WICKED OLD FASHION A TOP CLAIM FOR TRUJILLO

Wicked Old Fashion won the feature race on Saturday afternoon, an allowance for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward on turf, and stamped herself as a mare to keep an eye on heading into the fall.

The daughter of Colonel John has wracked off 5 wins from 8 starts since moving to the barn of Victor Trujillo, who claimed the 5-year-old mare last May for $14,000. Since the acquisition, Wicked Old Fashion has slowly climbed the class ladder, winning a pair of claiming races before going on to win multiple allowance conditions for owners Frank Aufdermaur and Wayne Swisher.

“Since I claimed [Wicked Old Fashion], she has physically matured,” said Trujillo. “I think that is the main reason why she has gotten better over time. She is more filled out than when I first got her. She has gotten bigger and stronger with age.”

Wicked Old Fashion is 10 for 19 lifetime, with 4 second place finishes and career earnings of $136,605. Her next start is undetermined, but one thing is for certain: the race will be on the grass.

“She needs the turf,” said Trujillo. “That’s her best surface by far.”

Trujillo, one of the more frequent players in the claiming game in Northern California, was humble when asked what the key is to making good claims.

“Making a good claim is not about training a horse better than someone else,” said Trujillo. “You have to get lucky. Sometimes you claim a horse, like Wicked Old Fashion, and they are doing well and they get better because you pick them up at the right time.”

INCENSED BREAKS FIVE AND A HALF FURLONG TRACK RECORD ON SUNDAY

6-year-old gelding Incensed won Race 3 on Sunday, a $16,000 claimer for sprinters on the Tapeta, and broke the 5-and-a-half-furlong track record by a mere .01 seconds while completing the course in a lightning quick 1:02.55 seconds. The previous record for 5 and a half panels was held by Tizaplayer, who won a starter allowance on February 2, 2014 and stopped the clock in 1:02.56 seconds.

Incensed, guided to victory by jockey Kyle Frey, set the pace before drawing away from his competition down the stretch, finishing seven lengths ahead of second place finisher Karma King. Incensed earned an eye popping 102 Beyer speed figure for his victory.

Incensed was making his first start off the claim for Southern California conditioner Vann Belvoir, who purchased the son of Pollard’s Vision out of a July 17 Del Mar claimer for $20,000. Incensed is currently owned by A and J Racing and Mike Sisk.

“He is a real consistent horse,” said trainer Vann Belvoir. “He shows up almost every race; that’s why I claimed him. I found a race at Golden Gate and thought he fit well in that condition, so I shipped him North.”

ROLLING GREEN STAKES THE HEADLINER IN A 5-DAY RACE WEEK

19 nominations were submitted for the marquee race of the summer meet: the $50,000 Rolling Green Stakes for 3-years-old and upward. The Rolling Green Stakes is one of nine projected races on the Labor Day Monday card this week.

Leading the nominations for the mile and a sixteenth turf contest is Zestful, who comes off a gate-to-wire win on turf at Del Mar for trainer Mark Glatt. The 4-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper has won five races in a row and is listed as “probable” for the Rolling Green.

Others stamped on the “probables” list include the Isidro Tamayo trained Builder, Grade 3 placed Many Roses, 2019 Longacres Mile third place finisher Restrainedvengence, 2018 Alcatraz victor Tortosa and the Felix Rondan trained Unpossible. Of course, the list is subject to change.

Entries for Labor Day Monday will be taken Friday morning. Golden Gate Fields races 5-days this week, Thursday through Monday, with first post set for 1:45 PM each day. Gates open at 10 AM for simulcasting.

STALLION BOAT TRIP SIRES FIRST WINNER AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS

Two weeks ago, California based sire Curlin to Mischief picked up his first win as a papa with 2-year-old Monstrodomous at Golden Gate Fields. One week later, another California freshman stallion, Boat Trip, sired his first winner with his first starter at our Bay Area racetrack.

Last Friday, first time starter Bettor Trip Nick showed speed and was able to turn away the challenge of on-coming runner up finisher Cajun Bettor to win a maiden 25k claimer for 2-year-olds sprinting five furlongs on the Tapeta. Trainer Bill Delia teamed up with jockey Catalino Martinez for the victory. By Boat Trip, Bettor Trip Nick is out of the dam Better Knot, who has produced two other winning foals.

“We’ve always thought he had ability and he sure ran well the other day,” said winning trainer Delia on Bettor Trip Nick. “He is not a tall horse but he is a stocky, muscular type. He was impressive because he made a few different runs in his race. He showed speed, was able to sit off the pace by the far turn and then rebroke again at the eighth pole. It was a nice win.”

As a racehorse, Boat Trip was a talented turf sprinter. He won two stakes races in his career, the Tsunami Slew Stakes and the Hollywood Turf Express, and competed in the 2013 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. The son of Harlan’s Holiday stood at Special T Thoroughbreds Farm in Temecula this stallion season with a stud fee of $2,500.

FINISH LINES: After two weeks of racing at the summer meeting, jockey Irving Orozco has the most wins out of any rider with 10 victories. William Antongeorgi III is one win behind with 9 winners circle appearances while veteran Frank Alvarado sits in third with 8 first place finishes…Conditioner Victor Trujillo leads the way in the trainer standings with 6 wins. Defending champion Jonathan Wong and John Martin are tied for second in the standings with 4 wins…Trainer Faith Taylor celebrated her birthday last Thursday and picked up a nice present when Songofthedesert won Race 2 that day. Happy belated birthday Faith!…Congrats to trainer Quentin B. Miller, who won the Humboldt County Marathon for the second year in a row with 6-year-old gelding Engram…Well done trainer Quinn Howey, who won the training title at Ferndale this year with a 28% win percentage…$22,142 is carried over to the 20 Cent Golden Pick Six Jackpot wager heading into Thursday’s card…On track patrons and horsemen are in for a real treat, with a new “big screen” in place for the remainder of the meeting. The large television monitor will be placed above the tote board where fans can now gaze and watch races while experiencing a better, more “up and close” view of each race, particularly while observing the backstretch and far turn runs.

DARNQUICK RUNS JUST LIKE HIS NAME SUGGESTS

If you name your horse “Darnquick,” you better hope that you have a four-legged Ferrari in the barn.

Well, Northern California based 2-year-old gelding Darnquick might not be quite as fast as a Ferrari, but most horses aren’t, so one can be forgiving of that. He certainly has ability as a racehorse, though.

Owned and bred by Cliff Plum and trained by Allen Rogers, the California bred son of Run Brother Ron is now 2 for 3 after winning the co-feature on Saturday, an allowance for 2-year-olds sprinting five and one-half furlongs.

Darnquick kicked off his career at Pleasanton on July 5 with a 5-length score against maiden special weight company. Off at odds of 11-1, he set fast fractions and never slowed down. Darnquick was spotted in the August 2 Graduation Stakes for his next start, a tough California-bred stake at Del Mar, and ran a better-than-looked fifth while only losing by 3 lengths to the best California-bred 2-year-olds on the West Coast. Wheeling back in just 2 and a half weeks, Darnquick rebounded off the loss and defeated allowance foes on Saturday under jockey Kyle Frey.

“I think he’s only going to improve,” said Frey. “He felt really good underneath me. He is a naturally quick horse so he got to the lead [on Saturday], but I don’t think he needs the lead. He is still 2 and I can tell he is still learning out there. At the wire, I had a lot left in the tank.”

Darnquick has earned $48,460 from the first 3 starts of his career. Darnquick is the first foal out of the Forest Camp mare Darncat, who won 2 races in the Bay Area for owner/breeder Plum as a racer.

CURLIN TO MISCHIEF PICKS UP FIRST WIN AS A STALLION AT GOLDEN GATE

California-based Curlin to Mischief picked up his first winner as a stallion at Golden Gate Fields on Friday afternoon when 2-year-old gelding Monstrodomous won the second race, a maiden $12,500 claimer on the Tapeta. The grey or roan equine is owned by Scott Herbertson and conditioned by his son, Ari.

“[Monstrodomous] is a real laid back horse,” said the younger Herbertson. “He is pretty workmanlike; trains steady all the time and has tried really hard in both of his races. He has a competitive edge to him, though, which is always something you like to see in a racehorse.”

Curlin to Mischief is by 2-time Horse of the Year Curlin and out of the mare Leslie’s Lady, one of the top broodmares of the 21st century given she has produced three Grade I winners: champion racemare Beholder, Grade I winner and top stallion Into Mischief, and Breeders Cup champion Mendelssohn. As a racemare, Leslie’s Lady won 5 races including the Hoosier Debutante Stakes at Hoosier Park as a 2-year-old.

Curlin to Mischief stands at Ranch San Miguel in San Miguel, California with a stud fee of $3,500. He was foaled in 2011.

FINISH LINES: After Week 1, jockey Irving Orozco has the most wins out of any rider at the meeting with 7 victories in 4 racing days. Kyle Frey and William Antongeorgi III won 5 races apiece last week and are tied for second…Trainer John Martin had an outstanding Week 1, winning with 4 of his 7 starters. The Bay Area native sits atop the trainer standings with 6 weeks to go…Congrats to Golden Gate local Hollywood Hills, who finished second in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday. Steve Sherman trains the George Krikorian homebred…Also on Saturday, Golden Gate track record holder Keeperof the Stars ran fourth in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks for trainer Jonathan Wong and owners Tommy Town Thoroughbreds…A congratulatory “well done” to trainers D. Wayne Baker and Steve Specht. On Saturday, both Bay Area conditioners saddled the exacta in two separate races. Baker picked up a 1-2 finish with Cool Hunter and The Public Halo in Race 5, a 5k claiming race, while Specht campaigned the top two finishers in Race 7, an allowance event won by Miss Super Saint. Stablemate My Sweet Lou rounded out the exacta…Jockey David C. Lopez won with his first mount back in the Bay Area on Thursday when Drill Time, a 3-year-old gelding from the Steve Miyadi barn, pulled off a last-to-first win in the nightcap…Happy birthday to D. Wayne Baker & GGF Director of Operations William Rizzuto, both whom celebrate birthdays this week…$10,199 is carried over into the 20 Cent Golden Pick Six Jackpot wager on Thursday.

CARMA’S HOEDOWN FOR HORSES RAISES $172,000
FOR THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE

Southern California Racing Community Kicks Up its Heels at Annual Summer Fundraiser

DEL MAR, Calif., July 24, 2019 – The iconic Del Mar Paddock was transformed into a country-western themed bash on the evening of Sunday, July 21 to host the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) annual summer fundraiser ‘Hoedown for Horses’.
Lassoing in more than $172,000 to support its one-of-kind placement program which retires, rehabilitates and rehomes Thoroughbred racehorses and to replenishing its granting fund to help support more than 20 equine nonprofits – the event was a much-needed success.

“We set the bar high with the amount of money we wanted to raise at the Hoedown and we are so grateful to the racing community, sponsors, friends, fans and volunteers that made it happen,” said CARMA President Candace Coder-Chew. “This event set a record for us and many retired racehorses will be supported with the funds generated from the Hoedown.”

Aside from being a lucrative achievement, the fundraiser was a celebration of a united love for retired racehorses with plenty of smiles, laughs and positivity radiating from more than 300 attendees. The event kicked off with a delicious barbecue-styled buffet by Premier Cateringand the live country music performed by Jake Parr. Cheers echoed during the head-to-head jockey mechanical bull riding competition which resulted in jockey Aaron Gryder taking home the custom champion belt buckle made by Montana Silversmiths.

“It warms our hearts every year to host our summer fundraiser and to see the support from the horse community,” said Lucinda Lovitt-Mandella, executive director of CARMA.

“Aftercare for retired racehorses has really come into focus in recent years and we’re seeing the direct result of that.”

Hoedown for Horses was sponsored by Liberty Road Stables – Marsha Naify, Bob and Jill Baffert, Chuck Winner, Jay Em Ess Stable, Cannon Thoroughbreds, Fairview LLC, M. Auerbach LLC, Hronis Racing, The Stronach Group, Purple Shamrock Racing, Oak Tree Racing Association, Owning – Mr. & Mrs. Paul Reddam, Rancho San Miguel, Little Red Feather Cares, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners – Blue Moon, Santa Anita Park, KC Horse Transport, Schroeder Farms, Rick and Marcia Gold, Branjam Stables, David and Holly Wilson, Double L Racing Stable, Tom and Nancy Clark Foundation, Golden Gate Fields, Monarch Content Management, Angel’s Feed, Inc., Daily Racing Form, Climax Stallions, Teddy Cole Foundation, Thor-Bred Stables, Sbicca, West Coast Feed, Doug and Kathy Forde, Citrus Feed Company, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

ABOUT CARMA
CARMA (California Retirement Management Account) is a charitable 501 (c)(3) organization formed to assist Thoroughbred rehabilitation and retirement organizations that facilitate the care and retraining of horses who raced in California and whose racing careers have ended. CARMA ensures the racehorses have retirement options by managing and disbursing funds to qualified retirement facilities caring for such horses.Ways in which this is accomplished include facilitating the transition of racehorses off the track through its Placement Program and showcasing the breed’s versatility as equestrian mounts at its Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show.

CARMA worked closely with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to adopt a rule change allowing for a 0.3% deduction from purses to help fund equine retirement. This deduction which owners can “opt-out” of if they so choose, is used to support Thoroughbred retirement farms and other non-profit programs that care for and retrain retired racehorses.

CARMA manages a grant request process and since 2008 has awarded more than 3.2 million dollars to qualified retirement facilities caring for Thoroughbreds.

Donations are tax-deductible and may be sent to CARMA, 285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia CA, 91007. (Tax ID #80-0146395).

MISSION STATEMENT
The California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) provides funding for the retirement of California-raced Thoroughbred horses and serves as an educational resource for the public and racing community.

   LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 27, 2019) – After a meeting of and discussion with its Board of Directors today in Lexington, Ky., Breeders’ Cup Limited affirmed by unanimous decision its commitment to conduct the 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on November 1-2. This will mark the 10^th time the event will be held at Santa Anita, the most of any host venue over the 36-year history of the Breeders’ Cup.

“Foremost among the core values of the Breeders’ Cup are the safety and integrity of the competition and we hold ourselves, our host sites and our competitors, to the highest standards of both. It is clear that meaningful and effective reforms and best practices have been implemented in recent months at Santa Anita through the collective efforts of The Stronach Group, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers, and the California Horse Racing Board,” said Craig Fravel, President and CEO of the Breeders’ Cup. “We fully embrace those reforms and will devote our time and energy in the coming months to further advance those efforts. We look forward to showing the world the best in Thoroughbred racing at one of its finest venues.”

The Breeders’ Cup is committed to conducting its annual World Championship event at the highest levels of safety and integrity. For more information please visit the Breeders’ Cup Safety & Integrity web page.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships. The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 championship races (13 Grade 1 events and one Grade 2 race) with purses and awards totaling more than $30 million, will be held on November 1-2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

 ABOUT SANTA ANITA PARK
Santa Anita Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is North America’s premier supplier of virtual online horseracing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.

 ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP 
The Stronach Group (TSG) is a world-class entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing at the core. The company’s mission is executed through the distinct but interconnected pillars of Racing and Gaming, Entertainment, Technology and Real Estate Development. TSG is dedicated to delivering the best in class Thoroughbred horse racing content and operations. The company holds some of the greatest brands in the industry including, Southern California’s Santa Anita Park, “The Great Race Place”; South Florida’s Gulfstream Park, home to the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series and retail destination, The Village at Gulfstream Park; Pimlico Race Course, home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Laurel Park and Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland; Oregon’s Portland Meadows; and the San Francisco Bay Area’s, Golden Gate Fields. TSG is a leader in digital and mobile wagering technology through its subsidiaries AmTote and Xpressbet and is a major distributor of horse racing content to a global audience through Monarch Content Management. The award winning Adena Springs is the breeding and training facility of The Stronach Group with stables in Kentucky, Florida and Ontario.

ALBANY STAKES THE FEATURE ON CLOSING WEEK  

This Saturday, Race 9 goes as the $50,000 Albany Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward. A lineup of nine is scheduled to compete in the five-furlong turf contest.

Southern California shipper Brandothebartender draws the rail for his second lifetime start on the Golden Gate turf and may go off favored. The son of Tribal Rule, whose home base is in Southern California, comes off a fourth place finish in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita. His lone career stakes win came last October in the California Flag Stakes for California breds. Interestingly enough, both aforementioned races came at the Albany five-panel distance on grass. Catalino Martinez rides for trainer Craig Dollase.

The speedy Mike’s Tiznow looks to be the likely pacesetter in the 2019 Albany. The 4-year-old gelding most recently defeated next out winner EL Chavo Del Ocho in a 5-furlong turf allowance dash and makes his stakes debut in the Albany for trainer Andy Mathis and jockey Ricky Gonzalez.

Summersimage, Sequentially and Adorned, the top three finishers in a May 17 allowance on the main track, enter back into the Albany. Summersimage is a multiple allowance winner, Sequentially ran third in the Lost in the Fog Stakes two starts ago and Adorned beat Mike’s Tiznow in an allowance on Tapeta two months back. All three older runners are tabbed at odds of 4-1 to 8-1 on the morning line.

Old pro Tough Sunday heads back to turf, his first grass race since a fifth place effort behind Grade I placed Stormy Liberal and Grade 3 winner Eddie Haskell in February at Santa Anita. The Steye Miyadi entrant was last seen finishing fifth in the 2019 Lost in the Fog Stakes and made his last winner’s circle appearance in the Sensational Star Stakes on March 11, 2018.

Owner Scott Herbertson and his son, trainer Ari Herbertson, won the 2017 Albany with 62-1 longshot Krsto Skye. This year, they send out 5-year-old Tribal Storm, a first time gelding that also makes his first start off a 10-month vacation. Tribal Storm won the Lost in the Fog Stakes last year on Tapeta but sports a solid 2 for 4 record on turf. Jockey Irving Orozco has the call for Team Herbertson.

The only 3-year-old in the race is Loud Mouth, who cuts back from a route to a sprint after a sixth place finish in the Alcatraz Stakes. The son of Boisterous possesses 3 lifetime victories, all of which have come in one-turn races, and makes his career debut on turf for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Pure Comedy, a winner of his last two starts, completes the field. His most recent two victories have come against high-level claimers for trainer Bill McLean and jockey William Antongeorgi, who retains the mount.

First post on Saturday is 12:15 PM PT. The Albany has a scheduled post time of approximately 4:15 PM PT.

Along with an 11-race extravaganza at Golden Gate, fans on-track can also watch and wager on the majority of the star-studded Belmont Park card. Eight of the 13 races on the program are Grade I contests, led by the $1,500,000 Belmont Stakes and the $1,200,000 Metropolitan Mile. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is 6:37 p.m. ET/3:37 p.m. PT.

Race 9: $50,000 Albany Stakes

#1 Brandothebartender (Catalino Martinez/Craig Dollase) 2-1 MORNING LINE

#2 Loud Mouth (Julien Couton/Jerry Hollendorfer) 20-1

#3 Pure Comedy (William Antongeorgi III/Bill McLean) 12-1

#4 Tough Sunday (Silvio Amador/Steve Miyadi) 10-1

#5 Sequentially (Frank Alvarado/John Martin) 10-1

#6 Adorned (Juan Hernandez/Blaine Wright) 6-1

#7 Mikes Tiznow (Ricky Gonzalez/Andy Mathis) 8-1

#8 Summersimage (Abel Cedillo/Ricardo Perez) 4-1

#9 Tribal Storm (Irving Orozco/Ari Herbertson) 9-2

COMPETITIVE RACING THE THEME ON CLOSING WEEK, MANDATORY PAYOUTS ON SUNDAY

With four more live racing days on the calendar, Golden Gate Fields has a number of competitive, quality races lined up, giving horsemen and fans the chance to participate and wager on a plethora of races throughout the week.

A strong Thursday program kicks off the week, with 8 races on the docket. A maiden special weight, a duo of starter allowances’ and a 12-horse field on the turf comprise an enticing Late Pick 4 sequence.

Nine races are posted on the Friday overnight, with first post set at 12:45 PM PT. Race 5 features a field of 12 on the turf and goes as Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager, an industry low 12% takeout wager with a guaranteed pool of $100,000.

11 races will be conducted on Saturday, with the feature going as the Albany Stakes. An appealing Golden Pick Six sequence catches the eye-a sequence that includes the Albany, a pair of competitive maiden special weights and an allowance for 3-year-old fillies.

Closing Day Sunday is scheduled for a 12-race program, with first post time at 12:15 PM PT. The 20 Cent Golden Pick Six, the Rolling Super High Five and the Early and Late Pick 5 wagers have mandatory payouts on Sunday, which means that the betting public will find “larger than normal” pool sizes in each aforementioned wager. Heading into Thursday’s card, the Golden Pick Six has a carryover of over $30,000. Golden Gate Fields will also offer a GUARANTEED Late Pick 4 pool of $100,000 on Sunday.

FINISH LINES: Golden Gate Fields welcomes jockey Kyle Frey back to the saddle. The journeyman rider took an extended period of time off after sustaining a serious leg injury over the summer at Del Mar. Frey has two listed mounts on Saturday afternoon. “I’m really excited to get back to riding,” said Frey. “I’ve been working horses and feel really healthy. I’ll be ready to go this weekend”… Congratulations to trainers Dan Markle and Blaine Wright. Both conditioners won races at Emerald Downs with horses that participated in stakes action on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 28. Markle won the Hastings Stakes on May 27 with Ima Happy Cat, who just one-month prior finished second in the Camilla Urso Stakes on turf. The Hastings was a six-furlong contest on dirt. Last Sunday, Wright won the Governor’s Stakes with Lost in the Fog Stakes winner Anyportinastorm. Juan Hernandez flew North to guide the son of City Zip to victory…Jockey Abel Cedillo has 124 wins and sits atop the jockey standings with four racing days to go. Juan Hernandez has the second most wins amongst riders with 103. William Antongeorgi III (73 wins) and Catalino Martinez (72) are in a tight battle for third in the standings…Jonathan Wong has wrapped up a fourth consecutive training title at Golden Gate Fields with a whopping 84 wins at the Winter/Spring meet. Jerry Hollendorfer holds second place with 39 wins while John Martin completes the top three placing’s, equating 34 victories at the current meeting…Good luck to all horsemen, horses and fans at the upcoming California Fair meets. We’re excited to see you back for live racing at Golden Gate Fields on Thursday, August 15, Day 1 of the 28-day Summer Meeting (which runs through Sunday, September 29.)

TRAINER GALVIN A NEW SHOOTER WITH A STRONG BARN

Brendan Galvin, former assistant to William E. Morey, is off to a good start after venturing out on his own about 2 months ago. The longtime horseman has started 7 runners so far and earned two wins, both which came last weekend. On Saturday, first time starter Miss Lucky Lager was an impressive maiden special weight victor for Galvin, while 4-year-old gelding Palermo Style gamely held off a wall of challengers to win an allowance race on Sunday.

“I’ve been out on my own once before but it was for a short period of time and I only had five horses,” admitted Galvin. “I have 15 horses in my stable now, and have a good group back there.”

Galvin, a hands-on horseman, typically jogs, gallops and works as many of his horses as possible.

“Juan [Hernandez] rode Miss Lucky Lager last weekend [in her race] but he worked her one time,” said Galvin. “I breezed her in almost all of her works. I try to get on as many of my horses as I can. I get a good feel for them that way.”

Miss Lucky Lager, a first time starter by Tiznow, set the pace before drawing off down the stretch, winning the five and a half furlong contest by 3 lengths. She earned a 71 Beyer speed figure for her performance.

“She’s always trained like a nice filly,” said Galvin. “I’ve always liked her.”

One day later, 4-year-old gelding Palermo Style sat close to the pace before fending off a handful of pursuers in the final furlong of a one-mile and a sixteenth turf allowance event for 3-year-olds and upward. Julien Couton rode the California-bred son of Animal Kingdom to victory.

“He’s a nice horse,” said Galvin on Palermo Style. “Julien did a great job. He rode [Palermo Style] just the way we planned and luckily, it worked out.”

Galvin noted that he especially enjoys working with young horses.

“I take great pride in developing horses,” said Galvin. “I’ve got 2 babies right now.”

Make no mistake, though: Galvin can train any type of racehorse.

“I’m lucky to be doing what I love, which is working with horses,” concluded Galvin.

GRECIAN FIRE WINS GRADE 3 ALL AMERICAN; DEL MAR STAKE A NEXT POSSIBLE TARGET

5-year-old gelding Grecian Fire stamped himself as one to watch in the second half of 2019 with an authoritative win in the Grade 3 $100,000 All American Stakes last Monday at Golden Gate Fields.

Ridden to victory by William Antongeorgi III, the son of Unusual Heat sat fourth in the first 6 furlongs of the one-mile race before powering to the lead at the 3/16ths pole, opening up by 3 lengths in mid-stretch, and finishing a length and a half clear of the late-running Builder. Grecian Fire is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who has won the All American a record 9 times.

“Between the last race and [the All American], he really picked up on his training,” said Hollendorfer. “His last work was excellent.”

Hollendorfer indicated that Grecian Fire is now possible for the $125,000 California Dreamin Stakes at Del Mar on July 26, a one-mile and a sixteenth turf race for California-breds.

With the All American Stakes win, Grecian Fire improved his lifetime record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds from 23 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $286,702. Grecian Fire is owned by KMN Racing, who also bred the chestnut gelding now known as racing’s newest graded stakes winner. Grecian Fire is a half sibling to Sneaking Out, a 3-year-old filly who most recently ran second in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita.

STRONG CARDS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

9-race programs and quality races are sprinkled throughout the overnights for Saturday and Sunday’s live race cards, which both have an approximate first post time of 1:15 PM.

Saturday’s program drew 2 allowance races: Race 4, a 6-furlong sprint on the Tapeta, and Race 7, a one-mile and a sixteenth grass race with 9 entrants. Race 3 is the second “baby race” of the year, a 5-furlong Tapeta dash for 2-year-olds, while Race 8 is a California-bred or California-sired maiden race for 3-year-old fillies.

Sunday afternoon features a number of interesting races, led by Race 7: a one-mile and a sixteenth second level allowance race on turf for three-year-olds and upward. The entrants include graded stakes placed gelding Many Roses, who wheels back in just 6 days after an off-the-board finish in the All American, stakes winner Respect the Hustle, 400k earner Unusually Green and hard knockers Alive and Well, Arch Prince, Calle Kingpin and Harvest a Storm. Race 6, beginning the Late Pick 4, attracts a field of 9 sprinters with plenty of backclass. Entered in the field is stakes winner Whatwasithinking, stakes placed Argosy Fleet and Sunset Dragunn and tough geldings Awesome Silver, Bullet Drill, Kiwi’s Dream, Malibu Alex, Mal Verde, Sweet River Baines. Race 8, a -bred or California-sired maiden race for 3-year-olds, drew a field of 11 and also catches the eye.

FINISH LINES: The Camilla Urso Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on April 27 has already produced two stakes winners. S Y Sky, winner of the Camilla Urso, hit the wire first in the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday. Ima Happy Cat, who finished second in the Camilla Urso, won the Hastings Stakes at Emerald Downs on Monday…River Boyne, who ran second in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on April 27, came back to run second again in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on Monday. Bowie’s Hero, who finished off the board in the San Francisco Mile, also ran in the Shoemaker Mile and finished third…San Francisco Mile winner Blitzkrieg raced on dirt for the first time in the Grade I Gold Cup at Santa Anita on Monday. He set the pace before fading, finishing off-the-board… California Derby third place finisher More Ice runs in the $100,000 Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile and an eighth on turf at Santa Anita this Sunday. Mike Smith has the call for Jerry Hollendorfer…Race 5 on Friday is Leg D of the Stronach 5 wager…Happy birthday to jockeys Francisco Duran and Cristobal Herrera, both whom turn a year older this week…$14,447 has been carried over into the 20 Cent Golden Pick Six pool on Friday. Race 3 begins the 6-race sequence…With two weeks left to go at the current Winter/Spring meeting, Jonathan Wong has wrapped up a fourth straight trainer standings title with 82 wins, 44 victories ahead of second place trainer Jerry Hollendorfer…Jockey Abel Cedillo holds a 120-102 win lead over Juan Hernandez in the rider standings.

Berkley, Calif. (May 27, 2019)- Under the guidance of jockey William Antongeorgi III, 5-year-old gelding Grecian Fire stalked the pace before powering away from his rivals in the $100,000 Grade 3 All American Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Memorial Day Monday. Grecian Fire held off a late challenge from second place finisher Builder, winning the mile Tapeta contest by a length and a quarter. 2018 Oakland Stakes winner Touched by Autism completed the trifecta.

“I was in a good position and [the frontrunners] were going at a good pace,” said Antongeorgi. “When [Touched by Autism] was tiring at the 5/16ths, I was able to go after Gabo’s Macondo [who was in front in upper stretch.]

“[Grecian Fire] is really maturing,” continued Antongeorgi. “He was kind of lazy before but now if you put him in the right spot he’ll give you that run.”

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and owned and bred by KMN Racing, the California bred son of Unusual Heat improved his lifetime record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds from 23 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $286,702.

“Between that last race and this one, he really picked up on his training,” said Hollendorfer. “His last work was excellent. He got a little better trip today than in his last start.”

Hollendorfer indicated that Grecian Fire is now a possible for the $125,000 California Dreamin Stakes at Del Mar on July 26, a one-mile and a sixteenth turf race for California-breds.

Southern California shipper Red King ran fourth followed by 2-1 favorite Choo Choo, Gabo’s Macondo, More Power to Him and Many Roses. Grecian Fire completed the one-mile in 1:36.49.

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Visitant Picks Up First Stakes Victory in the Alcatraz

Local 3-year-old colt Visitant marked up his first stakes win on Sunday with a length and a quarter victory in the one-mile $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds. The race was originally scheduled for turf but moved to the Tapeta due to wet weather earlier in the week. Before winning the Alczatraz, Visitant finished second to the Bob Baffert trained Kingly in the California Derby and had won a pair of sprint races earlier in the year.

In the Alcatraz, Visitant was third turning into the stretch before passing Southern California shipper One Bad Boy and Kingly in the final furlong, improving his record to 3 wins from 4 starts. From 4 races, Visitant has amassed career earnings of just over $101,000.

“[Visitant] came out of the race great,” said the colt’s trainer, John Martin. “He got a pace to run at and that helped. He’s a horse that takes a little bit to get going but once he finds his stride he really comes home strong. He’s a nice horse and I think he’s got a nice career ahead of him.”

Thursday morning, John Martin confirmed that Visitant will race in the Grade 3 $100,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds on June 16 at Santa Anita. The Affirmed is run at a mile and a sixteenth on dirt.

Visitant will continue to train in Northern California for Martin and owners Williamson Racing LLC  while preparing for the Affirmed Stakes. Williamson Racing LLC also bred Visitant, by Ghostzapper out of the stakes placed mare Peppermint Lounge. Peppermint Lounge is a mare that the Williamson family raced in Southern California in the mid 2000’s.

Anothertwistafate Heading Back to California After Preakness Run

Following a tenth place finish in the Preakness last Saturday, El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate shipped back to Golden Gate Fields Wednesday afternoon and will train over the Tapeta in preparation for his next start, which is still undetermined.

“We’ll regroup, train him at Golden Gate and look at some races for this summer,” trainer Blaine Wright told Golden Gate Publicity Wednesday afternoon. “He pulled up good and looked fine after the [Preakness]. We would have liked to have finished in a better position, sure, but it was a great experience and we are very proud of our horse.”

Wright indicated that Anothertwistafate will target a summer and fall campaign, with numerous options to consider.

“We’d really like to try [Anothertwistafate] on turf,” continued Wright. “We’re looking at some races-maybe a race or two at Del Mar-but we still think the world of him and know he has a bright future. He’s well-traveled and has been running hard, so we’ll freshen him up.”

“Thanks to everyone who showed their support,” finished Wright. “It meant a great deal to represent Golden Gate Fields and be a part of the Preakness, a race of such high caliber.”

All American Stakes To Be Drawn Friday, Run On Monday

Memorial Day Monday racing rounds out a five-day race schedule at Golden Gate Fields this week. The feature this Monday: the $100,000 Grade 3 All American Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward on the Tapeta.

16 horses were nominated to the one mile contest. Among the local probables expected to enter in the 2019 All American are Choo Choo, who ran third in the San Francisco Mile last month, and stakes winner Gabo’s Macondo. Builder, Grecian Fire, Many Roses, More Power To Him and Touched By Autism are also listed as probable.

Seven Southern California nominees are on the list of All American nominations, though a handful of them are doubtful to run. The Peter Eurton trained Dark Vader is entered in an allowance race this week at Santa Anita as is El Huerfano, conditioned by Mark Glatt. Southern California trainer Michael McCarthy won the All American last year with Justify’s little brother, The Lieutenant, and nominated 5-year-old gelding Oiseau De Guerre to this year’s edition. Oiseau De Guerre is entered in a Saturday allowance at Golden Gate and is unlikely to re-enter into the All American. Morse Code, also nominated for the All American, is slated to run in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham at Santa Anita on Saturday.

The connections of Grade 3 winner Draft Pick, multiple allowance winner Higher Power, and stakes winner Ritzy A.P. are still mulling their options after nominating to the All American.

First post on Thursday, Friday and Memorial Day Monday is 12:45 PM. Saturday and Sunday has a first post time of 1:15 PM.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Abel Cedillo has the most wins out of any jockey at the current meeting, with 112 trips to the winners circle. Juan Hernandez sits in second place with 96 victories…Jonathan Wong holds an insurmountable lead in the trainer standings with 78 wins, 42 more than Jerry Hollendorfer…Jockeys Francisco Monroy and Luis Ocasio escaped injury after being unseated from their mounts in two separate incidents over the weekend and are planning to ride this week, according to both riders’ agents. The horses involved in the mishaps walked back to their barns okay…Happy birthday to afternoon outrider Ashton Compoy, who turns a year older on Thursday…Leg D of the $100,000 guaranteed Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 5 at Golden Gate Fields.

Berkeley, Calif. (Sunday, May 19, 2019) Northern California trainer John Martin picked up a stakes victory at the winter/spring meet at Golden Gate Fields with Visitant in the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds on Sunday. The race, originally scheduled for turf, was moved off the grass due to wet weather earlier in the week. 7 runners competed in the mile contest on Tapeta.

Visitant, last seen running second in the California Derby, stalked the pace before challenging the leaders in upper stretch and surging past One Bad Boy, who went off as the 4/5 favorite. Visitant won the race by a length and a quarter and was ridden to victory by local pilot William Antongeorgi III.

One Bad Boy, coming off a sharp maiden win at Santa Anita, dueled up front with third place finisher Kingly and took the lead in upper stretch, only to be collared in the final sixteenth of a mile by Visitant. 2019 Kentucky Derby winning jockey Flavien Prat rode the 3-year-old ridgling for Southern California trainer Richard Baltas.

Kingly, who won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate last month for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, retained the services of Southern California jockey Mario Gutierrez. The royally bred sibling to Breeders Cup champion New Year’s Day and multiple Grade 2 winner Mohaymen set the pace with One Bad Boy before fading to third.

68-1 longshot Rey Coliman finished fourth, followed by The Creep, Loud Mouth and Nizamdcarchy. Visitant completed the one-mile in 1:36.73 and went off as the 5-1 third choice in the wagering.

Visitant earned his first stakes win with the Alcatraz victory. Visitant has now won 3 of 4 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $101,600. Williamson LLC owns and bred the son of Ghostzapper, who is out of the graded stakes placed mare Peppermint Lounge.

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BLAINE WRIGHT’S ANOTHERTWISTAFATE DRAWS POST 12 IN PREAKNESS 

El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate drew post 12 of 13 in the 2019 $1,500,000 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes and will be ridden for the first time by world renowned rider Jose Ortiz. The Preakness goes as Race 13 on a 14-race program on Saturday at Pimlico Racecourse and has a scheduled post time of 6:48 p.m. Eastern time/3:48 p.m. Pacific. The Preakness is a one-mile and 3/16ths dirt race and the second leg of the Triple Crown series.

Anothertwistafate’s last trip to the winner’s circle came after the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby in February, a race which offered the winner a free berth into the 2019 Preakness. The free berth was an incentive presented for the first time by the Stronach Group, which runs and operates Golden Gate Fields and Pimlico as well as Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park and Laurel.

Anothertwistafate has worked twice on the Golden Gate Fields Tapeta surface since his most recent race to date: a second place finish in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. Owendale, who beat Anothertwistafate in the Lexington, is also slated to run in the Preakness and drew post 5 for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux.

“His workouts have been super since he’s come back from Keeneland,” said Anothertwistafate’s trainer, Blaine Wright. “He has trained with confidence every single day. He’s a heck of a horse.”

Wright indicated that Anothertwistafate shipped to Pimlico well and is looking forward to seeing his star equine tackle some of the best 3-year-olds in one of America’s most prestigious races.

“He’s a good shipper,” said Wright. “He traveled to Pimlico on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he ate up well and was playing in his stall. At this point, we’re [at Pimlico] and we’re going to enjoy the festivities. We hope our horse brings his ‘A’ game.”

 ELLEN JACKSON’S BULLETPROOF ONE WINS FIRST 2-YEAR-OLD RACE OF THE YEAR 

The first Northern California “baby” race of 2019 came in last Saturday’s third race, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. Four fillies and one colt competed in the four and a half furlong contest, which was won by the Ellen Jackson trained Bulletproof One.

Bulletproof One, sent off as the 3-5 favorite, went straight to the lead and set fractions of 22.90 and 46.37 seconds before drawing off in the final sixteenth of a mile, finishing 8 lengths ahead of second place finisher Small Surprise. Bulletproof One completed the four and a half furlongs in 52.60 seconds and earned a 58 Beyer speed figure for her effort.

“We always thought she was a special filly,” said Ellen Jackson. “She’s a mild-mannered filly. She was working really well before her race. We’re really excited about her future.”

Bulletproof One is by Grade I winner and California stallion Idiot Proof and out of the Decarchy mare Onefunsonofagun, who won 8 races as a racehorse. As a broodmare, Onefunsonofagun has produced four winners from four foals.

Victory Rose Thoroughbreds LLC (Ellen Jackson) and KMN Racing (Kevin and Kim Nish) currently own Bulletproof One. They also own her older full brother, 4-year-old colt In Our A, who broke his maiden in January against maiden special weight company.

ALCATRAZ STAKES ON SUNDAY ATTRACTS NINE  

A field of nine has been assembled for the 2019 edition of the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile on the turf. The weather forecast call for rain over the weekend, meaning there is a strong possibility that the race could be moved to the main track. That said, most of the horses entered to run in the Alcatraz have run well on the Tapeta in the past, so a scratch due to a surface switch is unlikely.

The probable post time favorite is Kingly, coming off a hard fought win in the $100,000 California Derby on Gold Rush Weekend. The Bob Baffert trainee is royally bred: by top stallion Tapit out of multiple Grade 2 winning mare Justwhistledixie. Kingly is a brother to 2013 Breeders Cup champion New Year’s Day and multiple Grade 2 winner Mohayman. In fact, both aforementioned siblings are Kentucky stallions, with the former having sired this year’s unofficial Kentucky Derby winner, Maximum Security. Kingly’s full 2-year-old brother, named Enforceable, is training in the barn of Mark Casse and finished second in his career debut, a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby week.

Visitant, entered in the Alcatraz for trainer John Martin, looks to turn the tables on Kingly after finishing second in the California Derby. The son of Ghostzapper scored two impressive wins before his stakes placing and has been well regarded by his connections since the beginning of his career. He figures to get good support in the wagering.

Southern California conditioner Richard Baltas sends One Bad Boy to Northern California in hopes of a stakes victory. The Twirling Candy ridgling off a dominant maiden at Santa Anita and makes his first start against winners in this spot. 2019 Kentucky Derby winning jockey Flavien Prat has the call.

Leading Golden Gate trainer Jonathan Wong saddles a pair of Alcatraz contenders in The Creep and Our Silver Oak. The Creep, owned by Alejandro Mercado, finished fifth in the California Derby last month while Our Silver Oak, owned by Robert Jones, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, suffered a nose loss in the Silky Sullivan Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds on the turf. Both Wong entrants worked 5 furlongs on Sunday morning in preparation for this race.

Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer has an Alcatraz starter in Loud Mouth, who looks to win his third race in a row. In his two most recent afternoon appearances, the California-bred son of Boisterous scored victories against allowance company sprinting on the Golden Gate Tapeta. His lone career route try resulted in a 22-length loss behind top California-bred 3-year-old Galilean in February. Veteran rider Frank Alvarado has the call.

The allowance placed Rey Coliman, recent maiden winner Harmon and supplemental entrant Nizamdecarchy complete the field.

The Alcatraz goes as Race 8 on a 9-race program at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. First post on Sunday is 1:15 PM, while post time for the Alcatraz is approximately 4:15 P.M.