. He could have won by more too. I think he’ll enjoy a little more distance and I think he can improve because he’s still learning.”

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Cristiano’s Dream took to the added ground. He is by multiple Grade I winner Tourist, most notably known for winning the Breeders Cup Turf Mile in 2016 at Santa Anita. The dam of Cristiano’s Dream, Dances On Water, is an In Excess mare who’s produced three winners from three foals including Grade 3 Longacres Mile winner Gold Rush Dancer. Gold Rush Dancer also won the mile and an eighth Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita in 2016.

SPECHT STARTS OFF WINTER/SPRING MEET WRACKING OFF WINNERS

Veteran Northern California horsemen Steve Specht was ready to roll with his dozen entrants who raced on Opening Week of the 2021 Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate. From those 12 starters, 5 made winners circle appearances. Two others finished second or third.

On Opening Day Friday, Specht and his go-to rider, Frank Alvarado, picked up the win in Race 2 with 3-year-old filly Good Time Dolly. One day later, Specht won Race 3 with stakes winner Square Deal and the nightcap (Race 10) with 4-year-old filly Persuasive Lips. Both horses were piloted to victory by Catalino Martinez.

On Sunday, Specht equaled his win record from the previous afternoon. Pour On the Cole was well prepared for his 2021 debut and won Race 3 while Slam Dunk Sermon, making his first start against older rivals as a newly turned 4-year-old, hit the wire first under Alvarado in the featured eighth race, an allowance for sprinters.  

TRAINER BADILLA WITH TWO TOP CONTENDERS AGAINST CLOCKSTRIKESTWELVE IN SATURDAY FEATURE

Two maiden and three allowance races spread throughout the 9-race card at Golden Gate this Saturday make up a good-quality program. The feature in the sequence, Race 7, is a second-level allowance for fillies and mares routing one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta.

Trainer Manny Badilla starts 5-year-old Northwest Factor and 6-year-old Ziarah, both of who should be listed as major players. Northwest Factor, claimed by Badilla and owner Debra Medlock for $25,000 last July, has gone on to win a pair of allowance races. In fact, her last start in October resulted in a gate to wire win-a victory in which she defeated Mybluebell and Novella, also entered in Saturday’s seventh race.

“Debra [Medlock] has a farm and breeding operation,” said Badilla. “We claimed [Northwest Factor] because she was already a multiple stakes winner in Washington State. She has black type. Once she was in for a $25,000 tag, it was hard to pass up. She’s been training great. Expect her to be on the lead again. They’ll have her to catch.”

Ziarah, a stakes-placed mare, freshens up almost three months since a fourth-place finish behind Northwest Factor, Mybluebell, and Novella. That afternoon, Ziarah went off favored.

“She came out of that last race with a little cold,” said Badilla. “I really think the time between races will do her well. She had a hard year last year-ran in a bunch of races and had to run hard-and the time off should be beneficial. She’s fresh and ready to go. I think we’re going to see her bring her ‘A’ game.”

The main danger to beat the Badilla-trained pair is Clockstrikestwelve, a Jonathan Wong trainee coming off a sharp allowance win at Los Alamitos in December.

“She likes to make one run,” said Wong. “Last time [at Los Alamitos] she got a good, fast pace that set up for her running style. In this race, it doesn’t look like there’s nearly as much early speed, but she’ll be coming on. She’s a mare that’s really confident, really happy and training well right now.”

FINISH LINES: Maggie’s Magic, the first Golden Gate starter for trainer Miguel Ramirez, won the second race on Saturday. Before taking out his trainer’s license last month, Ramirez was the longtime assistant for Bob Hess Sr., who passed away in December. That win was for you Bob!…2020 San Francisco Mile runner up Kiwi’s Dream makes his first start since August in Race 6 at Santa Anita on Saturday, a starter allowance at one mile and an eighth on turf. Tiago Pereira is slated to ride for trainer Victor Trujillo…Great Britain bred Escape The City makes her first start in North America on Saturday for trainer Manny Badilla and owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon in Santa Anita’s eighth race, a first-level allowance. She has been training at Golden Gate in preparation for her stateside debut…2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate is the 5-1 third choice on the morning line in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park. Joel Rosario rides…Assael Espinoza, the newest member of the Golden Gate Fields jockey colony, is off to a good start at the current meeting. The 21-year-old nephew of Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza won with 4 of his 20 mounts last week…Happy birthday to jockey Brayan Pena, who celebrates his 31^st birthday on Tuesday…Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday at Golden Gate. The Stronach 5 has a carryover of just over $97,000!