Berkeley, Calif. (March 26, 2018) – Golden Gate Fields will offer a $100,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 pool on San Francisco Mile Day, Saturday, March 31. The Late Pick 4 sequence will cover races 6-9 on the card.

“Golden Gate is delighted to be offering a six-figure Late Pick 4 pool on San Francisco Mile Day,” said general manager David Duggan. “We are expecting good field sizes and a competitive sequence for our dedicated horseplayers and fans.”

The feature race on Saturday’s card is the $200,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile for 3-year-olds and upward going one mile on the turf. The forecast for Mile week calls for clear and sunny skies.  First post at Golden Gate Fields is slated for 12:15 p.m. PDT each race day.

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MENDED GALLANT IN DEFEAT

$12,500 claimer turned stakes mare Mended continues to blossom; the daughter of Broken Vow most recently ran second in the Grade I $400,000 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita Park last Saturday. This was her first try against Grade I company and her second straight graded stakes placing.

Under the guidance of regular pilot Ricky Gonzalez, Mended dueled on the lead with fellow Golden Gate Fields shipper Turkish Tabby for the first six furlongs of the race before shaking clear of the aforementioned rival on the far turn. The eventual winner, Fault, ran by Mended at the top of the stretch, but Mended continued to fight for the length of the lane and held second.

“She came out of the race well,” said trainer John Martin. “Right now she is at Santa Anita and I as well as [owner] Troy [Onorato] are coming up with a game plan as to where she will run next.”

Since being claimed by Troy and Maritza Onorato for $12,500 last year, Mended has earned $305,900. She has won 10 of 12 starts for the Onorato’s and Martin, with both losses coming against graded stakes company.

“She has a Grade I placing now so she is worth some money as a broodmare,” said Martin. “We want to manage her well. She is such a nice mare. She is going to be a good momma someday.”

In other stakes news, Blended Citizen, who ran second in The El Camino Real Derby last month, flew to Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky and defeated 11 rivals in the Grade 3 $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks Stakes for 3-year-olds. Blended Citizen is regularly stabled at the Doug O’Neill barn at Santa Anita and has been ridden in his past two races by Kyle Frey, a Bay-Area native who was a part of The Golden Gate jockey colony from 2012 until last year.

Mugaritz, a Jonathan Wong trainee who finished fourth in The El Camino Real Derby, also ran in the $200,000 Jeff Ruby. He set the pace under East Coast rider Nik Juarez before weakening down the lane and finishing off the board.

MOTHER OF DRAGONS EARNS FIRST STAKES WIN IN THE CAMILLA URSO

Mother of Dragons, a $3,000 sales purchase, earned her first career stakes victory in The Camilla Urso Stakes last Saturday, defeating a talented group of older filly and mare sprinters.

Mother of Dragons stalked a fast pace before coming with a bid down the center of the track and collaring both Cash Prize and multiple stakes winner Alliford Bay in the final 20 yards of the six-furlong contest. This marked the first stakes win for trainer Andreas Psarras, who also owns the 4-year-old filly by First Dude.

“She was training very well before this race,” said Psarras after the Camilla Urso triumph. “She loves this track.”

Mother of Dragons was purchased for just $3,000 by Psarras and has since won 4 races from 6 starts, with career earnings of $84,915.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO MILE ON THURSDAY

Nominations close for the Grade 3 $200,000 San Francisco Mile this Thursday, March 22. The San Francisco Mile, a one-mile turf event for 3-year-olds and upward, will be run on Saturday, March 31. The early forecast calls for a sunny day.

“We’re hopeful for a good field and a competitive race this year,” said racing secretary Patrick Mackey.

Fans in attendance on San Francisco Mile Day will receive a San Francisco Mile Day cap, one per paid admission. The gates open at 10:00 AM and first post time is at 12:15 PM PST.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Rocco Bowen is “very sore” but otherwise OK after a spill following the running of The Camilla Urso Stakes last Saturday. Bowen was transported to Highland Hospital in Oakland after the incident and x-rays came back negative. Silvio Amador and Pedro Terrero, also unseated from their mounts in the same incident, were able to walk off the track under their own power…Runaway Ghost, winner of The Golden Nugget Stakes last fall, and Choo Choo, winner of The California Derby in January, are entered to compete in The $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park this Sunday. Choo Choo drew post 9 of 12 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer while Runaway Ghost drew the 11 hole for trainer Todd Fincher, who has a large string of horses in New Mexico…Happy birthday to patrol judge John Leon and jockey Billy Antongeorgi III, both who celebrate birthday’s this week…Best wishes go out to Bay Area media legend Sam Spear, who recently had minor surgery to repair a broken arm.

 Berkeley, Calif. (March 17, 2018)-Mother of Dragons and jockey Julien Couton sat in midfield before making a powerful move to the front in late stretch to win the $50,000 Camilla Urso Stakes for older fillies and mares at Golden Gate Fields.

“She is so versatile; you can go to the lead or sit off the pace with her,” said Couton. “She was working absolutely terrific heading into this race. She gave me everything she had today.”

Mother of Dragons was purchased for just $3,000 as a yearling and has earned $84,915 for her owner and trainer Andreas Psarras. The daughter of First Dude broke her maiden and won a pair of allowance races over the Golden Gate Fields tapeta surface before earning her first career stakes victory in The Camilla Urso.

Cash Prize, who set the pace and fought gallantly for second, suffered a fatal injury a sixteenth of a mile after the finish and fell, unseating jockey Rocco Bowen. Bowen was moving his extremities after the incident and was taken to Highland Hospital in Berkeley for further evaluation. Jockeys Pedro Terrero and Silvio Amador, also unseated from their mounts, were able to walk off the track under their own power.

Alliford Bay, a winner of 2 stakes races, kicked off her 2018 with a third-place finish for the Blaine Wright barn, while Snow Cloud finished fourth at odds of 45-1. Mother of Dragons paid $10.00 to win.

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JOCKEY FERRIN PETERSON PICKS UP FIRST CAREER WIN

25-year-old Ferrin Peterson, who began riding races in early January, tallied her first career victory aboard Lovely Lioness in the second race last Sunday.

Lovely Lioness was sent to the lead by Peterson and never looked back, establishing a clear lead early and whipping through fractions of 23.14, 46.46 and 58.29 seconds. She hit the wire a length and a half ahead of second place finisher Porteous and stopped the clock for five and one-half furlongs in 1:04.61 seconds.

“That was the greatest feeling,” said Peterson, reflecting on the race.  “I felt the rush of adrenaline as Lovely Lioness and I hit the wire. I heard the crowd roaring. It was awesome. That was my fourth time riding [Lovely Lioness] so it was great to win my first race on a horse I’ve built such a close bond with.”

Fellow riders doused Peterson, also a veterinary student at U.C. Davis, with shaving cream and buckets of ice-cold water after the win. Before the Sunday victory, Ferrin had finished third with six of her first 19 career mounts. Trainer Anthony Stabile, who conditions Lovely Lioness, has used Peterson regularly since she began riding and is impressed with Peterson’s demeanor and good mind.

“Ferrin works hard and listens to instructions,” said Stabile. “She is always very respectful and loves the horses. She is still learning and I give her constructive criticism at times, but she listens and takes it all in stride. My assistant Ashley [Peric] is also a big supporter of hers. I couldn’t be happier for Ferrin.”

Ferrin, days removed from her first career win, continued to smile from ear to ear as she strolled the Golden Gate Fields backstretch Wednesday morning.

“I’ve put in a lot of work over the last several months of training to becoming a jockey while studying hard in vet school. It feels great when that hard work pays off,” said Ferrin. “This is my childhood dream come true.”

CAMILLA URSO STAKES DRAWS A FIELD OF NINE

The 2018 edition of the Camilla Urso Stakes features a field of nine older fillies and mares. The Camilla Urso, a 6-furlong sprint, has a purse of $50,000 and will go as Race 7 on the 9 race card this Saturday.

Leading the cast of characters is Cuyathy, who most recently ran third behind graded stakes winner Selcourt in the Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita. Alliford Bay, a winner of two stakes races this summer, is also expected to get plenty of support in the wagering. Other main contenders include Passionate Emotion, who has won four races in a row since being claimed for $12,500 by trainer Ari Herbertson, and the Jeff Mullins trainee Symposium, who ships to the Bay Area from Southern California in search of her first stakes win.

Below is the field for the $50,000 Camilla Urso Stakes:

#1 Cash Prize…Quinn Howey/Rocco Bowen

#2 Aura Rose…Manuel Valenzuela III/Silvio Amador

#3 Claudia Mae…Tirso Rivera/Pedro Terrero

#4 Symposium…Jeff Mullins/Eddie Martinez

#5 Snow Cloud…James Cassidy/Irving Orozco

#6 Mother of Dragons…Andreas Psarras/Julien Couton

#7 Cuyathy…William E. Morey/Abel Cedillo

#8 Alliford Bay…Blaine Wright/Juan Hernandez

#9 Passionate Emotion…Ari Herbertson/Billy Antongeorgi III

GOLDEN GATE STAKES PERFORMERS TO COMPETE AT TURFWAY PARK

This Saturday, Golden Gate Fields stakes performers Blended Citizen, Consolida and Mugaritz take their talents to Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky, where they will be competing against East Coast stakes competition.

Blended Citizen and Mugaritz race in the $200,000 Grade 3 Jeff Ruby (formerly known as The Spiral Stakes). Blended Citizen is trained by Doug O’Neill and will be ridden by Kyle Frey, who guided the son of Proud Citizen to a second place finish in the El Camino Real Derby last month. Mugaritz, conditioned by Jonathan Wong, picks up the services of jockey Nik Juarez. Mugaritz made an early move towards the front in the El Camino Real Derby before flattening out in the final furlong to run fourth. Mugaritz and Blended Citizen drew post positions 6 and 8, respectively.

Consolida, winner of the California Oaks on February 10, races in the $100,000 Grade 3 DRF Bets Bourbonette Oaks for Southern California trainer Paddy Gallagher. The 3-year-old filly drew post 6 in the Bourbonette Oaks and will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke. Northern California pilot Julien Couton was aboard in the California Oaks.

The Bourbonette Oaks goes as Race 9 on the 12-race Turfway Card, with a scheduled post time of 2:14 PM Pacific Standard Time. The Jeff Ruby is Race 10, with the contest set to go off at approximately 3:00 PM Pacific Standard time.

FINISH LINES: William Antongeorgi III, Abel Cedillo and Juan Hernandez all have 38 victories heading into Week 12 of the Winter/Spring meet. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer leads in the trainer standings with 27 wins, one more than John Martin…Jockey agent Dennis Patterson has picked up the book of veteran rider Frank Alvarado. The duo begins business together this week…Good luck to jockey Tom Queally, who ships his tack to Keeneland this week. Queally is best known for piloting champion racehorse Frankel…Mended worked five furlongs in 1:00 flat last Sunday morning under jockey Ricky Gonzalez. The John Martin trainee has been supplemented to run in the Grade 1 $400,000 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita this Saturday and drew Post 3 of 10. Ricky Gonzalez will be back aboard…Tribal Storm, winner of the Lost In The Fog Stakes last month, ran fourth in the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita for trainer Ed Moger Jr. and owners/breeders Curt and Lila Lanning…Congrats to trainer Steve Miyadi, who won the Sensational Star with gutsy Cal-bred Tough Sunday. Tough Sunday, a 6-year-old by Grazen, was born blind and deaf, yet has still managed to win 5 of 18 career starts and just over $333,0000 in purse money.

HERNANDEZ WINS FIVE RACES ON SUNDAY CARD 

Jockey Juan Hernandez scored a five-bagger on Sunday afternoon, winning with five of his seven mounts on the card. The Mexico native scored victories aboard Raiderette (Race 2), Arch Kisser (Race 3), On the Key (Race 4), He’saruler (Race 6) and Spot N the Line (Race 7).

“I was really happy to win five races. I’ve never won five races in a day before,” said Hernandez. “I knew my horses had a chance to run well but they were tough races. I feel very lucky and happy.

Hernandez has been a major player in the Golden Gate Gate Fields jockey colony since his arrival to the bayside track in 2009 and has finished atop the jockey standings at four separate meets since 2015. With the five-win Sunday, Hernandez currently holds second place in the Winter/Spring meet jockey standings with 33 victories, just three wins shy of leading rider Abel Cedillo.

On Wednesday, Hernandez celebrated his 26th birthday with his family, including his wife, Melissa, and their two children, Juan-Jose and Emilio. Juan also has a brother in the Bay Area, 24-year-old Jonathan Hernandez, who has ridden in races and currently gallops and works horses for trainer Ed Moger Jr. in the mornings.

FIRST POST TIME MOVED TO 12:15 PM BEGINNING THIS SUNDAY

 Beginning this Sunday, March 11, first post time will be moved from 12:45 PM to 12:15 PM.

Golden Gate Fields will continue to card 9-races on weekends and 7 and 8 race programs on Thursday’s and Friday’s, respectively. Keep in mind that first post time on Kentucky Derby Day (May 5), Preakness Day (May 19) and Belmont Stakes Day (June 9) will be at 11:45 AM, which are the only three exceptions.

Race 1 each day begins the popular 50 Cent Early Pick 5 wager, a low 14% player-friendly takeout bet.

FINISH LINES: The race for top trainer at the Winter/Spring meet continues to be competitive. Trainer John Martin won 2 races Sunday, propelling him to first in the standings with 23 victories. Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer sits in second with 22 wins while Jonathan Wong has saddled 21 winners and remains in third place…Berkeley Handicap (G3) participant and local equine Noble Nick drew post 1 of 7 and is 4-1 on the morning line in Santa Anita’s first race on Friday, The Five Finger Starter Handicap. Brice Blanc takes the reins for conditioner Ari Herbertson in the mile and an eighth turf event…Ayacara, runner up to City Plan in The Gold Rush Stakes last fall, and Calexman, who finished off-the-board in The El Camino Real Derby, will both compete in The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes this Saturday at Santa Anita. The winner of The San Felipe earns 50 points to The Kentucky Derby…The Golden Pick Six jackpot wager was hit on Sunday, so the pool begins anew heading into Thursday’s card…Happy birthday to trainer Natalie Houle, who celebrates her birthday this Sunday.

BILLY ANTONGEORGI III ALL SMILES AFTER 1,000^TH CAREER WIN LAST SATURDAY

Last Saturday afternoon, jockey Billy Antongeorgi III collected career win number 1,000 aboard Many Lights, an Ari Herbertson trainee who defeated five other rivals in Race 2. Five days after the milestone victory, Antongeorgi was beaming with pride.

“This can’t be taken away from me. It’s a big accomplishment,” said Antongeorgi. “I’ve put a lot of hard work into this business and it takes a lot of hard work and consistency to win that many races. You’ve gotta have people in your corner that consistently ride you and have faith in you as well, so I am very appreciative of all the support that the trainers and owners have given me.”

Antongeorgi began riding at Golden Gate Fields in 2008 and has become a well-recognized figure at the bayside racetrack. He is represented by jockey agent Fernando “Shoes” Navarro, who believes that Antongeorgi’s work ethic is one of the main reasons why his rider has become a top jockey in the colony at Golden Gate.

“Billy is always there in the mornings, works hard and never complains; he just loves to work. You can’t ask for anything else,” said Navarro. “I don’t have to worry about him doing his job. He shows up and does his job every morning and loves it.”

“He has the ‘it’ factor,” continued Navarro. “He is very strong on a horse and can finish well down the lane. He gets along well with the horses. And talking to him, it’s impossible to not like him because he is very professional and kind to everyone. What more can you ask?”

With the milestone victory now behind him, Antongeorgi can focus on the future. That said, the fans and horsemen can expect the journeyman rider to continue to grind away each and every day.

“Now I’m on to the next 1,000 wins,” quipped Antongeorgi with a grin.

EL CAMINO REAL DERBY WINNER PAVED AIMING FOR THE PROVIDENCIA STAKES

Horse racing fans witnessed El Camino Real Derby history on Saturday afternoon when the Southern California invader Paved became the first filly in history to win the race. According to trainer Michael McCarthy, the 3-year-old daughter of Quality Road will make her next start in The Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita on April 7. The Providencia, run at The El Camino Real Derby distance of a mile and one-eighth, is a turf event.

The El Camino Real Derby offered 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner. Even though Paved was able to earn those points, her connections have ruled out a possibility of a Kentucky Derby run. Instead, Paved will be aiming for restricted 3-year-old filly races throughout the year.

In other stakes news, Tribal Storm pulled off a 20-1 upset over 2-5 favorite and East Coast invader Wellabled in The Lost In The Fog Stakes last Monday. The President’s Day victory was Tribal Storm’s second career stakes win. His first stakes triumph came last fall, when the Ed Moger Jr. trainee won The Harris Farm Stakes at Fresno. Tribal Storm was bred by his owners, Curt and Lila Lanning, and has been ridden in both stakes wins by Irving Orozco. The connections are still deciding where to run their star sprinter next.

The next stakes race of the Winter/Spring meet is The $50,000 Camilla Urso Stakes, a six furlong sprint race for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward. Nominations for The Camilla Urso close on Thursday, March 8 and the race will be run on Saturday, March 17.

FINISH LINES: Abel Cedillo continues to hold the lead in the jockey standings over William Antongeorgi III and Juan Hernandez …Jerry Hollendorfer and Jonathan Wong sit a-top the trainer standings with 19 wins, just one win more than John Martin…Happy birthday to jockey Julien Couton and owner Chris Carpenter, both whom celebrate birthdays this week…Remember racing fans: first post time this Friday, Saturday and Sunday is at 1:15 PM…Nominations close for The San Francisco Mile on Thursday, March 22. The San Francisco Mile purse has been upgraded to $200,000 this year…Jockey Francisco Duran is one win away from 1,500 career wins. The journeyman rider has two mounts apiece on Friday and Saturday…Jockey agent Don August recently picked up the book of apprentice Lucas Gutierrez and they had success together last week. Lucas won a pair of races last Friday for trainer O.J Jauregui…Jockey agent John Buc is representing 10-pound apprentice Layla Griffin, who rode her first two races at Golden Gate Fields last week.

Albany, Calif. (February 19, 2018) Tribal Storm sat dead last early, came with an inside run down the lane and passed seven competitors to win The 2018 $50,000 Lost In The Fog Stakes for older sprinters. Tribal Storm, a son of Papa Clem, stopped the clock for six furlongs in 1:08.71 seconds.

“Plenty of speed in front benefits him at the end and he proved it again today,” said winning jockey Irving Orozco. “We had to find a clear path down the stretch but we did and he did his thing. He’s 100% right now and hopefully we can win some more with him.”

Wellabled, an East Coast shipper from the Larry Rivelli stable, set the pace before getting tagged late by Tribal Storm. Wellabled went off at low odds of 2-5. Tribal Storm, in the meantime, went off at odds of 20-1, paying $42.60 to win.

Anyportinastorm, making his first start in ten months for trainer Blaine Wright, ran huge at odds of 26-1 to finish third. The 2017 Lost In The Fog Stakes winner, Quick and Silver, completed the superfecta. 2015 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday stalked the pace before fading down the stretch, finishing last of eight.

With this stakes victory, Tribal Storm improved his career record to 5 wins, 1 second and 4 thirds in 13 lifetime starts. Last October, Tribal Storm won The Harris Farm Stakes at Fresno, making this Lost In The Fog victory his second career stakes win.  Tribal Storm, a 4-year-old California bred ridgling, is owned by his breeders, Curt and Lila Lanning, and is currently trained by Ed Moger Jr.

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Berkeley, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2017) Under the expert guidance of jockey Drayden Van Dyke, Paved became the first filly to win the prestigious El Camino Real Derby, one of the most notable horse races in Northern California. The El Camino Real Derby, a restricted 3-year-old race, awarded 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner. Paved is the only filly in the country to hold Kentucky Derby points at this point in time.

“She’s just a Cadillac,” said Van Dyke. “She looked around a little bit towards the end. I think there is more left in there, too. She is very talented.”

After stalking the pace for the first eight furlongs, Paved took the lead in midstretch and held off a late challenge from City Plan and Blended Citizen, both whom came surging late. City Plan, winner of The Gold Rush Stakes in November, finished second for trainer Eoin Harty and jockey Tyler Connor, while Blended Citizen rounded out the Southern California trifecta for trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Kyle Frey. Mugaritz, runner up in The California Derby last month, finished fourth while California Derby winner Choo Choo completed the Super High Five wager, checking in fifth.

“I thought she ran super today,” stated winning trainer Michael McCarthy. “She got a good position and when Drayden asked her, she responded nicely.”

In her most recent afternoon appearance, Paved raced in a maiden special weight event. That afternoon, the daughter of Quality Road stalked the pace early before drawing off down the stretch to win by five and a half lengths, geared down at the wire. Before her racing career, owners Ciaglia Racing LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners purchased Paved for $320,000.

With her first stakes win, Paved improved her overall record to 2 wins and 2 thirds in four lifetime starts, with career earnings of $104,640.

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EL CAMINO OFFERS KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS ON FEBRUARY 17

 The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, one of the most notable races every year at Golden Gate Fields, will be run this Saturday, February 17. The mile and an eighth contest is for three-year-olds traveling over the synthetic Tapeta surface. Along with a $60,000 check, the 2018 El Camino Real Derby champion will earn 10 points towards the 2018 Kentucky Derby, which will run Saturday, May 5. Over the years, El Camino Real Derby participants such as Chocolate Candy, Daddy Nose Best and Dance With Fate compete in The Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May.

A field of nine three-year-olds will go postward in the 2018 El Camino Real Derby. The expected morning line favorite is the 2018 California Derby winner Choo Choo, who also ran third in The Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita in December. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee is owned by Calumet Farm and has been training at Golden Gate Fields since the California Derby victory. He will be ridden, once again, by Juan Hernandez. Other local contenders include California Derby runner-up Mugaritz, multiple allowance winner Could Be the One, and recent starter allowance victor Unlawful Act.

Several Southern California invaders will try to add a stakes win to their resume. Paved, a filly facing boys in the El Camino Real, comes off a dominating five-and-a-half length score against maiden special weight company on turf. Paved was purchased for $320,000 as a 2-year-old and is trained by Michael McCarthy. Blending Citizen, conditioned by Doug O’Neill, ran fourth behind Choo Choo in the Eddie Logan and is scheduled to make his 2018 debut in the El Camino. Rounding out the Southern California entrants are the Vladimir Cerin trained Calexman, who broke his maiden on November 24 at Del Mar, and Epical, wheeling back quickly after winning his first career start for trainer James Cassidy three weeks ago.

City Plan, a three-year-old Godolphin homebred, is an interesting contender from the Eoin Harty barn. The son of Street Sense ships up to Golden Gate Fields after a poor showing in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes against Kentucky Derby hopeful McKinzie. City Plan won the Gold Rush Stakes over the Golden Gate Tapeta two starts ago and defeated Ayacara, a runner who came back to run second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, February 3.

Interestingly, of the nine entrants, six will be ridden by Southern California jockeys. Making the trip to Golden Gate Fields from Santa Anita are jockeys Drayden Van Dyke (aboard Paved), Kyle Frey (Blended Citizen), Tyler Conner (City Plan), Alonso Quinonez (Calexman), Tiago Pereira (Epical), and Mario Gutierrez (Mugaritz).

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 7 on the nine race card, with a scheduled post time of 3:45 PM Pacific Standard Time. Here is the field, from the rail post position outward:

Horse (Trainer/Jockey)

#1 Paved (Michael McCarthy/Drayden Van Dyke)

#2 Blended Citizen (Doug O’Neill/Kyle Frey)

#3 Could Be the One (Jack Steiner/William Antongeorgi III)

#4 Choo Choo (Jerry Hollendorfer/Juan Hernandez)

#5 City Plan (Eoin Harty/Tyler Conner)

#6 Calexman (Vladimir Cerin/Alonso Quinonez)

#7 Epical (James Cassidy/Tiago Pereira)

#8 Unlawful Act (Matthew Troy/Cristobal Herrera)

#9 Mugaritz (Jonathan Wong/Mario Gutierrez)

 

2018 EL CAMINO REAL DERBY FEATURES LUCRATIVE DERBY POINTS

The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, one of the most notable races every year at Golden Gate Fields, will be run this Saturday, February 18. The mile and an eighth contest is for 3-year-olds traveling the distance of 9 furlongs. Along with the $60,000 winner’s check, the 2018 El Camino Real Derby champion will also earn 10 points towards the Kentucky Derby. Over the years, we have seen El Camino Real Derby participants such as Chocolate Candy, Daddy Nose Best and Dance With Fate compete in The Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May.

A field of nine 3-year-olds will go postward in the 2018 El Camino Real Derby. The expected morning line favorite is California Derby winner Choo Choo, who also ran third in The Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita in December. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee is owned by Calumet Farm and has been training at Golden Gate Fields since the California Derby victory. He will be ridden, once again, by Juan Hernandez. Other local contenders include California Derby runner up Mugaritz, multiple allowance winner Could Be the One, and recent starter allowance victor Unlawful Act.

Several Southern California invaders will try to add a stakes win to their resume. Paved, a filly facing boys in The El Camino Real, comes off a dominating five and a half-length score against maiden special weight company on turf. Paved was purchased for $320,000 as a 2-year-old and is trained by Michael McCarthy. Blending Citizen, conditioned by Doug O’Neill, ran fourth behind Choo Choo in the Eddie Logan and is scheduled to make his 2018 debut in The El Camino Real Derby. Rounding out the Southern California entrants are the Vladimir Cerin trained Calexman, who broke his maiden on November 24 at Del Mar, and Epical, wheeling back quickly after winning his first career start for trainer James Cassidy three weeks ago.

City Plan, a 3-year-old Godolphin homebred, is an interesting item from the Eoin Harty barn. The son of Street Sense ships up to Golden Gate Fields after a poor showing in The Grade 3 Sham Stakes against Kentucky Derby hopefuly McKinzie. City Plan won The Gold Rush Stakes over the Golden Gate Tapeta two-starts ago and defeated Ayacara, a runner who came back to run second in The Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

Interestingly, of the nine entrants will be ridden by Southern California jockeys. Making the trip to Golden Gate Fields from Santa Anita are jockeys Drayden Van Dyke (aboard Paved), Kyle Frey (Blended Citizen), Tyler Conner (City Plan), Alonso Quinonez (Calexman), Tiago Pereira (Epical) and Mario Gutierrez (Mugaritz).

The El Camino Real Derby goes as Race 7 on the 9-race card, with a scheduled post time of 3:45 PM Pacific Standard Time. Here is the field, from the rail post position outward:

Horse (Trainer/Jockey)

#1 Paved (Michael McCarthy/Drayden Van Dyke)

#2 Blended Citizen (Doug O’Neill/Kyle Frey)

#3 Could Be the One (Jack Steiner/William Antongeorgi III)

#4 Choo Choo (Jerry Hollendorfer/Juan Hernandez)

#5 City Plan (Eoin Harty/Tyler Conner)

#6 Calexman (Vladimir Cerin/Alonso Quinonez)

#7 Epical (James Cassidy/Tiago Pereira)

#8 Unlawful Act (Matthew Troy/Cristobal Herrera)

#9 Mugaritz (Jonathan Wong/Mario Gutierrez)

LOST IN THE FOG STAKES HIGHLIGHTS PRESIDENT’S DAY RACING

The $50,000 Lost In The Fog Stakes will be the feature race on the Golden Gate Fields card this Monday, February 19. First post time remains the same: 12:45 PM Pacific Standard Time. The feature Monday race is named after one of the best Bay Area sprinters to ever compete, Lost In The Fog, who was conditioned by Greg Gilchrist and ridden by Hall of Famer Russell Braze.

Among the leading contenders is The Larry Rivelli trained Wellabled. Rivelli, who has a large string of horses on the East Coast, is well known for his success at Arlington Park in the summertime. Wellabled comes off a seven length win in The Forego Stakes at Turfway Park. Other local main contenders include the win machine Percy’s Bluff, defending champion Quick and Silver and Sunset Dragunn, who makes his stakes debut after a pair of sharp allowance wins.

FINISH LINES: Abel Cedillo is first in victories amongst the Golden Gate jockey colony with 26 wins, three more than Billy Antongeorgi III. Juan Hernandez sits in third place with 22 wins…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong holds an 18-17 lead over Jerry Hollendorfer…Good luck to Team Hollendorfer, whom race 3-year-old colt Instilled Regard this Saturday. The son of Arch is back at The Fairgrounds, where he won the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes, and is ready to take on nine other rivals in The Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. The winner of The Risen Star earns 50 points to The Kentucky Derby…Northern California superstar Mended worked 5 furlongs on Sunday morning. The daughter of Broken Vow was last seen running second in The Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on January 13 and is possible for a stakes race at Sunland Park next month…Happy birthday to trainers Isidro Tamayo and Samuel Calvario, both whom celebrate birthdays in the upcoming days…The Golden Pick Six Jackpot Carryover has reached $27,658 heading into Thursday’s card…PLEASE NOTE: On February 23, 24 and 25, post time for our Golden Gate Fields races will be moved to 1:15 PM, a half hour later than our usual 12:45 PM first post time.