Wednesday, May 2, 2018

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS HORSEMEN AND EMPLOYEES SHARE THEIR DERBY PICKS

We asked a number of Golden Gate Fields horsemen, racing office staff and frontside personnel who they like to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby. Here were their responses:

Jockey/Exercise Rider Chester Bonnet (Magnum Moon): “I know his gallop boy and he says the horse is coming into the race great.”

Racing office staff member Tina Bryant (Magnum Moon): “I pick whoever wins in Arkansas.”

Jockey Abel Cedillo (Magnum Moon): “I thought he looked really good in The Arkansas Derby and he hasn’t come close to getting beat.”

Trainer Bill Delia (Justify): “I think he’s a special horse.”

Stall manager Carrie Fawcett (Firenze Fire): “He’s #1!”

Track announcer Matt Dinerman (Audible): “Justify is the one to beat but I like Audible. He is very versatile, improving with every race and has something left in the tank at the end of his races.”

Trainer Sam DiLaura (Instilled Regard): “Justify ain’t gettin’ no 49 [half mile spilt] this time.”

Jockey agent Tom “Bomber” Doutrich (Audible): “I like his numbers.”

Golden Gate Fields General Manager David Duggan (Magnum Moon): “He’s a big, robust horse and I think he will deal with the hustle and bustle of the Derby better than the others.”

Jockey Pablo Flores (Justify): “I think he’s really good and I saw him working the other day and he worked easy.”

Assistant trainer Brendan Galvin (Mendelssohn): “Aidan O’Brien knows how to bring them over [to America] and win. He’s not bringing him over for the sunshine.”

Jockey Ricky Gonzalez (Mendelssohn): “I think Justify has the most raw talent but Mendelssohn has more experience and will get the right trip.”

Mutual Manager Doug Gooby (Bolt D’Oro and My Boy Jack): “I like Justify but I always try to beat the favorite. Bolt and ‘Jack are my two this year.”

Trainer Gloria Haley (Justify and Mendelssohn): “Both are by Scat Daddy.”

Director of Marketing Ryan Hilton (Justify): “It’s going to be hard to beat the favorite.”

Trainer Steve Howard (Magnum Moon): “I know Todd Pletcher likes him.”

Placing judge/racing office staff member Lisa Jones (Flameaway): “I haven’t looked at the PP’s yet but my dog [Lucy] woke up at 4 AM this morning so we’ll go with #4….Flameaway.”

Morning line maker Steve Martinelli (Justify): “The way he’s progressed has been very impressive and he’s got Bob Baffert on his side.”

Trainer Andy Mathis (Justify): “He seems like the most talented.”

Trainer Tim McCanna (Audible and My Boy Jack): “My exacta horses.”

Trainer Bill McClean (Mendelssohn): “He was really impressive in Dubai.”

Trainer Quentin B. Miller (Good Magic): “When he wants to run, he runs.”

Jockey agent Fernando “Shoes” Navarro (Mendelssohn): “His prep in Dubai was impressive.”

Jockey agent Roger Olguin (Bolt D’Oro): “I hope Victor [Espinoza] wins.”

Jockey Irving Orozco (Mendelssohn): “It’s hard to look away from his impressive win in The UAE Derby.”

Jockey agent Dennis Patterson (Good Magic): “Chad Brown says he’s coming into the race ready to run his very best and I believe him.”

Trainer Andy Psarras (Magnum Moon): “He’s got a pace to chase and he’s undefeated.”

Trainer Steve Sherman (Mendelssohn): “I just like him.”

Media legend Sam Spear (Mendelssohn): “He is royally bred and won very impressively at the Breeders Cup and in Dubai.”

Trainer Steve Specht (Justify): “He sure looks like the best horse to me.”

Trainer Anthony Stabile (Good Magic): “He beat the best 2-year-olds last year and I think he’s coming into the race perfect.”

Trainer Angelo Tekos Jr. (Hofburg): “I think he’s a really nice horse that has not peaked yet.”

Stronach Group Director of Food and Beverage Mark Ventresca (Bolt D’Oro): “It sounds Italiano.”

Trainer Jonathan Wong (Good Magic): “I picked him in The Breeders Cup Juvenile and I’m sticking with him.”

 

THREE GOLDEN GATE TRAINERS TO HAVE HORSES IN ON KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

 

Northern California trainers Ari Herbertson, Jerry Hollendorfer and Blaine Wright saddle contenders in major stakes races at Churchill Downs this Friday and Saturday.

 

Blaine Wright has 4-year-old colt Riser slated to run in Friday’s Grade 3 $200,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint for older horses going five furlongs on the turf. The grey/roan son of Mizzen Mast won a pair of stakes races at Emerald Downs last summer and makes his 2018 debut in the ‘Turf Sprint. He is 20-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by jockey Aaron Gryder, who currently rides at Hastings Racecourse in Canada but spent his fall and winter at Golden Gate.

 

On Saturday, 26-year-old conditioner Ari Herbertson will tighten the girth on Pyscho Sister, who most recently won an allowance race on the Golden Gate Fields turf last month. The New-York bred will be facing 10 other fillies and mares in the Grade 2 $300,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and was made 30-1 on the morning line by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. Breeders Cup Classic-winning jockey Florent Geroux picks up the mount for Team Herbertson.

 

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is represented in the Kentucky Derby with Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Instilled Regard, who recently ran third in the Santa Anita Derby behind 3-1 ‘Derby morning line favorite Justify and Bolt D’Oro. Drayden Van Dyke, who rode the colt to a second place finish in The Los Alamitos Futurity as a 2-year-old, will be in the saddle for his first ‘Derby ride. Instilled Regard drew post 15 of 20 and is 50-1 on the morning line.

 

FIRST POST TIME CHANGES TO 12:45 UNTIL THE REMAINDER OF THE MEET

 

With the exception of Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes days, first post at Golden Gate Fields will be at 12:45 PM Pacific Time, beginning this Thursday afternoon. On the aforementioned “Triple Crown Days,” post time will be one hour early at 11:45 AM.

 

As previously mentioned, Golden Gate will begin live racing this Saturday, Kentucky Derby Day, at 11:45 AM. Fans have a chance to take part in the annual ‘Derby Day Hat Contest, where patrons can show off their stylish Kentucky Derby hats and win cash vouchers for their creativity and style. Food and drink specials will be offered throughout the afternoon, multiple food trucks will be on hand to satisfy fans’ taste buds and local band “The Spirit of 29” will be performing to add to the festivities. Post time for the 2018 Kentucky Derby is 3:50 PM Pacific Standard Time. Horseplayers on-hand at Golden Gate can watch and wager on the entire Derby Day card from Churchill Downs, which features a plethora of graded stakes races, as well as the Kentucky Oaks card on Friday afternoon. 10 races are scheduled at Golden Gate on Derby Day, with the program featuring a trio of allowance races.

 

FINISH LINES: Abel Cedillo has pulled even with Billy Antongeorgi III in the jockey standings. Both journeyman riders sit atop the leaderboard with 63 wins apiece heading into the month of May…Jonathan Wong leads the way in the trainer standings with 38 wins, one more than Jerry Hollendorfer and two more than John Martin…Jockeys Francisco Duran and Irving Orozco are both okay after two separate incidents in races last week and will resume riding Thursday afternoon…Over $276,000 was bet into the Late Pick 5 pool on Sunday, which had a $28,000 carryover from Saturday…Heading into Thursday’s card, the Golden Pick Six jackpot pool sits at $11,774.

Berkeley, Calif. (April 29, 2018)- Pulpit Rider and Hardboot, two Southern California invaders who shipped to the Bay Area for the stakes doubleheader at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday, successfully defeated their respective Cal-bred divisions in the Campanile Stakes and Silky Sullivan Stakes, respectively.

 

Pulpit Rider, bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams and trained by Mike Puype, stalked the pace before finishing fast in the final furlong to nail Lavadia in the $100,00 Campanile Stakes for California bred or California sired 3-year-old fillies. Pulpit Rider was ridden to victory by Corey Nakatani, who flew up from Southern California to ride the daughter of Lucky Pulpit. Pulpit Rider, winner of The California Oaks at Santa Anita two starts ago, improved her record to 4-0-1 from 9 lifetime starts.

 

In The Silky Sullivan for California bred or California sired 3-year-olds, Hardboot pulled off a 10-1 upset for jockey Juan Hernandez and trainer Michele Dollase, the sister to fellow Southern California trainer Craig Dollase. Hardboot sat off the pace before rallying down the outside of the track for the victory, earning the $57,000 winner’s share of the Silky Sullivan purse. Hardboot is owned by Silver Creek Stables and was bred by James Man.

 

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By Matt Dinerman

10 races on the card at Golden Gate Fields, with a $28,977 carryover in The Late Pick 5 (Races 6-10)! Track officials project at least $120,000 new money will be added into the Late Pick 5 today. We’ll go through each race, with my ticket displayed at the end of the write up. It’s a solid sequence with good quality fields and a competitive feel. Let’s get to it!

Race 6 (The Campanile Stakes for Cal-bred 3 YO fillies): #4 PULPIT RIDER (1-1- ML) will be a single on many tickets. She comes off a fourth place finish in The Providencia (G3), finishing right behind El Camino Real Derby winner PAVED. Her last win came two starts ago, when she was a decisive winner of The California Oaks. Expect her to stalk the pace with jockey Corey Nakatani, who flies up to ride both stakes’ today. We’re singling PULPIT RIDER and crossing our fingers.

Race 7 (Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds): #4 AUTUMN DAY (1-1) is the one to fear most. He has made two afternoon appearances, with both efforts resulting in runner-up finishes to DADDYSPRIZE and J T’s A. T. M; the aforementioned winners are racing in The Silky Sullivan Stakes later on today. We’ll use AUTUMN DAY on the ticket as well as longshot #5 SNOW FEATHER (10-1), who blew the break and lost all chance in his career debut. After the bad start, he was far back for most of the race but made up a good amount of ground down the lane to finish in mid division in a large field. He had been working quickly in preparation for the debut and now adds blinkers while sporting a sharp gate work since the poor getaway in lifetime start #1.

Race 8 (Silky Sullivan Stakes for Cal-bred 3 YO): #4 NIGHT AT THE OPERA (6-1) adds blinkers after an above-average second place finish against open allowance company. His two career route efforts have been sneaky good. First time routing, he lost to stakes caliber colt RESPECT THE HUSTLE in The Oak Tree Juvenile and came back one month later to finish four lengths behind RESPECT THE HUSTLE, El Camino Real Derby runner up CITY PLAN and Grade 3 placed colt AYACARA in The Gold Rush Stakes. Along with ‘OPERA, we’re also using So-Cal shipper #1 CONO (3-1), with C-Nak in the irons, and #7 AIGLE (9-2), a son of Unusual Heat who comes off a gate to wire maiden score in his career debut. He raced a mile and a sixteenth that day and cuts back a sixteenth of a mile for his first try against winners.

Race 9 (Allowance for older colts and geldings): #7 FORCE (3-1) makes his 2018 debut after a second place finish in The Berkeley Handicap (G3) last fall. The pace is projected to be fast and contentious, so expect this guy to get a good trip sitting off the speed. FORCE has plenty of back class; along with the Berkeley Handicap placing, he won The Rolling Green Stakes and hit the wire first in a pair of allowance races last year. #6 CONQUEST COBRA (9-5) makes his second start off a year vacation and is a must-use. He ran a very good second to the Bob Baffert trained TEN BLESSINGS in his first start off the break, and ran third in The Grade I Triple Bend before the long layoff. Even though both aforementioned efforts came going one-turn, he has run competitively when routing against tough company. Dangerous with his best race.

Race 10 (Cal-bred allowance for older colts and geldings): #1 SOUTHERN THUNDER was an easy winner at the starter allowance level last time; that was his first try going long on the turf, which is what he’ll be doing today. We’re expecting him to get a good, stalking trip while saving ground from the rail. He’s trained by William E. Morey, who also saddles #3 BOUNTIFUL DESERT (9-2), a class dropper who finished second in an open allowance race in his most recent start. #4 WE’RE JUST SAYIN (6-1) has open allowance experience, as well, and freshens up for this run. The last time he routed on the turf, he won a starter allowance for fun. We’re going three deep with that trio of runners to end the sequence.

THE TICKET:

50-Cent Late Pick 5 ($27)

R6: 4

R7: 4,5,6

R8: 1,4,7

R9: 6,7

R10: 1,3,4

GOOD LUCK!!!

SILKY SULLIVAN AND CAMPANILE STAKES HIGHLIGHT UPCOMING WEEK OF RACING

This weekend, two stakes races will be featured on the Sunday “Dollar Day” card at Golden Gate Fields. The Silky Sullivan Stakes, for California-bred or California sired 3-year-old colts and geldings, offers a purse of $100,000. The Campanile Stakes, for California-bred or California sired 3-year-old fillies, has a guaranteed purse of $100,000 as well. Both aforementioned races will be run at one mile on the turf.

The duo of stakes events are part of the “Golden State Series,” which is a series of designated stakes races run throughout the year that are designed `to reward owners and breeders who participate in the California State breeding program. In the Golden State Series, horses who are either bred in California or sired by a California stallion are eligible to compete.

“We are more than excited to be offering a pair of Golden State Series races this Sunday,” said general manager David Duggan. “We are always looking for ways to incentivize the California breeding industry. We want to reward our dedicated horsemen-breeders, owners and trainers alike-who participate in the program.”

The Silky Sullivan lists a cast of 19 nominations. Leading the group of nominees is multiple stakes winner Heck Yeah, a Bob Baffert trainee who most recently won The Echo Eddie Stakes on Santa Anita Derby day. Local horses on the “noms” list include allowance performers Night At the Opera and Unpossible, along with impressive maiden winners Aigle, Daddysprize and J T’s A. T. M.

The Campanile attracted 13 nominees. Pulpit Rider, from the Mike Puype barn, won The California Oaks two starts ago and most recently finished fourth in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes behind El Camino Real Derby winner Paved. The daughter of Lucky Pulpit will likely go off favored if she ships up north this weekend. One Fast Broad, a two-time stakes winner from The Mick Ruis stable, is also nominated for The Campanile. Among the local fillies nominated: impressive maiden victor My Sweet Lou and recent winners Gettin Sideways, Impecunious, Lavadia and Our Bold Princess.

Entries for both stakes events will take place Thursday morning. First post time on Sunday is 12:10 PM.

FINISH LINES: Billy Antongeorgi III (with 60 wins) continues to lead Abel Cedillo (57 wins) in the jockey standings. A tight race in the trainer standing as well; John Martin has 35 wins, one more than Jonathan Wong, who in turn has one win more victory than Jerry Hollendorfer… Trainer Ari Herbertson confirmed that recent Golden Gate allowance winner Pyscho Sister will ship to Churchill Downs to compete in The Grade 2 $300,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on Kentucky Derby Saturday. Also expected to make the trip from Golden Gate Fields is the Blaine Wright trainee Riser. The grey-son of Mizzen Mast is expected to make his first start of the year in the $200,000 Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Kentucky Oaks Friday…Congratulations to trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop, who won with Golden Gate stakes competitor Alliford Bay in the $50,000 Bighouse Belle Stakes at Hastings Racecourse last Sunday. Wright and Redekop also teamed up to run second with 2017 Lost in the Fog Stakes Quick and Silver in The Swift Thoroughbreds Inaugural Stakes at Hastings…Jockey Rocco Bowen, who rode at Golden Gate Fields this fall and winter, won four races on the opening day card at Emerald Downs last Sunday afternoon. Bowen is “favored” to win the EMD riding title for the third year in a row. 

WINTER/SPRING MEET TO CONCLUDE JUNE 10,
CREATING A SEVEN-WEEK TURF VOID IN THE BAY AREA

 

BERKELEY, Calif. (April 20, 2018)–With another strong season underway and its turf course in impeccable condition, Golden Gate Fields has announced it will add Thursday, May 31 to its spring racing calendar, which is welcome news to Bay Area horsemen and fans alike.

“We plan to offer a good many turf races on this extra day and throughout the remainder of the Spring Meet,” said David Duggan, Golden Gate Fields General Manager.  “This meet will conclude on June 10 and following that, there’s about a seven-week period where there’s no turf racing in Northern California.  Our turf course is pristine, and the weather should complement the day nicely.”

Duggan, who took the reins at Golden Gate in December, was quick to defer credit for the track’s recent success.

“Our great position this meet is a direct result of the horseplayers and the fantastic effort put forth by our horsemen, jockeys and our staff,” said Duggan.  “As a result, we are very pleased to be adding to our racing calendar, and especially in late-May.  We’ve said this many times, but we’ve got a tremendous group of horsemen.  We’re excited to be doing well and we look forward to finishing up strong.”

First post time on Thursday, May 31 is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. PT.  For additional racing information, please visit goldengatefields.com.

 

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Thursday, April 19, 2018

MATHIS HAS BIG WEEKEND WITH STABLE GEMS CASTLE AND LAYNEE

Trainer Andy Mathis had a strong weekend, winning first-level allowance races with 5-year-old gelding Castle on Saturday and 4-year-old filly Laynee on Sunday. The Spiral Jetter, the only other Mathis trainee competing on the weekend of April 14 and 15, ran second in the race that Laynee won.

Castle, a Cal-bred son of Slew’s Tiznow, has compiled a record of 3 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 5 lifetime starts. The Eagle Ridge Farm homebred has won a pair of route allowance races in his past two starts and broke his maiden last fall against a salty group of sprinters. For Mathis, it was clear early on that Castle possessed raw talent.

“Before he ran his first race for me, he hooked up with [multiple stakes winner] Star Student in a workout,” recalled Mathis. “He held his own pretty good. Right there I knew he had some ability.”

“He’s a great horse to be around,” continued Mathis. “He’s a really friendly horse. My kids come by the barn and play with him. Training [in the mornings], he’ll do anything you ask him to do. For me, it’s just trying to space his workouts and races right. I try to put him in the right spots so he can put up his best effort.”

24 hours after Castle’s triumph, Laynee defeated a solid bunch of first level allowance runners in a six-furlong sprint. Laynee’s biggest win to date, however, may have come in February when she defeated Cal-bred allowance competition at Santa Anita.

“Laynee has always worked fast and showed in the mornings that she could run,” said Mathis. “It seems like every race she is maturing and getting better. It’s been a steady progression with her. She gets better little by little. I like horses like that, and I think she can still improve.”

Stablemate The Spiral Jetter, who rounded out the exacta for the Mathis barn, had not started since November of 2016. Mathis was pleased with the effort his “other” runner put forth.

“I was very happy with the way The Spiral Jetter ran,” said Mathis. “I think she might be better going a little bit longer, actually. Maybe seven furlongs or a mile. It was a good weekend.”

STRONG ALLOWANCE RACES FEATURED ON COMPETITIVE 9-RACE FRIDAY CARD

Golden Gate Fields offers a 9-race card this Friday, April 20, the first of three racing days this coming week. Heading into Friday’s card, Golden Gate Fields has a 20-Cent Pick 6 jackpot carryover of $26,098. The Pick 6 begins in Race 4.

The feature race on the card goes as Race 8, a second level allowance on tapeta for older colts and geldings routing one mile and a sixteenth. Leading the cast of contenders is Camino Del Paraiso, who comes off a fourth-place finish in The Grade 3 San Francisco Mile. The last time Camino Del Paraiso routed on the tapeta, he ran third in The Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap. Morning line maker Steve Martinelli installed Camino Del Paraiso as the 7-5 morning line favorite.

Other main contenders include stakes winners G.G. Ryder and Zakaroff, recent allowance victors Lovenseek and Taima the Hawk, and stakes placed 4-year-old More Power to Him. Sixes, who finished second to Lovenseek in a March 30 allowance race, is also expected to get support in the wagering. Harvest a Storm, who ran third behind Lovenseek and Sixes in the aforementioned March allowance event, rounds out the field.

Race 7, the second leg of the 50-Cent Late Pick 4, is another fun race on the Friday card. The event attracts a field of eight 3-year-old allowance fillies set to travel one mile on the turf.

The 2-1 morning line favorite is Tinabud, who ran second in The California Oaks three starts ago but has finished second in a duo of allowance races since then. Other main contenders include Sweetsongofthenile, who ran fourth in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita, California Oaks participant Bornonvalentineday and recent allowance winner Seaside Song.

First post on the 9-race card is 12:15 PM. Entries for Saturday were taken on Wednesday morning, with 10 races listed on the overnight. Racing Secretary Patrick Mackey carded 10 races on the Sunday program as well, with first post on Dollar Day scheduled at the usual time of 12:15 PM.

FINISH LINES: Trainer John Martin has a one-win lead over Jonathan Wong in the trainer standings (34-33) while William Antongeorgi III sits first in the jockey standings with 56 victories, four more than Abel Cedillo…Good luck to trainer Blaine Wright, who saddles Alliford Bay and Quick and Silver in two separate stakes events on Sunday at Hastings Racecourse. Alliford Bay, entered to run in The Bridgehouse Belles Stakes for older fillies and mares, comes off a third-place finish in The Camilla Urso Stakes. Quick and Silver, slated to run in The Swift Thoroughbreds Inaugural Stakes, makes his first start for the Wright barn after being privately purchased by owner Peter Redekop. The son of Dunkirk was previously in the barn of Bill Delia and enters the race fresh off an allowance win on March 11…Good luck to trainers Frank Lucarelli, Dan Markle and Blaine Wright. All three conditioners have a string of horses at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington and begin their meet this Sunday…Another “best wishes” shoutout to jockeys Rocco Bowen, Lucas Gutierrez, Kevin Orozco, Anne Sanguinetti and Edgar Velasco. The quintet of Northern California jockeys will be competing at Emerald Downs this spring and summer…Northern California trainer Ari Herbertson saddles A Red Tie Day in the $100,000 San Juan Capistrano this Sunday at Santa Anita. A Red Tie Day was claimed by Team Herbertson in March for $50,000.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

EVANS HAS BIG WEEKEND WITH LONGSHOTS

Last week was a good week for trainer Holly Evans. Within a span of 24 hours, Evans won with three of her trainees, all who went off at double-digit odds.

On Friday, Holly won the nightcap with Sing in the Wind, a 34-1 longshot making her first career start. She was racing for a $25,000 claiming tag against six other 3-year-old fillies. The following afternoon, second-time starter Ride Into the Sky went off at 16-1 in Race 1 and proceeded to beat five other rivals. Like stablemate Sing in the Wind, Ride Into the Sky was racing against maiden claimers for a $25,000 purchase price.

“I thought both maidens had a big shot,” said Evans.

Back Shared Anvil capped off the big weekend for Evans with an off-the-pace victory against $3,200 claimers in Race 10 on Saturday. He was making his first start for the Evans barn and the first start of 2018. In fact, Back Sheared Anvil had race not since March of 2017.

“I told the owners to bet a couple of bucks on him and that’s what happened,” said Evans with a chuckle. “Yes, I really liked [Back Sheared Anvil]. The owners [John and Sherry Ryan] gave him a bunch of time after we purchased him and he came back to the track feeling really happy and healthy. He was working well going into the race.”

Evans currently trains 12 horses, meaning 25% of her barn earned a winner’s check last week.

STAKES WINNER FAST AND FOXY RETIRED

Multiple stakes winner Fast and Foxy has been retired from racing and was recently bred to California stallion Idiot Proof, per trainer Holly Evans. The daughter of Thisnearlywasmine earned $514,030 in her racing career and won 16 times, with all 16 victories coming over the Golden Gate Fields Tapeta.

“She did everything she could,” said Evans, who trained Fast and Foxy from start to finish. “She was all heart.”

Fast and Foxy was bred by Joe Dahling, who co-owns with Holly Evans. She broke her maiden on August 16, 2013, and went on to win a trio of stakes races: the 2016 and 2017 Bear Fan Stakes and the 2017 Camilla Urso Stakes. Catalino Martinez rode the California-bred mare to all three stakes triumphs.

“For me to get a horse like that…there are so many trainers that never get an incredible horse like her,” said Evans. “Fast and Foxy had a personality in the barn, too. She was fun to be around. She was very demanding when she wanted her carrots. The carrot bucket was right across from her stall so she would always be asking for some.”

“I feel very lucky,” continued Evans. “Joe [Dahling] and I are very proud of her.”

FINISH LINES: Golden Gate Fields will offer three live racing days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) for the next two weeks…There is a $23,144 carryover in the Rolling Super High 5 wager heading into Friday’s card. Friday’s seventh race offers the carryover…There is also a 20 Cent Golden Pick 6 carryover of $11,345. The first leg of the Pick 6 goes as Race 2…Good luck to jockeys Aaron Gryder and Edgar Velasco. Gryder will ride under contract at Hastings Racecourse for owner/trainer Glenn Todd while Velasco is set to compete at the Emerald Downs spring/summer meet in Auburn, Washington…Abel Cedillo and Billy Antongeorgi III are tied in the jockey standings with 51-wins apiece. Trainer John Martin leads all trainers in victories with 34 wins, two more than Jonathan Wong…Happy birthday to trainer Quinn Howey, who celebrates his birthday this Thursday.

 

LATE PICK 5 CARRYOVER HIGHLIGHTS THURSDAY CARD

A Late Pick 5 carryover of $40,132 begins the new racing week at Golden Gate Fields. The Late Pick 5, a 50 Cent wager, will go as races 3-7 on the Thursday afternoon card. Track officials predict that $150,000 new-money will be added into the Late Pick 5 pool.

39 horses have been entered to compete in the Late Pick 5 sequence, which averages out to 7.8 horses per race. 2 of the 5 races are turf events while the other trio of races will be run on the Tapeta. The seventh race has 10 horses slated to run, which is the largest field size of the day.

“The Late Pick 5 sequence is definitely competitive,” said track announcer and on-air analyst Matt Dinerman. “Horseplayers always want to play good, contentious races.  We’ve got that in this sequence.”

Post time for the first leg of the Late Pick 5, Race 3, is 1:15 PM Pacific Time.

STAKES WINS COME OFTEN THIS MEET FOR COUTON

Jockey Julien Couton has made a positive impact in the jockey colony at Golden Gate Fields for the past 5 years. This Winter/Spring season, Couton has continued his consistent good numbers with 29 wins. Three of those victories came in stakes’, leading all jockeys in stakes wins this meet.

On February 10, Consolida won The California Oaks by a length and a quarter. Julien guided the 3-year-old filly to her first stakes win that day. It was also the first stakes win of the meet for the 37-year-old native of France.

“She gave me everything she had,” said Couton after the race. “[The pacesetters] went at a good clip early and we were able to get the right trip sitting off the speed.”

Five weeks later, Couton navigated 4-year-old filly Mother of Dragons to victory in The Camilla Urso Stakes for trainer Andy Psarras. Couton and Mother of Dragons were able to out finish two other rivals in a 3-horse blanket finish.

“Mother of Dragons was working absolutely terrific [before the race],” said Couton.

Most recently, Couton tallied his first San Francisco Mile win with Flamboyant, a 7-year-old who became racing’s newest millionaire last week. Flamboyant is trained by Paddy Gallagher, who also trains Consolida.

“[Flamboyant] showed us he has something left in the tank,” said Couton in a post-race interview. “He’s a good horse.”

David “Marbles” Singer, who was Couton’s agent for the first half of the meet, has left the Bay Area to work at Emerald Downs this summer. Agent Don August will take over Couton’s book until the end of the Winter/Spring meet.

FINISH LINES: Good luck to jockeys Rocco Bowen, Lucas Gutierrez and Kevin Orozco. All three riders’ ship their tacks to Emerald Downs this week…William Antongeorgi III has taken the lead in the jockey standings. The journeyman rider has 49 wins, one more than Abel Cedillo and three better than Juan Hernandez…Trainer John Martin holds a 32-30 lead in the trainer standings over Jerry Hollendorfer. Jonathan Wong sits in third place with 29 victories…Along with Thursday’s Late Pick 5 carryover of $40,132, there is a Golden Pick 6 carryover of over $4,100… Paved, who won The El Camino Real Derby in February, makes her first start since the aforementioned stakes win in The $200,000 Providencia Stakes on turf at Santa Anita this Saturday…Noble Nick is scheduled to run in The $100,000 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita on Sunday for trainer Ari Herbertson…Best of luck to Northern California jockeys Hugo Herrera and Pedro Terrero, both who ride Arabian horses in the $100,000 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Stakes, a Grade 1 stake for Arabian’s at Santa Anita Park this Saturday.

Berkeley, Calif. (March 31, 2018)- Grade 2 winner Flamboyant saved ground on the far turn and swinging for home before diving to the lead at the eighth pole and holding off a late challenge from second-place finisher Editore to win The $200,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile for older horses.

“My horse is a good horse,” said winning jockey Julien Couton. “He showed he had something left in the tank. He gave me his all today.”

Flamboyant, trained by Paddy Gallagher, had not won a race since 2016 when the French-bred son of Peer Gynt was victorious in The Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita. With this victory, Flamboyant became racing’s newest millionaire, with $1,081,916 career earnings from 34 starts.

“The horse ran well and Julien rode him terrific so it all worked out good,” said winning trainer Gallagher. “We love him and he’s just a terrific horse.”

Editore, winner of The Berkeley Handicap in November, finished second after sitting in midfield and making a bid for the lead at the eighth pole. Many Roses, who ran third in the 2017 San Francisco Mile, completed the trifecta once again while Syntax ended up running fourth. The Phil D’Amato trainee had previously finished behind a trio of runners in The Frank Kilroe Mile earlier this month.

Flamboyant defeated 11 other runners in The San Francisco Mile, the feature race of the 2017/2018 meet at Golden Gate Fields and stopped the clock for one mile on firm turf in 1:36.15 seconds.

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Berkeley, CA (March 28, 2018) – Twelve older routers will travel the distance of eight furlongs in the feature race of the Golden Gate Fields Winter/Spring meet, the San Francisco Mile, a Grade 3 turf event with a $200,000 purse. The San Francisco Mile will go as Race 8 on the 9-race card this Saturday, March 31, with an approximate post time of 4:15 PM PDT. Here is the field in post-position order: #1 EDITORE (6-1 on the morning line, Jockey Brice Blanc, Trainer Paulo Lobo) was a dominant winner of the Berkeley Handicap (G3) on November 25. Since then, the Brazilian-bred has finished third in both the San Gabriel Stakes (G2) and the San Marcos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Both aforementioned races were on turf. #2 FRANK CONVERSATION (3-1, Juan Hernandez, Doug O’Neill, 3-1) makes his first start of 2018. The son of Quality Road won the California Derby and the El Camino Real Derby in 2016 and was victorious in the Twilight Derby (G2) at Santa Anita that same year. His most recent afternoon appearance resulted in a third-place finish in the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) last October. #3 SYNTAX (4-1, Geovanni Franco, Phil D’Amato) finished fourth in the Frank Kilroe Mile (G1) on March 10 and rounded out the superfecta, finishing ahead of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner World Approval in the process. This will be his second start off an eight-and-a-half month break. #4 AQUA FRIO (20-1, Billy Antongeorgi III, Blaine Wright) is conditioned by Blaine Wright and owned by Peter Redekop; they teamed up to win the San Francisco Mile in 2016 and 2017 with Alert Bay. Aqua Frio most recently defeated Many Roses in an allowance race on February 16 and his most significant victory came in the Seattle Slew Stakes on dirt at Emerald Downs last summer. #5 CAMINO DEL PARAISO (10-1, Catalino Martinez, O.J Jauregui) lost by a head in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-breds at Santa Anita on January 27. His most recent start in the Bay Area was last fall when finishing third in the Berkeley Handicap (G3) on the Tapeta. #6 NO MORE TALK (30-1, Ricky Gonzalez, George Papaprodromou) makes his first start for The George Papaprodromou stable. He ships in from Laurel Park after running against allowance company in recent starts at the Maryland racetrack. #7 FLAMBOYANT (6-1, Julien Couton, Paddy Gallagher) is about $40,000 shy of $1,000,000 in career earnings. The seven-year-old gelding finished third in the Pattison Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine this fall and won a pair of Grade 2’s at Santa Anita earlier in his career. #8 GRECIAN FIRE (15-1, Irving Orozco, Jerry Hollendorfer) is one of two runners to be saddled by Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. ‘Fire won the Alcatraz Stakes over this turf course last spring and most recently defeated 2015 San Francisco Mile winner G. G. Ryder in an allowance race on March 8. #9 BIRD IS THE WORD (10-1, Frank Alvarado, G.F. Almeida) makes his graded stakes debut on turf. He was last seen in October, running second in the Obviously Mile to Blackjackcat, who came back to run third in The Breeders Cup Mile (G1). #10 FULL OF LUCK (5-1, Flavien Prat, Jerry Hollendorfer) is a Chilean-bred making his first start in the United States. The son of Lookin At Lucky has run 14 career races (all in Chile) and has picked up victories in one Group 1 and a pair of Group 2’s. He is 2 for 3 when traveling this mile distance on the turf and is the second runner slated to compete from the Jerry Hollendorfer barn. #11 MANY ROSES (15-1, Abel Cedillo, Ellen Jackson) dueled on the lead before getting tagged late by Aqua Frio in a February 16 allowance race on Tapeta. The five-year-old gelding ran third in the 2017 San Francisco Mile (G3) and is expected to set the pace in this year’s contest. #12 MR. ROARY (20-1, Alonso Quinonez, George Papaprodromou) won the Eddie D. Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita in September and also hit the board in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) at Del Mar last summer. Most recently, the son of Scat Daddy ran fifth in the San Marcos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. The San Francisco Mile is the third leg in the 50-Cent Late Pick 4 sequence, which will have a guaranteed pool of $100,000 this Saturday. The late Pick 4 begins in Race 6. 37 horses have been entered in the Late Pick 4 sequence, which equates to over 9 horses per race.