2020 El Camino Real Derby Draws Contenders From Both Ends Of The California Coast

A field of eleven 3-year-olds has been assembled to compete in this Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. The El Camino Real Derby, a one mile and one-furlong event on the Tapeta main track, offers 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner and a free berth into the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 16. In order for the latter incentive to be granted to the El Camino Real Derby winner, he must be nominated to the 2020 Triple Crown series.

Last year, trainer Bob Baffert saddled Grade 3 winner Kingly to a second place finish in the El Camino Real Derby. In the 2020 edition, Baffert is represented by Azul Coast, a son of Super Saver coming off a runner up performance in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita last month. The winner of the Sham, Authentic, is considered one of the top 3-year-olds on the West Coast for Baffert. Azul Coast makes his third lifetime start in the El Camino Real Derby and will be ridden by Southern California jockey Rafael Bejarano.  

Czechmight is another Southern California shipper that is likely to attract interest in the wagering. Purchased for $190,000 by his current connections after a maiden special weight win at Keeneland last October, the son of Street Sense makes his 3-year-old debut and first career start for the Richard Baltas barn. Leading up to the El Camino Real Derby, Czechmight has posted a series of sharp workouts at Santa Anita, including a bullet drill on the morning of February 8. Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. flies up to ride for Team Baltas.

In 2019, Anothertwistafate wowed racing fans with an eye-popping, eight-length runaway win in the El Camino Real Derby for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop. This year, Wright and Redekop send out the little brother to Anothertwistafate, Ajourneytofreedom. He, like Anothertwistafate, is out of the First Defence mare Imprecation and was purchased for $180,000 as a 2-year-old in training. In his most recent afternoon appearance, Ajourneytofreedom went off favored in a January 19 allowance race and finished fourth, only beaten by about a length.

In fact, the top five finishers from the aforementioned January 19 affair enter back into the El Camino Real Derby. The Stiff, trained by Southern California conditioner Michael McCarthy, won the mile and one-sixteenth contest by a head and draws the outside post position for the El Camino Real Derby. Wine and Whisky, who put up a gallant showing when finishing a neck off The Stiff, will break from post position 4. Third place finisher Mysterious Stones is one of two El Camino Real Derby contenders campaigned by trainer Steve Sherman while the Bill McLean conditioned Final Final also takes a stab at a graded stakes placing after hitting the wire behind the top four finishers in last month’s allowance prep.

The well-bred Sacred Rider, out of stakes winning race mare and producer Lady Railrider, finished an admirable second in the California Cup Derby for California-bred 3-year-olds on dirt at Santa Anita. Last December, Sacred Rider completed the exacta in the locally-run Gold Rush Stakes, indicating he is effective and versatile on multiple surfaces. Frank Alvarado teams up with trainer Steve Specht, who tuned up Zakaroff to a 48-1 shocker in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby.

Impressive December allowance winner Indian Peak suffered a traffic-filled trip in the California Cup Derby and returns to the bayside oval in search of a graded stakes win. The highly-regarded California-bred colt has dazzled in the mornings with a pair of lightning-quick five-furlong bullet workouts and impressed racegoers two starts ago with an eye-catching victory. Leading Golden Gate jockey Juan Hernandez has the call for trainer Quinn Howey.

Recent maiden winner American Farmer is the second Steve Sherman entrant in the race, having most recently defeated a maiden special weight group on January 26. American Farmer is a full brother to Blue Diva, winner of the Miss America Stakes in December. Longshot Praise Loudly rounds out the field. The chestnut gelding was last seen hitting the board in a pair of starter allowance races and is taking a massive bump up in class.

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 7 on the 9-race Saturday card, with an approximate post time of 3:45 PM. Saturday’s marquee event will be shown on “America’s Day at the Races” on Fox Sports 2 and TVG network. TVG’s Joaquin Jaime has been assigned to cover the Saturday action on-sight while XBTV’s Zoe Cadman will also be on hand providing handicapping analysis over the Golden Gate Fields track feed with GGF race caller Matt Dinerman.

Trainer Quotes:

Quinn Howey (on Indian Peak): “He was super impressive over this track two races ago. Last time out (in the California Cup Derby) he never got a chance to run. He’s worked two bullet workouts since his last start and he hasn’t been fully set down on both occasions. I was surprised he went as fast as he did (both 5-furlong workouts in under a minute). He has a lot of talent, we’ve always really liked him, and we’re excited for his race on Saturday because he’s coming into his own. I think he has a good chance.”

Bill McLean (on Final Final): “It’s not an easy spot but we’re giving it a shot. We feel he will like the distance. The more ground for him…the better.”

Steve Sherman (on American Farmer): “He just broke his maiden and he’s coming into the race well. He’s a beautiful looking horse and we’re taking a chance. It seems like his niche is to sit off the pace and make one run. Hopefully, he gets a pace to run at.”

Steve Sherman (on Mysterious Stones): “He’s my knight in shining armor. He just goes out there and tries every time.”

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Race 7: $100,000 2020 El Camino Real Derby (Post time: approximately 3:45 PM PT)

#1 Indian Peak (Jockey Juan Hernandez, Quinn Howey)

#2 Praise Loudly (Silvio Amador, Daniel Franko)

#3 American Farmer (Kent Desormeaux, Steve Sherman)

#4 Wine and Whisky (Cristobal Herrera, Felix Rondan)

#5 Mysterious Stones (William Antongeorgi III, Steve Sherman)

#6 Final Final (Kevin Krigger, Bill McLean)

#7 Sacred Rider (Frank Alvarado, Steve Specht)

#8 Ajourneytofreedom (Ricky Gonzalez, Blaine Wright)

#9 Azul Coast (Rafael Bejarano, Bob Baffert)

#10 Czechmight (Jose Valdivia Jr., Richard Baltas)

#11 The Stiff (Julien Couton, Michael McCarthy)

Anneau D’Or Looks To Punch Kentucky Derby Ticket With A Victory In The Risen Star Stakes

Trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop have good reason to watch the El Camino Real Derby from a television screen thousands of miles from Golden Gate Fields on Saturday: they’ll be campaigning star 3-year-old Anneau D’Or in Louisiana.

Anneau D’Or, who broke his maiden at Golden Gate before finishing second in both the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity last year, makes his 3-year-old debut this Saturday in the $400,000 Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at The Fair Grounds in New Orleans. The Risen Star oversubscribed with 23 contenders and was subsequently split into two divisions on entry day. Anneau D’Or races in the second division, drew post position #8 and will be ridden by top North American jockey Joel Rosario for the first time. Post time for the second division of the Risen Star (Race 13) is approximately 4:12 PM Pacific Time, 6:12 PM Central Time.

Anneau D’Or arrived at the Fair Grounds on Wednesday afternoon and was resting comfortably in his stall happy and healthy, according to Wright. His last major prep work came at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday when the son of Medaglia D’Oro drilled 6 furlongs in 1:12.80 seconds.

Jauregui Happy With Camino Del Paraiso After Thunder Road Second Place Finish

Many handicappers quickly dismissed Golden Gate Fields shipper Camino Del Paraiso in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita. When the gates opened, his odds were locked at 50-1. Luckily, horses can’t read the tote board.

Under jockey Tiago Pereira, the 7-year-old gelding by Suances stalked the pace before producing a five-wide rally turning for home. He eventually out finished Grade 2 winner True Valour, Grade 3 winner Kingly and Grade 3 placed Frontier Market for the runner up spot and picked up $20,000 for his second-place finish.

“He ran well,” said trainer O.J. Jauregui. “He doesn’t win often but he certainly competes with very nice horses on his best day. We’ll run in one more race before the [Grade 3, $250,000] San Francisco Mile [on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 25 at Golden Gate].”

Claims From Last Week

Thursday:

Race 4: Gray Lives Matter (new trainer: Blaine Wright, new owner: Dan Warden)

Friday:

Race 1: For Him (trainer/owner Ari Herbertson)

Silent Movies (trainer Jonathan Wong, owner MJVET Stables)

Race 7: Brotherciccio (trainer Samuel Calvario, owner Johnny Taboada)

Smiling Bandit (trainer Jonathan Wong, owner MJVET Stables)

Stone Groove (trainer Isidro Tamayo, owners Sheila Chung and Jerry Edwards)

Saturday:

Race 3: Ardenlee Star (trainer Frank Lucarelli, owner Chad Christensen)

Race 4: Shanghai Keely (trainer Blaine Wright, owner Stable H.M.A.

Race 5: Bako Sweets (trainer Andy Mathis, owners Bruno, Jones & Mathis)

Race 9: Awesome Silver (trainer Bob Hess Sr., owners Eaton, Finch & Hess)

Sigur Ros (trainer Frank Lucarelli, owner Chad Christensen)

Race 10: Studly Perfection (trainer Frank Lucarelli, owner Chad Christensen)

Sunday: 

Race 2: Falcone (trainer Jack Steiner, owner Randy Marriott)

Race 6: Cedars of Lebanon (trainer Leobardo Rivera, owner Nelson Martinez)

Race 8: River of Champagne (trainer Ari Herbertson, owner Scott Herbertson)

FINISH LINES: Juan Hernandez and Jonathan Wong continue to hold a large-sized lead in the jockey/trainer standings. Catalino Martinez lays second in the jockey standings while Bill Delia and Isidro Tamayo are tied for second in the trainer standings heading into Thursday’s card…Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager runs as the third race at Golden Gate on Friday…Heading into Thursday’s card, we have a Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover of $59, 641 and a Super High Five carryover of $3,556…Happy birthday to trainers Isidro Tamayo and Tirso Rivera, both of who celebrate birthdays later this week.

2020 EL CAMINO REAL DERBY DRAWS CONTENDERS FROM BOTH ENDS OF THE CALIFORNIA COAST

Berkeley, Calif. (February 12, 2020)-A field of eleven 3-year-olds has been assembled to compete in this Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. The El Camino Real Derby, a one mile and one-furlong event on the Tapeta main track, offers 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner and a free berth into the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 16. In order for the latter incentive to be granted to the El Camino Real Derby winner, he must be nominated to the 2020 Triple Crown series.

Last year, trainer Bob Baffert saddled Grade 3 winner Kingly to a second place finish in the El Camino Real Derby. In the 2020 edition, Baffert is represented by Azul Coast, a son of Super Saver coming off a runner up performance in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita last month. The winner of the Sham, Authentic, is considered one of the top 3-year-olds on the West Coast for Baffert. Azul Coast makes his third lifetime start in the El Camino Real Derby and will be ridden by Southern California jockey Rafael Bejarano.  

Czechmight is another Southern California shipper that is likely to attract interest in the wagering. Purchased for $190,000 by his current connections after a maiden special weight win at Keeneland last October, the son of Street Sense makes his 3-year-old debut and first career start for the Richard Baltas barn. Leading up to the El Camino Real Derby, Czechmight has posted a series of sharp workouts at Santa Anita, including a bullet drill on the morning of February 8. Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. flies up to ride for Team Baltas.

In 2019, Anothertwistafate wowed racing fans with an eye-popping, eight-length runaway win in the El Camino Real Derby for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop. This year, Wright and Redekop send out the little brother to Anothertwistafate, Ajourneytofreedom. He, like Anothertwistafate, is out of the First Defence mare Imprecation and was purchased for $180,000 as a 2-year-old in training. In his most recent afternoon apperance, Ajourneytofreedom went off favored in a January 19 allowance race and finished fourth, only beaten by about a length.

In fact, the top five finishers from the aforementioned January 19 affair enter back into the El Camino Real Derby. The Stiff, trained by Southern California conditioner Michael McCarthy, won the mile and one-sixteenth contest by a head and draws the outside post position for the El Camino Real Derby. Wine and Whisky, who put up a gallant showing when finishing a neck off The Stiff, will break from post position 4. Third place finisher Mysterious Stones is one of two El Camino Real Derby contenders campaigned by trainer Steve Sherman while the Bill McLean conditioned Final Final also takes a stab at a graded stakes placing after hitting the wire behind the top four finishers in last month’s allowance prep.

The well-bred Sacred Rider, out of stakes winning race mare and producer Lady Railrider, finished an admirable second in the California Cup Derby for California-bred 3-year-olds on dirt at Santa Anita. Last December, Sacred Rider completed the exacta in the locally-run Gold Rush Stakes, indicating he is effective and versatile on multiple surfaces. Frank Alvarado teams up with trainer Steve Specht, who tuned up Zakaroff to a 48-1 shocker in the 2017 El Camino Real Derby.

Impressive December allowance winner Indian Peak suffered a traffic-filled trip in the California Cup Derby and returns to the bayside oval in search of a graded stakes win. The highly-regarded California-bred colt has dazzled in the mornings with a pair of lightning quick five-furlong bullet workouts and impressed racegoers two starts ago with an eye-catching victory. Leading Golden Gate jockey Juan Hernandez has the call for trainer Quinn Howey.

Recent maiden winner American Farmer is the second Steve Sherman entrant in the race, having most recently defeated a maiden special weight group on January 26. American Farmer is a full brother to Blue Diva, winner of the Miss America Stakes in December. Longshot Praise Loudly rounds out the field. The chestnut gelding was last seen hitting the board in a pair of starter allowance races and is taking a massive bump up in class.

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 7 on the 9-race Saturday card, with an approximate post time of 3:45 PM. Saturday’s marquee event will be shown on “America’s Day at the Races” on Fox Sports 2 and TVG network. TVG’s Joaquin Jaime has been assigned to cover the Saturday action on-sight while XBTV’s Zoe Cadman will also be on hand providing handicapping analysis over the Golden Gate Fields track feed with GGF race caller Matt Dinerman.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Race 7: $100,000 2020 El Camino Real Derby (Post time: approximately 3:45 PM PT)

#1 Indian Peak (Jockey Juan Hernandez, Quinn Howey)

#2 Praise Loudly (Silvio Amador, Daniel Franko)

#3 American Farmer (Kent Desormeaux, Steve Sherman)

#4 Wine and Whisky (Cristobal Herrera, Felix Rondan)

#5 Mysterious Stones (William Antongeorgi III, Steve Sherman)

#6 Final Final (Kevin Krigger, Bill McLean)

#7 Sacred Rider (Frank Alvarado, Steve Specht)

#8 Ajourneytofreedom (Ricky Gonzalez, Blaine Wright)

#9 Azul Coast (Rafael Bejarano, Bob Baffert)

#10 Czechmight (Jose Valdivia Jr., Richard Baltas)

#11 The Stiff (Julien Couton, Michael McCarthy)

-30-

HALL OF FAMER DESORMEAUX JOINS JOCKEY COLONY

On January 1, Kent Desormeaux entered his 34th year of race riding with over 6,000 career victories. As of Sunday, January 26 (our last live racing day), Desormeaux shipped his tack to Golden Gate Fields, rode two races on the aforementioned Sunday, and indicated he would like to ride at the Bayside track for an extended period of time. He will be represented by agent J.R. Pegram.

“A couple of leaders trainers [at Golden Gate] said they would ride me if I came here,” said Desormeaux. “I’m giving it a shot. I’m all in.”

A native of Louisiana, Desormeaux is the second-most winningest Cajun jockey. The great Eddie Delahoussaye, alongside Desormeaux in the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, posted 6,384 wins throughout a remarkable career that spanned over four decades. Desormeaux has guided 6,031 winners and, after doing the math, needs 354 more to pass Delahoussaye as the all-time winningest Cajun jockey.

With his Hall of Fame induction in mind, it’s no surprise that Desormeaux possesses an awe-inspiring resume.  For one, he is a 3-time Kentucky Derby winner. He won the 1998 edition aboard Real Quiet, finished first two years later atop Fusaichi Pegasus, and was the regular rider for 2008 victor Big Brown. Desormeaux has also won 3 Preakness Stakes (in 1998, 2008, 2016) and was victorious in the 2009 Belmont Stakes with Summer Bird. He is a 6-time Breeders Cup winner, too, and has amassed career purse earnings of a whopping $285,608,407.

ANNEAU D’OR LOOKS TO SHINE BRIGHT IN THE RISEN STAR

As reported last week by major horse racing media outlets, Northern California star 3-year-old Anneau D’or will race next in the February 15 Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at The Fairgrounds in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Risen Star, a mile and a sixteenth dirt race that awards the winner 50 Kentucky Derby points, hands out a total purse of $400,000.

For the first time, Anneau D’Or will be ridden by one of the top jockeys in North America: Joel Rosario. Rosario, with an impressive record that boasts a Kentucky Derby win and a multitude of Breeders Cup victories, picked up the call within the past couple of weeks.

Anneau D’Or, who ran second in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile before another runner up finish in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, will be adding blinkers for the first time in the Risen Star. The son of Medaglia D’Oro has reportedly sported “the hood” in recent workouts over the Golden Gate Tapeta, including last Saturday morning when he breezed a strong 7 furlongs in 1:29.80 seconds. New jockey Rosario flew up from his current Southern California home to get acquainted with Anneau D’Or and was aboard for the drill.

“We added a little bit of a blinker to him, been breezing him (with the equipment),” trainer Blaine Wright told Bloodhorse Magazine’s Byron King. “Everything looks pretty decent to this point. Hopefully, he will put himself in a position to come at ’em at the top of the lane.”

NOMINATIONS CLOSE FOR THE EL CAMINO REAL DERBY THIS THURSDAY 

On Thursday,  February 6, nominations close for next Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby. Run at the traditional mile and an eighth distance, the El Camino Real Derby awards 10 Kentucky Derby points to the first-place finisher and, for the second year in a row, an automatic berth into the Grade I Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday, May 16.

CLAIMS

Our weekly “claims list” is as follows: 

Friday, January 24

No claims 

Saturday, January 25

Race 5: Mulhima (new trainer Mike Lenzini, new owner Gary Marrone)

Race 7: Arch Anthem (trainer Tim Bellasis, owners Bellasis, O’Donnell, O’Gorman, Tschanz & Tschanz)

Sunday, January 26

Race 3: Imperator (trainer/owner Dan Franko)

Race 4: Sooner Better (trainer Reina Gonzalez, owners Doyle, Gonzalez, Gutierrez & Viramontes)

Race 6: Please Do (trainer Victor Trujillo, owner Carrol Stubbs)

Race 7: Tuscan Warrior (trainer Jonathan Wong, owner MJVET Stables)

Race 9: Live It Well (trainer Rene Amescua, owner Richard Barton) 

FINISH LINES: Juan Hernandez and Jonathan Wong both have commanding leads in the jockey/trainer standings…Wong scored two stakes triumphs two weeks ago at two different tracks: impressive Golden Gate maiden special weight winner Dynasty of Her Own won the Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park while 2^nd place Pike Place Dancer Stakes finisher The Adrie Factor was victorious in the Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. Stakes at Turf Paradise…Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap winner Mugaritz, recent GGF allowance winner Camino Del Paraiso and 2018 California Derby winner Kingly clash in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita. The Thunder Road is a one-mile turf contest…Leg D of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate this Friday…The Rolling Super High Five wager has a carryover of $5,673 heading into the next race in which the ‘High Five is offered…Also moving forward, $29,166 has been carried over into the Golden Pick Six Jackpot pool…Happy birthday to Assistant Racing Secretary and morning line maker Steve Martinelli, who celebrated his birthday last week…This week, we give birthday shout outs to trainer Jamey Thomas, trainer Jacqui Navarre, and pony gal Brittney Moore.

(Jan. 30, 2020) Albany, CA — Racing at Golden Gate Fields has been cancelled this week after repairs from a gas leak in the area surrounding the Albany, CA track damaged the facility’s hot water system.

“There is no concern of a gas leak at Golden Gate Fields,” said David Duggan, Vice President & General Manager, Golden Gate Fields, “Unfortunately, there was a leak in the area Thursday.  In order to repair it, the utility company responsible for the gas line had to shut off the gas to the track.  When they re-pressurized the lines afterwards, it did some damage that pipes that supply hot water to the facility.  After speaking with specialists, it’s highly unlikely we will be fixed this weekend, so in the best interest of our horsemen, fans and employees and to safely expedite the repairs, we are cancelling both racing and simulcasting this weekend.  We feel confident we can be fully up and running by Thursday.”

In addition to impacting the track’s Food and Beverage operations, hot water is also used by the several hundred backstretch workers who provide round-the-clock care of the horses that live in the Golden Gate Fields stable area.  Portable hot water showers are being installed in that area for their use during this process.

Golden Gate Fields sits on the shore of the San Francisco Bay, just east of the historic Golden Gate Bridge.  The home of Northern California Racing, Golden Gate Fields houses more than 1,200 horses.

DELIA HIGH ON I’M A ROCKETTE AFTER DAZZLING ALLOWANCE WIN 

Heading into last week’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day feature race, an allowance sprint for 3-year-old fillies, trainer Bill Delia felt confident that his contender, California-bred I’m A Rockette, was ready for a big effort.

“She had a super workout-a bullet work-leading up to the race,” said Delia. “I knew she was feeling good.”

Off at odds of 2-1, the Delia trained dark bay filly sat off the pace before producing an explosive rally down the lane, opening up on her competition at the eighth pole, and hitting the wire a half dozen lengths in front of runner up finisher and stakes-placed filly No Cover Charge. With the allowance win in the books, I’m A Rockette improved her lifetime record to an undefeated 3 for 3.

“I’ve been in the game for a long time and I’ve never seen one of my horses show the type of acceleration she did,” said Delia. “I was blown away.”

Since the runaway victory, Delia indicated that multiple offers have come in to buy the Clubhouse Ride filly. Delia co-owns I’m A Rockette with Patty Wall and, although Delia and Wall are still mulling their options, Delia had six words to sum up I’m A Rockette’s future-whether she stays in training with him or not.

“She looks like a good one.” 

BAY MUZIK HEADS SOUTH FOR ANOTHER STAKES TRY

Trainer Ari Herbertson was on Cloud 9 after his 6-year-old gelding Bay Muzik finished third in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes on New Year’s Day at Santa Anita. After setting the pace in the five-and-a-half-furlong turf contest, the son of City Zip got tagged late by eventual winner Texas Wedge, finishing about a length behind the aforementioned rival. Bay Muzik, who was 27-1 at the last click of the tote board, had never been competitive against graded stakes company before.

“My dad (owner Scott Herbertson) and I love this horse,” said Herbertson. “We are so proud of him. He tries hard for us every time. There weren’t any races for him at Golden Gate and we felt the Joe Hernandez, although tough, was probably worth taking a shot. He was doing really well before the race.”

Since the hard-fought victory, Herbertson has closely monitored his star turf sprinter. After a sharp half-mile morning breeze last Sunday morning, Herbertson deemed his stable hero ready to run in another race. He entered him in the 5 and a half furlong, $75,000 Clockers Corner Stakes this Sunday at Santa Anita.

“[Bay Muzik] posted a really solid workout on Sunday,” said Herbertson. “I loved the way he went. He definitely worked well enough to where I feel he’s coming into this race in good shape. For the first week or so after he ran [in the Joe Hernandez], I took it easy on him. He ran really hard, and I wanted to give him plenty of time to recover after such a hard effort. Right now, he’s fit and his energy level is very good.”

On Sunday, Bay Muzik will be ridden by 2019 Golden Gate Winter/Spring meet leading jockey Abel Cedillo, who has quickly ascended to the top of the jockey standings in Southern California after moving his tack there over the summer. Currently, Cedillo sits second in the jockey standings at Santa Anita with 12 trips to the winner’s circle, only behind future Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario.

“We’re thrilled to get Abel,” said Herbertson. “In the Joe Hernandez, Tyler Baze was aboard and he did a really good job. Tyler is at Oaklawn now, though, so we needed a new rider. Abel rode this horse in a race in 2018, so he knows what to expect.”

There’s no secret where Bay Muzik will be placed within the first furlong of the race: on the lead.

“He is so quick,” said Herbertson. “If you don’t take a hold of him, he’ll go 20 (seconds) and change for the first quarter mile.”

Bay Muzik drew the outside gate, post position 7, and is expected to go off as one of the top three choices in the wagering. Post time for Race 7, the Clockers Corner, is listed at 3:30 PM PT.

WONG PICKS UP 500^TH CAREER WIN  

Leading Northern California trainer Jonathan Wong picked up his 500^th victory on Monday afternoon when 5-year-old mare Ailish’s Buttercup won the sixth race at Golden Gate Fields, a one-mile $12,500 claimer for fillies and mares. She was making her first start off the claim for Wong.

A Bay Area native, Wong is no stranger to the Golden Gate Fields winners circle. The 31-year-old conditioner has won the Golden Gate Fields training title at the past six race meetings, and, when asked to reflect on his career so far, was gracious in thanking many entities.

“It’s easy to take credit, but there are a lot of people behind the scenes that help make winning possible,” said Wong. “I give thanks to every single one of my owners and all of my staff, who work extremely hard day in and day out. I also greatly appreciate all of the hard work from the jockeys. They put their lives on the line every time they get a leg-up on our horses.”

Wong also was quick to acknowledge his wife Meagan.

“Meagan has always been there for me and supported me through everything.”

Finally, Wong noted that Golden Gate Fields was instrumental in jumpstarting his career as a trainer and that he is grateful to be a part of the training colony.

“[Director of Racing and Racing Secretary] Patrick Mackey and the staff at Golden Gate gave me a chance to start my training career,” said Wong. “I’ve been blessed with many great opportunities here

Graded stakes winners Keeper Ofthe Stars and Mugaritz are two of Wong’s stable stars whom he indicated were special to him, while also mentioning that he was excited to see their development heading into 2020.

CLAIMS

 Our weekly “claims list” is as follows:

Thursday

Race 6: Prorika (new trainer Sammy Calvario, owner Johnny Taboada)

Friday

Race 4: Sweet Boy (trainer Tim Bellasis, owners Bellasis, O’Gorman, O’Gorman and Tschanz)

Saturday

Race 1: Cedars of Lebanon (trainer Tim McCanna, owners Christian Cornett and Tim McCanna)

Race 2: Taste’s Legend (trainer Jonathan Wong, owners MJVET Stables and Madden Racing) and Temple View (trainer/owner Steve Miyadi)

Race 4: Crazy Sexy Munny (trainer Ari Herbertson, owner Scott Herbertson)

Race 7: Independent Indy (trainer Ari Herbertson, owner Scott Herbertson)

Race 9: Mercy Rule (trainer/owner Steve Miyadi)

Sunday

Race 1: Luck Is My Name (trainer/owner Leobardo Rivera)

Race 3: Potente Alba (trainer Isidro Tamayo, owner Saavy Racing and Tamayo)

Race 5: Awesome Silver (trainer Reid France, owner Hat Trick Racing)

Monday

Race 6: Leonilla (Trainer Monty Meier, Owner David Chavez)

FINISH LINES: A massive congratulations to trainer Steve Specht, who saddled Sacred Rider to a terrific second-place finish in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita last Saturday. The son of Lucky Pulpit is out of stakes winner and stakes producing broodmare Lady Railrider and is owned by breeders Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams…Multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick finished third in the California Cup Derby. Trainer Bill Delia relayed that Bettor Trip Nick would be freshened up before being pointed to restricted California-bred stakes races for the time being….Multiple Golden Gate Fields winner Stealthediamonds was victorious in Santa Anita’s California Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Saturday. She is currently under the care of Southern California trainer Mike Puype…Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, a winner of over 6,000 races, has reportedly moved his tack to Golden Gate for the foreseeable future. He has two mounts on Sunday afternoon. A story to come in next week’s News and Notes…Miss America Stakes winner Blue Diva ran a respectable fourth in the Astra Stakes at a mile and a half on turf last Sunday at Santa Anita. This was her first start since the Miss America triumph…Impressive Golden Gate maiden special weight winner Dynasty of Her Own races for Jonathan Wong in Sunday’s Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park. Wong also campaigns Pike Place Dancer second-place finisher The Adrie Factor in the Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. Stakes at Turf Paradise on Saturday…Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday…Happy birthday to jockey Brayan Pena, who celebrates his 30^th birthday on Sunday…Also, happy birthday to racing official and former jockey Ross Allardyce, who turns a year older on Friday…Two more birthdays to acknowledge: jockey agent “Oakland Ron Freitas” (Monday) and trainer Steve Sherman (Tuesday); have a blast, fellas!

“TEAM GOLDEN GATE” COMPETES IN STAKES’ THIS WEEKEND AT SANTA ANITA

This Saturday at Santa Anita Park, California-bred or California-sired runners shine on a 9-race program, featuring a quintet of stakes races. With juicy California incentivized purses in mind, a number of Golden Gate based horses will compete in the stakes events and undercard races throughout the card.

In Race 5, the $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint for 6-furlong sprinters, trainer Blaine Wright saddles Oakland Stakes winner Baja Sur. By lightning-fast sprinter Smiling Tiger, Baja Sur has accrued a sharp resume himself, with 5 victories and a second-place finish from 6-lifetime starts. In the Oakland Stakes, Baja Sur earned a career-high Beyer speed figure (100). His only career loss came at the hands of Fashionably Fast when the aforesaid rival finished narrowly ahead of Baja Sur in the Harris Farm Stakes at Fresno last October. Juan Hernandez retains the mount for Wright, who regularly employs Hernandez as his “go-to” rider.

Race 7 is the $200,000 California Derby for 3-year-olds routing one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta. A third of the field is comprised of Northern California contenders. The most notable entrant is Bettor Trip Nick, winner of the Gold Rush Stakes and Golden Nugget Stakes at the recently concluded Fall meet. The Bill Delia trained runner will be ridden by regular rider Catalino Martinez and draws the rail post position in the field of 9.

“The big horse is doing well,” said Delia on Bettor Trip Nick. “He never trains or races on dirt, obviously, so we find out on Saturday whether he takes to the new surface. He’s hit every curveball we’ve thrown at him, though, so we’re excited to see how he does on Saturday.”

Gold Rush Stakes second-place finisher Sacred Rider is also signed on to compete in the California Derby and breaks from post position 3. Trainer Steve Specht will leg up Abel Cedillo, who has become one of the top riders in Southern California since moving there over the summertime. The last California Derby entrant from the north, Indian Peak, is a son of Comic Strip who was extremely impressive in victory three weeks ago against allowance company. Like his two counterparts from the north, he makes his first career start on dirt. Quinn Howey trains the Gray family homebred and picks up the services of Juan Hernandez.

Howey and Hernandez also team up with Wise Rachel in Race 8: the $200,000 California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the turf. The daughter of English Channel won the Pike Place Dancer Stakes two starts ago at Golden Gate, but most recently ran off-the-board against open company in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar.

“We’ve always thought she would like routing and the grass given her breeding,” said Howey. “The fact that this race attracts a strong purse while being for California breds makes it a good spot for her. We’re taking advantage of this condition.”

Also entered in the California Oaks is Smokin Hot Bobbie, a recent sprint allowance winner on the Tapeta for trainer Reina Gonzalez, and Midnight Sunrise, a November 30 maiden special weight victor for conditioner Andy Mathis. Rafael Bejarano takes the reins on Smokin Hot Bobbie while Geovanni Franco is slated to guide Midnight Sunrise in the one mile ‘Oaks.

Other notable horses who are not stabled at Golden Gate but have raced here include:

Race 1 (allowance optional claimer): Uncontainable, making his first start off the claim for trainer Peter Miller. Uncontainable was previously in the barn of Eddie Rich.

Race 3 (Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint): Ex-Golden Gate sprinter Stealthediamonds, Bear Fan Stakes runner up finisher Apache Princess, 2017 Pike Place Dancer stakes winner Lakerball and Bear Fan Stakes participant Lippy.

Race 5 (Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint): Golden Gate 2018 allowance winner Lieutenant Dan

Race 6 (Unusual Heat Turf Classic): December 14 allowance winner Como and Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap fifth place finisher Ashleyluvssugar

Race 8 (California Cup Oaks): GGF maiden winner and multiple stakes winner Bulletproof One

Race 9 (allowance optional claimer): Multiple GGF winner Clem Labine 

VETERAN RACERS STILL HAVE THE WILL TO RACE

For centuries, the thoroughbred athlete has been bred to run. Throughout Week 3 of the Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate Fields, a handful of older runners put up desirable efforts to back up the statement that horses, indeed, love to do what they were bred for.

Kicking off the racing week last Friday, 9-year-old Unusually Green surged from last to first in Race 7, a lower level claimer for routers. The second-place finisher, 11-year-old Pocket Prince, completed the exacta at astronomical odds of 99-1. Combined, both equines have competed in a total of 160 races.

“He’s a neat horse,” said trainer Cliff DeLima, who conditions Pocket Prince. “We are going to make sure to find him a good home after he is done racing, which isn’t too far away.”   

One day later, 9-year-old mare Gratzie beat a strong field of allowance caliber rivals in Race 4, a one-mile Tapeta route. The Great British bred daughter of Three Valleys was making her fiftieth lifetime start last week.

“She’s sentimental to the barn…definitely a favorite,” said Gratzie’s trainer, Manny Badilla. “[Co-owner] Ron [Charles] asks me, ‘If you could take home one horse in the barn, who would it be?’ And I always tell him that I would Gratzie home in a second. I just love her. She’s so cool.” 

In Sunday’s fifth race, 9-year-old gelding Terry’s Tom Cat won his second race in a row under a well-timed ride by jockey Kevin Krigger. The Tim McCanna trained runner has won 11 races from 58 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $336,132.

Kudos to all of our veterans for continuing their careers in fine fashion.

CLAIMS

Our weekly “claims list” is as follows:

Friday:

Race 1: My Idol (new trainer Quinn Howey, new owner Robert Creighton)

Race 2: Going to Shabooms (trainer Jonathan Wong, owners Hon Cheung Kum & Hsiu Mei Tsai)

Race 5: Bam Bam Bryan (trainer Pablo De Jesus, owner Tim Bankers)

Data Hawk (trainer Isidro Tamayo, owner Michael Demoulin)

Race 7: Askin’ for Trouble (trainer Isidro Tamayo, owner Leon Scott)

Saturday:

Race 6: American Camp (trainer Victor Trujillo, owner Carrol Stubbs)

Sunday:

Race 4: Many Moods (trainer Jack Steiner, owner Remmah Racing, Inc.)

Mo Dinero (trainer Quinn Howey, owner Decker Racing and Quinn Howey)

Race 5: Red Clem (trainer Sheldon Paldanius, owner Stan Spano)

Race 7: Papaya (trainer Reid France, owner Hat Trick Racing)

FINISH LINES: First-time starter Spun Away earned a 77 Beyer speed figure for her victory last Sunday in the nightcap. The Isidro Tamayo trainee was making her career debut and, in the process, received the highest Beyer out of any 2-year-old or 3-year-old filly since the inception of the Fall meet last October. And guess what? Nobody claimed Spun Away for the maiden $12,500 price tag…Juan Hernandez continues to thrive at the current meeting and leads the jockey colony with 23 wins. Catalino Martinez has also fired on horseback this meet, boasting a 24% win clip, but sits in second with 17 victories…Jonathan Wong leads the way in the trainer standings with 8 wins from 51 starters while Bill Delia has moved up to second place, with 6 trips to the winner’s circle from just 21 starters…Leg C of the Stronach Five wager goes as GGF’s third race on Friday…Happy birthday to trainer Aggie Ordonez, who celebrates her birthday today!

MARTINEZ WINS FIVE RACES ON SUNDAY

Jockey Catalino Martinez had a sensational afternoon on Sunday, picking up five wins from eight mounts on the dollar day program. After two weeks of racing at the current Winter/Spring meet, Martinez holds second place in the jockey standings with 13 wins.

The 34-year-old journeyman rider won the first four races on the program with maidens When Jesus Walked and Boyson, claiming sprinter Hopscotchy and starter allowance victor Smokin Blackjack. Martinez completed his five-bagger in Race 8 with impressive maiden special weight winner Johnny Podres, a 3-year-old California-bred trained by Steve Miyadi and owned by Nick Alexander.

“Catalino had a good day, to say the least,” said jockey agent Fordell Fierce, who represents Martinez. “He has been getting a lot of nice opportunities and taking advantage of them. He is a hard worker and a very good horseman.”

Martinez has been a mainstay in the Bay Area jockey colony since 2007. His 2019-a career best year-is certainly worth mentioning. Catalino made more money in purses last year than ever before, with $2,307,589 accumulated throughout the 365-day period. He also tied his own record for most wins recorded in one year, with 133 trips to the winners circle. In 2017, he also won 133 races.

“2019 was a terrific year,” reflected Fierce. “Hopefully 2020 is just as good, if not better. We ended the year strong, too, because Catalino won 3 of the 9 stakes races at the fall meet. That was a big help.”

WRIGHT MAPS OUT PLANS FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS ANNEAU D’OR AND AJOURNEYTOFREEDOM

Trainer Blaine Wright relayed to Horse Racing Nation Chief Editor and columnist Jonathan Litner that a duo of well-regarded 2-year-olds in his shedrow, Anneau D’Or and Ajourneytofreedom, are getting ready for races in the near future. Both colts are owned by Peter Redekop, who also campaigned last year’s El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate.

Anneau D’Or, a $480,000 sale purchase by Medaglia D’Oro, broke his maiden by open lengths at Golden Gate Fields in September. He returned in his first start against winners on racing’s biggest stage, the Breeders Cup, and finished a terrific second in the Grade 1 Juvenile. Wright and Redekop opted to run their star 2-year-old once more in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity and picked up a second place check after finishing a head behind the well-regarded Thousand Words. The Bob Baffert trained Thousand Words was sold to his current connections for $1,000,000 and has always been seen as a top prospect from Baffert’s stable.

Not surprisingly, Anneau D’Or will compete in Kentucky Derby points races in hopes of making the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. Anneau D’Or could run in the February 1, Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita or the prestigious El Camino Real Derby on February 14. The March 7 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita is also a possibility. Wright noted that the April 4 Santa Anita Derby would be a logical final prep for the Kentucky Derby.

Ajourneytofreedom, a 3-year-old half sibling to Anothertwistafate, is a son of Hard Spun that broke his maiden routing over the Golden Gate Tapeta on December 14. He was purchased by his current connections for a good chunk of change, $180,000, and will face winners for the first time in his next start. Wright indicated that he would like to run Ajourneytofreedom in a first level allowance race this month before a potential try at the El Camino Real Derby gold prize. The El Camino Real Derby not only offers the winner 10 points to the Kentucky Derby, but it also grants a free, all expenses paid berth into the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

LIST OF CLAIMS ON THE WEEK OF JANUARY 1-5

Wednesday, January 1:

Race 1: Blushing Bay (New trainer Ari Herbertson, new owners Dorothy and Michael Fried)

Race 5: Sayin Grace (Trainer/Owner Victor Trujillo)

Friday, January 3:

Race 5: Hurley (Trainer Blaine Wright, owners Paula and Tracy Henline)
Race 8: Pivo (Trainer Duane Offield, Owner John Harris)

Saturday, January 4:

Race 1: Van Cortlandt (Trainer/Owner Victor Trujillo)

Race 5: Temple View (Trainer Jonathan Wong, Owner MJVET Stables)

Sunday, January 5:

Race 9: Don’tteasethetiger (Trainer Blaine Wright, Owner Steve Menne)

Race 9: Tivan (Trainer Pablo De Jesus, Owner Tim Bankers)

FINISH LINES: Jockey Juan Hernandez holds an 18-13 win lead in the jockey standings over Catalino Martinez. William Antongeorgi III, third in the standings, is well behind the top pair with 7 first place finishes…Jonathan Wong has the most wins out of any trainer at the current meeting with 5 victories. Quinn Howey and Bill McLean are chasing right behind with 4 wins apiece…Bear Chum, the winner of the nightcap on Sunday, possesses pedigree not often seen in the United States. The 7-year-old bay gelding is by top Australian sire I Am Invincible and out of a Flying Spur mare. Fun fact: I Am Invincible is the sire of Australian supermare Winx‘s first baby…Bred in Australia, Bear Chum began his career at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong and moved to the United States in early 2018. …Multiple Golden Gate allowance winner Oiseau De Guerre competes in Friday’s sixth race at Santa Anita: a second level allowance race for sprinters dashing five and a half furlongs on the turf. Joel Rosario picks up the mount for trainer Michael McCarthy…At Turf Paradise in Arizona, Grade 3 Berkley Handicap runner up Ohio races for McCarthy in the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile on grass. Jose Valdivia Jr. rides…Frank Lucarelli campaigns a stakes contender on Saturday at Turf Paradise in Golden Gate allowance winner Killarney Lass. She makes her 4-year-old debut in the Glendale Handicap…2018 Camilla Urso Stakes winner Mother of Dragons is nominated to the $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday. Conditioned by Andreas Psarras, the daughter of First Dude has not raced since May of 2018 but has reportedly been working well for her return to the races…Race 3 on Friday at Golden Gate Fields will be run as Leg D of the Stronach Five wager. Once again, the Stronach 5 pool is guaranteed at $100,000.

DELIA WINS CTBA TRAINER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Last month, Golden Gate based conditioner Bill Delia was notified that he had won the prestigious, 2019 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Trainer of the Year award. A ceremony honoring Delia and other various award winners will be held in Southern California on Monday, February 24.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” said Delia. “It’s a real honor to win an award like this. Our stable had a strong run in 2019 and I am very appreciative of all the support from my owners and help back at the barn. We just have to keep it going in 2020.”

Delia, who won with 56 of his 328 starters in 2019, is a staunch supporter of the California breeding program and trains a number of thoroughbreds whose lineage hail from California stallions and broodmares. In fact, two of Delia’s top 2020 prospects are California breds.

Delia is eager to see how stable star Bettor Trip Nick, winner of the Golden Nugget and Gold Rush Stakes last year, progresses heading into his 3-year-old season. The son of Golden State stallion Boat Trip has won all but one race, with his lone career loss coming in his second-lifetime start after setting blazing-fast fractions while dueling on the lead. Although beaten by a nose, he put up a winning effort.

Mollie O’ McEvoy, another 3-year-old of 2020, is a filly by Clubhouse Ride out of the Game Plan mare Mollie O. Her only sibling to race is stakes-placed Angelo’s Pride, also trained by Delia, who has turned into a solid allowance caliber router. Mollie O’ McEvoy kicked off her career with an impressive maiden win sprinting and followed the diploma-earning score with a starter allowance victory going two turns.

“We are very excited about Mollie O’ McEvoy,” said Delia. “She is really nice, and we think she will continue to improve.”

BAY MUZIK BEGINS 2020 WITH A GRADE 2 PLACING AT SANTA ANITA

Arguably the best turf sprinter in Northern California, 6-year-old Bay Muzik kicked off his 2020 with a third-place finish in Santa Anita’s New Year’s Day feature, the $200,000 Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes going five and a half furlongs on the grass.

Setting the pace under jockey Tyler Baze, the son of Maclean’s Music zipped through quick fractions of 22.09, 44.60 and 56.36 before getting passed in the final yards by 2-1 favorite Texas Wedge and Double Touch. Bay Muzik finished a length behind the former rival for the win, an extremely respectable effort, and earned $24,000 for completing the top three placings.

Bay Muzik was fortunate to race on Wednesday. When entries were taken for the race, Bay Muzik drew post 11, the lone also-eligible entrant, and needed a defection to draw into the race. On Wednesday morning, #5 Oiseau de Guerre scratched, and Bay Muzik was then granted a chance to compete.

“I’m really proud of him,” said trainer Ari Herbertson. “I was actually a little frustrated he drew onto the also-eligible list because he was training so well for the race. He worked out of the gate five days before the race and he worked amazing.”

Bay Muzik was claimed for $20,000 in March of 2018 by Herbertson and his father, owner Scott, and since then, has won 5 races from 9 starts with earnings of just about $100,000 for the current connections.

“We’ll see how he’s doing in a couple of weeks and go from there,” said Ari, when asked about Bay Muzik’s next start. “The Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint on January 25 is a possibility. But he is a turf sprinter, and Golden Gate doesn’t have any turf sprints until late April. We are going to have to travel if we want to run him in another turf sprint anytime soon.”

LAURA’S LIGHT IMPRESSES AT SANTA ANITA

Trainer Jamey Thomas and owner Scott Herbertson were quite high on their 2-year-old filly Laura’s Light after a series of fast morning drills leading up to her career debut on November 2. With jockey Kyle Frey in the saddle, Laura’s Light ran to her workouts, easily defeating six rivals in the maiden special weight, 6-furlong event.

Shortly after the race, Laura’s Light was sold to Gary Barber, one of the top thoroughbred owners in North America. Now under the care of Southern California conditioner Peter Miller, Laura’s Light has run twice, with much to be excited about heading into the future.

In her first start for Barber and Miller, Laura’s Light faced 10 other rivals in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar on November 30. The aforementioned Grade 3 was not only her first start against winners but her first try routing and running on grass. Off at odds of 24-1, she set the pace before finishing second to East Coast shipper Alms. Royally bred Princess Caroline, a Chad Brown trainee and a half-sibling to supermare Lady Eli, ran third behind Laura’s Light.

Laura’s Light proved her showing in the Jimmy Durante was no fluke, as she came back in last Sunday’s Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita and disposed of her competition, winning the $75,000 stake by a clear and easy 3-length margin. In both Southern California starts, Laura’s Light was ridden by the white-hot Abel Cedillo, who coincidentally rode at Golden Gate for a number of years before making a big splash on the Southern California circuit in the second half of 2019. Currently, Cedillo sits in second, only behind future Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, in the Santa Anita jockey standings.

Laura’s Light is by Constitution, a Tapit colt who is off to a terrific start as a stallion. His first crop raced in 2019, and Constitution already has a duo of talented and well-regarded runners on the Kentucky Derby trail: Independence Hall and Tiz the Law. Constitution is also the sire of Gouverneur Morris, a 9-length maiden winner at Saratoga and runner up in last year’s Grade I Claiborne Breeders Futurity at Keeneland. He will also join the Kentucky Derby trail in the next few months.

LIST OF CLAIMS

Beginning this meet, the Golden Gate Fields News and Notes will offer a list of all claimed horses from the previous week, with their new connections also posted:

Wednesday, January 1:

Race 1: Blushing Bay (moving to the barn of Ari Herbertson, new owners Michael & Dorothy Fried)

Race 5: Sayin Grace (Owner/Trainer Victor Trujillo)

Sunday, December 29:

Race 1: Missionelle (Jonathan Wong, owner MJVET Stables)

Race 6: Whatwasithinking (trainer Andy Mathis, owners Guido Racing, Cimino, Mathis & Rexius)

Saturday, December 28:

Race 6: Katya Antipova (trainer Samuel Calvario, owners Samuel Calvario & Yolanda Fernandez)

Race 7: Crazy Sexy Munny (trainer Blaine Wright, owners Serena August & Wright Racing Stable)

Friday, December 27:

Race 9: Koa Cat (trainer Jack Steiner, owner Randy Marriott)

Thursday, December 26:

Race 1: C C the Bartender (trainer Andy Mathis, owner William Branch)

Race 4: Norwegian (trainer Jonathan Wong, owners Johnny and Marcel Taboada)

Race 6: Pacific Strike (trainer Ari Herbertson, owner Scott Herbertson)

Race 7: Lace (trainer O.J. Jauregui, owner Highland Yard LLC)

Race 9: Three Karyots (trainer Ari Herbertson, owner Scott Herbertson)

FINISH LINES: Happy birthday to all of our thoroughbred horses, who turned a year older in “racing years” on January 1. Each winner on the GGF January 1 race card also received a carrot gift basket…Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday…Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap third-place finisher Brave Nation is back in action on Saturday afternoon. He competes in Race 6, the allowance feature which includes Emerald Downs stakes winner More Power to Him, stakes-placed Camino Del Paraiso and synthetic specialists Arch Prince, Harmon and Lymebyrd…Good luck to owner Aaron Pewtherer and trainer Ari Herbertson, who campaign Golden Gate Debutante third-place finisher Shanghai Keely in Race 6 at Santa Anita on Friday. Tyler Baze is set to ride in the one-mile allowance affair on dirt…The Golden Pick Six jackpot pool begins anew in this Friday’s wager as we had a jackpot score on Monday of just over $45,000.

$100,000 GUARANTEED LATE PICK 4 POOLS THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Last week, Golden Gate Fields track officials announced that the Late Pick 4 pools this Saturday (December 14) and Sunday (December 15) will be guaranteed at $100,000. The Late Pick 4, a popular wager amongst horseplayers nationwide, is a 50-cent minimum bet and goes as the last four races on each race day.

Competitive finishes, good quality events, and healthy field sizes are projected for closing weekend at Golden Gate. On Saturday, the four races (races 9 through 12) that comprise the Late Pick 4 sequence drew 41 horses, equating to just over 10 horses per race.

“We are very much looking forward to our races this week and we sincerely hope our dedicated horseplayers and fans enjoy,” said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. “We’ve had a strong fall meet, highlighted by much great racing, and we are excited to end our season with a strong finish. Of course, we are very thankful to our loyal customers, all of our horsemen, backside and frontside staff who have worked extremely hard throughout the year, and the TV broadcasters and networks that have shown our product.”

Golden Gate Fields offers an early first post time of 11:45 AM on both Saturday and Sunday.  First post on Thursday and Friday remains at 12:45 PM. On Sunday, Golden Gate will have mandatory payouts of the 20 Cent Golden Pick Six jackpot pool, the Rolling Super High Five wager and the Early and Late Pick 5’s. 

SATURDAY’S BEAR FAN STAKES ATTRACTS SEVEN CALIFORNIA-BRED FILLIES AND MARES

The $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares goes as Race 10 on a 12-race program this Friday. The six-furlong Tapeta sprint is led by two intriguing Southern California contenders.

Apache Princess is one of two Southern California shippers that is expected to get plenty of support in the wagering. The Keith Desormeaux trainee most recently ran second in the Grade 3 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes sprinting on turf. She also finished second in the Grade 2 San Clemente earlier this year. This will be her career debut on synthetics, and she must overcome the inside post position. William Antongeorgi III rides for the first time.

Lippy, the second Southern California entrant, has appeal as well. The Doug O’Neill conditioned 3-year-old filly makes her first start in eight and a half months, having most recently finished off-the-board going two turns in the Campanile Stakes on Gold Rush Weekend Sunday. Earlier in the year, Lippy ran second in the California Cup Oaks, and as a 2-year-old, she won the Juan Gonzalez Memorial at Pleasanton. Southern California jockey Mario Gutierrez, who rides in 10 Golden Gate races on Saturday, will guide Lippy from the outside post position.

2018 Bear Fan Stakes winner The Spiral Jetter looks to defend her title from post position four. She cuts back from a route to a sprint after two allowance runs going two-turns, one of which resulted in a hard-fought victory in September. Leading fall meet jockey Juan Hernandez retains the mount for trainer Andy Mathis.

Longtime Bay Area conditioner Sergio Ledezma has a strong 1-2 punch for the Bear Fan in Princess Vivien and Vronilla Parfait. Princess Vivien won an allowance race in September and makes her stakes debut in this spot while Vronilla Parfait strolls into the Bear Fan fresh off an allowance victory over Grade 2 placed Tomlin on November 16.

Ima Happy Cat was last seen running third behind Vronilla Parfait and Tomlin in the aforementioned November 16 allowance and returns in this stake for trainer Dan Markle. Ima Happy Cat won the Hastings Stakes at Emerald Downs last June and also was the runner up in the Camilla Urso Stakes on grass earlier this year.

Trina rounds out the field. The Holly Evans trainee broke her maiden two starts ago against open maiden special weight company before finishing second last month in an allowance race.

The Miss America Stakes will be run on closing day Sunday. A separate write-up for the Miss America will be available after entries are released on Thursday.

Race 10 on Saturday: The $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes

#1 Apache Princess (Jockey William Antongeorgi III, Keith Desormeaux)

#2 Princess Vivian (Catalino Martinez, Sergio Ledezma)

#3 Trina (Francisco Monroy, Holly Evans)

#4 The Spiral Jetter (Juan Hernandez, Andy Mathis)

#5 Vronilla Parfait (Frank Alvarado, Sergio Ledezma)

#6 Ima Happy Cat (Julien Couton, Dan Markle)

#7 Lippy (Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neill)

BETTOR TRIP NICK SHINES IN THE GOLD RUSH STAKES

Golden Nugget Stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick proved last Saturday that routing would not be an issue for him, as the son of Boat Trip went right to the front and never looked back in the one-mile, $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes for 2-year-olds. The Bill Delia trainee now sports a 4 for 5 record with career earnings of $110,180.

“He looked good,” said Delia after the races on Saturday. “He’ll be ready to make his next start as a 3-year-old in 2020.”

Although Bettor Trip Nick’s next start is yet to be determined, Delia indicated that the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby for 3-year-olds in February is a potential long-term goal. The El Camino Real Derby not only offers 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner, but a free Preakness berth to whoever wins the Grade 3, $200,000 mile and an eighth contest.

ANNEAU D’OR PUTS UP ANOTHER RESPECTABLE EFFORT   `

2019 Breeders Cup Juvenile runner-up Anneau D’Or, who is homed and trained at Golden Gate Fields by trainer Blaine Wright, finished second in last Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,00 Los Alamitos Futurity in Southern California. The winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity, Thousand Words, is a $1,000,000 sale purchase trained by Bob Baffert.

“He ran well,” said Wright. “He came out of the race healthy. He’s proven he fits with top 2-year-olds. He’s a nice horse.”

Anneau D’Or will freshen up and train at Golden Gate Fields before Wright and owner Peter Redekop decide his next target. Anneau D’Or has 1 win from 3 starts, with 2-second place finishes and career earnings of $399,000. His only career victory came at Golden Gate in a two-turn, maiden special weight on September 29. Since the aforementioned maiden score, 6 of the 9 rivals he faced that day have come back to win.

FINISH LINES: With four more live race days at the Golden Gate Fields fall meet, it would take a miracle for Juan Hernandez to finish second or lower in the jockey standings; the 27-year-old journeyman holds an 18-win lead (50 wins) over veteran Frank Alvarado (32). Catalino Martinez has posted 28 wins this meet and sits in third while Silvio Amador is one-behind Martinez. William Antongeorgi III rounds out the top 5 placings with 25 trips to the winner’s circle…Jonathan Wong has the most wins out of any trainer at the current meeting with 24 victories. Isidro Tamayo is five wins behind in second and looks like the main danger to dethrone Wong, who has won the past 5 training titles. Bill Delia has won at a strong clip (28%) this meet as has Reid France (29%), who are third and fourth, respectively, in the standings. Three conditioners (Andy Mathis, Steve Sherman, and Blaine Wright) are tied for fifth in the trainer standings with 10 wins apiece…$18,086 is the 20 Cent Golden Pick Six Jackpot carryover amount heading into Thursday’s program. The Pick Six Jackpot Wager is one of four wagers that will have mandatory payouts on Sunday…Happy birthday to trainers Jose Bautista, Roddina Barrett, Holly Evans and Tim McCanna, all who celebrate birthdays within the next couple of weeks…Have a great holiday break! We will see you back for the Winter/Spring meet on Opening Day Thursday, December 26!

Saturday, November 29, 2019 (Berkeley, Calif.)- The well-bred Eclair made a final furlong rush from midfield to win the feature race on Friday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields, the $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Eclair picked up her first stakes victory with the ‘Debutante front-running finish.

Eclair broke smoothly from the gates and stalked the pace until upper stretch, where she angled outside, moved towards the lead and eventually collared runner up finisher No Cover Charge in a driving finish. Local contender Shanghai Keely finished third while recent maiden winner Mischievous Curlin rounded out the superfecta. Eclair completed the six furlongs on Tapeta in 1:10.30 seconds.

“My filly felt good jogging in the warm up,” said winning jockey Juan Hernandez. “My directions from the connections were to get her out of the gate and get a good position before I made my move. For a moment, I saw [No Cover Charge] slip away and I wasn’t sure if I would catch her. But my filly showed a nice kick down the stretch and we got up. It was a nice win.”

Eclair, a daughter of Bernardini out of the Dansili mare Elbe, was purchased for $420,000 by owners Sarah Kelly and Jane Wiltz earlier this year. With the Golden Gate Debutante victory in the books, Eclair improved her lifetime record to 2 wins from 6 starts, with 2 other in-the-money finishes.

Live racing resumes on Saturday afternoon with a first post time of 12:45 PM PT. Race 8 on Saturday is the marquee event of the fall meet, the Grade 3 $100,000 Berkeley Handicap, and drew a field of 11. Post time for the Berkeley is 4:18 PM PT.