MANDATORY PAYOUT IN THE GOLDEN PICK SIX ON STRONG “OPENING DAY” CARD

It’s the day we’ve all been waiting for: Opening Day! The 2021 Golden Gate Fields Winter/Spring meet commences this Friday, January 15 and runs through Sunday, June 13. To kick off the meeting, track officials announced earlier this week that there would be a mandatory payout on Friday in the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager. The Golden Pick Six is a 20-cent minimum bet and covers the last six races each day.

On Friday, the Golden Pick Six sequence goes as races 3-8, with post time for the first leg (Race 3) set at 1:49 PM PT. There is a $26,201 carryover heading into the Opening Day Pick Six, with a six figure “new money” pool projected to be added into the pot.  

67 horses were entered in the six-race sequence, equating to 11.1 horses per race. 59 of those horses made the main body of their respective fields, averaging out to 9.8 horses per race. The remaining 8 horses were put on an “also eligible” list, meaning their races “overfilled” and would need defections in order to run on Friday.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WINNERS SET TO TAKE ON STAKES COMPANY ON CAL CUP DAY AT SANTA ANITA

This Saturday, Santa Anita Park hosts Cal-Cup Day, showcasing some of the fastest and most talented California-breds on both ends of the Golden State. 5 of the 11 races are stakes events, and a handful of Northern California winners compete in these races in hopes of earning major cash and a stakes victory to their resumes.

Race 4 is the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint at six furlongs on grass. Drawing the outside post in the field of 9 is Nardini, a newly turned 5-year-old mare conditioned by Andy Mathis. The daughter of Acclamation won a pair of allowance races at Golden Gate Fields last year before running third in the California Distaff in October. World renowned jockey Joel Rosario has the assignment for the first time, which should only be considered a positive.

Steve Sherman sends out 2020 Pike Place Dancer Stakes winner I’m So Anna in Race 6, the $200,000 California Cup Oaks. Last time out in the Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos, she broke from the outside post in a field of 10, was wide on both turns, but still fought on gallantly to hit the wire fourth in a better than looked effort. She draws a much more desirable post position this time and gets back to turf, with regular rider Ricky Gonzalez back aboard.

Mischievous Path was an eight-length romping winner of a Golden Gate maiden special weight in October and makes his 2021 debut in Race 7 on Saturday, the $200,000 California Cup Derby. Mischievous Path has been prepping for this race down south under the watchful eye of new trainer Carla Gaines, who conditions for Mischievous Path’s owner and breeder Irving Racing Stable. At Golden Gate, the son of Curlin to Mischief was trained by Greg James. He makes his first start going a route of ground in the California Cup Derby while also trying dirt for the first time.

Race 8 is the big one: the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic. One horse likely to get support in the wagering is Indian Peak, now in the Brian Koriner stable. Indian Peak, previously trained by Quinn Howey, was one of the top 3-year-olds at Golden Gate in 2020, winning a pair of allowance races in decisive fashion and running third in the El Camino Real Derby. He then shipped to Santa Anita and scored a victory in the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes. Heck Yeah, who ships south for Steve Sherman, has terrific recent form and also looks like a legit player in the Turf Classic. Although his last two wins have come at Golden Gate over the main track Tapeta, he won a stake on turf at Santa Anita in 2018. Joel Rosario rides Indian Peak while Drayden Van Dyke hops aboard Heck Yeah.

Bettor Trip Nick rounds out the list of Northern California stakes horses on Saturday. He’ll be going postward in Race 9, the $150,000 California Cup Sprint, for dirt sprinters at six furlongs. He lost by a large margin in his most recent afternoon appearance, the Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar, but was a much better than looked second to the talented Baja Sur in the El Dorado Shooter Stakes at Golden Gate two starts ago. As a 2-year-old in 2019, Bettor Trip Nick won the Golden Nugget Stakes and Gold Rush Stakes while in the barn of Bill Delia. Quinn Howey currently trains and employs Drayden Van Dyke to ride.

EL CAMINO REAL DERBY, SAN FRANCISCO MILE HIGHLIGHT WINTER/SPRING MEET STAKES SCHEDULE

Twelve races comprise the 2021 Winter/Spring meet stakes schedule at Golden Gate, released earlier this week by Director of Racing/Racing Secretary Patrick Mackey and his crew.

The 40^th running of the 9-furlong El Camino Real Derby is the first race on the list. To be run on Saturday, February 13, the El Camino Real Derby offers a $100,000 purse and gives the winner 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. For the third straight year, the victor of the El Camino Real Derby will also be granted a free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, at Pimlico Racecourse in Mid-May.

The second annual Gold Rush Weekend, featuring the highest quality racing possible in Northern California, is your appetizer before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs one week later. A two-day event, Gold Rush Weekend is set to take place on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25.

Six stakes are stretched across the April 24 program, including the feature race of the Winter/Spring meet: the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at one mile on turf. The $100,000 California Derby for 3-year-olds is also a well-respected race, along with the $75,000 California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies and the $75,000 Lost In The Fog Stakes for the fastest sprinters on the grounds. The Camilla Urso, a five-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares, and the Golden Poppy for female turf routers completes the half-dozen stakes in what is expected to be an epic afternoon of racing.

The Sunday festivities awards connections who support the California-breeding industry. Both co-featured races are a part of the “Gold Rush Series,” a sequence of stakes races throughout the year for horses that were bred and or sired in California. The Silky Sullivan Stakes, a $75,000 one-mile turf race, is named after the “last to first” fan-favorite in the late 1950’s. The Campanile Stakes, also a one-mile grass affair with a $75,000 purse, is restricted to fillies.

3-year-olds who run well against stakes company in April are likely to eye the May 23, $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes as their next possible target. Sophomores are also eligible to compete against older horses in the prestigious $100,000 All American Stakes on Memorial Day Monday, May 31, while the traditional closing weekend Albany Stakes for turf sprinters will be run on Saturday, June 12.

2021 GOLDEN GATE FIELDS WINTER/SPRING MEET STAKES SCHEDULE*

Saturday, February 13: $100,000 El Camino Real Derby (for 3 YO’s at one mile and an eighth on Tapeta)

Saturday, April 24: $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile (for 3 YO’s and up at one mile on turf)

Saturday, April 24: $100,000 California Derby (for 3 YO’s at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta)

Saturday, April 24: $75,000 California Oaks (for 3 YO fillies at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta)

Saturday, April 24: $75,000 Lost In The Fog (3 YO’s and up at six furlongs on Tapeta)

Saturday, April 24: $75,000 Camilla Urso (Fillies and Mares 3 YO’s and up at five furlongs on turf)

Saturday, April 24: $75,000 Golden Poppy (Fillies and mares 3 YO’s and up at one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

Sunday, April 25: $75,000 Silky Sullivan (California-bred 3 YO’s at one mile on turf)

Sunday, April 25: $75,000 Campanile (California-bred 3 YO fillies at one mile on turf)

Sunday, May 23: $75,000 Alcatraz (3 YO’s at one mile on turf)

Monday, May 31: $100,000 All American (3 YO’S and up at one mile on Tapeta)

Saturday, June 12: $50,000 Albany Stakes (3 YO’s and up at five furlongs on turf)

*all info provided is subject to change

FINISH LINES: Happy birthday to trainer Aggie Ordonez, who celebrates her birthday tomorrow. A belated happy birthday wish to conditioner Jedd Josephson, who celebrated his birthday a couple of days ago…Rocktilyoudrop, an impressive maiden winner for trainer Bill Delia in October, has been privately purchased by owner Gary Barber and trainer Peter Miller and makes his first start for the aforementioned new connections in Race 3 on Saturday at Santa Anita…2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate is bound for the Pegasus Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park next week after a flashy win in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at The Great Race Place on January 2…Leg E of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday…The Golden Hour Late Pick 4 and Golden Hour Double is back in play with Golden Gate’s resumption of live racing. The ‘Double combines the last race at Santa Anita with the last race at Golden Gate while the ‘Pick 4 mixes the last two races at Santa Anita with the final two races at Golden Gate…First post at Golden Gate on Friday and Sunday is 12:45 PM while Saturday has a first post time of 12:15 PM. We also have a Monday holiday race card this week, with first post that afternoon also 12:45 PM.

BERKELEY, CA – 1/ST RACING is pleased to announce that Golden Gate Fields will resume live racing on Friday, January 15. After extensive testing in collaboration with the Berkeley Public Health Division, it has been determined that the COVID-19 concerns on the campus have decreased to levels to allow the resumption of live racing.

Golden Gate Fields is indebted to both the Berkeley Public Health Division and the Alameda County Public Health Department for their assistance and advice during the period of temporary closure.

As the Golden Gate Fields Racing Office remains closed for in-person business, entries will be taken via telephone for racing on Friday, January 15 on Tuesday, January 12.

As part of the continued COVID-19 safety protocols in place at Golden Gate Fields, we are unable to allow owners to attend training or live racing as we begin this meet. We will continue to monitor this situation and will update the Thoroughbred Owners of California of any changes to this policy.

For more information, please visit www.goldengatefields.com or @GGFRacing.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2020)–An iconic figure at Golden Gate Fields for five decades, trainer Bob Hess, Sr. succumbed to the effects of COVID-19 early Saturday morning at age 86. Consistently among the leaders in Northern California dating back to the 1970s, Hess, who was the father of trainer Bob Hess, Jr., began his training career at Agua Caliente in the 1960s, came to Golden Gate in 1971 and was a highly respected conditioner throughout his career.

Initially hospitalized in mid-November with COVID-19 following a test administered by track officials, Hess was subsequently released and then re-admitted when symptoms returned. This heartbreaking news comes just one day after Golden Gate officials announced the continued suspension of live racing through Dec. 25.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the entire Hess family at this time,” said David Duggan, General Manager at Golden Gate Fields. “To lose a longtime trainer and friend is simply heartbreaking to our entire horse racing family.”

Hess, who was born Oct. 10, 1934, was fluent in both Spanish and English. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Maria, and four children, Bob Jr., Howie, Erica and Anna.

When advised Hess had passed away this morning, jockey Abel Cedillo was moved to tears.

“When I was riding up north, he was like a second father to me,” said Cedillo, a Guatemalan native who was the leading rider at Del Mar’s recently concluded Bing Crosby Meeting. “I had so much respect for him. I’m shocked. I’m going to really miss him.”

Golden Gate Fields’ Director of Racing, Patrick Mackey, echoed the sentiments of many in the California racing industry.

“Bob was a wonderful horseman who was always there for his fellow race tracker,” he said. “His stories were legendary. He was a wealth of knowledge and imparted that knowledge to many over the years. He was a great man and his presence here at Golden Gate Fields will be sorely missed.”

Over a distinguished career that saw him saddle 1,592 winners from 10,448 starters, Hess’s runners earned more than $17.2 million. His last winner came on Oct. 29 at Golden Gate with the Thoroughbred Just Like Fred and his final starter ran there on Nov. 8.

Services for Bob Hess, Sr. are pending.

BERKELEY, CA – With the continued regard for the safety and well-being of 1/ST RACING employees, those working on the backstretch and the community at large, and in following the best guidance from local health authorities, Golden Gate Fields’ leadership has decided to continue its temporary suspension of live racing until the scheduled opening day of the winter meet on December 26.  

Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Golden Gate Fields has implemented stringent health and safety measures including, strict social distancing, masking policies and regular COVID-19 testing with isolation requirements for any positive cases or identified close contacts.

On November 13, Golden Gate Fields announced a one-week temporary closure to address a COVID-19 outbreak that was then extended until December 4. Since then, all track facilities have undergone thorough cleaning and track-wide COVID-19 testing has been administered to all 1/ST RACING employees and to all those who work on the backstretch. The track will continue testing until all tests are returned negative and will continue to collaborate and share all testing data with the Berkeley Public Health Division (BPHD).

All positive cases are overseen by the BPHD or the neighbouring public health departments, as appropriate, through their respective case managers. Positive cases are required to isolate as per local health protocols and are not able to return to Golden Gate Fields until health clearance has been provided by the BPHD or the corresponding public health department.

The 1,300 horses stabled onsite will continue to receive the daily care and exercise they require.

For more information please visit www.goldengatefields.com or @GGFRacing.

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Media Inquiries

Tiffani Steer, tiffani.steer@stronachgroup.com

BERKELEY, CA – City of Berkeley Public Health continues to work closely with Golden Gate Fields on a significant outbreak where more than 200 people living or working on-site at the racetrack have tested positive for COVID-19. 1/ST RACING, which operates the track, is following all of the City’s recommendations for testing, quarantine, and isolation. The steps they have taken include the following:                        

Every person living or working on-site has been tested and additional testing will be done.

All those who have tested positive are isolated off-site, following federal, state and City guidelines. The track is assisting with off-site housing for those who have tested positive and has arranged for twice daily food delivery to ensure that those individuals do not have to leave isolation and have the essential items they require.

Golden Gate Fields’ on-site medical director, an infectious disease expert, is providing medical consultation to those who live and work at the racetrack.

For those close contacts who have tested negative but still need to quarantine for 14 days, the track is providing daily food delivery and access to medical support as well as the means to safely quarantine, including additional bathrooms and handwashing stations. 

Golden Gate Fields continues to implement health and safety measures including, strict social distancing, masking policies and regular COVID-19 testing with isolation requirements for any positive cases or identified close contacts.

Both Berkeley Public Health and 1/ST RACING will be closely monitoring the situation to follow all local, state and federal guidelines. Should testing identify more cases, further investigation and tracing will be done by Berkeley Public Health and additional isolation and quarantine will be required.

With the continued regard for the safety and well-being of 1/ST RACING employees, those working on the backstretch and the community at large, and in following the best guidance from local health authorities, Golden Gate Fields’ leadership has decided to continue its suspension of live racing through November.

Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Golden Gate Fields has implemented stringent health and safety measures including, strict social distancing, masking policies and regular COVID-19 testing with isolation requirements for any positive cases or identified close contacts.

On November 13, Golden Gate Fields announced a one-week temporary closure to address a COVID-19 outbreak. Since then, all track facilities have undergone thorough cleaning and track-wide COVID-19 testing has been administered to all 1/ST RACING employees and to all those who work on the backstretch. All testing data have been shared with the Berkeley Public Health Division (BPHD).

All positive cases are overseen by the BPHD through their case managers. Positive cases are required to isolate as per BPHD protocols and are not able to return to Golden Gate Fields until health clearance has been provided by the BPHD.

The 1,300 horses stabled onsite will continue to receive the daily care and exercise they require.

Golden Gate Fields will continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with the BPHD and will look forward to resuming live racing with the announcement of a reopening date as soon as possible. 

For more information please visit www.goldengatefields.com or @GGFRacing.

BERKELEY, CA – With the utmost regard for the safety and well-being of 1/ST RACING employees, those working on the backstretch and the community at large, and in following the best guidance from local health authorities, Golden Gate Fields will temporarily pause live racing effective noon today, November 13 through to November 20.  

Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Golden Gate Fields has implemented stringent health and safety measures including strict social distancing and masking policies and regular COVID-19 testing with isolation requirements for any positive cases or identified close contacts. 

Since October 30, there have been 24 confirmed cases linked to the Berkeley stable area. All positive cases are overseen by the Berkeley Public Health Division (BPHD) through their case managers, are required to isolate as per BPHD protocols and are not able to return to Golden Gate Fields until health clearance has been provided by BPHD.

During the period of temporary closure, track facilities will undergo thorough cleaning and track-wide COVID-19 testing will be performed for all employees and backstretch workers in the stable area. Upon completion of testing all data will be shared with the BPHD. 

The 1300 horses stabled onsite will continue to receive the daily care and exercise they require. 

Golden Gate Fields will continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with the BPHD and will look forward to resuming live racing as soon as possible. 

CRUZ AND ESPINOZA ADD DEPTH TO ALREADY-SKILLFUL COLONY

Jockeys Alex Cruz and Assael Espinoza recently shipped their tack to Golden Gate Fields and are the newest additions to the growingly gifted jockey colony in the Bay Area.

A native of Puerto Rico, 27-year-old Alex Cruz won the recently concluded 2020 Emerald Downs meet riding title with 72 wins from 38 racing days. With that, Cruz is no stranger to winning riding titles; he also won the most races out of any jockey last year at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona. He and his wife are expecting a baby in January and have opted to move to Northern California in hopes of a permanent stay in the Golden State.

“He’s a very talented jockey,” said Cruz’s agent, David “Marbles” Singer, who represented jockey Rocco Bowen at Golden Gate in 2017 and 2018. “Alex has impressed me. He can ride any type of horse. He can go to the lead. He can put up well-timed rides and come from off the pace. He’s the whole package. He won at least one race every day for the last 25 days at Emerald and finished out the meet with a 5-win afternoon on Closing Day. He’s coming to Golden Gate in good form…with confidence.”

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Assael Espinoza began working horses at Golden Gate last week and will be represented by agent Fernando “Shoes” Navarro. Espinoza, who is the nephew of Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza, was born and raised just miles from Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California.

“I’m really excited to be working with Assael,” said Navarro. “He’s a young, enthusiastic guy with a good head on his shoulders. I’ve watched him ride and he definitely has talent.”

Espinoza had a fine season as an apprentice and rode for top Southern California trainers like Bob Baffert, Peter Miller, and John Sadler during his stay on the aforementioned Southern California circuit. After a brief stint as a journeyman at Santa Anita, Espinoza opted to move North.

“Assael is a hard worker,” said Navarro. “He’s really eager to get to work every morning and has enjoyed going by the barns and meeting everyone here. It might take a week or two to get his business really rolling but that’s normal for a jockey at a new place. If he is given the right opportunities, I really do believe he can do very well at Golden Gate.”

EXHALTING LOOKS TO CONTINUE WIN STREAK IN GOLDEN NUGGET ON SATURDAY

Six entrants-five locally based contenders and one from Southern California-are set to go postward in the feature race of the week on Saturday: the $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds on Tapeta. The six-furlong Golden Nugget is a potential springboard for the $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes on December 5 and goes as Race 7 on a 9-race program this Saturday.

The one to beat is Exhalting, who enters the Golden Nugget with a 3-race win streak intact. The son of Chitu most recently defeated a group of allowance foes three weeks ago and, three weeks earlier, won a starter allowance at low odds. He broke his maiden on September 26, meaning he will be making his fourth start in just seven weeks.

“With all of his races pretty close together, he’s really fit,” said trainer Jonathan Wong. “We’re just keeping him happy. He’s ready go. It would have been nice to have another week or two of rest before this race but he’s doing really well. His best weapon is speed and we don’t want to take that away from him, so I’d imagine he’ll be forwardly placed again.”

A number of impressive maiden winners enter the Golden Nugget in search of a stake trophy. Mischievous Path, an eye-catching eight length maiden winner on October 4, is one that will likely get bet. Although trainer Greg James admits that he was not surprised that his star 2-year-old won on debut, he was taken aback by the margin of victory and “how he won.”  

“I didn’t expect him to win like he did the other day,” said James. “He won going away and he had more in the tank. We’ve always thought he was a really nice horse though. Some of these younger horses…you work them and train them and it’s clear when you see the good ones because they do things the right way. [Mischievous Path] has always done things the right way and he’s always worked like a really nice horse. He has a great mind and continues to train beautifully heading into this race.”

Mischievous Path is a son of California stallion Curlin to Mischief, a royally bred son of Curlin who is a half sibling to Grade I winners Into Mischief, Beholder and Mendelssohn.

Run Snappy, a Runhappy colt trained by Southern California conditioner John Sadler, draws the inside post position for his first career start over a synthetic surface. He was purchased for $230,000 as a yearling and is a half sibling to Grade 3 winner Heavenhasmynikki and stakes winners Dougs Buddy and Floral Sky. Ben Wade, in the meantime, is a Nick Alexander California-homebred trained by Steve Miyadi who comes off a three-quarter length win against maiden special weight foes at Golden Gate and draws post position two.

Mando, who cuts back from a route to a sprint, is the only horse with stakes experience. Mando broke his maiden sprinting at Golden Gate in the spring and, one race later, finished fourth in the Everett Nevin Stakes at Pleasanton.

Longshot Coriscan rounds out the field. He picked up his first career winners circle photo in a maiden special weight race two months ago, albeit over firm turf. His only other race, an off-the-board finish behind Exhalting, indicates improvement is needed for him to take home the gold prize.

Race 7 on Saturday: the $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes (6 furlongs on Tapeta for 2-year-olds)

#1 Run Snappy (Jockey Irving Orozco, trainer John Sadler)

#2 Ben Wade (Kyle Frey, Steve Miyadi)

#3 Mischievous Path (Frank Alvarado, Greg James)

#4 Exhalting (Evin Roman, Jonathan Wong)

#5 Coriscan (Santos Rivera, D. Wayne Baker)

#6 Mando (Catalino Martinez, Andreas Psarras)

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of all horses claimed last week.

Thursday

Race 1: Sizzling Jamie (New trainer Isidro Tamayo…new owner Johnny Taboada)

Race 3: Avalon Ride (Marcia Stortz…Mojarro Racing LLC)

Race 3: Buttie (Owner/Trainer John Martin)

Race 4: Gooch Express (Owner/Trainer Felix Rondan)

Race 7: Midnight Luck (Sammy Calvario…Rhonda Kirby)

Friday

Race 2: Boundforjamaica (Bob Hess Sr…David Milburn and Donald Muldoon)

Race 7: Respect My Candor (Owner/Trainer Steve Miyadi)

Saturday

Race 2: Hydrogen (O.J. Jauregui…Charles Gerson and Angel Valadez)

Race 2: Sarni (Owner/Trainer Jose Bautista)

Sunday

Race 1: Debt Monger (Marcia Stortz…Gustavo Adolfo Tirado)

Race 8: Tough It Out (D. Wayne Baker…Baker, Bergounous and Decamilla)

Race 8: Tyler’s Tek (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing and MJVET Stables)

Race 9: Miss You Mom (Andreas Psarras…Ronald Baldwin and Andreas Psarras)

FINISH LINES: Windy City Red, who finished off the board for trainer Jonathan Wong in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last Saturday at Keeneland, exited the race in good order and is possible to race in the one-mile Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate in early December…Piston, a full sibling to Grade 3 winner Mr. Bowling, returns to the races for trainer Jamey Thomas in Race 8 on Saturday, an allowance for 3-year-olds and upward. The son of Istan broke his maiden impressively on debut in February…Grazen Road, a half-sibling to 500k earner and Grade 3 winner Just Grazed Me, makes her career debut for trainer Victor Trujillo in Race 3 on Saturday, a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies…The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover has climbed to $22,342 heading into Thursday afternoon’s race card…The last leg (Leg E) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday at Golden Gate…Happy birthday to trainers Gloria Haley and Bill McLean, both who celebrate birthday’s this week.  

JOSEPH T. GRACE STAKES SHOWCASES THE BEST OLDER ROUTERS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

An intriguing field of nine is entered to compete in the feature race of the week, the $50,000 Joseph T. Grace Stakes on turf for 3-year-olds and upward. The mile and a sixteenth contest is the marquee grass race at the current Golden Gate Fields Fall meet and goes as the seventh of eight races on this Saturday’s card.

The headliner is none other than Camino Del Paraiso, who was last seen winning the September 7 Rolling Green Stakes for trainer O.J. Jauregui. The California-bred son of Suances is a multiple graded stakes-placed gelding that has earned $440,092 throughout his six-year career. This will be his fourteenth-lifetime start. Catalino Martinez, who navigated Camino Del Paraiso to victory in the Rolling Green, rides back on Saturday.  

Give Me the Lute, claimed by trainer Andy Mathis and owners Rod and Wendy Hogan for $80,000 last year, is a son of Boisterous who broke the Golden Gate track record sprinting five furlongs on turf in June. He enters this stake off a decisive second-level allowance victory routing and will be ridden by Irving Orozco, who was aboard for his most recent victory. Fuente, who ran second to Give Me the Lute in the aforesaid second-level allowance, is also entered in the Joseph T. Grace. Fuente picks up the services of jockey Erick Lopez.

Defending champion Mugaritz makes his first start of 2020 in the Joseph T. Grace for trainer Jonathan Wong. He won the 2019 Berkeley Handicap over the local strip last year and also scored a dominant victory on dirt in the 2019 Bulldog Handicap at Fresno. Evin Roman rides for the first time. Navy Armed Guard, in the meantime, broke the track record going one mile on Tapeta in September and returns to turf for trainer Quinn Howey. The son of Midshipman finished third behind Camino Del Paraiso in the Rolling Green two months ago with Frank Alvarado, who retains the mount on Saturday.

Two Southern California shippers blend into the mix. Love and Peace, a filly facing males in the Rolling Green, comes off a gate to wire victory against other females at a second-level allowance condition. Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale and local rider William Antongeorgi III team up with the French-bred daughter of Linngari, The Black Album, a Peter Miller trainee who ran off the board in the Rolling Green and most recently finished fifth in Santa Anita’s Lure Stakes on October 25, also makes the trip north and will be ridden by Kyle Frey.

Stakes placed Builder and allowance winner Lookin for Revenge rounds out the field. Please note that post time on Thursday and Sunday remains at 12:45 PM PT. However, our Friday and Saturday programs have a later first post of 1:15 PM PT.

Race 8 on Saturday: $50,000 Rolling Green Stakes (one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

#1 Give Me the Lute (Jockey Irving Orozco, Andy Mathis)

#2 Fuente (Erick Lopez, Manny Badilla)

#3 Camino Del Paraiso (Catalino Martinez, O.J Jauregui)

#4 Lookin For Revenge (Santos Rivera, Brendan Galvin)

#5 The Black Album (Kyle Frey, Peter Miller)

#6 Love and Peace (William Antongeorgi, Neil Drysdale)

#7 Builder (Silvio Amador, Ed Moger Jr,)

#8 Mugaritz (Evin Roman, Jonathan Wong)

#9 Navy Armed Guard (Frank Alvarado, Quinn Howey)

NEVER BE ENOUGH SCORES IN KATHRYN CROSBY STAKES AT DEL MAR

5-year-old mare Never Be Enough won her third race in a row for trainer Manny Badilla in Saturday’s feature race at Del Mar, the Kathryn Crosby Stakes for older filly and mare routers at one mile on turf. Navigated by Southern California pilot Tiago Pereira, Never Be Enough sat in midfield for the majority of the race before displaying a sharp acceleration down the stretch. She hit the wire a length in front of runner up finisher Colonial Creed and paid $14.80 to win.

“She ran awesome,” said Badilla on Wednesday. “We’re proud of her. [Jockey] Tiago Pereira gave her a great ride. She returned to the barn [at Golden Gate] this morning and looks great. We’ll take her back to the track tomorrow morning.”

This is the second year in a row in which Northern California shippers have taken home the gold prize in the Kathryn Crosby. Last year, Wicked Old Fashion posted a 32-1 shocker for trainer Victor Trujillo and jockey Evin Roman.

Never Be Enough has won four of six races for Badilla and owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon since being purchased by the aforementioned connections in late January from Europe. Her last two wins before the Kathryn Crosby Stakes triumph came at Golden Gate in a pair of allowance races run over the main track Tapeta.

“She’s a real nice mare,” said Badilla. “We went to Southern California for this last race because once she was able to beat [multiple stakes winning stablemate] Sloane Garden [in her last start at Golden Gate], we knew she was in great form.”

Badilla proudly displayed a Del Mar condition book when asked on where Never Be Enough would run next. He pointed to the stakes schedule.

“We’re pointing to the Red Carpet Handicap in three weeks,” said Badilla. “We’re sending her back down south for her next race. She’ll be going a mile and three eighths next time.

The Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap, at the aforementioned 13-furlong distance, has a purse of $100,000. For fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward, the Red Carpet will be run on Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 26.

PIKE PLACE DANCER WINNER I’M SO ANNA POSSIBLE FOR GRADE I STARLET

Local filly I’m So Anna fended off all challenges to the win the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes last Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Trained by Steve Sherman, I’m So Anna went to the lead, set moderate fractions up front and held off late rallies from Southern California shippers Consternation and Sweetest Angel to win the mile turf contest by a narrow margin.

Shortly after the race, Sherman indicated to the Daily Racing Form’s Chuck Dybdal that the Grade I Starlet Stakes at a mile and a sixteenth on dirt could be next for the California-bred daughter of Fast Anna, who was bred by owners KMN Racing.

“She ran so well when she broke her maiden, I’d like to see her run there again,” Sherman told Dybdal. “She’s been a joy to train. She has a great temperament and never gives up even when she’s lost.”

In the aforesaid quote, Sherman was referring to I’m So Anna’s maiden victory in July when defeating a large field of California-breds over the Los Alamitos dirt. The Starlet, run at Los Alamitos on December 5, would be a major steppingstone for Fast Anna. That said, a win or even a top three placing in a Grade I race is lucrative for any filly or mare, especially once they retire to broodmare status after their racing careers.

BAJA SUR ROMPS IN EL DORADO SHOOTER STAKES

Trainer Blaine Wright couldn’t have been more pleased with how Baja Sur ran in Sunday’s feature race at Golden Gate, the $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite under jockey Catalino Martinez, the Washington-bred son of Smiling Tiger sat fourth in the early stages before producing a strong rally down the stretch, hitting the wire four lengths ahead of

runner up Bettor Trip Nick and third place finisher Ultimate Bango.

“He ran great,” said Wright after the races on Sunday night. “He had a rough trip in his last start [at Santa Anita] and might have been able to win that day. He’s a super nice horse and it’s great to see him back in winning form.” 

Wright, who trains Baja Sur for owners John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald Schneider, mentioned that the Oakland Stakes on November 21 is a “possible” next race for his star sprinter. If Baja Sur were to compete in the Oakland, it would also likely be his last race this year, said Wright.

“He came out of the El Dorado Shooter in good shape,” said Blaine. “He’ll return to the track on Thursday, we’ll see how he trains and go from there. He’s been in training pretty much all year round, so if we run in the Oakland we’ll give him a break after that.”

CLAIMS REPORT

Thursday

Race 5: Duchamp (new trainer Dan Markle…new owners Peerenboom-Bowyer Racing Stables LLC)

Friday

Race 3: Trina (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Saturday

Race 6: Spanish Hombre (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 7: Felony One (Isidro Tamayo…Joel Gonzalez)
Race 7: Zelaia (Isidro Tamayo…Sergio Salguero)

Sunday

Race 1: Final Demand (Rene Amescua…Kelly Stable and Brent Stapley)

Race 5: Coil to Strike (Marcia Stortz…Anabella Perozo and Gustavo Adolfo Tirado)

Race 9: Perfect Come Back (Jonathan Wong…MVJET Stables)

FINISH LINES: Trainer Victor Trujillo won four races last week, including with all three of his starters on Friday…2-year-old filly Sandy Sunshine broke her maiden in Race 2 on Saturday. Sandy Sunshine was bred by the University of Kentucky and was foaled by none other than Golden Gate Fields veterinarian Casille Batten. Small world!…This Friday at Del Mar, recent Golden Gate maiden winner Starlight Stroll and the filly who ran second in that race, Okoye, are entered to run in the 7-furlong $150,000 Golden State Juvenile Filles. The race is for California bred or California sired 2-year-old fillies…On Saturday at Del Mar, Golden Gate winners Tacoflavoredkisses and Doc Adams are entered to compete in the $150,000 Golden State Juvenile for 2-year-old colts and geldings…Trainer Jonathan Wong will officially saddle his first Breeders Cup starter this Saturday. Windy City Red, who broke his maiden at Golden Gate Fields in September, drew post position number 2 of 14 in Friday’s $1,000,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint at five and a half furlongs on turf. Post time for the Juvenile Turf Sprint is 2:30 p.m ET/11:30 p.m. PT. Jose Valdivia Jr. rides the son of Chitu, who has been installed at 30-1 on the morning line…Ex Golden Gate Fields racer Cupid’s Claws won the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at one mile and a half on dirt earlier this fall and returns on the Breeders Cup Friday Keeneland card in the $150,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 13 furlongs. Flavien Prat rides for trainer Craig Dollase…Good luck to jockey Ferrin Peterson, who began her career at Golden Gate Fields and had a sensational summer at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Ferrin and her agent, legendary jockey Julie Krone, are moving to Aqueduct in Queens, New York for the winter…$11,286 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager on Thursday…Leg C (the third leg) of the Stronach 5 wager this Friday goes as Race 1 at Golden Gate…Happy birthday to jockeys Frank Alvarado and Santos Rivera and trainer O.J. Jauregui, all who turn a year older this week.

WINDY CITY RED PRE-ENTERED IN BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE TURF SPRINT FOR WONG

2-year-old colt Windy City Red, who broke his maiden at Golden Gate Fields on September 5, is bound for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at five and a half furlongs on Friday, November 6. The Florida-bred son of Chitu is trained by Northern California’s leading trainer, Jonathan Wong. According to Wong, Windy City Red has always been well thought of.

“At the OBS Ocala sale in April, [bloodstock agent] Nick Hines told me, ‘Jonathan, there’s a Chitu colt you’ve gotta buy,'” said Wong. “We bid up to $54,000 for him and were lucky enough to get him. Ever since he started training, it was pretty apparent he had talent. He’s always trained like a good horse.”

Windy City Red followed up his maiden win at Golden Gate with a better-than-looked third place finish in the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita on September 26-a race known as the West Coast prep race for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. 

“I was really happy with the way he ran in the Speakeasy,” said Wong. “He only lost by about a half-length and galloped out great. Jose Valdivia Jr. [the jockey] said that [Windy City Red] is still learning but once he figures things out, he’s going to be a really nice racehorse.”

There was a combination of factors that Wong determined were good reasons for Windy City Red to travel to the Breeders Cup.

“The winner of the Speakeasy [Amanzi Yimpilo] for [trainer] Wesley Ward is a good filly that’s a major contender in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. We were right there with her,” said Wong. “Our horse is training great and the owners are super excited to have a chance to run in the Breeders Cup. Two of the owners of this horse have never owned a horse before…this is their first horse. It should be a fun experience.”

Wong noted that Windy City Red, based at Santa Anita, will have one more workout on Thursday morning before shipping to the host of the 2020 Breeders Cup, Keeneland Racecourse in Kentucky, on November 1.

“His last work before the race is this Thursday at Santa Anita,” said Wong.

24 two-year-olds pre-entered into the Juvenile Turf Sprint, with Windy City Red listed as the 17^th horse on the list. The maximum number of starters for the Juvenile Turf Sprint is 14, which means Windy City Red will need three defections to draw into the main body of the field. That said, the chances of him getting into the race are very high, as four contenders in the Juvenile Turf Sprint have “first preference” in other Breeders Cup races. If all four of those horses decide to run in their respectable first preference races, which is highly likely, then Windy City Red would make it into the main body of the Juvenile Turf Sprint Field.

The pre-entry process for the Breeders Cup is essentially a “stakes nominations” process. Official post positions for all the Breeders Cup races will be drawn on Monday, November 2.

IT’S SOUTHERN VS. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE PIKE PLACE DANCER ON SATURDAY

A mix of Northern California locals and Southern California invaders make for an interesting edition of the Pike Place Dancer Stakes this Saturday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields. The Pike Place Dancer, the first of 10 stakes races at the current Fall meet, is a one-mile turf event for 2-year-old fillies. The Pike Place Dancer goes as the eighth of nine races.

The two headliners: Southern California trained Consternation and local filly I’m So Anna. Consternation, purchased out of her career debut in Ireland by her current connections, comes off a seventh-place finish in the Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita earlier this month. The winner of the Surfer Girl, Madone, is a major contender in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf next week. Two starts ago, Consternation broke her maiden at Santa Anita. Julien Couton rides for trainer Paddy Gallagher, who has been training the daughter of Acclamation at his Santa Anita home base.

I’m So Anna, a California-bred by speedy sprinter Fast Anna, showed she could be effective going a route of ground in her most recent afternoon appearance on October 11. That day, she stalked the pace before losing by a half-length to Southern California shipper and stakes placed colt Tacoflavoredkisses. That effort gave trainer Steve Sherman confidence that his star 2-year-old would fit in the Pike Place Dancer.

“I thought she ran great the other day,” said Sherman. “The colt that beat her is a nice horse and the race set her up well for the Pike Place Dancer.”

Mischief Free, racing in her own backyard for Team Wong, hit the board in her first two career starts sprinting and tries a route of ground for the first time while also making her turf debut. She is by one of the hottest sires in North America, Into Mischief.

“I’ve always thought she would enjoy added distance,” said Wong. “She seems like a mile/mile and a sixteenth type. Obviously, we want to win, but if she can hit the board and earn some black type, that would be great.”

Sweetest Angel, a Candy Ride filly from trainer George Papaprodromou’s stable at Santa Anita, finished fourth in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Fillies Stakes last August before finishing third in her most recent afternoon appearance, a maiden special weight going two-turns at “The Great Race Place.” Although another maiden in the race, she has shown the ability to be competitive against this group.

Recent maiden winner Miss Glorious easily defeated next out winner Back Slider in an October 3 maiden special weight on October 3 and makes her first start against winners in the Pike Place Dancer. Another Southern California-trained filly, Risen Lady, broke her maiden by open lengths against high-level maiden claiming company for trainer Michael McCarthy at Golden Gate and returns to the Bay Area in search of a stakes win. She is one of two fillies in this race that have already won routing two turns on the turf, the other entrant being Consternation.

Momma Mocca is out of a broodmare who has produced a couple of stakes caliber turf routers. Momma Mocca hit the wire first in a maiden race two starts ago but was disqualified that day for interference to another rival. Alas, she remains a maiden heading into the Pike Place Dancer.

New Ways to Dream rounds out the field. The daughter of Midshipman rallied down the lane to run fourth in a well-regarded maiden race two weeks ago. She has breeding to suggest she will enjoy two turns and adds blinkers for trainer Brendan Galvin.

Race 8 on Saturday: the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes for 2-year-old fillies

One mile on turf (approximate post time: 4:45 PM PT)

#1 Consternation (Jockey Julien Couton, Trainer Paddy Gallagher

#2 I’m So Anna (Frank Alvarado, Steve Sherman)

#3 Mischief Free (Kyle Frey, Jonathan Wong)

#4 Risen Lady (Erick Lopez, Michael McCarthy)

#5 Momma Mocca (Francisco Monroy, Reina Gonzalez)

#6 Sweetest Angel (Evin Roman, George Papaprodromou)

#7 Miss Glorious (William Antongeorgi III, Andrew Lerner)

#8 New Ways to Dream (Irving Orozco, Brendan Galvin)

NO LONGER SILENT TRIES STAKES COMPANY AFTER TRACK RECORDING PERFORMANCE

Top Northern California sprinter No Longer Silent starts in Sunday’s $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes for California-bred or California-sired 3-year-olds and upward. No Longer silent raised eyebrows and dropped jaws in his last start on September 26 when breaking the track record sprinting five and a half furlongs, stopping the clock in 1:01.93 seconds while earning a career high 93 Beyer speed figure for his effort.

“He’s doing great,” said No Longer Silent’s trainer, Jonathan Wong. “He’s really matured physically and mentally since we gave him some time off from December to July. We haven’t trained him too hard because he put up such a big effort in his last start. We’re just keeping him happy and fit at this point. I’m very pleased with how he’s coming into Sunday’s race.”

The El Dorado Shooter, a six-furlong race on Tapeta, was previously known as the Harris Farm Stakes and is now named after the lightning quick sprinter trained by Cliff DeLima in the early 2000’s. El Dorado Shooter earned $558,242 through his six-year career and won eight Northern California stakes races, including the Grade 3 Bay Meadows Breeders Cup Sprint in 2003.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are a list of claims from last week.

Thursday

Race 1: Rest Easy Two Four (New trainer Dan Markle…New owner Peerenboom-Bowyer Racing Stable LLC)

Race 5: Honeymoonz Over (Blaine Wright…Seamist Racing, Dallas & Michelle Becker & Wright)

Friday

Race 4: Miss You Mom (Reid France…Francis Lagattuta and Reid France)

Saturday

Race 10: Arno’s Mane Man (D. Wayne Baker…Baker, Bergounous, Decamilla and Hansen)

Race 10: Potente Alba (Isidro Tamayo…Johnny Taboada)

Sunday

No Claims

FINISH LINES: Race 6 on Sunday completed the superfecta in numerical order: #1 Exhalting hit the wire first, #2 Doc Adams ran second, #3 Le Majestic finished third and #4 My Father Footstep checked in fourth…Recent Golden Gate Fields allowance winner Tacoflavoredkisses, a 2-year-old colt trained by Simon Callaghan, is up for sale on Wanamakers, a new thoroughbred auction website for racehorses of all ages. Bidding on Tacoflavoredkisses goes live from 8 AM to 5 PM on Thursday, November 5. To view his catalog page and more info, visit Wanamakers.com…Juan Hernandez continues to ride well in Southern California; the 28-year-old journeyman finished second in the Santa Anita Fall Meet jockey standings with 23 wins, four victories shy of leading rider Flavien Prat. Ricky Gonzalez cracked the top five placings, too, finishing fifth in the Santa Anita standings with 10 wins…Jockey Amadeo Perez, a mainstay at Hastings Racecourse in Canada, makes his 2020 Golden Gate Fields debut in Race 5 on Friday aboard Doghouse for trainer Sammy Calvario…$19,862 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager…Race 3 on Friday is Leg E (the final race) of the Stronach 5 wager this week… Happy birthday to trainer Jeff Bonde and racing official Tammy Lynn Mcduffie-Morris, both who celebrate this week.