OUR SILVER OAK RETURNS IN THURSDAY FEATURE

Stakes winner Our Silver Oak returns off a 15-month layoff for trainer Jonathan Wong in Race 4 on Thursday, a one-mile allowance on turf for 3-year-olds and upward. The 4-year-old California-bred son of Unusual Heat drew post 2 and is listed as the 8-5 morning line favorite. Leading jockey Kyle Frey, who has been working Our Silver Oak in the mornings, has the call.

“He’s doing really good,” said Wong. “He’s been working great and I expect him to run well. Kyle [Frey] is really happy with how he’s doing, too, so we’re excited to get him started this year.”

Our Silver Oak last raced on June 22, 2019 at Santa Anita, where he scored a come-from-behind victory in the mile and one-eighth, $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes on turf. Other career highlights include a runner up finish in the 2019 Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate and a second-place effort in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos as a 2-year-old. Wong noted that California-bred stakes races in Southern California could be in Our Silver Oak’s future if he were to show he still has what it takes to be a stakes-caliber athlete.

“With a good California-bred, you’ve got options,” said Wong. “He’s a router. We’ll take it one race at a time, but there are route races for California-bred stakes horses down south throughout the year, so those types of races would be logical options for him.”

BLUE DIVA GETS BACK TO HER PREFFERED SURFACE ON FRIDAY

Race 3 on Friday goes as the marquee event on an 8-race program. The race, for fillies and mares routing one mile on Tapeta, drew a stakes quality field and figures to be a stepping stone for higher quality races later on in the year.

2019 Miss America Stakes winner Blue Diva drew the outside post in the field of 5 and is an interesting item to consider. Although her last couple of starts have resulted in subpar efforts, she gets back to Tapeta, an angle that trainer Isidro Tamayo believes may be the key to getting her back to winning form.

“Her best surface, by far, is Tapeta,” said Tamayo. “She always trains really well over this track. Last Sunday morning she worked a half-mile and looked awesome. She’s ready.”

The numbers don’t lie, either. Her last three starts on the Tapeta ended with trips to the winner circle, including on February 28 when she defeated stakes winner Wicked Old Fashion in a salty allowance race.

Tamayo has shown a rapid ascent to the top of the trainer standings this year and noted he is proud of what he has achieved so far in his young training career.  

“To be honest, I haven’t had that much time to sit down and think about it,” said Tamayo, who went out on his own 3-years-ago with only a handful of horses. “But I’m proud. Every day, my employees and I work very hard to do the best we can to take good care of our horses, keep them fit and healthy, and put them in races where they can be competitive. I feel blessed and very lucky to have good owners who have given me a chance to train their horses.”

Another contender in Friday’s allowance feature, Wicked Old Fashion, looks to turn the tables on Blue Diva after getting acquainted in February. Conditioned by Victor Trujillo, the daughter of Colonel John won the 2019 Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar and also finished third in the Rolling Green Stakes against males at Golden Gate that same year. She ran poorly in her last start, the Luther Burbank Stakes on turf, and gets back to Tapeta for this run. Jockey Bryan Pena rides for the first time.

Ziarah, one of two runners from the Manny Badilla barn, finished second in the Luther Burbank to multiple stakes-winning stablemate Sloane Garden. Before her most recent stakes loss, Ziarah won four allowance races in a row, three of which came over the Golden Gate Tapeta main track. For that reason, she has been installed the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Friday’s third race.

Never Be Enough, the stablemate to Ziarah, and longshot Mybluebell complete the quintet entered. Post time for Race 3 on Friday is 2:54 PM PT.

CLAIMS REPORT

Last week’s claims are as follows:

Thursday

Race 1: Tuscan Warrior (Trainer Pablo De Jesus…Owner Cindy Winschell)

Race 4: Cimpl Man (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing)

Friday

Race 9: Novella (Steve Sherman…Stewball Stable, Mailloux, Richter and Sherman)

Saturday

Race 1: Gambler’s Appeal (Jonathan Wong…Battle Born Racing Stable)

Race 4: Bako Sweets (John Martin…Donald Valpredo)

Race 5: Secretly Paranoide (Milton Pineda…Lizbeth Medina)

Sunday

Race 10: Whoa Nessie (O.J. Jauregui…Danny A. Eplin)

DEL MAR WATCH LIST

Northern California connections race the following horses at Del Mar this week:

Friday

Race 2: #6 Overwhelming Love (trainer Jonathan Wong, jockey Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 3: #3 Final Final (Bill McLean, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 6: #4 Fireitup (Quinn Howey, Geovanni Franco)

Race 9: #14 Prudent (Quinn Howey, Jose Valdivia Jr.)

Saturday

Race 2: #4 King Eddie (Bill McLean, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 2: #6 Nowhere Man (Quinn Howey, Geovanni Franco)

Race 5: #1 I’ll Do It For You (Quentin B. Miller, Edwin Maldonado)

Race 11: #3 Facts Matter (Tim McCanna, Tiago Pereira)

Race 11: #4 Pure Comedy (Bill McLean, Juan Hernandez)

FINISH LINES: $35,325 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Thursday…Race 2 at Golden Gate on Friday goes as Leg E (the penultimate race) of the Stronach 5 wager this week…Trainer Blaine Wright noted that his Del Mar string returned to Golden Gate Fields earlier this week. Among them: Green Flash Handicap runner up Baja Sur, stakes winner Mucho Amor and multiple stakes winner Anyportinastorm…After a fifth-place finish in last Sunday’s nightcap, owner Johnny Taboada announced the retirement of 8-year-old gelding Giant Mark. Taboada and trainer Sammy Calvario claimed Giant Mark for $2,500 in 2018 and went on to win 9 races with the California-bred chestnut. Happy retirement, ‘Mark!… Turf Paradise jockey Ryan Barber is set to ride at Golden Gate Fields for the foreseeable future and will be represented by agent Tara Homfeldt…Last week, Irving Orozco and Evin Roman joined the mix of jockeys in the local colony. Orozco, who hasn’t ridden since November, won one race. Roman, who recently shipped his track from Southern California, won two races. Orozco: “I’m blessed to feel so healthy and strong. I feel motivated and focused to do the best I can every day and I am grateful for the trust and support of the horsemen. I’m making the most of the opportunities presented to me.” Roman quipped, “I really like it here. All of the people here have been very nice and I am working really hard. Golden Gate is a beautiful track and I am very happy to be here.”

ECLIPSE AWARD WINNER ROMAN JOINS JOCKEY COLONY WITH AN UPBEAT ATTITUDE

Eclipse Award-winning jockey Evin Roman joins the Golden Gate Fields riding colony this week and begins his Northern California tenure on Thursday in Race 6 with three-year-old colt Take Me for a Spin. Roman is scheduled to ride five additional mounts on Friday and two more on Saturday. The 22-year-old native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico will be represented by agent Leo Rodriguez and noted earlier in the week that he is eager to begin riding in races.

“I’m really excited to be at Golden Gate,” said Roman. “Jonathan Wong called me and said he would help me out if I moved to Golden Gate Fields. There were a few other trainers from [the Bay Area] that I got to know over time, like Bill McLean and Tim McCanna, and they said they would give me a chance too. I thought it was a really good opportunity to come up to Northern California. I am prepared to work hard and do my best.”

Roman became hooked on racing through his father, who took the young Roman to horse races from an early age. When he was old enough, Roman enrolled in the Escuela Vocacional Hipica, a world-renowned jockey school in Puerto Rico. The list of successful graduates from the aforementioned riding academy is both lengthy and impressive. Among the notables: Manny Franco, Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose Ortiz and John Velazquez.

After two years at Escuela Vocacional Hipica, Roman won his first race in Puerto Rico on January 5, 2017, and soon moved to the United States where he began his stateside riding career in Southern California. As an apprentice in 2017, Roman guided 161 horses to victory while earning $5 million in purse money. He won the 2017 Fall Meet riding title at Santa Anita Park and successful defended the title at the 2018 Winter/Spring meet, defeating Flavien Prat by one win.

Roman tallied his first graded stakes victory aboard Gold Rush Dancer in the 2017 Longacres Mile, Washington state’s most prestigious horse race, and competed in the 2017 Breeders Cup at Del Mar-a career highlight that Roman mentioned was special to him. To put the cherry on top of an outstanding first year, Roman was awarded the 2017 Eclipse Award for top North American apprentice jockey.

Roman has visited Golden Gate Fields from his previous Southern California base multiple times. In February of 2019, he finished second with Kingly in the El Camino Real Derby for trainer Bob Baffert. Roman and Baffert also teamed up to score in the 2018, $200,000 Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita with California-bred Cruel Intention.

MATHIS READY FOR A BIG SATURDAY WITH MIKES TIZNOW, GIVE ME THE LUTE

On Saturday afternoon, Andy Mathis campaigns a pair of his stable stars in two separate turf sprints at two different racetracks.

On Saturday at Del Mar, Mathis sends out 5-year-old gelding Mikes Tiznow in Race 3, the five-furlong $100,000 Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap. The son of Slew’s Tiznow has won the Albany Stakes at Golden Gate twice in a row, most recently finishing first in the 2020 addition by three-quarters of a length. Mikes Tiznow holds a phenomenal record while sprinting five furlongs on turf, posting 4 wins and 1 third place finish from 5 career starts at the aforesaid distance. Regular jockey Ricky Gonzalez rides back in the Green Flash.

“He’s doing well,” said Mathis. “He runs well fresh. There’s only one way for him to go; to the lead. He’s very, very fast. We can only run our race. If somebody goes out with him and wants to come along for the ride, so be it. He’s a hard-trying horse and he’ll give his best. I like that [jockey] Ricky [Gonzalez] has been at Del Mar, knows the turf course there, and knows the horse. We have a good post position. They don’t give away graded stakes wins, though, so he’ll need to bring his ‘A’ game.” 

In Race 8 on Saturday at Golden Gate, Mathis sends out Give Me the Lute in a first-level allowance race. The 4-year-old son of Midnight Lute earned a 96 Beyer speed figure after winning a five-furlong turf dash on June 7 by seven lengths. The final clocking of 55.34 seconds was .09 seconds off the track record set by 4-time stakes winner Vaca City Flyer in 2006.

“I wanted to give him plenty of time to recover after such a big effort last time,” said Mathis. “Since he’s a California-bred, he is eligible to race at the [first level allowance] condition again, so we’re taking advantage of that. He’s doing well and feeling good.”

Give Me the Lute’s easily broke his maiden routing at Del Mar last year. One start later, Mathis and owners Rod and Wendy Hogan claimed Give Me the Lute for $80,000 off of trainer Peter Miller.

“I’ve always thought he might be better routing,” said Mathis. “At some point, you might see him at two turns again.”

A field of nine enter the Race 8, five-furlong Saturday feature, where Give Me the Lute is highly likely to go off favored. Another main contender in the race, Heck Yeah, makes his first start for trainer Steve Sherman and comes off a six-and-a-half-month layoff. Previously in Southern California with Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the California-bred 5-year-old by Acclamation sports a 4 for 8 lifetime record with career earnings of $310,333. He is a three-time California-bred stakes winner and has won on duel surfaces dirt and turf.

ANOTHERTWISTAFATE NEARS RETURN

2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate continued his preparation for a return to the races with a razor-sharp 1:10 and 2/5 seconds six-furlong drill on Sunday.

Under jockey Kevin Orozco, Anothertwistafate clicked off fractional times of 12 and 1/5 seconds, 24 and 1/5, 35 and 3/5, 47 and 2/5 and 58 and 3/5 before finishing up the exercise in 1:10 and 2/5’ths and galloping out 7 furlongs in 1:23 flat.   

“He’s as good as ever,” said Orozco. “He just floated over the ground. It’s amazing because it doesn’t feel like he’s going as fast as he is. He has a very high cruising speed. He’s a really, really good horse.”

The workout was completed 30 minutes before first post on Sunday afternoon and was filmed and shown on the live track feed by the Golden Gate Fields TV crew. For a replay of the video, click the following link: https://www.facebook.com/BlaineDWrightRacing/videos/300698417867975

Anothertwistafate is listed as “possible” to make his 2020 debut in the $100,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs on Sunday, September 13.

DEL MAR WATCH LIST

Below is the “Northern California Watchlist” for horses and trainers racing at Del Mar this week:

Friday

Race 1: #4 Hurley (Trainer Blaine Wright, Jockey Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 2: #7 Drippin Sauce (Jonathan Wong, Abel Cedillo)

Race 2: #8 Eustace (Ed Moger Jr., Juan Hernandez)

Race 3: #1 Builder (Isidro Tamayo, Juan Hernandez)

Race 4: #6 Get ’em Tiger (Quinn Howey, Aaron Gryder)

Race 5: #5 Govenor’s Party (Daniel Franko, Assael Espinoza)

Race 6: #3 Punaluu (Isidro Tamayo, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 6: #4 Midnight Destiny (Jonathan Wong, Juan Hernandez)

Race 7: #12 Bigfoot City (Tim McCanna, Heriberto Figueroa)

Race 8: #5 Habobanero (Reina Gonzalez, Eswan Flores)

Race 9: #3 Mother of Dragons (Andreas Psarras, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 9: #7 Mucho Amor (Blaine Wright, Juan Hernandez)

Race 10: #5 Kiss of Congrats (Rene Amescua, Heriberto Figueroa)

Saturday

Race 1: #5 Shanghai Groove (Trainer Bill McLean, Tiago Pereira)

Race 2: #4 Loud Loud Music (Steve Miyadi, Tiago Pereira)

Race 3: #3 Baja Sur (Blaine Wright, Juan Hernandez)

Race 3: #8 Mikes Tiznow (Andy Mathis, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 6: #11 Ju Ju Guy (Rene Amescua, Ruben Fuentes)

Race 8: #2 Respect the Hustle (Bill McLean, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 11: #13 Navy Armed Guard (Quinn Howey, Jose Valdivia Jr.)

Sunday

Entries are set to be taken on Thursday.

CLAIMS

Below are all the claims made last week at Golden Gate:

Thursday

Race 3: Fruitfully (Trainer Daniel Franko, Owner Bryan M. Carney)

Race 5: Shari (Isidro Tamayo, Zach Morgan and John Tipton)

Race 7: Going to Shabooms (Tim Bellasis, O’Gorman, O’Gorman, Tschanz and Bellasis)

Friday and Saturday

None

Sunday

Race 1: Cats Blame (Victor Trujillo, Carrol Stubbs)

            My Lucky Mark (Jonathan Wong, Battle Born Racing Stable)

Race 5: Remember to Smile (Isidro Tamayo, Joel B. Gonzalez)

Race 6: Miss Indefatigable (Blaine Wright, Rollin Donut Stable)

Race 9: Arouse N Go (Owner/trainer Victor Trujillo)

FINISH LINES: Leg E (the last leg) of the $1 Stronach 5 goes as Race 2 on Friday at Golden Gate. The other races in the Stronach 5 sequence on Friday: Laurel Park Race 7 (approximate post of 12:58 PM PT), Gulfstream Park Race 9, Laurel Park Race 8, Laurel Park Race 9…Race 2 on Friday features Chase and Colorado, who is out of the dam Anabaa’s Creation. Here’s a fun fact for you: Anabaa’s Creation lost to the great Zenyatta by A HEAD in the 2009 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar…Jockey Erick Lopez picked up his first win since joining the Golden Gate Fields riding colony with old pro Cartoonist (trained by Mike Lenzini) last Saturday…Laura’s Light races in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks on Saturday at Del Mar. Laura’s Light began her racing career with trainer Jamey Thomas and broke her maiden in November of 2019 at Golden Gate. After the maiden victory, she was privately purchased by owner Gary Barber and has since won three graded stakes races under the care of Southern California conditioner Peter Miller…Happy birthday to Assistant General Manager of GGF William Rizzuto and trainers Andy Mathis and D. Wayne Baker…Happy belated birthday to trainer Marcia Stortz…$14,676 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Thursday.

TRADITIONAL SUMMER MEET BEGINS/20 CENT GOLDEN PICK SIX JACKPOT, EARLY PICK 5 AMONG WAGERS BACK IN PLAY 

The 2020 Summer Meet at Golden Gate Fields begins this Thursday, August 13, and runs through Sunday, October 4. First post each live race day is 1:45 PM. Horseplayers should take note that a number of wagers seen at the recently concluded Wine Country Racing meet will revert back to standard Golden Gate Fields bets that many are accustomed to playing.

The 20 Cent Golden Pick Six jackpot wager returns on “Opening Day” Thursday, as does the 50 Cent Early Pick 5, which comprises the first five races each afternoon and offers a low 14% takeout. Trifecta’s and Rolling Pick 3’s return to the wagering menu as 50 cent minimum bets while the Rolling Super High Five wager is set at a $1 minimum. In order for the Rolling Super High Five wager to be on the menu for a particular race, that race must have 7 or more official starters.

At the recently concluded Wine Country Racing meet, jockey Kyle Frey took home the jockey title with 11 wins, scoring 3 more victories than second-place riders William Antongeorgi III and 7-pound apprentice Santos Rivera. In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong won 8 of 26 starts (31%), finishing ahead of Andy Mathis (4 for 12.)   

MY FRIEND GEORGE RETIRES A WINNER

8-year-old My Friend George won the third race on Friday, July 31 while cutting back from a route to a sprint. After the victory, trainer Manny Badilla announced that the California-bred gelding would be retired from racing.

“He’s a cool dude,” said Badilla. “I wanted him to go out a winner.”

Owned by breeder Martin W. Bach for all 52 lifetime starts, the son of Gotham City won 13 races (25%-win rate), with 8 second and 9 thirds. He earned $140,250 throughout his six-year-career and showed versatility for the duration of his calling as a racehorse, winning on turf, dirt and synthetic while scoring victories at a variety of sprint and route distances.

“He was as versatile as you’ll find,” said Badilla. “He never ran in any allowance or stakes race. He was very effective at claiming levels and starter allowance conditions.”

“I admired his heart,” added Badilla. “Every time he raced, he gave it his all. He was a barn favorite for me. I’m going to miss him but I’m also happy he is going to be well-taken care of at the next stage of his life.”

Badilla relayed that My Friend George was currently relaxing at Woodbridge Farm, enjoy some time in the pasture. In the not-so-distance future, My Friend George will join Badilla’s assistant Julie Baker at her farm and train to be a sheriff’s pony.

“We’ll see how he does when he trains for his next job,” said Badilla. “Julie does a great job and will make sure he is up for the task before he begins a second career.”

DEL MAR WATCH LIST 

Our weekly Del Mar watchlist for Northern California horses and trainers are as follows:

 Friday

Race 1: Tip Top Gal (Trainer Quentin B. Miller, Jockey Edwin Maldonado)

Race 1: Gotham Desire (Ed Moger Jr., Tiago Pereira)

Race 2: Joymaker (Quinn Howey, Jorge Velez)

Race 7: Sadie Bluegrass (Jonathan Wong, Ricky Gonzalez)

Saturday

Race 1: La Croix (Rene Amescua, Jorge Velez)

Race 1: Thunder Woman (Bill McLean, Juan Hernandez)

Race 6: Call Sign Lucky (O.J Jauregui, Jorge Velez)

Race 6: Lemon Drop Shot (Jonathan Wong, Flavien Prat)

Race 10: Emerald Magic (Bill McLean, Ruben Fuentes)

Race 11: Mithqaal (Jonathan Wong, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 11: Harvest a Storm (Ed Moger Jr., Edwin Maldonado)

Race 11: Engram (Quentin B. Miller, Brice Blanc)

Sunday

Entries to be drawn tomorrow

FINISH LINES: Golden Gate Fields is back in the Stronach 5 mix this week, with Race 2 on Friday going as the last leg of the aforementioned Pick 5 wager…Frank Lucarelli saddles Paddy’s Secret and Killarney Lass in the co-feature at Emerald Downs on Thursday, the Boeing Stakes, for filly and mare sprinters at six and one-half furlongs. Both gals have raced at Golden Gate Fields in the past…2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate worked six furlongs in an easy 1:17.40 seconds last Sunday in preparation for his 2020 debut…$700,000 yearling purchase What a Feeling drilled a half-mile out of the gate for trainer Jonathan Wong in 49.60 seconds. Purchased by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds at last year’s Keeneland September Sale, the 2-year-old daughter of Medaglia D’Oro is out of Grade 2 winner and Grade I placed mare Magical Feeling and is a half-sibling to stakes winner Exulting…FUN FACT: Half siblings Night Gig and Union Dance both competed in Race 4 on Sunday. Later in the program, half-siblings Potente Alba and Sunrise Journey battled in the same race, Race 11…Per the TOC, expanded viewing for owners is available at Golden Gate. For morning workouts, owners may attend any morning but must check-in at the main horsemen’s gate. During afternoon racing, two owners per horse may attend, and seating will be in a designated area adjacent to the winner circle. In order for any owner to access on-site morning workouts and or afternoon racing, they must provide their CHRB owners license and undergo a COVID-19 health screening. Masks are required to be worn at all times!

 

ROBERT DUPRET DERBY SHOWCASES TOP BAY AREA 3-YEAR-OLDS ON SATURDAY

A field of eight 3-year-olds compete at one mile on turf in Saturday’s feature race, the $50,000 Robert Dupret Stakes. Three of the eight entrants exit a July 3 allowance race on dirt at Pleasanton: Looking for Revenge, Sacred Rider, and American Farmer.

Lookin for Revenge went gate to wire on July 3 and earned an 81 Beyer speed figure for his effort. The son of I Want Revenge has been effective over all three North American racing surfaces (dirt, turf and synthetic) and broke his maiden by 7 lengths on Tapeta, which was his last start at Golden Gate.

“He’s improved every race,” said trainer Brendan Galvin. “He’s a big, long striding horse. When he gets in a good rhythm and can just keep going…that’s when he is at his best. He doesn’t necessarily need the lead-he-he can sit a length or so off and it won’t be a problem-but if he’s not on the lead he won’t be too far away.”

Sacred Rider, a well-bred gelding trained by Steve Specht, finished second at odds of 3-5 in the July 3 allowance affair. He has the most experience in the field, with 15 starts to his name, and is out of the stakes winner and top-quality broodmare Lady Railrider. Both career victories for Sacred Rider have come on grass, but Specht noted that Sacred Rider is game on any surface.

“He can run on anything,” said Specht. “He only lost by a neck in a dirt stake at Santa Anita in January. He’s run a couple of good races on synthetic. I’ve run him back a little quickly a couple of times and he’s got good spacing between races heading into this weekend. He always tries hard.” 

2020 El Camino Real Derby runner up American Farmer made his first start off a 4-month layoff in the aforementioned July 3 allowance at Pleasanton. He sports a pair of bullet workouts leading up to this race for trainer Steve Sherman, who employs leading jockey Kyle Frey for the ride.

“He’s doing really well,” said Sherman. “His last couple of works have been great. He’ll be sitting off the pace and making one run. That’s what he likes to do. Kyle [Frey] will have to time the ride right because you can’t move him too early.”

Governance most recently ran fourth in the June 13 Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate, finishing behind Kanderel and Ajourneytofreedom that day. Both aforementioned equines have since come back to finish in-the-money in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar and compete this Sunday in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap. Governance defeated Sacred Rider by a neck in an allowance race on May 30 and is trained by top Golden Gate conditioner Jonathan Wong.

“The race came up tough,” said Wong. “The last time he won, he went wire to wire. It appears there’s a good amount of speed in the race so we may find ourselves sitting off the pace this time. He is pretty versatile.”

Too Late is the only Southern California shipper in the field, racing for trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam. The California-bred son of Square Eddie was last seen sprinting five furlongs on turf in a California-bred allowance race at Del Mar, finishing third against older foes. The only time this guy has ever competed at a distance farther than six furlongs, he finished six lengths behind Governance in a maiden special weight at Santa Anita.

Allowance placed colt Awesome Summer, first-time router Returray and 10 length starter allowance winner Jedi Knight complete the field. Post time for the Robert Dupret Derby, which goes as Race 8 on an 11-race card, is set for 4:55 PM.

Race 8 on Saturday: the $50,000 Robert Dupret Derby

(Post time: 4:55 P.M. Pacific Time) 

#1 American Farmer (Kyle Frey, Steve Sherman, 6-1 morning line)

#2 Too Late (Alejandro Gomez, Doug O’Neill, 9-2)

#3 Lookin for Revenge (David C. Lopez, Brendan Galvin, 4-1)

#4 Awesome Summer (Kevin Orozco, Bob Hess Sr., 5-1)

#5 Sacred Rider (Frank Alvarado, Steve Specht, 3-1)

#6 Jedi Knight (Catalino Martinez, Andreas Psarras, 20-1)

#7 Governance (William Antongeorgi III, Jonathan Wong, 7-2)

#8 Returray (Daniel Vergara, Andy Mathis, 15-1)

WRIGHT CONTINUES A BUSY SUMMERTIME SCHEDULE

Trainer Blaine Wright is always a very busy man in the summertime. This year, he has a string of horses at Golden Gate, Del Mar and Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. Wright conditions horses at all talent levels, ranging from claimers to stakes caliber equines that compete at the highest stages. Below, we give a handful of updates on Wright’s top-quality stock.

One of Wright’s best horses in training, 2019 Breeders Cup Juvenile runner up Anneau D’Or, most recently finished fourth in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and makes his next start this Sunday in the $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky. The son of Medaglia D’Oro drew post position 2 and picks up the services of jockey Tyler Baze for the first time.

“He’s safe and sound in Kentucky,” said Wright. “We originally entered in the Los Alamitos Derby on July 4 and were hoping to run him there. He came up with an elevated temperature before the race and we had to scratch. We rerouted him to the Ellis Park Derby and he’s healthy now.”

The Runhappy Ellis Park Derby offers 85 qualifying points, with 50 of those points awarded to the winner. Heading into this weekend, Anneau D’Or sits 18^th on the Kentucky Derby points list with 32 points.

“He is still on the [Kentucky] Derby trail,” said Wright. “We’ll see how he runs on Sunday and go from there. He shipped to Kentucky earlier this week and got there in really good shape.”

Racing fans will be happy to read that Wright’s 2019 stable star, Anothertwistafate, is back on the worktab. The 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner hasn’t been seen since competing in last year’s Preakness Stakes and is currently training at Golden Gate for his 2020 debut. Since rejoining Team Wright in the spring, the son of Scat Daddy has worked seven times over the main track Tapeta, with a pair of five-furlong drills most recently recorded.

“He’s doing super,” said Wright. “We haven’t picked out a comeback race for him yet. We’re putting stamina-type works into him. I want to give him a solid foundation before he is entered in a race. In his works, it’s important that he finishes well and gallops out strong. He’s a pure route horse and he’ll be running against really nice horses this year. I want to have him as fit as possible by the time he hits the track in the afternoon.”

Ajourneytofreedom, the younger half-sibling to Anothertwistate, ran third in the Oceanside Stakes on Opening Day at Del Mar and gets back to turf in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Sunday. The last time Ajourneytofreedom raced at Golden Gate, he lost by a neck to the Richard Mandella trained Kanderel in the Alcatraz Stakes. Ajourneytofreedom breaks from post 4 in the La Jolla and will be ridden by regular pilot Ricky Gonzalez.

“He’s a hard-trying little dude,” said Wright. “He reminds me of [million-dollar earner] Alert Bay. He’s not a big horse but he’s shown us a nice turn on foot on grass and gives it his all every time. He had a little bit of traffic trouble in upper stretch in the Oceanside but was able to get out quickly and showed a good kick to the wire. The waters are a little deeper [in the La Jolla] but he’s doing well.”

Wright also campaigns Baja Sur, who finished third in a salty July 26 allowance optional $100,000 claimer at Del Mar. The aforementioned race drew a stakes caliber field. In fact, Baja Sur beat 2019 San Francisco Mile winner Blitzkrieg for third. Wright indicated Baja Sur, who ran second in the June 6 Albany Stakes at Golden Gate, would run next in the five-furlong $100,000 Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap for turf sprinters on August 22 at Del Mar.

2019 Lost in the Fog Stakes winner Anyportinastorm finished off the board in last weekend’s Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar after dueling on the lead with four other rivals, all whom also weakened down the stretch. Wright noted that Anyportinastorm came out of the race with a clean bill of health and will train on before a decision is made on where he will make his next start.

LOPEZ, VERGARA JOIN GOLDEN GATE JOCKEY COLONY

Jockeys Erick Lopez and Daniel Vergara joined the Golden Gate Fields jockey colony last weekend, adding to a solid list of riders who compete daily at Golden Gate.

Lopez, who ships in from Parx Racing in Pennsylvania, hails from a riding family. He is the older brother of David C. Lopez and the son of veteran C.C. Lopez. The New Jersey native was the regular jockey for Baja Sur when riding at Emerald Downs in 2017 and has competed against some of the top riders in the country at Monmouth Park and Aqueduct. Lopez has been working horses since last weekend and is represented by Fernando “Shoes” Navarro.

Vergara, who won last Sunday’s sixth race with Random Pleasure, is a regular at Turf Paradise in Arizona. Beginning his career in 1998, Vergara has gained steady business throughout the years, and is eight victories shy of 1,400 career wins. Earlier in the summer, Vergara rode at Lone Star Park, but opted to move his tack to Golden Gate after heavy consideration. He makes his Northern California stakes debut aboard Returray in the Robert Dupret Derby this Saturday for trainer Andy Mathis. Vergara is represented by Jay Robinson. 

DEL MAR WATCH LIST

Friday

Race 1: Shadrack (Trainer Tim McCanna, Jockey Abel Cedillo)

Race 4: Crown Kitten (Bill McLean, Evin Roman)

Race 4: Sweet Rafaela (Rene Amescua, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 5: Honeymoonz Over (D. Wayne Baker, Eswan Flores)

Saturday

Race 5: Mylittlerunaway (O.J. Jauregui, Tiago Pereira)

Race 8: Ben’s A Goalie (Quinn Howey, Geovanni Franco)

Race 8: Charge Cash (Tim McCanna, Evin Roman)

Sunday

Race 4: Big Moon (Steve Sherman, Abel Cedillo)

Race 5: No Name Fred (Jonathan Wong, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 5: King Eddie (Bill McLean, Evin Roman)

Race 6: Kaline (Quinn Howey, Geovanni Franco)

Race 10: Ajourneytofreedom (Blaine Wright, Ricky Gonzalez)

Race 10: Indian Peak (Quinn Howey, Mike Smith)

Race 11: Bigfoot City (Tim McCanna, Ricky Gonzalez) 

FINISH LINES: Trainer Jonathan Wong campaigns Keeper Ofthe Stars in Del Mar’s Saturday co-feature: the $150,000 Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at one mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Abel Cedillo rides for owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds…Two Arabian-bred races kicked off the Saturday and Sunday programs at Golden Gate Fields last week. On Saturday, Aura Makarina picked up a victory in Race 1 for trainer Abel Borg while Prestons Lady AA won the opener on Sunday under the care of trainer Ron White…Arabian-bred action concludes this Sunday with the $15,000 California Bonus Bonanza for 3-year-olds and upward sprint six furlongs on Tapeta…Golden Gate Fields offers a $1 Pick 6 carryover of $16,375. This is not a jackpot carryover…MANDATORY PAYOUTS take place on Sunday afternoon…Next Thursday is Day 1 of the traditional summer meet at Golden Gate.

BADILLA HOLDS THE ACE IN LUTHER BURBANK STAKES

Six live racing days comprise the 2020 Wine Country Racing meet at Golden Gate Fields, which commences Friday, July 31 and runs through Sunday, August 9. First post each day is 1:15 PM PT. The feature event of Week 1 goes as the eighth on Saturday: the $50,000 Luther Burbank Stakes for filly and mare turf routers. The one mile and a sixteenth affair drew seven entrants, including the top three finishers in the Golden Poppy Stakes on June 7.

Sloane Garden, who won the Golden Poppy for trainer Manny Badilla and owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon, is listed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Luther Burbank. Purchased by her current North American connections for $33,642 at the 2019 Tattersalls Horses of Racing Age sale in Europe, the daughter of Iffraaj kicked off her U.S. career with maiden and allowance wins before scoring her first career stakes victory in the Golden Poppy. Kyle Frey navigated last time out and will be back aboard on Saturday.

“Sloane Garden is doing great,” said Badilla. “I gave her a little time after she ran so well in her last start. She put up a really big effort. She’s working well and ready to go.”

Badilla also saddles Ziarah, who finished off-the-board in the July 12 Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar. A European bred like her stablemate, this 5-year-old mare had won five consecutive allowance races before the Osunitas loss. Regular rider Frank Alvarado is back aboard in the ‘Burbank.

“Ziarah had a beautiful work over the Tapeta on July 25,” said Badilla. “I’m really satisfied with how she is coming into this race. We wheeled her back in two weeks for the Osunitas after a big win at Pleasanton and the Osunitas came up tough. There were some good ones in there.”

Meal Ticket, second to Sloane Garden in the Golden Poppy, looks to turn the tables on the aforementioned rival. A Southern California shipper trained by Matt Chew, Meal Ticket finished ahead of Ziarah in the Osunitas but has failed to find the winners circle in her last six starts. 2019 was a notable year for Meal Ticket: she beat a salty second-level allowance field at Santa Anita and was the runner up behind multiple Grade I winner Vasilika in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes.

Wicked Old Fashion finished a length and three-quarters behind Sloane Garden in the Golden Poppy and looks to snap a three-race losing streak. Her most recent afternoon appearance, a one mile try on dirt against allowance company, resulted in a third-place finish behind Ziarah. Wicked Old Fashion possesses backclass; she won the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in November and was third against males in the Rolling Green Stakes on turf last summer.

Allowance winners Heathers Gray and Mybluebell are also entered in the Luther Burbank. Longshot Augure rounds out the field.

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

Post time: Approximately 4:45 PM

#1 Heathers Grey (Jockey William Antongeorgi III, Trainer Sean McCarthy, 6-1 morning line)

#2 Meal Ticket (David C. Lopez, Matt Chew, 5-2)

#3 Augure (Julien Couton, Eddie Rich, 30-1)

#4 Ziarah (Frank Alvarado, Manny Badilla, 7-2)

#5 Mybluebell (Kevin Orozco, Bob Hess Sr., 10-1)

#6 Wicked Old Fashioned (Catalino Martinez, Victor Trujillo, 6-1)

#7 Sloane Garden (Kyle Frey, Manny Badilla, 9-5) 

APPRENTICE RIVERA ALREADY A HOT COMMODITY

20-year-old apprentice jockey Santos Rivera has quickly made a favorable impression amongst Northern California horsemen. And believe it or not, that may be a bit of an understatement.

From a racing family, Rivera galloped and worked horses for many years under trainer Bill Delia before applying for a jockey’s license. After receiving the license, Rivera sought to jumpstart his riding career with the help of agent Brent Harmon, who took the fledgling apprentice under his wing immediately. Rivera rode at the recently concluded Pleasanton summer meet and racked off 7 wins from his first 26 mounts (26%). Rarely do you see an apprentice have that much success right off the bat, says Harmon.

“This kid is a real student of the game,” Harmon alliterated on Thursday morning. “How he goes about doing his work is impressive. He watches film every day. He seeks advice from fellow riders, all who really enjoy his presence in the jockey’s room. He has a great attitude. He tells me, ‘I have a lot to learn and I want to learn.’ That tells you his mindset. He is doing all the right things to improve his skill set.”

“But Santos is good on horseback too,” continued Harmon. “I see him doing certain things that experienced journeymen do. The first race I saw him ride he was switching sticks like it was nothing. I said, ‘Holy smokes. Apprentices this early in the game don’t ride like this.’ I’ve represented about a half dozen apprentice jockeys and he is the best of the group.”

Rivera rides 6 of the 8 races on the Opening Day Friday card, 7 on Saturday, and 8 more on Sunday.

“He has a lot of business right now,” said Harmon. “In a few races, I have multiple calls and need to start picking and choosing who he rides. He has ridden 26 races in his entire life and he’s already in demand. It’s sort of unbelievable, to be honest. But people can see that Santos has a bright future. He’s the whole package.”

GOLDEN GATE SHIPPERS AT DEL MAR

Below is the “Northern California Watchlist” for horses and trainers racing at Del Mar this week:

FRIDAY

Race 6: Rocky Tough (Jockey Ricky Gonzalez, Trainer Bill McLean)

Race 7: Tribal War Chant (Victor Espinoza, Ed Moger Jr.)

Race 9: Let’s Rejoyce (Ricky Gonzalez, Jonathan Wong)

Race 10: Exeter (Geovanni Franco, Quinn Howey)

Race 11: Pure Perfection (Juan Hernandez, Bill McLean)

SATURDAY

Race 8: I’m So Anna (Ricky Gonzalez, Steve Sherman)

Race 8: Jasmine Chieftain (Juan Hernandez, Isidro Tamayo)

Race 10: Anyportinastorm (Juan Hernandez, Blaine Wright)

Race 11: Get’em Tiger (Abel Cedillo, Quinn Howey)

Race 11: La Gata Elegante (Eswan Flores, D. Wayne Baker)

SUNDAY

Race 4: Red Livy (Ricky Gonzalez, Bill McLean)

Race 6: Facts Matter (Tiago Pereira, Tim McCanna)

Race 7: Shanghai Groove (Tiago Pereira, Bill McClean)

Race 9: Breakfast Ball (Tiago Pereira, Tim McCanna)

FINISH LINES: Congratulations to Kyle Frey and Isidro Tamayo, winners of the jockey and trainer titles at Pleasanton…The first-ever Arabian race over Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields takes place this Saturday and goes as the opener on a 10-race program. Seven Arabian-breds sprint five and one-half furlongs in Race 1, with #1 Aura Makarina installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite…Jockey Erick Lopez, the older brother of David C. Lopez, is set to join the Golden Gate riding colony in the coming days…Fans of California Chrome will surely be tuning into Golden Gate on Friday. In the nightcap, ‘Chrome’s half-brother Fort McHenry races in a one-mile turf claimer. Fort McHenry, trained by Doug O’Neill, is a son of Tapit. Also on Friday, trainer Steve Sherman sends out Cold Brew Kelly, a 2-year-old filly by California Chrome out of the Trippi mare Decennial. Cold Brew Kelly drew the rail in Race 5. “She does a lot right,” said Sherman. “She has a good temperament and has been working OK.” It would be fitting if Cold Brew Kelly won: owner/breeders Perry and Denise Martin also co-own California Chrome, and Cold Brew Kelly would become the first North American winner for California Chrome as a stallion…I’m So Anna races for Sherman in the CTBA Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar while Anyportinastorm, conditioned by Blaine Wright, carries the hopes of Northern California in the Grade 2 Bing Crosby for sprinters that same afternoon…Jockeys Juan Hernandez, Ricky Gonzalez and Kent Desormeaux are off to a hot start at Del Mar, where all three journeymen have relocated. Hernandez sits fourth in the jockey standings with 6 wins. Gonzalez has won 4 races from 23 mounts (21%) and Desormeaux has scored victories atop 3 of his 14 rides (21%)…Ollie’s Candy competes in Sunday’s Grade I Clement Hirsch at Del Mar. The daughter of Candy Ride began her career at Golden Gate in 2018 and has blossomed into one of the top filly and mare dirt routers in the United States…Please note: the Rolling Super High Five at the upcoming Wine Country meeting is a 50 cent minimum bet and the Pick 6 is a $1 based bet…Happy birthday to trainer Debbie Winnick, who celebrated her birthday on Wednesday.

MATHIS HOLDS A STRONG HAND OF TURF HORSES HEADING INTO THE SUMMER 

Not surprisingly, trainer Andy Mathis was all smiles after a stellar 48 hours at Golden Gate Fields last weekend. From 5 starters throughout Saturday and Sunday, Mathis won with 4 of those entrants. 3 of the 4 aforementioned winners won turf sprints and are likely set to stay on grass for the foreseeable future while also probable to face tougher company in the coming months.

On Saturday, Mathis won a trio of races including the headliner on the day, the $50,000 Albany Stakes for turf sprinters, with Mikes Tiznow. Mikes Tiznow, a son of Slew’s Tiznow who had not made an afternoon appearance since a victory in the 2019 Albany, zipped to the front from post position 7 and stayed on the lead throughout, completing the 5-furlong grass dash in 56.26 seconds. Mikes Tiznow earned a 93 Beyer speed figure for his effort.

“He broke his maiden off a similar layoff, so I wasn’t surprised that he was able to run well fresh,” said Mathis. “He came out of the race well. We’re going to monitor his progress in the coming weeks and see where we go from there. Nothing is set and stone. He’s run through his conditions and he’s a very fast horse that enjoys turf and the 5-furlong distance. We’re going to give him time to recover from this race and when we think he’s ready to go again, we’ll find a spot for him.”

Earlier on the day, Mathis won with lower-level claimer Fair Challenge. The nightcap on Saturday, Race 11, was won by the Mathis conditioned Nardini, a California-bred filly who defeated first-level allowance company sprinting five furlongs on the lawn.

“[Nardini] has a really strong closing kick,” said Mathis. “I told [jockey] Juan [Hernandez] in the paddock, ‘Don’t let her do too much until the final quarter-mile.’ I think she is at her best when she can make that one strong run [down the stretch.]”

“The thing that I was most impressed about with [Nardini] was that she was the only one closing,” continued Mathis. “I give horses extra credit when they are the only ones making up ground and they are able to run down speed horses and finish like she did. There were plenty of speed horses that weren’t really stopping and she was still able to run past them all. I bet [Nardini’s] final quarter-mile time was very fast.”

Less than 24 hours after Nardini’s strong showing, 4-year-old gelding Give Me the Lute won a first-level allowance-in another 5-furlong turf affair-against colts and geldings for Mathis. Give Me the Lute, who stopped the clock in 55.34 seconds and was .09 seconds off the turf track record for the aforementioned distance, earned an eye-popping 100 Beyer for his performance. Give Me the Lute was claimed for $80,000 by Mathis and owners Wendy and Rod Hogan at Del Mar last summer.

“I am still in shock with how [Give Me the Lute] ran,” said Mathis. “I knew he was a good horse and was confident he could win, but I didn’t expect him to win like that. If you look at his past performances, it looks like he might be better going two turns. I’m still convinced, even after his race on Sunday, that he could be best going a route. If this is a sign of races to come from him, we’re going to have some fun with him.”

“One thing that’s good about Give Me the Lute is that he’s still got plenty of [allowance] conditions,” concluded Mathis. “Part of the reason I claimed him was because he looked like a really nice horse that had a lot of options. He is a California-bred, so he can run in a first-level [allowance] again. He is obviously eligible for all of the California-bred stakes. The way he ran last week, he very well could be a bigger, faster, and stronger horse than he was last year. One thing’s for sure…I’m keeping him on turf!” 

ALCATRAZ STAKES ATTRACTS EIGHT TALENTED SOPHOMORES

Eight runners are set to go postward in the feature race on Saturday afternoon, the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds. The one-mile turf contest goes as Race 7 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:15 PM PT. 99 horses entered into 11 races on Saturday, equating to a 9-horse per race average.

Golden Gate Fields leading jockey Juan Hernandez has the call on Southern California entrant Kanderel, a well-bred colt by Candy Ride out of the Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Stormica. The Richard Mandella trainee broke his maiden by daylight in the career debut as a 2-year-old but has failed to hit the board in four starts since then. Two of those four races came against stakes caliber talent at Santa Anita.

The other Southern California entrant, Zimba Warrior, draws the rail for brothers Kent and Keith Desormeaux. The son of second crop stallion Khozan makes his career debut on grass but has raced two turns before; over the winter, he ran third behind the Bob Baffert trained Authentic in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on dirt.

A local who could very well go off as the favorite, Indian Peak, picks up the services of jockey David C. Lopez for the first time. The Dr. and Mrs. William T. Gray homebred has run once against stakes company, with the lone run resulting in a third-place finish behind Azul Coast in the El Camino Real Derby. Most recently, the son of Comic Strip finished a better than looked second on the turf at Santa Anita behind the well-regarded California-bred Margot’s Boy in an allowance race.

A solid pace is projected for the 2020 Alcatraz, with a number of quick horses entered in the lineup. Stretch out sprinter Darnquick makes his second start off a layoff after a poor effort against older foes last month and figures to be a pace presence. Governance, from the leading barn of Jonathan Wong, comes off a gate-to-wire score against allowance company on May 30. The front runner with the most impressive credentials, however, may be the Bill Delia trained Bettor Trip Nick. A son of turf sprinter Boat Trip, the California-bred speedster makes his career debut on the grass and has shown an affinity for the Tapeta in past races. As a 2-year-old, Bettor Trip Nick won the Golden Nugget Stakes sprinting and returned one month later to win the Gold Rush Stakes routing.

Ajourneytofreedom, trained by Blaine Wright, is an intriguing item. The half-sibling to 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate is out of a mare whose older sister, Nebraska Tornado, won the Group 1 French Oaks in 2003. Ajourneyofreedom’s second dam, Media Nox, won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes on turf at Santa Anita in 1997. With the family lineage in mind, it would make sense if Ajourneytofreedom flourished on turf. The son of Hard Spun was last seen routing on March 7 over the main track Tapeta and beat a solid group of 3-year-olds that day.

Mylittlerunaway rounds out the field. A filly facing boys for the first time, the daughter of Run Away and Hide comes off a runaway victory against starter allowance foes three weeks ago. That day, she won the one-mile turf race by 5 lengths. Trainer O.J Jauregui teams up with apprentice Juan Espinoza, who makes his stakes debut as a jockey in the Alcatraz.

Race 7: $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes (3-year-olds and upward, one mile on the turf)

#1 Zimba Warrior (Jockey Kent Desormeaux, Trainer Keith Desormeaux)

#2 Mylittlerunaway (Juan Espinoza, O J Jauregui)

#3 Ajourneytofreedom (Ricky Gonzalez, Blaine Wright)

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

#5 Kandarel (Juan Hernandez, Richard Mandella)

#6 Darnquick (Hugo Herrera, Allen Rogers)

#7 Indian Peak (D.C. Lopez, Quinn Howey)

#8 Governance (William Antongeorgi III, Jonathan Wong)

GRADE 3 $250,000 SAN FRANCISCO MILE THE MARQUEE RACE ON CLOSING DAY 

A trio of locals and a number of Southern California shippers figure to be competitive in the marquee race of the Winter/Spring Meet at Golden Fields: the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf for 3-year-olds and upward.

The top three finishers in last month’s Grade 3 All American Stakes, Restrainedvengence, Kiwi’s Dream and Camino Del Paraiso, all enter back into the San Francisco Mile. Although the All American was run on Tapeta, all three aforementioned ‘Mile contenders have raced on turf in past starts.

Restrainedvengence, who earned a strong 103 Beyer speed figure in the All American, was victorious in the Rolling Green Stakes over this turf course last year and, with that in mind, can clearly be competitive on grass. Trained by Southern California conditioner Val Brinkerhoff, the 5-year-old gelding worked a blistering bullet half-mile drill in 46 seconds on Sunday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for this race. Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux was aboard for the All American Stakes victory and retains the mount.

Kiwi’s Dream, who ran the race of his life while finishing a neck behind Restrainedvengence in the All American, gets back to turf for trainer Victor Trujillo. While in the barn of John Martin in 2018, the Australian bred won an allowance race on grass. Leading Golden Gate jockey Juan Hernandez has the call.

Camino Del Paraiso may have run a career-best race when finishing second to Grade I winner River Boyne in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita in February. One month later, the California-bred son of Suances returned to finish as the runner up again in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes. Journeyman Catalino Martinez teams up with trainer O.J Jauregui.

Multiple allowance winner Arch Prince is definite to run…and why not? The son of Arch has won three of his past four races. In the lone loss during that four-race span, however, Arch Prince finished second behind Kiwi’s Dream. Arch Prince is trained by Sammy Calvario and will be navigated by jockey Brayan Pena.

One of the likely favorites, Neptunes Storm, races in the San Francisco Mile for Southern California trainer Richard Baltas. The son of Stormy Atlantic makes his second start off a five-month vacation after a 5 length loss in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 25. Last year, Neptune’s Storm won the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park and also hit the board in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. All three aforementioned races came against restricted 3-year-olds. Irving Orozco rides for the first time.

Another Southern California entrant, Majestic Eagle, is also a graded stake winner. Majestic Eagle,  who races as gelding for the first time in the San Francisco Mile, won the Grade 3 All American Stakes at Santa Anita in June of 2019 but has lost five straight races, including a 3-length loss in the Thunder Road Stakes to Grade I winner River Boyne and Camino Del Paraiso in February. Southern California jockey Umberto Rispoli flies up to ride for trainer Neil Drysdale, who also campaigns Simply Breathless. A mare facing boys this Sunday, Simply Breathless won the Golden Poppy Stakes in 2019 over this turf course. In her last two starts, she finished off-the-board against Grade I company in Southern California. Ricky Gonzalez rides for the first time.

Last year, trainer Doug O’Neill won the San Francisco Mile with Blitzkrieg. This year, he campaigns Murad Khan, a 7-year-old gelding stretching out from turf sprints to this one-mile route distance. The last year we saw him racing two turns, he was hitting the board while earning respectable speed figures against second-level allowance foes in Southern California. Local jockey Kyle Frey picks up the mount.

The San Francisco Mile goes as Race 8 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:15 PM. Post time for the San Francisco Mile is 3:45 PM PT.

Race 8: $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile (one mile on the turf)

#1 Camino Del Paraiso (jockey Catalino Martinez, trainer O.J. Jauregui)

#2 Arch Prince (Brayan Pena, Sammy Calvario)

#3 Majestic Eagle (Umberto Rispoli, Neil Drysdale)

#4 Murah Khan (Kyle Frey, Doug O’Neill)

#5 Simply Breathless (Ricky Gonzalez, Neil Drysdale)

#6 Kiwi’s Dream (Juan Hernandez, Victor Trujillo)

#7 Neptune’s Storm (Irving Orozco, Richard Baltas)

#8 Restrainedvengence (Kent Desormeaux, Val Brinkerhoff)

GUARANTEED LATE PICK 4 POOL OF $250,000 ON SUNDAY CAPS OFF THE WINTER/SPRING MEET

Closing Day of the Winter/Spring meet this Sunday features mandatory payouts in the 20 cent Golden Pick Six Jackpot wager (the last six races of the day), the $1 Rolling Super High Five wager, and both Pick 5 sequences.

Also on Sunday, Golden Gate Fields offers a $250,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 pool. The Late Pick 4 wager is a 50-cent minimum bet and goes as the last four races on the Sunday program. This Sunday, the Late Pick 4 sequence will be Races 8 through 11.

“We are very excited to be offering a guaranteed pool of a quarter-million dollars in the Late Pick 4 pool on Sunday,” said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. “It’s our way of saying thank you to all of the bettors who have followed Golden Gate Fields throughout the year.”

The Late Pick 4 is comprised of a quartet of turf races, making the popular wager an “all-turf” sequence. Race 8, the first leg, is the $250,000 San Francisco Mile with a field of 8. Race 9 is a one-mile, 20k claimer for 10 filly and mare routers. Race 10 catches the eye, an allowance route race with 11 entrants signed up to compete, while the nightcap is a claiming race with 10 fillies and mares. All four races are one-mile races. The turf is projected to be firm and the rails all the way in at zero feet.

Post time for Race 8, the first leg of the Late Pick 4, is approximately 3:45 PM.

FINISH LINES: Impressive Golden Gate Fields maiden winner Praise and Honor makes her second lifetime start in the Angel Flight Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters at Santa Anita on Saturday for trainer Jonathan Wong. Abel Cedillo rides for the first time…Congrats to jockey Kyle Frey, who won three races on Sunday’s program including the featured $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes with Sloane Garden…There is a Rolling Super High Five carryover of $11,735 in the first race on Thursday…The Golden Pick Six jackpot wager was hit last Sunday afternoon and begins anew on Thursday with four more live racing days to go…Happy birthday to Racing Secretary and Director of Racing Patrick Mackey and trainer Greg James, both who celebrate birthdays this week.

Berkeley, Calif. (June 7, 2020)-4-year-old chestnut filly Sloane Garden scored a last-to-first victory in her stake debut at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday, the $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes for filly and mare routers on turf. The daughter of British sire Ifraaj sat at the back of the field off a moderate pace before charging home in the final quarter mile and swooping past even money runner up Meal Ticket, 7-1 third place finisher Wicked Old Fashion and everybody else. Morning Cynn, Boundforjamaica and Blue Diva completed the order of finish.

“[Trainer] Manny [Badilla] and I chatted before the race and he said to sit off and make one-run,” said winning jockey Kyle Frey. “Down the backside, even though we were last and the fillies in front weren’t going very fast, I said to myself, ‘I’m liking this.’ [Sloane Garden] was traveling great. I wanted to save ground on the turns and we were able to do that and turning for home I swung outside and let her loose. She’s an improving filly and she’s doing really well right now. She ran great.”

Sloane Garden finished up the mile and a sixteenth grass route in 1:43.39. Purchased by owners Ron Charles and Samuel Gordon for $33,642 at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses of Racing Age sale in 2019, Sloane Garden has recorded 3 wins and 1 second from 5 starts in North America since moving to the barn of Manny Badilla from the yard of James Tate in Europe. The chestnut filly sports a lifetime record of 3 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds from 9 career starts, with career earnings of $91,857.

Off at odds of 7-2, Sloane Garden paid $9.20 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Meal Ticket paid $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show while Wicked Old Fashion paid $3.00 to show.

Live racing resumes at Golden Gate Fields on Thursday with a 9-race program. First post is 12:45 PM. Closing Day of the Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate goes on Sunday and features the marquee race of the meeting, the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile for 3-year-olds and upward routing one mile on the turf. On Saturday afternoon, the San Francisco Mile nominations list was released and featured 27 horses.

-30-

June 6, 2020 (Berkeley, Calif.)-Five-year-old gelding Mikes Tiznow went right to the lead and never stopped when defeating a strong group of older sprinters in the feature race on Saturday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields, the $50,000 Albany Stakes. Mikes Tiznow, who won the 2019 Albany Stakes last year by a length and a half, successfully picked up his second straight Albany victory while stopping the clock for five furlongs on turf in a blistering quick 56.26 seconds.

Under jockey Ricky Gonzalez, Mikes Tiznow shot to the lead from post position 7 and set fast fractions of 21.10 and 44.48 seconds. Mike’s Tiznow showed grit in the final furlong and out finished the Blaine Wright trained pair of Baja Sur and Anyportinastorm, who ran second and third and were also running fresh off vacations. Passionate Reward finished fourth, followed by Bear Chum, Sparticle, What’sontheagenda, Sunset Dragunn, and Daddysprize to complete the running order.

Mikes Tiznow clearly possesses an affinity for five furlongs and the Golden Gate Fields grass course. He has won all 3 lifetime starts on the Golden Gate turf with a 4 for 5 record while traveling the five-panel distance. Well-conditioned off the hiatus by trainer Andy Mathis, the son of Slew’s Tiznow improved his lifetime record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 9 lifetime starts with career earnings of $196,605. Mikes Tiznow was bred in California by Eagle Ridge Racing LLC and is currently owned by Mike Schott.

TALENTED WRIGHT DUO IN ALBANY STAKES AGAINST SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S WHAT’SONTHEAGENDA, SIX MORE

On Saturday, trainer Blaine Wright will be in Southern California to saddle 2019 Breeders Cup Juvenile runner up Anneau D’Or in the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. On the same day at Golden Gate, Wright campaigns two of the nine entered in the feature race on an 11-race program, the $50,000 Albany Stakes for turf sprinters voyaging five furlongs.

“Both of my Albany candidates are doing well,” said Wright. “I hope my two horses get clean trips.”

Those two candidates, Anyportinastorm and Baja Sur, are multiple stakes winners that possess an abundance of raw talent. Anyportinastorm hasn’t been seen since a gut wrenching, nose loss in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in August. The son of City Zip won the 2019 Lost in the Fog Stakes on the Golden Gate Tapeta earlier last year and was stakes placed on turf as a 3-year-old.

“We were ready for Anyportinastorm to defend his title in the 2020 Lost in the Fog and then COVID-19 came along,” said Wright. “We rerouted to this spot. He was fit to race in late April so he’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”

Baja Sur, winner of the Oakland Stakes against older horses as a 3-year-old last fall, makes his first start since a fifth place finish in the California Cup Sprint Stakes at Santa Anita in January.

“I’ve always wanted to try Baja Sur on turf,” said Wright. “Baja’ is by Smiling Tiger. The Smiling Tiger’s typically enjoy the grass. He’s fast and he’s working really well leading up to the Albany.”

Juan Hernandez, who had the choice of whether to navigate Anyportinastorm or Baja Sur, ended up siding with Anyportinastorm. Catalino Martinez picks up the mount on Baja Sur.

Jockey Julien Couton rides What’sontheagenda, the only Southern California entrant in the race, for trainer Doug O’Neill. Like the two Wright rivals, What’sontheagenda races fresh off a vacation. The son of Dialed is a multiple stakes placed turf sprinter, having finished second in the January 26 Clockers Corner Stakes and the 2019, Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita.

Mikes Tiznow has not raced since a victory in last year’s Albany Stakes and returns to the races with a steady series of morning drills leading up to this year’s rendition. The defending champion retains the services of Ricky Gonzalez, his regular jockey throughout 2019, and remains under the care of conditioner Andy Mathis.

“Mikes Tiznow broke his maiden coming off a 13 month layoff so he’s run well fresh before,” said Mathis. “This is the race we’ve been pointing for with him. I was hoping to get a prep race into him earlier this year but we had that time throughout April and some of May where we didn’t run. At that point, we had to train him up to this race. He’s run through his conditions and this is the most logical spot for him. It’s not an easy race-there are a lot of really nice horses entered-but he’s doing good.”

The ultra-gritty Bear Chum makes his second start for the Isidro Tamayo barn and appears as an intriguing “price play” prospect. The Australian-bred gelding has never run in a North American stakes race but holds peak form, having visited the winners circle in his last four races, all of which came over the Golden Gate Tapeta.

“When he raced overseas, he actually won a stake on turf,” said Tamayo. “He’s on a nice win streak right now and I think he’s a really confident horse at the moment.”

Tamayo also sends out Passionate Reward in the Albany. Claimed for $20,000 by owner Michael Demoulin, the former Richard Mandella trainee has wracked off 3 wins from 5 starts since moving to the Tamayo barn. All five aforementioned races have come on the Tapeta main track. Most recently, Passionate Reward suffered an undesirable trip and ran third to Bear Chum on May 15.

“Passionate Reward broke his maiden on the grass at Santa Anita and ran really well that day,” said Tamayo. “The surface change to turf isn’t a concern for me. Bear Chum got the first jump on Passionate Reward the other day, but I think Passionate Reward has tactical speed and hopefully he works out a good trip this time. This is a tough race but he’s training really well.”

Daddysprize, by Scat Daddy out of stakes winning mare YoutheprizeandI, makes his second start off a layoff after an easy victory against second level allowance company on Tapeta. The stakes placed ridgling is trained by Tim McCanna and will, once again, be ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeuax rides.

Sparticle and Sunset Dragunn round out the list of entrants. The Albany Stakes goes as Race 9 and has a first post time of 4:45 PM PT.

Race 9: $50,000 Albany Stakes
#1 Sunset Dragunn (David C. Lopez, Tirso Rivera)
#2 Daddysprize (Kent Desormeaux, Tim McCanna)
#3 Bear Chum (Francisco Monroy, Isidro Tamayo)
#4 Baja Sur (Catalino Martinez, Blaine Wright)
#5 Sparticle (William Antongeorgi III, Matthew Troy)
#6 Anyportinastorm (Juan Hernandez, Blaine Wright)
#7 Mikes Tiznow (Ricky Gonzalez, Andy Mathis)
#8 Passionate Reward (Kyle Frey, Isidro Tamayo)
#9 What’sontheagenda (Julien Couton, Doug O’Neill)

BLUE DIVA RETURNS IN THE GOLDEN POPPY

Miss America Stakes winner Blue Diva is the most noteworthy local entrant in Sunday’s headliner at Golden Gate Fields, the $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes for filly and mare routers. The mile and one-sixteenth turf contest was won last year by eventual Grade 3 winner Simply Breathless.

Blue Diva easily defeated a group of allowance foes on February 28 and freshens up three months for her springtime debut in the Golden Poppy. According to trainer Isidro Tamayo, the daughter of Bluegrass Cat enters the race in great shape.

“She’s doing super,” said Tamayo. “She’s a really classy filly. [Jockey] Juan [Hernandez] is sticking with her for this race and that gives me a lot of confidence.”

Among Blue Diva’s main rivals is Wicked Old Fashion, one of two entrants from the Victor Trujillo barn. She was claimed for $16,000 by Trujillo and owners Frank Aufdermaur and Wayne Swisher in 2018 and has won 7 races, including the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last fall.

“Wicked Old Fashion is doing well,” said Trujillo. “She loves the turf, that’s for sure. She’s one of those mares that tries hard and competes no matter where she is spotted.”

The other Trujillo entrant, Boundforjamaica, sprung a 56-1 upset in a first-level allowance Tapeta sprint on May 16 and makes her career debut on turf and routing in the Golden Poppy.

Trainer Manny Badilla saddles three entrants in the Golden Poppy: Morning Cynn, Sloane Garden, and Ziarah. Leading the Badilla charge is Ziarah, a mare who comes off three straight wins and is effective on turf as she is on Tapeta. Morning Cynn finished behind her stablemate the last time they met, in a second-level allowance affair on May 17 while Sloane Garden blasted past first-level allowance foes in her most recent afternoon appearance and wheels back two weeks later for her North American stakes debut.

Two Southern California entrants will get bet: Desert Oasis and Meal Ticket. The former, a Neil Drysdale trainee, last finished as the runner up in a second level allowance race and searches for blacktype, while the latter Santa Anita shipper is a Grade 2 placed mare from the Matt Chew barn who makes her second start off a layoff.

The Golden Poppy is Race 7 on the 9-race Sunday card with a scheduled post time of 4:03 PM.

Race 7: $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes

#1 Meal Ticket (Jockey Kent Desormeaux, Trainer Matt Chew)

#2 Morning Cynn (David C. Lopez, Manny Badilla)

#3 Desert Oasis (Ricky Gonzalez, Neil Drysdale)

#4 Ziarah (Frank Alvarado, Manny Badilla)

#5 Wicked Old Fashion (Catalino Martinez, Victor Trujillo)

#6 Blue Diva (Juan Hernandez, Isidro Tamayo)

#7 Boundforjamaica (William Antongeorgi III, Victor Trujillo)

#8 Sloane Garden (Kyle Frey, Manny Badilla)

ANNEAU D’OR DRAWS POST 4 IN RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY

Anneau D’Or drew post position 4 in the 2020 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby this Saturday at Santa Anita Park and will face six formidable rivals, including the Bob Baffert trained Authentic and talented Honor Code colt Honor A.P. Trainer Blaine Wright was in-route to Santa Anita Park and in good spirits when discussing Anneau D’Or’s Runhappy Santa Anita Derby chances on Wednesday afternoon.

“He’s training just fine,” said Blaine. “He shipped to Santa Anita on Monday and is resting happily in his stall there.”

The son of Medgalia D’Oro, purchased for $480,000 by owner Peter Redekop, finished second in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity last year and was considered a major player on the Triple Crown trail heading into 2020. However, his first two starts as a 3-year-old have been subpar.

After two off the board finishes in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, Wright says there are reasons to believe that Anneau D’Or can run an improved race in his third start of 2020.

“He likes the Santa Anita dirt,” said Wright. “He ran great over it in the Breeders Cup. We worked him once over the strip in April and he cruised over it.”

“He didn’t break quickly in Arkansas, either, and had to rush into contention early,” continued Wright. “Nobody was going to beat the winner, but Anneau D’Or flattened out a little bit late. I think it was partially because he had to be used up early on to get in a good spot.”

In the Santa Anita Derby, Anneau D’Or will be ridden for the first time by 3-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Victor Espinoza and is listed at 15-1 on the morning line. The Santa Anita Derby goes as Race 8 on a stakes-packed 11 race card at Santa Anita.

“It’s critical Anneau D’Or breaks [from the gate] well,” concluded Wright. “We’re going to give him more shot. If he breaks and gets a good trip, hopefully he puts up his best race.”

Also entered in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby is El Camino Real Stakes winner Azul Coast, who makes his first start since the aforementioned victory at Golden Gate. Trained by Bob Baffert, the son of Super Saver will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli for the first time.

“I hope he can get a piece of the action,” said Baffert to Horse Racing Nation’s Jonathan Litner.  “He’s a late running horse.”

FINISH LINES: El Camino Real Derby second place finisher American Farmer returned to the work tab on Saturday morning, working an easy half mile for trainer Steve Sherman…Over $93,000 was awarded to a sharp Golden Pick Six jackpot winner on Saturday afternoon. Just over $4,287 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot pool heading into Thursday’s card…The Stronach 5 wager is back in play this Friday, beginning with Laurel Park’s seventh race. The third race from Golden Gate is Leg D (the fourth leg) of the Stronach 5…Happy birthday to jockey Francisco Duran and trainer Steve Miyadi, both who turn one-year older this week.

Berkeley, Calif. (May 31, 2020)-On Memorial Day Monday, trainer Jonathan Wong and owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC collected a Grade I victory with Keeperof the Stars in the prestigious Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita Park. 6 days removed from the aforementioned Grade I score, Wong and Tommy Town struck again with Dynasty of Her Own in the feature race on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields, the $75,000 California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Dynasty of Her Own broke sharply from the gate before taking control of the race entering the clubhouse turn. After setting swift fractions of 22.93, 47.63 and 1:11.63, the daughter of Shanghai Bobby held off Southern California shipper Mind Out, hitting the wire a half-length in front of the aforementioned runner up finisher. Paige Anne, Reiwa, Molly O’ McEvoy and Eclair completed the order of finish. Dynasty of Her Own completed the mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta in 1:44.55 seconds and was ridden to victory by Ricky Gonzalez.

“[Dynasty of Her Own] is a fast filly,” said Gonzalez. “She was relaxed, even with the fast fractions we were setting. She has a high cruising speed. Turning for home I knew we were going to be tough to catch. I figured [Mind Out] would be closing, which she did, but I had plenty left in the tank with my filly. She galloped out great, too. I feel really lucky to be able to ride such a nice filly. Horses like her make my job easy.”

Dynasty of Her Own went off as the 9-5 post time favorite and paid $5.80 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show. With the California Oaks victory, Dynasty of Her Own improved her lifetime record to 4 wins and 1 third place finish from 5 starts. She has accumulated career earnings of $128,700. Dynasty of Her Own was bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kaster.
Live racing at Golden Gate Fields resumes on Thursday afternoon with a first post time of 12:45 PM. Golden Gate races Thursday through Sunday next week with two stakes on the docket: the Albany Stakes for turf sprinters on Saturday and the Golden Poppy Stakes for filly and mare grass routers on Sunday. For more information, visit goldengatefields.com.

-30-