TEN STAKES RACES HIGHLIGHT THE UPCOMING FALL MEET AT GOLDEN GATE

The 32-day 2020 Fall Meet at Golden Gate Fields begins Thursday, October 22 and runs through Sunday, December 13. For the first seven days of the meeting, first post is slated for 1:15 PM. Beginning Sunday, November 1, post time for the first race moves to 12:45 PM.

Ten stakes races are spread throughout the eight-week season, beginning on October 31 with the Pike Place Dancer at one mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies. On November 1, the El Dorado Stakes calls attention to California-bred or California-sired sprinters at six furlongs on the Tapeta main track.

The Pike Place Dancer is one of four stakes races for 2-year-olds. On Saturday, November 14, freshman sprinters journey six furlongs in the Golden Nugget. The fillies get their chance to shine two weeks later in the six-furlong Golden Gate Debutante on November 27. The Gold Rush, a one-mile event on Saturday, December 5, rounds out the 2-year-old Fall Meet stakes series.

The Joseph T. Grace,  at one mile and a sixteenth on turf, is one of two stakes’ for routers 3-years-old and upward. Horses who compete in the November 7 Joseph T. Grace may also try their hand in the premier race of the meeting, the $100,000 Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap, at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta. The Grade 3 Berkeley is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, two days after Thanksgiving.

The six-furlong Oakland Stakes, for 3-year-olds and upward on Saturday, November 21, shines light on top-quality Bay Area sprinters. Two stakes races highlight closing weekend: the six-furlong Bear Fan for California-bred or California-sired fillies and mares on Saturday, December 12, and the Miss America on Closing Day Sunday, December 13, for fillies and mares at one-mile and a sixteenth on turf.

For additional info or to nominate to a stake, please contact Golden Gate Fields Stakes Coordinator Lisa Jones by phone at (626) 388-8062 or by e-mail at lisnpac12@hotmail.com.

FALL 2020 STAKES SCHEDULE

Saturday, October 31: The $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes (2-year-old filles at one mile on turf)

Sunday, November 1: The $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes (California-bred or California-sired 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs on Tapeta)

Saturday, November 7: The $50,000 Joseph T. Grace Stakes (3-year-olds and upward at one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

Saturday, November 14: The $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes (2-year-olds at six furlongs on Tapeta)

Saturday, November 21: The $50,000 Oakland Stakes (3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs on Tapeta)

Friday, November 27: The $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante 2-year-olds at six furlongs on Tapeta)

Saturday, November 28: The Grade 3 $100,000 Berkeley Handicap (3-year-olds and upward at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta)

Saturday, December 5: The $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes (2-year-olds at one mile on Tapeta)

Saturday, December 12: The $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes (California-bred or California-sired fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward at six furlongs on Tapeta)

Sunday, December 13: The $50,000 Miss America Stakes (Fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward at one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

FREY, WONG, IRVIN RACING STABLE WIN SUMMER MEET TITLES

Jockey Kyle Frey, trainer Jonathan Wong and owner Irvin Racing Stable sat atop their respective divisions’ standings at the recently concluded Golden Gate Fields summer meet.

28-year-old journeyman rider Kyle Frey won the most races out of any jockey with 47 victories from 205 mounts, equating to a strong 23%-win percentage. Represented by agent Fernando “Shoes” Navarro, Frey tallied $803,264 in purse earnings and finished in-the-money with 54% of his rides. Apprentice jockey Santos Rivera finished second in the jockey standings with 27 wins while Irving Orozco and Evin Roman tied for third with 25 wins apiece. Frank Alvarado completed the top five with 23 first-place finishes.

Trainer Jonathan Wong picked up his ninth training title at Golden Gate Fields when saddling 40 winners from 159 starters at the 6-week summer meet. Wong earned $764,062 in purse money and hit-the-board with 58% of his starters. Isidro Tamayo, the conditioner with the second most wins at the summer meet, visited the winner’s circle 21 times. Steve Sherman, who finished third in the trainer standings with 17 wins, had the highest win percentage of any trainer who saddled more than 50 starters, tallying a 27%-win rate.

Owners Betty and Diane Irvin, who race under the name “Irvin Racing Stable”, won more races than any other owner with 6 victories from their 21 entrants. They campaigned 5 additional second place finishers and 4 horses who hit the wire third, finishing in-the-money with 71% of their starters. Irvin Racing Stables has horses with trainers Greg James and Bill McLean in Northern California and Carla Gaines in Southern California.

Betty and Diane Irvin, a mother-daughter team, are strong supporters of California racing. Betty resides in Los Angeles while Diane has residences in Colorado and Nevada. They own C-Punch Ranch in Lovelock, Nevada, and all of their racehorses are Irvin family homebreds. `

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are the list of claims made from last week:

Friday

Race 1: Kayda (New trainer Jamey Thomas…new owner Myles McMahon and Troy Thomas)

Race 7: Plum Wild (Ed Moger Jr…Steve Moger)

Saturday

Race 2: Linfield (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing and MJVET Stable)

Race 2: One Eyed Robin (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott and Jack Steiner)

Race 4: Sound Judgement (Owner/Trainer Victor Trujillo)

Race 5: Seventh Wave (Reid France…Francis Lagattuta and Reid France)

Race 8: Arch Prince (Ed Moger Jr…Steve Moger)

Race 8: Premium Forest (Blaine D. Wright…Paula and Tracy Henline and Blaine Wright Racing)

Race 9: Eskimo Roses (Milton Pineda…Lizbeth Medina)

Sunday
Race 2: St. Annie’s Indy (Sammy Calvario,…Mary Tucker)

Race 10: Ocean Fury (Jesus Ramos…Jose C. Ramos)

FINISH LINES: In Race 9 last Saturday, River Rose and Many Roses competed against one another. Why is this noteworthy? Both geldings are full siblings, by Many Roses out of the Bertrando mare Heirloom Rose…The Steve Sherman trained Starlight Stroll, a sibling to Grade 3 winner and Grade 2 placed Sneaking Out, Grade 3 winner Grecian Fire and multiple minor stakes winner Been Studying Her, won her career debut in last Sunday’s eighth race. All four aforementioned siblings are out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Maddie’s Odyssey. Trainer Sherman and winning owner/breeder KMN Racing also campaigned the second-place finisher, Okoye. Both KMN runners were sired by the late Indian Evening…$2,060,144 “new money” was bet into the Golden Pick Six jackpot mandatory payout pool last Sunday. The Golden Pick Six jackpot pool begins anew on Thursday…Race 3 on Friday at Golden Gate is Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager this week…Happy birthday to longtime jockey valet Jay Frey, jockey David “DC” Lopez, and trainer Sherrie Monroe, all who celebrate their special day’s this week.

AYUSO OFF TO A GOOD START AT GOLDEN GATE

Jockey Armando Ayuso has quickly made a favorable impression amongst horsemen and Bay Area racing fans. The 26-year-old native of Panama recently shipped his tack to Golden Gate Fields and rode in a quartet of races last week. From those four races, Ayuso won a pair and hit the board with his two other mounts.

Last Saturday, Ayuso won the third race with Reina de Reyes, a 2-year-old trained by Leanna Ekstrom. The son of Animal Kingdom broke his maiden at the one-mile distance on turf. One day later, Ayuso guided Terrible Ted to a gate to wire score for veteran horseman John Martin in a six-furlong sprint on Tapeta. His two in-the-money finishes on Monday came for the Pablo De Jesus barn.

“I’m excited to be [at Golden Gate],” said Ayuso. “I’m going to work really, really hard to do the best I can. I am really thankful for all of the opportunities the trainers here have given me so far. At the end of the day, I’m going to do everything I can to be successful here.”

Ayuso learned to ride in Panama and began riding there as an apprentice. When he moved to America in 2012, he rode at tracks all over the country including Belmont Park, Gulfstream, Indiana Grand, Monmouth Park and Santa Anita. After taking some time off from riding in races, Ayuso galloped and worked horses for trainer Mark Glatt.

“It’s hard to get going at Santa Anita,” said Ayuso. “A couple of trainers here told me they would put me on some horses and I thought coming to Golden Gate would be a great opportunity. I really like it here; the people are nice and it’s a beautiful track.”

Ayuso is represented by fledgling agent Serjio Garcia. This week, Ayuso is booked on four mounts on Friday, two on Saturday and four more on Sunday.

BADILLA TRAINED PAIR CLASH IN FRIDAY FEATURE

Trainer Manny Badilla may hold the aces in Friday’s feature event, Race 2, an allowance for fillies and mares at one mile on Tapeta. The longtime Bay Area horseman saddles the top two morning line choices in the field, Sloane Garden and Never Be Enough, and feels good about both of their chances.

“Both of them can win,” said Badilla. “A dead heat would be fun!”

2-time stakes winner Sloane Garden, set as the 8-5 morning line favorite, won the Golden Poppy Stakes in June and the Luther Burbank Stakes in August. Although both aforementioned runs came on turf, Badilla is not concerned with the surface switch.

“Sloane Garden is doing great,” said Badilla. “She’s been working beautifully. All class. She’s already won twice on Tapeta.” 

This is true. Sloane Garden broke her maiden in a canter last year over the Tapeta and also won an allowance race on the aforesaid surface in the wintertime.

August 28^th allowance winner Never Be Enough is listed as the 9-5 second choice on the morning line and “should not be ignored,” according to Badilla. The daughter of Sir Percy has been steadily climbing up the class ladder and comes off a stellar run in which she defeated stakes placed and multiple allowance winning stablemate Ziarah.

“Never Be Enough is a nice mare,” said Badilla. “She’s also doing really well. It should be a good race.”

Regular rider Kyle Frey is back aboard Sloane Garden while Irving Orozco retains the mount on Never Be Enough.

Also entered in Race 2 on Friday: 2019 Miss American Stakes winner Blue Diva, stretch out sprinter Misirlou and longshot Tip Top Gal.

GIVE ME THE LUTE ROUTES, AMERICAN FARMER FACES OLDER IN SALTY SATURDAY ALLOWANCE

A strong 9-race program on Saturday is highlighted by Race 6, a second level allowance race that looks more like a stake on paper. The mile and a sixteenth turf route features two interesting prospects: track record holder Give Me the Lute and stakes winner American Farmer.

Give Me the Lute, trained by Andy Mathis, broke the track record sprinting five furlongs over firm turf on June 7. That day, he stopped the clock in 55.34 seconds, winning by seven lengths in an eye-popping performance.

Give Me the Lute is no stranger to routing. As a 3-year-old at Del Mar, he broke his maiden going two turns. His last route race, in a first level allowance at Del Mar immediately following the maiden win, resulted in a length loss while encountering traffic problems down the lane.

“I’ve always thought this horse would be a solid router,” said Mathis. “He’s doing really good. I have a lot of confidence he can route. He’s in a tough race with good horses…but he’s a good horse himself.”

American Farmer, in the meantime, is a Steve Sherman trainee last seen finishing off-the-board in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby. Winner of the Robert Dupret Derby for 3-year-olds in August, American Farmer sports class and comes off a run in which he earned a career high Beyer speed figure (83).

“He’s training forwardly,” said Sherman. “He runs against solid, older horses on Saturday-that’s never easy-but we’re running him to see where he fits for the rest of the year and heading into 2021.”

Recent first level allowance winner Fuente is campaigned by trainer Manny Badilla. Obviously, the competition is stern.

“This race came up real tough,” said Badilla. “There are some really nice horses in there. Fuente ran better than ever last time out and this is the next logical spot for a horse like him. We’re giving it a spin.”

Stakes placed Builder, Stakes winner More Power to Him and allowance winners Harmon and Manila Mischief complete the field of seven. Builder possesses an interesting story line, having just been claimed for $62,500 by trainer Ed Moger Jr. and his brother, owner Steve Moger.

Note that first post on Saturday afternoon is 1:45 PM PT. Friday and Sunday have a scheduled first post of 1:15 PM PT.

GOLDEN PICK SIX JACKPOT POOL CLIMBS TO $287,833 HEADING INTO FRIDAY/MANDATORY PAYOUTS ON SUNDAY

Heading into Friday afternoon’s 8-race program, the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager carryover has increased to a whopping $287,833. If the jackpot pool were to carry two more days, then a large mandatory payout pool would be in play for Sunday, with a projected 7-figure new money pool to be added into the pot on Closing Day Sunday. Along with the mandatory payout in the Golden Pick Six, Sunday also offers mandatory payouts in both Pick 5 wagers and the Rolling Super High Five.

Closing Day Sunday, which wraps up the current summer meet, is a 10-race program. The Fall meet, which begins next Thursday, October 22 and runs through Sunday, December 13, features 10 stakes races that will be highlighted in next week’s News and Notes.  

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are the list of claims made last week:

THURSDAY

Race 5: And Counting (New Owner/Trainer Jesus Uranga)

Race 5: Super Bunny (New Owner/Trainer Andrew Nguyen)

FRIDAY

Race 1: Nina En Fuego (New Trainer Isidro Tamayo…New Owner Aaron Pewtherer)

Race 6: Trina (Victor Trujillo…Isidro Ruvalcalba and Victor Trujillo)

Race 7: Mybluebell (Sammy Calvario…Mary Tucker)

SATURDAY

Race 1: Surprise Fashion (Angelo Tekos Jr…Steve Dietrich)

Race 4: Aries (Aggie Ordonez…McLean Racing Stables)

Race 4: Regal Lady (Sammy Calvario…David Angel Cota and Sammy Calvario)

Race 6: Splashing (John Martin…Hat Trick Racing)

Race 8: Pour On The Cole (Steve Specht…The Robert McCabe Family Trust)

SUNDAY

Race 1: Commissioness (Milton Pineda…Lizbeth Medina)

Race 1: Tibby Gee (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 2: All American Hero (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables and Madden Racing)

Race 7: Roman Rush (Victor Trujillo…Carrol Stubbs)

Race 9: Soberano (Andy Mathis…Michael Jawl and Andy Mathis)

MONDAY

Race 3: Pacific Strike (Angelo Tekos Jr…Michael Conway)

FINISH LINES: With 3 days left to go at the current summer meet, Kyle Frey leads all riders in wins with 40 victories, 15 more than apprentice Santos Rivera…Jonathan Wong sit atop the trainer standings with 35 trips to the winner’s circle. Isidro Tamayo holds the second spot with 21 wins…Shot of a Lifetime led every step of the way in Race 8 on Sunday, a 15-furlong turf marathon for starter allowance horses. Cristobal Herrera guided the California-bred son of Many Rivers to victory for trainer Ellen Jackson…Nardini put up a respectable showing at Santa Anita for trainer Andy Mathis last Sunday, finishing third in the $100,000 California Distaff Stakes for California-bred turf sprinters…Camilla Urso Stakes winner Tomlin finished fourth in a stakes-caliber allowance race at Keeneland on Sunday. The daughter of Distorted Humor is currently under the care of trainer Mike Stidham…Grade I winning mare Ollie’s Candy, who began her career at Golden Gate in 2018, will make her next and final start in the November 7 Breeders Cup Distaff at Keeneland before starting her new career as a broodmare. Ollie’s Candy is trained by John Sadler…Along with the large jackpot carryover on Friday, there is a $4,798 carryover in the Rolling Super High Five pool in the first race in which the aforesaid wager is offered.

SLAM DUNK SERMON THE ONE TO BEAT IN FRIDAY FEATURE

We save the best for last on Friday afternoon, with the feature race on the program set as the nightcap: Race 8. The six-furlong allowance drew a field of nine, led by consistent racer Slam Dunk Sermon. Slam Dunk Sermon, set as the 3-1 morning line favorite, comes off a convincing two and a half-length victory at this restricted 3-year-old allowance level on September 18. As a California-bred, he is eligible to win at the aforementioned condition once more before he must be put up for the “optional” $50,000 tag.

“He worked well on Sunday morning,” said trainer Steve Specht. “You know, he’s always shown us he could run. As a 2-year-old, he hadn’t really grown into his body yet and we decided to wait until he was 3 to race him. In his first start, the rider just never got after him. In his second start, he went off at 57-1 and won by six lengths. I really wasn’t surprised.”

Even so, it’s clear that Specht has done a fine job with developing Slam Dunk Sermon into the racehorse he is today. After breaking his maiden for a $12,500 tag, Specht protected him from being claimed in four straight starter allowance races, two of which he won. He ran fourth behind two next-out winners in a first level allowance for older foes two starts ago and, most recently, hit the wire first in the September 18 allowance restricted to 3-year-olds.

“He’s not necessarily the flashiest horse out there but he tries hard every race,” said Specht. “He does the best he can all the time. He’s a real honest horse.”

Other main contenders in the Friday finale include Southern California invader Foothill, recent starter allowance winner Ready for a Fight, Pleasanton allowance winner Take Me for a Spin and class dropper Darnquick. Race 8 has an approximate post time of

BADILLA CONFIDENT SCHERZO CAN HANDLE PROVEN WINNERS

Well-regarded filly Scherzo will likely get play in Race 5 on Saturday, a one-mile first level allowance for 3-year-old fillies. The race attracted six entrants, which includes likely favorite Mylittlerunaway and the Jonathan Wong trained pair of Malibu Jane and Reiwa.

“We’ve always loved her,” said Scherzo’s trainer, Manny Badilla. “She came out of her maiden win in good shape and has been working great leading up to this race. Anne [Sanguinetti] worked her on Sunday morning [5 furlongs in 59 and 1] and she hopped off and said, ‘This is a nice filly.'”

Scherzo, a Great Britain bred by champion European turf router Golden Horn, started her career overseas with trainer Richard Fahey. In two springtime races over synthetic surfaces there, she finished second.

In July, Scherzo was put up for sale at the popular Tattersales auction in Europe. With an appealing physical and a hopeful race record, Scherzo was popular during the bidding process and eventually sold for $42,373 to owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon. Charles and Gordon immediately shipped their new acquisition to Badilla, who trained Scherzo for about a month before entering her in a race. She kicked off her United States racing career with a smashing two and a half-length victory in Race 7 on September 17, a one mile and a sixteenth turf route against nine older fillies and mare maidens. She returns to the grass on Saturday.

“Everyone at the barn is excited to see how she’ll run against allowance company,” said Badilla. “I’ll tell ya…this filly is a runner. She’s up for the task.”

CARTOONIST LOVES HIS JOB AT AGE 8

In Race 7 last Thursday, 8-year-old Cartoonist picked up his fourth win from ten starts this year after a gutsy score against mid-level claimers sprinting five furlongs on turf. Cartoonist, a winner of 15 races with 10 seconds, six thirds and career earnings of $307,916, is a gelding by Comic Strip. Currently trained by Mike Lenzini and owned by Gary Marrone, he was bred by prominent California breeders Dr. and Mrs. William T. Gray in “the Golden State.”

“I’m really proud of him,” said Lenzini. “He’s all racehorse. If you let him do his thing, he’ll give you everything he’s got.”

Lenzini was not shy of sharing the “secret” to Cartoonist’s success.

“Every horse has a personality,” said Lenzini with a smile. “Cartoonist…you just have to let him do what he wants to do. That’s it. It’s best to stay out of his way. If you take a hold of him or fight him he won’t give you anything. In the barn he’s like a pet. He is super nice, loves carrots and is so easygoing. But when he gets on the track, he wants to do things his way.”

Lenzini was quick to praise jockey Erick Lopez, who has been aboard Cartoonist for his past two trips to the winner’s circle.

“Erick has done a good job with him,” said Lenzini. “He listens to instructions. I told Erick, ‘This horse will put you on the lead. Let him break and don’t get in his way.’ Cartoonist is a very quick horse and if he wants the lead, he’ll go and get it.”

Lenzini said that, assuming all goes to plan, Cartoonist would race next in three or four weeks.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are all horses claimed last week, and their next connections.

Thursday

Race 1: Incredible Luck (Trainer Isidro Tamayo…Owners Zach Morgan and John Tipton)

Race 2: One Eyed Robin (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Race 3: Top of the Game (Isidro Tamayo…Zach Morgan and John Tipton)

Saturday

Race 1: Ca Dreamer (Owner/Trainer Jesus Uranga)

Race 1: Regal Lady (Owner/Trainer Tim Bellasis)

Race 1: The Pet (Salvador Naranjo…Gracia Naranjo)

Race 3: Cartellate (Doug O’Neill…Joseph Besecker)

Sunday

Race 9: Baby Frankie (Blaine Wright…Seamist Racing LLC)

Race 9: Nowhere Man (Cliff DeLima…Barbara DeLima)

FINISH LINES: With a couple weeks left to go at the current summer meet, Kyle Frey paves the way in the jockey standings with 35 wins, 10 more than Santos Rivera (25) and 15 ahead of  Frank Alvarado (20)…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong leads with 29 trips to the winners circle. Isidro Tamayo (19) and Steve Sherman (13) crack the top 3…Jockey Ricky Gonzalez picked up his first ever Southern California stakes victory with 2-year-old colt Ebeko in the $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday…2020 Alcatraz Stakes runner up Ajourneytofreedom, now in the barn of Mike Maker after being claimed for $80,000, finished fourth in the $250,000 Belmont Derby on turf at Belmont Park last Saturday…$233,915 sits in the Golden Pick 6 jackpot pool heading into Thursday’s 7-race card…Race 3 on Friday is Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager…Happy birthday to trainer Bob Hess Sr, apprentice jockey Jose Rodriguez and jockey agent Ramon Silva, all who turn one year older this week.

HOWEY REFLECTS ON SPECTACULAR FIVE WIN DAY

Trainer Quinn Howey was all smiles Wednesday morning, three days removed from a five-win Sunday at Golden Gate Fields. Howey won Races 4,7,8,9 and 10 on the program and swept the Late Pick 4 sequence, a feat that can only be illustrated as…well…we’ll let Quinn tell us.

“Unbelievable,” was how Howey described it.

Howey’s day started In Race 4, where 2-year-old filly Lawyer Proof picked up a maiden victory as the favorite in a field of 8. 2-year-old filly Sweet Kaela also made her first career trip to the winner’s circle after Race 7, a maiden special weight main track sprint, securing a double for the Howey barn.

In Race 8, Hong Kong Cowboy successfully routed under apprentice Juan Espinoza, having not raced two-turns since a double-digit length loss last year. He went off as the highest price of any Howey trainee that day: 10-1.

“When Hong Kong [Cowboy] won, that’s when I knew things were getting ridiculous,” joked Howey. “He ran unbelievable, actually. You don’t see horses at the lower level, non-2-lifetime conditions go as fast as he did early, only to kick on again at the eighth pole. I’m really proud of him. He ran great.”

Race 9 was “the most exciting” win for Howey, as 5-year-old gelding Navy Armed Guard scored a second level allowance victory at one mile on Tapeta. The final clocking of 1:35.69 seconds resulted in a new track record for the eight-furlong distance.

“I’ve never trained a horse that’s broken a track record before, so that’s pretty cool,” said Howey. “We purchased Navy Armed Guard for $60,000 at this year’s Fasig Tipton Sale. He ran a really good second at Del Mar in his first start for us. He came back and ran just as well, if not better, in the Rolling Green Stakes [on September 7]. He finished third to two really nice horses [Camino Del Paraiso and Kiwi’s Dream.]

Howey said he was very confident that Navy Armed Guard would run a winning race on Sunday.

“He was going up against easier company this time around,” said Howey. “I thought putting him back on a synthetic surface would be a good thing for him, too, because he won multiple times over synthetics when he raced on the East Coast. Personally, I think he’s at his very best over a synthetic surface.”

Navy Armed Guard is “under consideration” for the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap in November, but Howey mentioned that he wants to see how Navy Armed Guard trains in the coming weeks before making a final decision on where to run next.

To put the icing on the cake of an incredible day, Square Peggy won the nightcap, a 20k claimer for 5-furlong turf sprinters. Although ecstatic after the races, Howey did not have much time to celebrate.

“I had to ship a few horses to a farm on Sunday evening,” said Howey with a smile. “Once we won the fifth race of the day, I was getting those horses loaded up and on a van north.”

Howey was quick to mention that, although the chances of him winning five races in one day again are slim, he enjoyed every minute of it.

“When the races are published every entry day, I always take a look at each race and see how ‘live’ our horses are. I genuinely thought all five horses entered for Sunday had really good chances to win, but you never expect to win five races in a day. It was fun.”

NO LONGER SILENT BREAKS FIVE AND A HALF FURLONG TRACK RECORD

3-year-old gelding No Longer Silent made his second start off a layoff in Saturday’s feature race, a second level allowance on Tapeta, and sizzled through the five and a half furlongs in a blistering fast 1:02.13 seconds. With the final time set and stone, the Tommy Town Thoroughbreds homebred broke the track record for the aforementioned distance by over a quarter of a second. Coincidentally, the horse who previously held the record was Passionate Reward, who ran second in Saturday’s race.  

“We were thrilled,” said trainer Jonathan Wong, when reflecting on the track-record setting run by No Longer Silent. “Last year, we really liked him as a 2-year-old. We gelded him after his last start as a 2-year-old, gave him some time off and since then he’s come back bigger, faster… stronger. He’s really grown up from 2 to 3.”

Wong reported that No Longer Silent exited the race in good shape and would be considered for California-bred stake races in Southern California.

“The only concern would be whether he will be as effective on dirt as he is on Tapeta,” said Wong. “I don’t think it will be a problem, though. He’s got a lot of talent.”

Wong also noted that Windy City Red, who finished third in last week’s Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-old turf sprinters at Santa Anita, is being considered for the Grade I Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday, November 6 at Keeneland.

“We’re still weighing our options, but the owners want to take a shot [at the Breeders Cup],” said Wong. “Our goal is to get into the Breeders Cup. He ran amazing the other day. If we don’t get into the Breeders Cup, then we’ll run in a 2-year-old stake at the [Golden Gate] Fall meet.”

Windy City Red broke his maiden at Golden Gate on September 5 and has always been well meant.

“He’s one of the best 2-year-olds I’ve ever trained,” said Wong. “[Bloodstock agent] Nick Hines bought him at the OBS sale earlier this year and ever since he started training at our barn at Golden Gate, it was apparent that he had a lot of ability. He has a lot of natural speed and a good way of going.”

I’M SO ANNA VS. TACOFLAVOREDKISSES IN TWO-TURN ALLOWANCE FEATURE ON FRIDAY

7-5 morning line favorite Tacoflavoredkisses and 8-5 second choice I’m So Anna square off in Race 5 on Friday afternoon, an allowance for 2-year-olds on Tapeta. A field of six entered the one-mile affair, with three colts and three fillies making the entry box.

Tacoflavoredkisses, a son of Distorted Humor trained by Southern California conditioner Simon Callaghan, enters the Golden Gate Friday feature off a third-place finish in the I’m Smokin Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old colts and geldings at Del Mar. He broke his maiden at the aforementioned seaside oval in August and makes his first start at a route of ground.

I’m So Anna, a daughter of speedy sprinter Fast Anna, went off at even money in the Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar for California-bred 2-year-old fillies. She sat off the pace early before rallying for second in the final furlong. I’m So Anna races under the care of local horseman Steve Sherman.

“She ran pretty well at Del Mar, but I don’t think she loved the track,” said Sherman. “The surface at Del Mar is a little bit deeper and she labored late in her works there. She got a little sick before Del Mar, too, so we missed a little bit of training time with her. She’s doing really well right now, though, and training great over the Tapeta [at Golden Gate].”

Sherman is interested to see how his star 2-year-old filly will perform going two turns.

“Her pedigree doesn’t suggest she wants to run too far but she trains like she’ll be able to get the mile,” said Sherman. “She has a powerful, long stride and always gallops out really well. I want to see how she does routing so I’ll know what options we have heading into the fall meet and her 3-year-old season.”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are all horses claimed last week and their new connections.

Thursday

Race 1: My Sunshine (New Trainer Dan Franko…New Owner Dan Franko)

Race 4: Takes a Village (Reed Saldana…Johnny Taboada)

Race 7: Kincaid Park (Tim Bellasis…Bellasis, O’Gorman, O’Gorman and Tschanz)

Race 7: Satanta (Reid France…France and Lagattuta)

Friday

Race 2: Senorita Estrella (Sammy Calvario…Mary Tucker)

Race 4: Mon Camo (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 7: Lous Tiznow (Mike Lenzini…John Parker)

Saturday

Race 2: Cajun Bettor (Bill McLean…McLean and Naidoo)

Race 2: Unstoppable Guy (Marcia Stortz…Tirado and Tirado)

Race 5: Whenducksfly (Salvador Naranjo…Silvia Soto)

Race 7: Tick Tock (Marcia Stortz…Stan Spano and Jorge Zuniga

Sunday

Race 2: Lucky Antares (Isidro Tamayo…Johnny Taboada)

Race 3: Pulpit Singer (Gary Greiner…Marsha Rogers)

Race 9: Builder (Ed Moger Jr…Steve Moger)

Race 10: Dr Wysong (Isidro Tamayo…Sergio Salguero)

FINISH LINES: Congratulations to Winter/Spring meet leading jockey Juan Hernandez, who won his first Grade I race last Saturday with 4-year-old filly Mucho Unusual in the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita. Hernandez also won the Eddie D. Stakes on Friday aboard Big Runnuer…Ricky Gonzalez won a stake of his own on Saturday afternoon at “The Great Race Place” with speedy sprinter Bulletproof One in the $75,000 Unzip Me Stakes on turf…Journeyman jockey Armando Ayuso has shipped his tack to Golden Gate Fields and is represented by agent Serjio Garcia…Stakes winner Indian Peak is back in the Quinn Howey barn after taking 45 days off. “We just decided to give him some time off; he had been training since we broke him as a 2-year-old. He’s doing well,” said Howey…$199,479 is the carryover amount heading into Thursday’s Golden Pick Six jackpot wager…Leg C of the Stronach 5 goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday…Happy birthday to trainer Matthew Troy and jockey Hugo Herrera, both who celebrate birthday’s this week.

CORSICAN SCORES IMPRESSIVE MAIDEN WIN FIRST TIME OUT

World renowned actor Will Rogers once said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Last Sunday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields, first time starter Corsican certainly made a favorable impression amongst race watchers, scoring a runaway maiden victory to kick off his career.

Sent off at odds of 8-1 in Race 4, a 5-furlong turf dash for California-bred 2-year-olds, the son of Square Eddie broke sharply from the gate and stalked the pace before pouncing on the early leaders in midstretch. He drew away from his competition in the final sixteenth of a mile and hit the wire 3 and a half lengths clear of second-place finisher Lastbesthope. Corsican was ridden to victory by apprentice Santos Rivera.

Corsican, out of the War Front mare Epistemology, RNA’d as a yearling for $2,000 at the 2019 Fasig Titpon Sale at Santa Anita. He was shortly thereafter purchased by owners D. Wayne Baker and Kate Cabello. Baker, who also trains Corsican, was understandably thrilled with his 2-year-old’s effort on Sunday.

“[Corsican] was training really well leading up to the race,” said Baker. “I worked him with a number of older horses and he outworked them every time. He does everything so easily. He’s a little guy but he can run. I think he can improve off this race, too.”

Baker was noncommittal when naming a potential second start for Corsican but noted that the bay gelding came out of his afternoon debut in great shape.

GONZALEZ WINS WITH TWO “OFF THE CLAIM” ENTRANTS ON SUNDAY  

Trainer Reina Gonzalez was all smiles Wednesday morning, days removed from a pair of victories on last Sunday’s 11-race program. Both winners, claimed by Gonzalez earlier in the year, have shown a profit for their current stable.

In Race 5, 7-5 favorite Silent Movies easily defeated starter allowance company in a five and a half furlong main-track sprint. Silent Movies has won a duo of races and earned $25,160 since being claimed by Gonzalez and co-owners Cheryl Doyle and Matthew Gutierrez for $5,000 on March 21.

“The day we claimed [Silent Movies], my owners and I were looking at another horse in the same race,” said Gonzalez. “The horse we had our eye on scratched. One of the owners said to me [after the scratch that morning], ‘Why don’t you take a look at Silent Movies? He looks like a pretty nice sprinter.’ Turns out, he had been sprinting really well on the Tapeta for Jonathan [Wong]. It’s not easy to improve horses whenever you claim them from a top barn but we decided to take a chance. It’s a gamble…but any claim is a gamble.”

30 minutes after Silent Movies took his most recent winners circle photo, Jammers Justice pulled off a 35-1 upset in Race 6, a one-mile starter allowance on turf for Gonzalez, Doyle and Gutierrez. In July, Jammers Justice was claimed for $4,000 by the aforementioned outfit.

When asked why Gonzalez and her crew claimed Jammers Justice, the answer was precise.  

“I wanted to try [Jammers Justice] going a route of ground because I thought he traveled like a horse who wanted more distance,” said Gonzalez. “He also has a little turf pedigree, so I thought he might like the grass. I noticed him galloping over the summertime and loved the way he moved. I wanted to place a little bet on him, actually, the race before I claimed him. That day, he got in a lot of trouble and ran third. In his next start, I saw he was in for a $4,000 tag and figured he was worth taking a chance with.”

Gonzalez was not surprised that Jammers Justice scored at a big price last Sunday.

“He worked tremendously well before the race,” said Gonzalez. “He drilled a half mile the other day and galloped out 5 furlongs in a minute and change. And he was just cruising. Last month, he made his first start for us in another starter allowance race. I thought he finished a much better than looked third behind two really nice horses. This [past Sunday’s race] was an easier spot, no doubt.”

The Reina Gonzalez Daily Double, Races 5 and 6, returned $170.80 for a $2 investment. Not bad.

GIVE ME THE LUTE READY TO ROLL IN STAKES DEBUT AT SANTA ANITA

4-year-old gelding Give Me the Lute makes his stakes debut for trainer Andy Mathis and owners Rod and Wendy Hogan in Race 7 on Friday at Santa Anita, the Grade 2 Eddie D. Stakes at 5-and-a-half-furlongs on turf. Give Me the Lute drew post position 2 of 7, with Drayden Van Dyke set to ride, and is 12-1 on Jon White’s morning line.

“[Give Me the Lute] is doing well,” said Mathis. “He’s worked twice since his last start and looked good both times. He’s ready.”

Give Me the Lute was claimed by Mathis and the Hogan family for $80,000 as a 3-year-old in 2019 at Del Mar. That day, he routed and suffered a traffic-filled trip, finishing fourth while probably best.

In two Golden Gate turf sprint this year, Give Me the Lute impressed. On June 7, the son of Boisterous won by 7 widening lengths and sizzled the 5 furlongs in 55 and 1/5 seconds, finishing .02 seconds off the track record. He took two and a half months off after the breathtaking effort and returned on August 22 to defeat allowance foes while zipping through a similarly fast time as his prior start, completing five panels in 56 seconds flat.  

“This horse has been on the lead in his past two starts but doesn’t necessarily need the front,” said Mathis. “He obviously has a lot of early speed, but he won’t go super-fast unless you ask him to go super-fast. He’ll put himself in the race because he has natural, tactical speed, but if [Drayden] opts to relax right off a pacesetter, that wouldn’t be a problem at all. He is versatile.”

Mathis does not believe the extra half furlong in the Eddie D. will be an issue.

“He broke his maiden going one mile and won easily that day,” said Mathis. “I’ve always thought he’d be a really nice miler. At some point we might try him at two turns again. For now, we’ll give him a chance in this stake and see what happens.”

$1 GOLDEN HOUR LATE PICK 4 BEGINNING FRIDAY

Beginning on Santa Anita’s Opening Day Friday card, the $1 Golden Hour Late Pick 4 commences for horseplayers throughout North America.

The Golden Hour Late Pick 4 wager, a $1 minimum bet featuring a low 15% takeout, links the last two races from Santa Anita and the last two races from Golden Gate each race day. For example, the first leg of the wager on Friday goes as Race 9 at Santa Anita. Golden Gate’s 8th race is the second leg, followed by Race 10 (the nightcap) at Santa Anita. The 9^th race finale at Golden Gate ends Friday’s Northern California race card and the Golden Hour Late Pick 4 bet.

The $5 Golden Hour Double, a Daily Double wager featuring the last race at Santa Anita and the last race at Golden Gate, also remains on the wagering menu. Both “Golden Hour” wagers are hosted by Santa Anita.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are the list of claims from last week:

Thursday

Race 1: Incredibly Lucky (New trainer Sam Calvario…New owners Johnny and Marcel Taboada)

Friday

Race 1: City Champ (Tim McCanna…Grant Alvernaz, Steven Ribeiro and Tim McCanna)

Race 2: Final Demand (Isidro Tamayo…William L. Smith)

Race 10: Kaline (Bill McLean…Fred Desimone, Gary Smith and Bill McLean)

Saturday

Race 1: Maxinamillion (John Martin…Hat Trick Racing and Jose Valle)

Race 1: Mr. Magico (Isidro Tamayo…Michael J. Wickman)

Race 5: Pour On the Cole (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 9: Admirably (Victor Trujillo…Frank Aufdermaur and Wayne Swisher)

Sunday

Race 3: Two Bears (Jeff Metz…Peter Callella)

Race 11: Aigle (Owner/Trainer Jose Bautista)

Race 11: Invertigo (Isidro Tamayo…Johnny and Marcel Taboada)

FINISH LINES: Trainer Blaine Wright campaigns Mucho Amor in Friday’s Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita. Juan Hernandez rides…Happy birthday to stall manager Carrie Fawcett and trainer Andreas Psarras, both who celebrate their special day later this week…Bulletproof One and jockey Ricky Gonzalez team up in the opener on Saturday at Santa Anita, the $75,000 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies…$153,038 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager on Thursday…Leg E (the final leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday… Trainer Manny Badilla saddled a pair of impressive maiden winners last week. On Friday, European import Scherzo made her first in the United States and coasted to an eye-catching victory against fillies and mare routers on turf. “She’s really nice,” said Badilla. “She might be the next Sloane Garden!” One day later, Lotsa Pepper blasted out of the gate and never looked back, scoring a front running triumph against turf sprinters. “She’s fast,” said Badilla. “I guess it’s not a secret anymore.”

MISIRLOU FACES OLDER IN ALLOWANCE FEATURE ON THURSDAY

3-year-old filly Misirlou drew the outside post in Race 6 on Thursday afternoon, an allowance for filly and mare sprinters at five and one-half furlongs. Misirlou, trained by Steve Specht, has always been highly thought of.  

“She’s always shown that she had ability,” said Specht. “The only time she ran poorly was two starts ago when she broke through the gate before the race. Normally, horses don’t fare too well right after they do that. In every other race she’s run, she’s been right there.”  

Indeed. Misirlou sports a consistent record of 4 wins, 1 second and 1 third place finish from 7 lifetime starts. Misirlou will be ridden by her regular jockey, Frank Alvarado, who was aboard last time out when the California-bred daughter of Slew’s Tiznow won a second level allowance while earning a strong 87 Beyer speed figure.

The morning line favorite in Race 6, multiple stakes winner Mother of Dragons, drew the inside post in the field of six. She is likely to scratch, however, reducing the field to a quintette. Misirlou, with the aforementioned scratch in mind, will likely inherit favoritism come post time.

“She has tactical speed,” said Specht. “I’m expecting her to stalk the pace again. She likes this track. She’ll be tough if she can run back to her last race.”

Morning Cynn has shown an affinity for the Golden Gate Tapeta main track and will likely get bet, as will recent first level allowance winner Myangelcindy. Gotham Desire and Tip Top Gal, both allowance winners themselves, round out the group.

3-YEAR-OLD ALLOWANCE SPRINT ONE OF 10 RACES ON STRONG FRIDAY CARD

A great week of racing is expected at Golden Gate, with large field sizes and quality filled races spread throughout the week. This is certainly the theme on Friday. The marquee event on the program, a 6-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds on Tapeta, drew a field of 9 and goes as Race 6 on a 10-race program.

The morning line favorite, 3-1 shot Prince de Prince, was last seen finishing a nose behind stakes placed No Longer Silent at this condition on August 20. According to trainer Jack Steiner, the California-bred by Fullbridled comes into this race with better form than ever before.

“There was a point in the spring where he dropped off a little bit,” said Steiner. “We thought maybe he wasn’t quite good enough to win an allowance race. We put him in for a $25,000 tag at Pleasanton, and, even though he didn’t win, he ran a lot better than he had in recent starts. I think that race really instilled confidence in him. Sometimes, all horses need is a confidence booster to get them back into better form. Since then, he’s been running really well at allowance conditions. He hasn’t won but he’s gotten close. Hopefully Friday is the day he breaks through.”

Let’s Rejoyce, a Tommy Town Thoroughbreds homebred, is the 7-2 morning line second choice. He was last seen finishing off the board in the Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar and returns to Northern California, where he scored both career victories against maidens and allowance company, respectively.

“He’s doing just fine,” said trainer Jonathan Wong. “The class relief [out of stakes company] should help him. He is versatile. He might be at his best if he’s able to make the front, but he doesn’t need the lead. He has natural speed and, if he breaks well, will put himself in the race early.”

Little Cents, from the Bill McLean barn, also merits respect. The Kentucky bred son of Goldencents makes his 3-year-old debut after taking time off for the first part of 2020. He had a respectable campaign last year as a 2-year-old, winning an allowance race and finishing second, beaten by less than a quarter of a length, in two other races at the aforementioned allowance level.

“He broke his maiden at Del Mar for a tag and tried hard for us all fall,” said McLean. “At the end of the year, we wanted to give him a little rest.”

“He makes his first start as a gelding on Friday,” noted McLean. “He hasn’t really acted any different but his workouts leading up to this race have been good. Sometimes horses get better from 2 to 3 as they mature mentally and physically, so we’re hoping to see that. He’s a nice horse.'”

Foothill, a Southern California invader who broke his maiden on turf at Del Mar in July for trainer Sean McCarthy, possesses appeal, as does Slam Dunk Sermon, who ran fourth against older Golden Gate allowance foes and drops to this restricted 3-year-old race.

“Slam Dunk Sermon always tries hard,” said the latter gelding’s trainer, Steve Specht. “He’s not too flashy but goes out there and does the best he can every time.”

Eustace ships North after a better than looked runner up finish against a salty group of high-level claimers at Del Mar for trainer Ed Moger Jr.,who also saddles recent maiden special weight winner Hawk Hill. Eustace, who broke his maiden at Golden Gate, will get more play, at 9-2 on the morning line. Hawk Hill is listed at 12-1. Exclusive Speaker and Wine and Whisky complete the field of 9.

87 horses are entered on the Friday program, averaging out to 8.7 horses per race. A maiden special weight on turf for 3-year-old fillies, Race 7, kicks off the Late Pick 4 sequence, while a first level allowance for filly and mare sprinters goes as the 8^th on the card.

Saturday’s card, with 11 races, drew 94 runners. A pair of maiden turf sprints-with full fields-catches the eye on the Saturday overnight. A first level allowance, Race 7, begins the well backed Late Pick 5 wager, and 4 of the 11 races will be run on projected firm turf.

10 or 11 more races will be run on Sunday, with entries to be taken, drawn and released on Thursday.

FINISH LINES: 2020 El Camino Real Derby winner Azul Coast is listed as “probable” for the mile and a half, $100,000 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita on Sunday, September 27…Multiple stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick is back on the worktab for trainer Bill Delia after taking a brief vacation this summer. The California-bred gelding worked 3 furlongs on Tuesday morning in 37.60 seconds…Multiple Golden Gate winner and stakes placed ridgling Daddysprize has been retired, per trainer Tim McCanna, and will become a stallion in Washington State. “He’s happy,” said McCanna. “I’m going to breed him to a few of my mares to get him started.” Daddysprize, by Scat Daddy, is out of the stakes winning mare YoutheprizeandI...Race 3 on Friday is Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager…$88,169 is your carryover amount for the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager on Thursday while the Rolling Super High Five has a carryover of $2,075…Congratulations to jockey Kyle Frey and his partner Miya on the birth of their daughter Skylar Sakura Lee Frey last Friday morning. Frey leads all jockeys at the current summer meet with 22 wins, 9 more than seven-pound apprentice Santos Rivera.

GOLDEN GATE & SANTA ANITA TO PARTNER ON NEW LOW-TAKEOUT ‘GOLDEN HOUR LATE PICK 4’ BEGINNING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

ONE DOLLAR MINIMUM WAGER WILL FEATURE LOW 15 PERCENT TAKEOUT

                Berkeley, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2020)–Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park have announced they will partner on a brand new low takeout “Golden Hour Late Pick 4,” effective Friday, September 25, the opening day of Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet.

                The wager, which features a one dollar minimum and a low takeout of 15 percent, will be comprised of the last two races at both Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park each racing day and will complement the successful “Golden Hour Late Double,” which was instituted by the two tracks this past winter.

                The “Golden Hour Late Pick 4” will begin with Santa Anita’s second to last race for Leg One, then go to Golden Gate for Leg Two, back to Santa Anita for Leg Three end up each day at Golden Gate with Leg Four, which will be the last race on their program.

                “We’ve had a very encouraging response to the ‘Golden Hour Double’ and believe our customers will respond well to this new low takeout wager,” said Santa Anita’s Aidan Butler, Executive Director, CA Racing Operations, for The Stronach Group.  “We’ve heard feedback from many of our players asking for this type of bet–one that provides a player friendly new wager with a one dollar minimum, capitalizing on the larger competitive fields at the end of the card.

“This is a fun new addition to our betting menu and will drive extra attention to both of our California tracks as the racing action across the country is winding down each day.”

                Summer racing at Golden Gate Fields will continue through Sunday, October 4 with a 1:15 p.m. daily post time.  For the latest information about the season, please visit goldengatefields.com.

JAUREGUI REFLECTS ON “EMOTIONAL” STAKES WIN WITH CAMINO DEL PARAISO

Heading into last Monday’s $50,000 Rolling Green Stakes, seven-year-old gelding Camino Del Paraiso had hit the board in 11 stakes races-five graded-but had yet to win in any of those races.

Earlier this year, Camino Del Paraiso finished third in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile. He also placed in a pair of Grade 3 races at Santa Anita: the Thunder Road and San Luis Rey. Last year, he had to settle for second in the Joseph T. Grace at Santa Rosa. In 2018, he played second fiddle to multiple graded stakes winner Editore in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap and completed the exacta in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic.

With all of the aforesaid efforts in mind, trainer O.J. Jauregui was confident Camino Del Paraiso would run well in the 2020 Rolling Green.

“He always tries,” said. Jauregui. “I knew he would finish in the top three again.”

And that he did. But this time, Camino Del Paraiso and Jauregui finally got a chance to take a photo in the winner’s circle.

Stalking the pace under jockey Catalino Martinez, Camino Del Paraiso made a move towards the early leader and eventual runner up finisher Kiwi’s Dream at the quarter pole before out finishing the aforementioned rival in deep stretch to score a victory in the mile and a sixteenth Rolling Green, the marquee turf race every summer at Golden Gate. For Jauregui, the win was special.

“It was emotional,” said Jauregui. “He’s such a cool horse. He’s run against some really nice stakes horses and finished right there with them. He’s had a couple of rough trips in a few of those races. To finally win a stake with him is very satisfying. He’s earned it and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

With the victory in the Rolling Green, Camino Del Paraiso improved his lifetime record to 6 wins, 12 seconds, and 4 third-place finishes, with career earnings of $440,092. Bred by Red Barons Barn, he was purchased by his current owners, Paradise Road Ranch, for $5,000 as a yearling.

“I’m so happy for the owners,” said Jauregui. “They have been very supportive of my crew and me since Day 1. We have done our best with Camino Del Paraiso. I feel really thankful they’ve trusted me with this horse.”

Jauregui noted that Camino Del Paraiso exited the Rolling Green in great shape. His next start is yet to be determined.

“We could run in the Berkeley Handicap at the fall meet or a stake down south,” said Jauregui. “We are leaving our options open.”

HERNANDEZ, GONZALEZ AND PETERSON SUCCEEDING

Jockeys Juan Hernandez, Ricky Gonzalez, and Ferrin Peterson all moved to different venues this summer. With the Golden Gate Fields community proudly watching, each rider has thrived at their new, respective racetracks.

Hernandez and Gonzalez moved to Del Mar and were immediately employed by barns big and small. Hernandez, who finished fourth in the Del Mar jockey standings behind Flavien Prat, Umberto Rispoli and Abel Cedillo, won 29 races at the recently concluded Del Mar meeting. He won the Solana Beach Stakes with Pulpit Rider-his only stakes win of the meet-and was very pleased with his summer at the surfside race place.

“We had a good meet,” said Hernandez. “My agent [Craig O’Brien] did a great job. I rode a lot of good horses. That’s the key; getting on good horses that run well. The owners and the trainers have been very supportive of me since I moved to Southern California and I feel very lucky that so many people have given me a chance.”

Gonzalez, who finished seventh in the Del Mar standings with 16 victories, hit the board in three stakes races at Del Mar and rode as one of the go-to riders for leading trainer Peter Miller. Gonzalez is the regular jockey for one of the top 2-year-old fillies in Southern California, Forest Caraway.

“It’s been a lot of fun riding such nice horses and riding for good trainers,” said Gonzalez. “You have to be on your game at all times. Every race, every day you need to be focused and I’m doing the best I can. I feel really good. I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities from a lot of trainers at Del Mar and I’m really excited to see how things go in the fall.”

Both Hernandez and Gonzalez will move to Santa Anita Park, where they begin riding in races there on Opening Day Friday, September 19.

Ferrin Peterson, who recently wrapped up her apprenticeship at Monmouth Park, sits second only behind Paco Lopez in the jockey standings at the Oceanport, New Jersey racetrack. Peterson, who began her career at Golden Gate Fields last year before taking a hiatus to finish vet school at U.C. Davis, has hit the wire first with 32 mounts heading into Friday afternoon’s card. The “vet-turned-jockey” has blossomed since teaming up with agent Julie Krone, a Hall of Fame jockey who Ferrin admires.

“Working with Julie has been such a privilege,” said Peterson. “I’ve learned so much from her. Every day after the races, I study replays and we talk about the races. I ask her questions all the time. We have an Equicizer that I hop on often and Julie helps me with my form and gives me tips. As an agent, she is working really hard to put me on good horses. We’ve been working hard to prove ourselves to the Monmouth horsemen and horsewomen and the hard work is paying off.”  

Peterson and Krone are still weighing their options as to where they may land next after Monmouth, which ends its yearly race meet on September 27.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below are all claims reported from last week’s racing:

Thursday

Race 3: Malibu Alex (Trainer Reid France…Owners France and Lagattuta)

Friday

Race 1: Sayin Grace (Ed Moger Jr…Steve Moger)

Race 6: Buyback (Blaine Wright…Tracy and Paul Henline)

Race 7: Nice and True (Jamey Thomas…Stewball Stable and Thomas)

Race 8: Vastly Deep (Victor Trujillo…Lester Hunsucker)

Saturday

Race 3: Tristram Speaker (Jesus Ramos…Barragan, Ramos and Silva)

Race 9: C C the Bartender (Marcia Stortz…Stortz and Tirado)

Race 9: Red Shelby (Rene Amescua…Richard Barton)

Sunday

Race 2: Baby Frankie (John Martin…Hat Trick Racing and Jose Valle)
Race 2: Unstoppable Guy (Quinn Howey…Leon Scott)

Monday

Race 1: Charlie’s Belle (Guillermo Preciado…Edgar Pulido)

Race 5: Family Trips (Sergio Ledezma, Howard and Janet Siegel and Ledezma)

Race 5: Lulumaru (John Martin…John Martin and Eric Swanson)

Race 6: Soberano (Jonathan Wong…Roger Newman)
Race 6: Upo (Isidro Tamayo…Michael Demoulin)

FINISH LINES: Friday’s Golden Pick Six jackpot wager, beginning with Race 3, has a carryover of $88,169…The Super High Five pool also has a carryover of just over $2,075…Good luck to Anothertwistafate and trainer Blaine Wright in the $100,000 Grade 3 Longacres Mile later this evening. Anothertwistafate is the 8-5 morning line favorite and drew post 4 of 10 with local jockey Juan Gutierrez up. Wright also campaigns Reginella (Post 6, jockey Javier Matias) one race earlier in the Distaff Stakes at Emerald …A second good luck wish to Frank Lucarelli, who saddles Elliott Bay (Post 1, jockey Heribert “Eddie” Martinez) in the ‘Mile and Paddy’s Secret (Post 1, Jake Samuels) and Killarney Lass (Post 4, Javier Matias) in the Distaff…Shasta Star, previously trained by Sergio Ledezma in Northern California, won the opener at Kentucky Downs on Thursday….Alice Marble, the full 3-year-old sibling to six time stake winner Enola Gray, makes her second start for trainer Steve Miyadi in Race 7 on Saturday…Leg E of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 on Friday.

By Matt Dinerman

The prestigious Rolling Green Stakes is the marquee race at Golden Gate Fields every summer. This Labor Day Monday, the 2020 edition takes place, with a field of 8 contenders entered in the one-mile and-a-sixteenth turf contest. Let’s introduce you to the field, beginning with the horse who draws the inside post position.

#1 MAJESTIC EAGLE (9-2 morning line) freshens up two and a half months for Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale after an off-the-board finish in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile over this turf course. He won the Grade 3 All American Stakes at Santa Anita in 2019 but has failed to visit the winner’s circle in six starts since then.

#2 CAMINO DEL PARAISO (4-1) hits the board a lot more often than he wins; he sports a 5 for 38-lifetime record with 16 other in-the-money finishes. He completed the trifecta in the 2020 San Francisco Mile and, earlier this year, finished as the runner up in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes and Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita.

#3 NAVY ARMED GUARD (20-1) made his first start off a four-and-a-half-month vacation last month at Del Mar and finished second as a 56-1 massive longshot. He takes a significant bump up in class from the first-level allowance condition to this stakes level.

#4 THE BLACK ALBUM (7-2) races under the care of leading Del Mar trainer Peter Miller. The French-bred gelding has won a pair of minor stakes races since moving to the United States in 2018 and won a Group 3 turf race in France earlier that same year. Last time out, he won the Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial at Indiana Grand, his first start in over 8 months. He races as a gelding for the first time in the Rolling Green. 

#5 KIWI’S DREAM (5-2) was dueled into submission in his last start, the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, after setting the pace while pressured at a sizzling fast pace. He wheels back in two weeks for trainer Victor Trujillo and figures to get a much easier time of it on the lead this time around. His best effort will make him tough to reel in: he earned a 102 Beyer speed figure while finishing second in the All-American Stakes earlier this year (albeit that run came on Tapeta), and was also the runner up in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile and Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar.

#6 BUILDER (10-1) ran second in the 2019 Rolling Green and has made four afternoon appearances this year. Most recently, the son of Gio Ponti finished fourth in a salty allowance at Del Mar, used as a prep run for this race. His last victory came two starts ago against second-level allowance foes at Pleasanton. Leading Golden Gate trainer Isidro Tamayo trains, which should only be seen as a positive.

#7 IRISH HEATWAVE (6-1) is a perfect 2 for 2 over the Golden Gate Fields grass course. Last year, he pulled off a gate to wire score in the Silky Sullivan Stakes against California-breds and was a gutsy victor of an allowance race over the course this past June. 2016 Eclipse Award-winning jockey Evin Roman teams up with 2-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill.

#8 SLOANE GARDEN (6-1) is a filly facing males in the 2020 Rolling Green. The daughter of top European stallion Ifraaj has won three races in a row, including her last two starts against filly and mare stake company (the Luther Burbank and Golden Poppy Stakes) over this turf course. She enjoys sitting off the pace, making one run, and gobbling up ground late. This will be her toughest assignment to date.

Who wins? We’ll let you handicap the race and decide for yourself. Good luck!

***First post on Monday afternoon is 1:15 PM PT. The Rolling Green goes as Race 8 on a 9-race Labor Day holiday program, with post time for the Rolling Green set at 4:45 PM PT.***

SLOANE GARDEN READY TO FACE MALE COUNTERPARTS IN ROLLING GREEN

Multiple stakes-winning 4-year-old filly Sloane Garden will tackle males in her next start on Monday afternoon, the $50,000 Rolling Green Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward routing one-mile and a sixteenth on turf. Sloane Garden, who won the Golden Poppy Stakes in June and the Luther Burbank Stakes in August, is owned by Ron Charles and Sam Gordon. Regular jockey Kyle Frey is slated to ride in the Rolling Green.

“She’s doing great,” said trainer Manny Badilla. “She worked really well on Sunday. Ready to go.”  

Badilla noted that Sloane Garden ran twice against males-in a pair of handicap races-as a maiden in Europe.

“She doesn’t know how to read a racing form,” joked Badilla. “Colts, geldings, fillies, mares…she’ll run against any of them. She’s a nice filly and we’re excited to run. I think she is up for the task.”

Other probables for the Rolling Green include last year’s second-place finisher Builder (trained by Isidro Tamayo), 2020 San Francisco Mile third-place finisher Camino Del Paraiso (O.J Jauregui), 2019 Silky Sullivan Stakes winner Irish Heatwave (Doug O’Neill), and Grade 3 winner Majestic Eagle (Neil Drysdale). Multiple stakes winners Anyportinastorm (Blaine Wright) and The Black Album (Peter Miller) are also possible. All possible and probables are subject to change.

The Rolling Green is the marquee race of the current summer meet at Golden Gate Fields. Live racing on the upcoming Labor Day Monday program, a special holiday racecard, begins at 1:15 PM PT. Entries and post positions will be drawn and published on Friday afternoon.  

AMERICAN FARMER SET TO TAKE ON GRADED STAKES FOES IN DEL MAR DERBY

Robert Dupret Derby winner American Farmer races for trainer Steve Sherman and owners BKB Stables and Sherman in the Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Derby on Sunday at Del Mar. The 9-furlong turf contest is the premier grass race of the summer season for 3-year-olds each year at Del Mar.

“We’re giving it a go,” said Sherman. “It’s never easy to win a stake at Del Mar but he is doing really well and a couple of the top horses on the nominations list are in Kentucky for races there this weekend. We figured it would be a good chance to step up and see what he can do.”

In the Robert Dupret Derby, American Farmer stalked and pounced on the leaders turning for home. This was a change in running style for the son of Bluegrass Cat, and Sherman was impressed.

“I was a little surprised by the way he won the other day,” said Sherman. “I figured he’d sit off the pace and make one run like he always does. But it was nice to see him a little closer and kick on because it looks like he’s a little more versatile than he was earlier in his career. He’s gotten older, faster, and stronger. He’s growing up and knows the name of the game at this point. He knows what he’s supposed to do out there.”

Jockey Ricky Gonzalez, who recently moved to Southern California and was aboard American Farmer when he ran second in the El Camino Real Derby in February, has the mount in the Del Mar Derby. Post positions for the Del Mar Derby will be drawn on Thursday.

GOLDEN GATE FIRST POST MOVED TO 1:15 PM BEGINNING SATURDAY

Beginning Saturday, September 5, first post at Golden Gate Fields will be 1:15 PM. Golden Gate Fields continues to operate with essential personnel on-site at this time.

CLAIMS

The following is a list of claims at Golden Gate Fields last week:

Thursday

No Claims

Friday

Race 8: Eddie’s Princess (Trainer Ellen Jackson, Owner Alberto Ruvalcaba)

Saturday

Race 1: Regal Lady (Sammy Calvario, Sammy Calvario and David Angel Cota)

Race 4: Going to Shabooms (Bill McLean, Crosby, McLean, Planchon and Taylor)

Race 5: Conquest Lemonraid (Pablo De Jesus, Cindy Winschell)

Race 7: All American Hero (Andy Mathis, Bruno, Gezon, Jones and Mathis)

Race 8: T Bones Trick (Isidro Tamayo, Michael Fried)

Race 9: Glenroy (Duane Offield, David Kramer)

Sunday

Race 2: Tamarando’s Mine (Eddie Rich, Napoleon Lopez

DEL MAR WATCH LIST

The following is a list of local horses (and trainers) who are competing on Del Mar’s Closing Week programs:

Friday

Race 9: Pappy Boyington (Trainer Steve Miyadi, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 9: Doc Adams (Steve Miyadi, Ruben Fuentes)

Saturday

Race 7: Thunder Woman (Bill McLean, Juan Hernandez)

Race 7: Daniel the Dreamer (Jonathan Wong, Flavien Prat)

Race 8: Rocky Tough (Bill McLean, Juan Hernandez)

Race 9: Mister McLean (Tim McCanna, Brice Blanc)

Sunday

Entries to be drawn Thursday.

Monday

Entries to be drawn Friday.

FINISH LINES: The Golden Pick Six jackpot wager has a carryover of $58,404 heading into Thursday afternoon while the Rolling Super High Five wager for Thursday’s second race has a carryover of $3,058…Happy birthday to Earl Baze II and Chester Bonnet, both whom celebrate birthdays this week…The Steve Sherman trained I’m So Anna finished second in last Sunday’s Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar…Camilla Urso Stakes winner Tomlin ran second in Wednesday’s Unbridled Sidney’s Stakes on dirt at Churchill Downs. Now under the care of Michael Stidham, Tomlin improved her lifetime record to 5-2-5 from 17 starts, with career earnings of $243,020…Anothertwistafate worked a swift 1:12.40, the fastest of eight works at the six-furlong distance last Sunday morning, in preparation for his return to the races. Although he is nominated for the Rolling Green Stakes on Monday, he is more likely to enter into the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile on September 10 at Emerald Downs in Washington State.