OLD PRO CROWN KITTEN TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Every time Crown Kitten steps on the track, she knows the drill. With 54 starts to her name, she has plenty of experience. This Friday, the Florida-bred daughter of Wildcat Heir is entered in Race 6, a first level allowance race for filly and mare sprinters, and faces the toughest field she has seen in quite some time.

Usually, we interview trainers or jockeys in the News and Notes. This week, we decided to get the perspective of an owner. Chris Carpenter, who co-owns Crown Kitten with trainer Bill McLean, shared his thoughts on the 7-year-old mare earlier this week.

“I think she has a lot of confidence right now,” said Carpenter. “These horses-especially ones like her-are competitive and want to be praised when they do well. She’s in great form right now. We’re giving her a shot at [the allowance] level to see where she fits. I think she was a little unlucky to lose last time. She was inside and, once she tipped outside, she ran on really well. She might have been able to win with a little bit better trip [on the outside].”

Carpenter is right; Crown Kitten is definitely stepping up in class. Over the last couple years, Crown Kitten has been most effective at mid-level claiming conditions. At the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, Crown Kitten either won or hit the board in five consecutive races. But after a pair of off-the-board placings in March and April, she was given time off to recuperate from a relatively long campaign.

After the aforementioned break, it took Crown Kitten a couple of races to get back into tip-top shape. But she is back at her best now. In her last four races, Crown Kitten has won twice, lost by a nose to next out winner Marilyn’s Smile, and, in her most recent start, finished a neck behind classy sprinter Queen of the Track.

Coincidentally, we have seen this pattern with Crown Kitten before. After multiple poor performances in early 2020, Crown Kitten was given four and a half months off. It took her four races to win following that layoff and, once she did, kept her good form from late 2020 to early 2021.

“Sometimes that happens with these older horses,” said Carpenter. “You give them some time off and it might take them a few races to get back to their best form. [Rest and recovery] can be a big help for these horses, though.” 

Crown Kitten will be up against a strong field in Friday’s feature. That said, the strongest of the six entrants may scratch. Stakes winner Becca Taylor, tabbed at even money on the morning line, worked a half mile at Santa Anita on Wednesday morning and could bypass the race in favor of a different spot.

Still, other competitors appear with solid form. Lagatha cuts back from a route to a sprint and will be fit for what is her best game: one turn racing. Hot Rageous has shown an affinity for the Tapeta surface and makes her first start since being claimed by trainer Isidro Tamayo for $20,000. Tamayo wins at a 19% strike rate with runners making their first start off a claim. Annie Graham, a stablemate to Becca Taylor, won at this level in May of 2021 against restricted 3-year-old fillies and was given eight months off since that run. Her only afternoon appearance this year, on January 29, resulted in an off-the-board finish in which she suffered a less-from-ideal trip. Go Smiley Go makes her first start off a 3-month layoff and rounds out the field. The last time she won, she defeated a solid group of sprinters at this first level allowance condition.

Eight races are scheduled for Friday, 10 races made the overnight for Saturday, and 9 more end the racing week on Sunday. First post each day is 1:15 PM.

Race 6 on Friday (First level allowance at 6 furlongs on Tapeta for fillies and mares 4 YO and up)

#1 Go Smiley Go (Jockey Assael Espinoza…Trainer Cliff DeLima…morning line odds of 6-1)

#2 Lagatha (Irving Orozco…Reid France…7-2)

#3 Becca Taylor (Armando Ayuso…Steve Miyadi…1-1)

#4 Annie Graham (Alejandro Gomez…Steve Miyadi…10-1)

#5 Hot Rageous (Silvio Amador…Isidro Tamayo…9-2

#6 Crown Kitten (Pedro Terrero…Bill McLean…10-1)

ISTANBUL RETURNS TO THE SCENE OF HIS MAIDEN WIN

Southern California trainer James Cassidy has needed to be patient with grey/roan gelding Istanbul.

We take you back four years. Istanbul makes his first career start as a 2-year-old in July of 2018 at Del Mar. That day, he finishes second to Roadster, who went on to win the Grade I Santa Anita Derby the following year.

His next four starts come in a span of about 30 months. Multiple layoffs are needed throughout this period. In the four instances in which he made it to the afternoon, Istanbul finished behind quality runners: Game Winner (eventual 2018 Breeders Cup Juvenile winner), Bob and Jackie (eventual Grade 3 winner), Heywoods Beach (eventually Grade 3 placed), and Harbored Memories (eventual allowance winner).

Istanbul takes another layoff-almost a year’s worth of vacation time-before his fifth career race. Cassidy opts to ship the Florida-bred to Golden Gate, with hopes he would finally break his maiden against easier company. Istanbul returns the favor with a smashing five length victory over maiden special weight foes.

Patience is a virtue, right?

Istanbul exits the Golden Gate maiden victory in good shape. Good news. So, Cassidy runs him back about three weeks later in a first level allowance at Santa Anita. He runs a respectable race, finishing a length and a half behind the winner.

Fast forward another three weeks and here we are in present day. Istanbul is entered again-this time in a first level allowance sprint on Saturday at Golden Gate. The son of He’s Had Enough returns to the only surface (Tapeta) in which he has won over. Although he has the least experience in the field of seven, he appears as a legit player to beat in a contentious heat.

A second Southern California invader in the field is Truth Seeker. Earlier this year, the Manny Ortiz trainee rallied on for second at this level behind Hey Mate. Expect him to produce a rally from off the pace with jockey William Antongeorgi III, who guided Truth Seeker the last time he visited the Bay Area.

On March 13, Torpedo Away rallied up the fence to pick up a nose win at this level in his first start off a claim for trainer Blaine Wright. He makes his second start for the Wright barn. R M C Hook’em finished two lengths behind Torpedo Away after being up close to a scorching pace (21 seconds flat, 44 and 2/5 seconds for the half) and tiring in the final sixteenth of a mile. In January, R M C Hook’em beat Torpedo Away.

Exceed Speed Limit has won two races in a row for trainer Steve Sherman and seeks a three-peat while receiving a bump up in class. He draws the undesirable rail post position. Handr’sdream is the only horse in the race that appears fast enough to press Istanbul on the pace while Alvaaro makes his 2021 debut and rounds out the field.

Race 8 on Sunday (First level allowance at 6 furlongs on Tapeta for 4-year-olds and up)

#1 Exceed Speed Limit (Jockey Pedro Terrero…Trainer Steve Sherman)

#2 Istanbul (Evin Roman…James Cassidy)

#3 R M C Hook’em (Irving Orozco…Victor Trujillo)

#4 Torpedo Away (Frank Alvarado…Blaine Wright)

#5 Handr’sdream (Silvio Amador…Isidro Tamayo)

#6 Alvaaro (Santos Rivera…Victor Trujillo)

#7 Truth Seeker (William Antongeorgi III…Manny Ortiz)

NOMINATIONS FOR GOLD RUSH WEEKEND STAKES CLOSE NEXT WEEK

Nominations for six stakes races on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 30 close next Thursday, April 21 at midnight. The stakes:

• $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile (3-year-olds and up at one mile on turf)
• $100,000 California Derby (3-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta)
• $75,000 California Oaks (3-year-old fillies at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta)
• $75,000 Camilla Urso (fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on turf)
• $75,000 Golden Poppy (fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up at one mile and a sixteenth on turf)
• $75,000 Lost in the Fog (3-year-olds and up at six furlongs on Tapeta)

Nominations for a pair of stakes races on Sunday, May 1 close next Friday, April 22 at midnight. Those two races are:

• $75,000 Campanile (California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf)
• $75,000 Silky Sullivan (California-bred or sired 3-year-olds at one mile on turf)

Horsemen who wish to nominate a horse (or horses) can contact the GGF racing office or stakes coordinator Lisa Jones at (626) 388-8062 (e-mail: lisnpac12@hotmail.com).

Folks who wish to attend the races on Gold Rush Weekend can visit Goldengatefields.com to purchase tickets. Fans can also visit our website for more information on Gold Rush Weekend, the marquee racing weekend of the year in Northern California!

SAN FRANCISCO MILE CONTENDERS SCHEDULED FOR A STROLL ON THE TURF COURSE 

Weather permitting, four possible San Francisco Mile starters will gallop on the outside rail of the turf course within the next week. These gallops were originally scheduled for Saturday, but with rain hitting the Bay Area on Thursday and projected showers off-and-on this Saturday, those gallops could be moved to Tuesday morning. The horses-whichever day they gallop-will be on the turf course at 10:30 AM.

The four horses scheduled to tour the turf course are stakes winner Freeport Joe, stakes placed Ultimate Bango and the O.J. Jauregui trained pair of Camino Del Paraiso and Tesoro.

Freeport Joe (trained by Gloria Haley) won the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap in November last and subsequently scored a pair of victories against open allowance company. Most recently, he finished fifth as the favorite in an allowance event on turf after missing the break and racing wide on both turns.

Ultimate Bango (trained by Sammy Calvario) is possible for the ‘Mile after being claimed for $25,000 by owner Mary Tucker at Santa Anita. Although Ultimate Bango has hit the board in four California-bred sprint stakes (including the 2021 Oakland Stakes and the 2020 El Dorado Shooter), the son of Grade 2 winning router Uh Oh Bango won at a mile on turf as a 3-year-old.

Camino Del Paraiso (trained by O.J. Jauregui) is a four-time stakes winner at Golden Gate. His last San Francisco Mile appearance came in 2020 when running third behind Neptune’s Storm and Kiwi’s Dream. Earlier in the year, the 9-year-old gelding was the runner up at Santa Anita in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic Presented by City National Bank.

Tesoro (also trained by O.J. Jauregui) put up a strong showing when finishing second to 2021 Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock in the Zia Park Derby last November. Since then, he has finished second in a trio of second level allowance races on Tapeta. If he runs in the San Francisco Mile, he will be making his turf debut.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of horses claims from last week:

FRIDAY

Race 4: Elgofranco (New trainer D. Wayne Baker…new owner Richard Barton)

Race 4: What Up Now J T (Ed Moger Jr…Bill Meikle)

Race 5: Del Mar Flash (Sammy Calvario…Johnny Taboada)

Race 7: J T’s Watch (Isidro Tamayo…Brett Sandquist and John Tipton)

Race 7: Offshore Affair (Owner/Trainer Mark Glatt)

SATURDAY

Race 1: Air Force Woman (Melanie McDonald…Audrey Martel)

Race 6: Champagne Pegasus (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Race 8: Wine and Whisky (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables and Steven Earl Hagen)

Race 10: Bourbonwithatwist (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

SUNDAY

Race 9: Dark Prince (Jesus Ramos…Candelario Barragan)

Race 9: Jedi Knight (Eddie Rich…Luciano Medina)

Race 9: Tough It Out (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

FINISH LINES: Congratulations to trainer Blaine Wright, who won the $150,000 Evening Jewel Stakes last Saturday at Santa Anita with 3-year-old filly Power Surge. Ricky Gonzalez rode the daughter of Straight Fire to a game, front-running victory at astronomical odds of 70-1…A fun heat ends the racing week: a field of 9 filly and mare sprinters compete five furlongs in the nightcap on Sunday…There is a MANDATORY PAYOUT in the Stronach 5 this Friday. Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate…$28,725 is the jackpot carryover amount in the Golden Pick Six on Friday afternoon…Happy birthday to trainer Jose Puentes and Andy Munoz, assistant to trainer Dan Franko, who celebrate their birthdays in the next 7 days.

HARMON POINTING TO SAN FRANCISCO MILE AFTER FRONT RUNNING VICTORY

According to trainer Monty Meier, 6-year-old gelding Harmon will point towards the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on Saturday, April 30 after a gate-to-wire victory against allowance company last Saturday. Harmon was sent off at 7-2 odds-the fourth choice in the field of six-and defeated Golden Gate stakes winners American Farmer and Freeport Joe.

“We’ll point for the ‘Mile,” said Meier. “We’ll nominate and see what the race looks like. He came out of his race [on Sunday] well and he’s a pretty happy camper back at the barn.”

In last Sunday’s fourth race, a one-mile open allowance race, Harmon was sent to the lead by jockey Julien Couton. He set the pace by a measured length throughout the first three quarters of the race before opening up a couple of lengths on the competition turning for home. The son of Cairo Price finished to the wire with plenty left in the tank, hitting the winning post a length and a half clear of runner up finisher Nowhere Man.  

“I told Julien in the paddock, ‘Break him out of [the gate] and make them chase you. In the last few races, we keep chasing them,’” said Meier. “Julien and the horse get along really well. Julien always comes by the barn and gives him cookies and hugs.”

Harmon has been a successful acquisition since being claimed for $32,000 in March of 2021 by owners Michael Bean and Donna Perrone. While under the care of his current connections, Harmon has won three allowance races, is stakes placed, and has picked up earnings just shy of $75,000

“He’s just a really classy horse,” said Meier. “He’s fun to ride-I gallop him-and he’s full of energy in the mornings.”

On Saturday, Meier celebrated a birthday. It was fitting that Harmon, the stable star of the Meier barn, would give him a late present one day later.

24 hours late? No problem. I’m sure Meier doesn’t mind.

IMPRESSIVE MAIDEN WINNER UNTO THEE FACES A CLASS TEST FRIDAY

Eye-catching maiden winner Unto Thee faces winners for the first time and receives a bump up in class in the marquee race of the day at Golden Gate on Friday, a first level allowance for 3-year-olds. Seven runners entered in the five-and-one-half-furlong sprint, which goes as Race 6 on an eight-race card.

Sent off at odds of 3-5 in his career debut on January 30, Unto Thee went to the front and sent moderate fractions. He was eventually passed down the lane and settled for second. Following the race, trainer Jonathan Wong decided to make “the ultimate equipment change.”

And with that, Unto Thee is forever a gelding.

“He was getting pretty studish,” said Wong. “Even so, he wasn’t 100% cranked first out. [His first] race came up and we decided to enter and give him an out.”

Unto Thee showed major improvement in his second lifetime start six weeks later, speeding to the front before opening up the lead down the stretch and hitting the wire about four lengths clear of the runner up finisher.  

For the maiden victory, Unto Thee earned a 77 Beyer speed figure. Compare the aforementioned speed figure with other figures posted by major players in Friday’s feature race-all but one whose best numbers are in the high 60’s-and that signifies Unto Thee is fast enough to be a major threat. Drawing the rail post position, says Wong, aggressive tactics will be employed.

“He’s got natural speed. Drawn inside, I hope he breaks well and can just go on with it,” said Wong. “When we first got him, he was training okay. Not great…just okay. A couple works before his first race, we really started to see the lightbulb turn on. Now, he’s a really good work horse.”

Unto Thee is one of two runners bred and owned by Jason Hall and trained by Wong. The other, Unreal, is a son of 2016 Breeders Cup Turf Mile winner Tourist who broke his maiden by open lengths in a five-furlong turf sprint last November. That day, he stalked the pace before unleashing his move to the lead. He took three months off and returned against a salty group of allowance foes at Santa Anita on February 26, showing speed before fading to midfield in the final furlong. Although facing an arguably easier field in his second start against proven winners, he races over the main track Tapeta for the first time.

“He came up with a quarter crack after his first race, so he got the time off he needed to heal from that,” said Wong. “For his last race at Santa Anita, the owner wanted to run him on turf again because he won his first race on turf. He trains good on the Tapeta, so I think he should be fine over it [in a race]. He’ll be stalking the pace.”

A quintet of rivals challenges the Wong-trained pair. They include the top two finishers in a March 18 race at this level, Big Papa Steve and Northvale Road. The former gelding got the better of the latter three weeks ago, finishing a half-length apart at the finish. Both California-breds can win at the first level allowance condition twice before forfeiting their chance to run at the level without being in for the optional $50,000 claiming tag. Coincidentally, Big Papa Steve was the winner of a January 30 maiden race-the same maiden race Unto Thee finished second in. Little Casino, who ran fifth and was never threat to Big Papa Steve or Northvale Road on March 18, is also entered.

Nuestro Engreido cuts back from a route to a sprint. The last time the son of Cat Burglar competed at one turn, he finished third at this condition. The Felix Rondan trainee has the most experience out of any racer in Friday’s sixth race, with 13 starts to his name. In his last three races, all against route company, he was not competitive to win. His most notable effort out of that trio of races was a seventh-place finish in the El Camino Real Derby.

Command a Premium, who led every step of the way in a determined effort on March 6 against California-bred maiden company, completes the field. Command a Premium is out of the broodmare Saturday Premium, a multiple sprint winner who has already produced two full winning siblings to Command a Premium. One of them, Premium Forest, is a 14-time winner.

Race 6 on Friday (First level allowance at 5.5 furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Unto Thee (Jockey Evin Roman…Trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 8-5)

#2 Unreal (Brayan Pena…Jonathan Wong…9-2)

#3 Command a Premium (Julien Couton…Greg James…12-1)

#4 Northvale Road (Silvio Amador…Ed Moger Jr…6-1)

#5 Little Casino (Assael Espinoza…Blaine Wright…6-1)

#6 Big Papa Steve (Armando Ayuso…Reid France…3-1)

#7 Nuestro Engreido (Santos Rivera…Felix Rondan…10-1)

REBALATION VS. SADIE BLUEGRASS: ROUND 2 ON SUNDAY

The last time stakes winner Rebalation and hard knocker Sadie Blugrass traded punches, the latter prevailed by a narrow neck over the former. They square off once more as the two mares to beat in the signature race of the day this Sunday, a second level allowance for filly and mare sprinters at five and one-half furlongs.

Rebalation, winner of the Bear Fan Stakes last December, enters Sunday’s main event fresh off a first level allowance win on March 12. That afternoon, she displayed her customary “back of the pack to front” flying finish, inhaling foes down the stretch and racing past second place finisher Doggy Dreams in the last few strides. The reliable jockey/trainer of Frank Alvarado and Tim McCanna team up with the daughter of Acclamation.

Sadie Bluegrass, who sports an ultra-consistent 20-11-3-3 lifetime record for trainer Jonathan Wong, was the neck victor over Rebalation in a starter allowance race on February 13. She sat close to a quick pace and got the first jump on Rebelation, who came flying from behind but ran out of real estate in the dying stages of the race. Sadie Bluegrass put up an uncharacteristically poor performance in her most recent afternoon appearance at Santa Anita on March 5, stalking the pace and fading in a starter allowance on turf.

Among the heavy hitters’ main competitors on Sunday is a stablemate to Sadie Bluegrass, Empire House, who has finished as the bridesmaid to Dynasty of Her Own and The Pharaoh’s Girl in her last two starts. Both aforementioned sprinters are gearing up for a start in the Camilla Urso Stakes on April 30. Empire House was purchased for a whopping $500,000 as a yearling and sports career best form.

Maybe I Will exits the Irish O’Brien Stakes at Santa Anita while Tip Top Gal is a stakes place sprinter who was last seen finishing third behind The Pharaoh’s Girl and Empire House. Both runners can be competitive if they show up with their “A+ effort.”

The first race on Sunday afternoon is slated for 1:50 PM. On Friday and Saturday, first post is 1:15 PM.

Race 8 on Friday (Second allowance for fillies and mares at 5.5 furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Do You Hear That (Jockey Alejandro Gomez…Trainer Quinn Howey…morning line odds 12-1)

#2 Tip Top Gal (Francisco Monroy…Quentin B. Miller…8-1)

#3 Maybe I Will (Catalino Martinez…Blaine Wright…9-2)

#4 Ima Happy Cat (Pedro Terrero…Dan Markle…8-1)

#5 Empire House (Armando Ayuso…Jonathan Wong…6-1)

#6 Rebalation (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…2-1)

#7 Sadie Bluegrass (Brayan Pena…Jonathan Wong …3-1)

#8 I’ll Do It For You (Pedro Flores…Quentin B. Miller…50-1)

#9 Annie Graham (Assael Espinoza…Steve Miyadi…15-1)

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

FRIDAY

Race 4: Daniella Bella (New trainer Ed Moger Jr…new owner William Meikle)

Race 6: Il Capitano (D. Wayne Baker…Wong’s Stable)

SATURDAY

Race 2: Emerald Magic (Reid France…Lamonte Isom)

SUNDAY

Race 2: McGeorge (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott)

Race 5: Foster Boi (Tim McCanna…Mary Ellen Silva)

Race 9: Pappy Boyington (Reid France…Lamonte Isom)

FINISH LINES: 10 races made the Saturday overnight. Among them: a second level allowance for filly and mare turf routers at 8.5 furlongs (Race 4). Recent first level allowance winners Midnight Flower and Trojan Clubhouse bump in class while stakes placed Reiwa and hard-tryer Scherzo are also entered in the field of six…Also on Saturday, a field of 11 first-level allowance routers entered to compete in Race 8. Rocks and Salt seeks his second consecutive allowance win, old-pro Shot of a Lifetime looks to duplicate a smashing starter allowance victory last month, and class droppers Wine and Whisky and Descartes add to a contentious group. 2021 California Derby winner Stalking Shadow is also part of the field…In Our A wheels back in three weeks after a victory against second level allowance sprinters and competes at the same level in Sunday’s seventh race. Also entered is the Victor Trujillo trained Kiwi’s Dream, who finished second in the 2020 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile and was the runner up in the Wickerr, All American, and Rolling Green Stakes that same year. He hasn’t raced since an off-the-board finish in the 2021 San Francisco Mile…Shortly after Fulsome won the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile last Saturday at Oaklawn, little brother Rimprotector ran third in the Golden Gate fifth race, a maiden special weight at one mile for 3-year-olds…$17,218 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager on Friday…Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager is Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday…Happy birthday to jockey Kevin Orozco, who celebrates his birthday next Wednesday.

STAKES COMPETITOR IL CAPITANO RECEIVES CLASS RELIEF ON FRIDAY

Fans who followed racing last fall will remember 3-year-old colt Il Capitano. The son of Air Force Blue raced twice during the 2021 fall meet, with two very different results for Southern California based trainer Simon Callaghan

In his last Northern California start on December 4, Il Capitano competed in the Gold Rush Stakes for 2-year-olds of 2021. Sent off at odds of 7-2, Il Capitano ran off from the rest of the pack in the early stages and set a blistering pace of 46 and 4/5 seconds for the first half mile. He was passed by the top four finishers down the stretch and held fifth, only losing by 3 lengths while fighting hard to hold an in-the-money position. Although he was unable to fend off the top four finishers, it was a better-than-looked effort.

One race before an undesirable trip in the Gold Rush, Il Capitano set the pace in a first level allowance race and went gate to wire, hitting the wire a length in front of the second-place finisher.

In the co-featured sixth race this Friday, a first level allowance for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf, Il Capitano returns to the Bay Area. He races on the legal race day medication Lasix for the first time and is expected to show early speed under jockey Evin Roman, who was aboard in his last victory in November. Il Capitano is entered with a $50,000 claiming tag. If Il Capitano were to win this race, his connections would likely consider running in the California Derby on April 30.

A second Southern California invader, Tofino Bay, won on debut for Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale in a six-furlong turf sprint at Santa Anita and makes his first start against winners on Friday. Sent off at odds of 35-1 in his career debut, the son of Giant’s Causeway stallion Irish Surf sat off the pace before unleashing a powerful rally down the stretch and finishing with a heap of energy. He won the maiden special weight contest by a neck. Drysdale employs leading Golden Gate jockey Pedro Terrero to ride Tofino Bay, who routes for the first time in the Friday co-feature.

One local contender who appears as a legit player is Midnight Mammoth. Two races ago, the Steve Sherman trainee won a maiden special weight by 9 lengths-a convincing win that impressed race watchers. He returned to finish as the runner up behind California Derby contender Il Bellator last month. Regular rider Armando Ayuso is back aboard for Midnight Mammoth’s first career turf race.

Royal ‘n Rando may be a “wild card” in Friday’s sixth race. The Steve Specht trainee has decisively scored victories in a pair of starter allowance races and steps up to the first level allowance condition while also racing over turf for the first time. His sire, Grade I winner Tamarando, was winless on the grass as was the dam of Royal ‘n Rando, the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam.

Two longshots complete out the field. Egomania broke his maiden for a $20,000 tag at Golden Gate before returning in his first start against winners at Santa Anita, a badly beaten fourth against starter allowance company that day. Lying Ghost comes off a double-digit length loss on March 6. Both horses will need to improve significantly to be a factor.

An 8-race card kicks off the racing week, with a “late” first post of 1:50 PM.

Race 6 on Friday (First level allowance for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf)

#1 Lying Ghost (Jockey Alejandro Gomez…trainer Faith Taylor…morning line odds of 20-1)

#2 Royal ‘n Rando (Frank Alvarado…Steve Specht…3-1)

#3 Midnight Mammoth (Armando Ayuso…Steve Sherman…9-5)

#4 Egomania (Brayan Pena…Rafael DeLeon…15-1)

#5 Il Capitano (Evin Roman…Simon Callaghan…2-1)

#6 Tofino Bay (Pedro Terrero…Neil Drysdale…4-1)

DOMINANT MAIDEN WINNER VIVA LA FIESTA FACES TOUGHER ON FRIDAY

Viva Le Fiesta was quick to impress with a 6 and ¾ length romp in a maiden special weight for California-bred 3-year-old fillies on March 4. Fast forward to this Friday, when the dark bay or brown filly by Curlin to Mischief is set to face open company and proven winners in Race 7, a first level allowance for 3-year-olds fillies voyaging six furlongs.

In her most recent afternoon appearance, Viva La Fiesta stalked the pace and drew off down the stretch to win by open lengths under jockey Pedro Terrero. Terrero opts to ride 8-5 morning line favorite Dulce Emma, a 2-length winner at the first level allowance condition on March 11. Being a California-bred, Dulce Emma is eligible to win at the first-level condition one more time, making her the clear standout to beat in Friday’s penultimate race.

Viva La Fiesta had raced twice before earning her maiden diploma. In her first start, she was only defeated a half-length in a respectable effort. Viva La Fiesta did not fare as well in her second lifetime start three weeks later, stalking the pace before winding up fourth behind Tamara Mine, also entered in Race 7 on Friday. Of course, Viva La Fiesta put it all together in “third time’s the charm” fashion.

Trainer Miguel Ramirez, a longtime assistant to Bob Hess Sr., has employed jockey Armando Ayuso to ride. Ramirez began training his own stable last year and is off to a fine start at the current Winter/Spring meet, posting an 18%-win percentage in the first half of the meeting.

Looking at the projected pace scenario in Friday’s seventh race, Miss Union and O’Neills Legacy are likely to insure a swift and contentious tempo early. The former filly finished third behind Dulce Emma on March 11 and looks to turn the tables. The latter returns in three weeks after a gate to wire victory against starter allowance company. That day, she inherited a clear, comfortable lead and took advantage.

Tamara Mine, always well-liked by her connections, was a convincing winner of a California-bred maiden special weight race in February. She returned in the March 11 allowance race and weakened to fourth as the favorite, pressing a quick early pace. The reliable jockey-trainer combination of Frank Alvarado and Steve Specht team up with an Idaho-bred who looks to rebound.

A trio of longshots complete the field. Tyche Awaits You makes her three-year-old debut. She was last seen winning a maiden special weight over dirt at Emerald Downs in September. Slack Tide won the Angie C Stakes at Emerald over the summer but returned off a vacation on March 11 and finished over a dozen lengths behind Dulce Emma. Lion’s Lair, like Tyche Awaits You, also makes her first start off a layoff. She broke her maiden over Pleasanton’s dirt surface last June and was last seen finishing well behind stakes placed Code Ribbon and Miss Union at this level on September 19.

Race 7 on Friday (First level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Tamara Mine (Jockey Frank Alvarado…trainer Steve Specht…morning line odds of 9-2)

#2 Slack Tide (Evin Roman…Blaine Wright…20-1)

#3 Viva La Fiesta (Pedro Terrero…Miguel Ramirez…8-1)

#4 Tyche Awaits You (Adrian Martinez…Dan Markle…30-1)

#5 Miss Union (William Antongeorgi III…Isidro Tamayo…5-1)

#6 Dulce Emma (Pedro Terrero…Jesus Ramos …8-5)

#7 O’Neills Legacy (Assael Espinoza…Andy Mathis…2-1)

#8 Lion’s Lair (Silvio Amador…Ed Moger Jr…15-1)

SOUTH AMERICAN STAKES WINNER OCTANE TRIES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Team Valor International’s Octane seeks class relief in hopes of a win this Saturday. She competes in Race 7, a first level allowance race at one mile and a sixteenth on turf for fillies and mares. Octane, a 5-year-old mare trained by Neil Drysdale, has run twice in North America since moving from South America to Drysdale’s Santa Anita base in November.

Octane began her career in her native Brazil and broke her maiden in June of 2020. Following her first career victory, Octane won a minor stakes race. Since then, Octane has lost eight consecutive races, including a pair of first level allowance routes at Santa Anita. Most recently, Octane was a well beaten fifth at 9 furlongs.

Facing an easier field than what she has seen in Southern California, Octane ships north, where Drysdale hopes she can be competitive. Armando Ayuso has the call atop the daughter of Put It Back.

Among the local contenders looking to spoil the party for the out-of-town player is the Steve Sherman trained pair of Assignation and Rev Ree. Assignation finished at the back of the field as the favorite in her most recent start at the first level allowance condition. Her last race on turf, against maiden special weight company in December, resulted in a four-length runaway win. Rev Ree earned the silver medal in her last two races, both which came at the first level allowance condition, and looks to pick up a victory at the aforesaid condition on Saturday.

Also likely to get play is Seems Logical, who suffered an undesirable trip in her lone try routing. She makes her second career start at two turns for trainer Sheldon Paldanius, who employs jockey Evin Roman to ride. Most recently, the California-bred by Grazen was the runner up in a first level allowance race for sprinters.

One final notable in Saturday’s seventh race is Momma Mocca, who boasts a perfect 2 for 2 record since moving to the Jonathan Wong stable. She faces her toughest test yet, taking a hike up in class from starter allowance company. She is bred to enjoy the turf: her dam produced four siblings who won on grass, including Grade I placed Mensa Heat and multiple stakes winner Majestic Heat, the latter winning the Solana Beach Handicap on grass in 2016.

A 9-race program on Saturday at Golden Gate commences at 1:15 PM.

Race 7 on Saturday (First level allowance for fillies a& mares four-year-olds and upward one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

#1 Seems Logical (Jockey Evin Roman…trainer Sheldon Paldanius …morning line odds of 7-2)

#2 Assignation (William Antongeorgi III…Steve Sherman…4-1)

#3 Rev Ree (Pedro Terrero…Steve Sherman…5-2)

#4 Momma Mocca (Frank Alvarado…Jonathan Wong …8-1)

#5 Gea (Assael Espinoza…Tim McCanna…6-1)

#6 Octane (Armando Ayuso…Neil Drysdale…3-1)

#7 Rose Princess (Francisco Monroy…Quentin Miller…15-1)

AMERICAN FARMER VS. FREEPORT JOE IN SAN FRANCISCO MILE PREP ON SUNDAY

Top older routers American Farmer and Freeport Joe face off for the third consecutive time in the signature race of the day at Golden Gate on Sunday, an open allowance race for four-year-olds and upward at one mile on turf.

A rivalry is brewing.

The score reads 1-1. Freeport Joe, who won the Grade 3 Berkley Handicap in November, defeated American Farmer in their first matchup on January 23. One month later, American Farmer turned the tables and beat Freeport Joe on the square.

Trainer Gloria Haley has noted in past editions of the News and Notes that she feels Freeport Joe thrives over the Golden Gate main track Tapeta. From five starts on turf, Freeport Joe has won once and hit the board in three other races. Although the record indicates at first glance that he may be a synthetic specialist, Freeport Joe has improved significantly since the last time we saw him race on grass. He also has a pilot, jockey Assael Espinoza, who fits ‘Joe like a glove. From eight rides, Espinoza has guided Freeport Joe to the winner’s circle five times. In the three losses, Freeport Joe hit the board every time and was within a length of the winner at the finish.

American Farmer appears very effective on Tapeta or turf. His form is like Freeport Joe’s because he has run his very best races in 2022 and has yet to compete on turf since a third-place finish off a layoff in November. Two years ago, American Farmer-then 3-years-old-won the Robert Dupret Derby on grass. Regular rider Pedro Terrero is back aboard this Sunday for trainer Steve Sherman.

A quartet entered to run against the two heavy hitters. Harmon stalked the pace and finished three-quarters of a length behind race winner American Farmer and runner up Freeport Joe on February 26. Harmon has won six races on Tapeta but is 0 for 5 on turf. He is undoubtedly best over Tapeta.

Avenue ships in from Southern California for trainer Michael McCarthy. If he competes on Sunday, he will be running out of his conditions. The last time he raced, he won a maiden special weight by open lengths at Keeneland about a year ago while under the care of East Coast based trainer Todd Pletcher. Purchased for $450,000 as a yearling, Avenue is a half sibling to multiple Grade 3 winner Tizamagician.

The Cliff DeLima trained pair of Manila Mischief and Nowhere Man exit easier company on Tapeta and round out the field.

Nine races end the racing week on Sunday. 200 horses entered to run in races week, averaging out to about 7.7 horses per race. With that, let’s go racing!

Race 4 on Sunday (Allowance for four-year-olds and upward one mile on turf)

#1 Manila Mischief (Jockey Silvio Amador…trainer Cliff DeLima)

#2 Harmon (Julien Couton…Monty Meier)

#3 Avenue (Armando Ayuso…Michael McCarthy)

#4 Nowhere Man (Francisco Duran…Cliff DeLima)

#5 Freeport Joe (Assael Espinoza…Gloria Haley)

#6 American Farmer (Pedro Terrero…Steve Sherman)

CLAIMS REPORT

FRIDAY

Race 1: Glitter Lake (New trainer Guillermo Preciado…new owner Oscar Prieto Casillas)

Race 1: Mommy Rose (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)

Race 1: This is the One (D. Wayne Baker…Richard and Kate Barton)

Race 6: Love of the Sport (Marcelino Trujillo…Nancy Salas-Ibarra and Floriberta Trujillo)

Race 6: Maybe Sometime (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)

Race 6: Rich Warrior (Victor Trujillo…Fred Montini)

SATURDAY

Race 4: Desert Dude (Tim McCanna…Horseplayers Racing Club and Pat LePley)

Race 4: Upo (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables, Hon Cheung Kum and Hsui Mei Tsai)

Race 7: Styledome (D. Wayne Baker…Richard and Kate Barton)

Race 8: Hot Rageous (Isidro Tamayo…Frankly Speaking LLC)

Race 8: Queen of the Track (O.J. Jauregui…Danny Eplin, Charles Gerson and Angel Valadez)

SUNDAY

Race 2: Filly Pelli (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)

Race 5: Memo Daddy (Tim Bellasis…Bellasis, Donna Smartt and Cassandra Tschanz)

FINISH LINES: Along with the two Friday races featured above, there is a third co-feature: a first level allowance for filly and mare sprinters. 10 runners made the entry box for Race 8, the nightcap, also the last leg of the Golden Hour wagers on Friday…Aside from the American Farmer vs. Freeport Joe matchup on Sunday, another intriguing event is Race 6: a first level allowance at one mile on turf for 3-year-olds fillies. Among the leading contenders: 2021 Pike Place Dancer stakes winner Vaping Angel, maiden special weight winner Distorted Queen, the Larry and Marianne Williams homebreds Lady’s Sermon and Tam’s Little Angel, and comebacker Irish Wahine…2019 Del Mar Derby winner Nolde is now in the barn of Steve Sherman and has three published workouts in his quest for a comeback campaign….Also back on track is multiple Golden Gate stakes placed router Kiwi’s Dream, who has posted six morning drills so far for trainer Victor Trujillo…The Golden Pick Six jackpot wager has a carryover of $7,385 heading into Friday…$6,762 is carried over into the Rolling Super High Five bet for Race 2 on Friday…Race 3 on Friday is Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 bet…Happy birthday to trainers Monty Meier and Ed Moger Jr., both who celebrate their birthdays this week.

LAGATHA TRIES TWO TURNS IN QUEST FOR AN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE

Trainer Reid France is mixing things up with 5-year-old mare Lagatha. In Friday’s featured seventh race, a first level allowance for fillies and mares at one mile on Tapeta, France opts to route the daughter of Surf Cat. She has raced primarily at one turn, with her last eight starts coming against sprinters.

“The theory is that, with her natural speed, she won’t be too hard sent and too hard pressed going the route as opposed to if she was in a sprint with a lot more speed,” said France. “She tried routing once on turf [and didn’t hit the board]. She was younger and has improved since then.”

Lagatha may have other speed to contend with. 5-2 morning line favorite Ten the Smart Way draws inside of Lagatha and has shown front running tactics in most of her route races. With that, France is content with Lagatha stalking the pace if need be.

“She is a lot more versatile now than when I first got her,” said France. “She’s got sprint speed so she should be up close, but if someone wants to go out there and go really quick and we don’t have the lead, I wouldn’t be concerned.”

Lagatha seeks to reverse poor form after a pair of off-the-board finishes in sprint races. Her last race, a sixteen-length loss, should be excused. She broke very poorly out of the gate and failed to get involved while racing at the back of the field. She was not persevered with down the lane, clearly beaten and asked to save something up for the next race.

“She just didn’t get out of the gate,” said France. “She lost the race at the start.”

Regular rider Irving Orozco is back aboard Lagatha on Friday. She is listed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line.

Bettors have plenty of options to choose from when looking for contenders to play. Ten the Smart Way was third best in a one-turn sprint five weeks ago and gets back to a route of ground. Her better efforts have come at two turns. She won once and finished second twice in three of her last four route tries at the first level allowance condition.

Another notable entrant is Southern California invader Bellamore, who broke her maiden last month at Golden Gate for trainer Simon Callaghan. The daughter of Empire Maker was purchased for $350,000 as a 2-year-old in training and has been at Callaghan’s Santa Anita string prepping for her first start against winners.

Perfect Stories makes her second start off a 10-month layoff for veteran conditioner Cliff DeLima. In her first start off the vacation on March 12, the filly by Grade I winning router Richard’s Kid ran third against sprinters. The last time she competed at a route distance-her last start before the vacation-she scored an upset victory at this level on turf. Creative Romance also makes her second start off a layoff after crossing the wire fourth at this condition on February 19. Imperial Creed, Magical Thought and Misty Cat all exit wins against easier foes and complete the field of eight.

8 races kick off Day 1 of the new racing week with first post on Friday at 1:15 PM.

Race 7 on Friday (First level allowance at one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Magical Thought (Jockey William Antongeorgi…trainer Doug O’Neill…morning line odds 12-1)

#2 Creative Romance (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…6-1)

#3 Misty Cat (Silvio Amador…Dan Franko…10-1)

#4 Ten the Smart Way (Assael Espinoza…Andy Mathis…5-2)

#5 Perfect Stories (Santos Rivera…Cliff DeLima…6-1)

#6 Imperial Creed (Pedro Terrero…Sammy Calvario…5-1)

#7 Lagatha (Irving Orozco…Reid France…7-2)

#8 Bellamore (Evin Roman…Simon Callaghan…6-1)

BRAZENLY SEEKS TO PROVE UPSET VICTORY IN FEBRUARY WAS NO FLUKE

Trainer Jedd Josephson was a tad surprised when 4-year-old gelding Brazenly won a mile and an eighth first-level allowance race on February 12-his first start against winners after a two-turn maiden special weight victory on January 1. Josephson was stunned, however, at the 72-1 odds that Brazenly went off at.

“I was talking to a friend about it. I thought he’d be 15, 20-1,” said Josephson. “I had no idea he was 70-1 until [track announcer] Matt Dinerman said it in the race call.”  

In the February 12 event, Brazenly went to the lead and set soft fractions of 49 and 3/5 seconds for a half mile and 1:13 and 2/5 seconds for the first three-quarters of a mile. He was challenged in upper stretch by eventual third place finisher Black Caspian-also entered this Saturday-and repelled his challenge before out finishing runner up finisher Rocks and Salt. The aforementioned rival returned to the races last week and won a first level allowance on Tapeta, signifying Brazenly beat a solid racer in his second consecutive victory.

“He got an easy lead last time and he’s not getting it this weekend,” said Josephson. “I’m not expecting him to be on the lead. There’s a lot more speed in this race. He took a step forward last time and he’s going to have to take another step forward on Saturday, but he’s doing really well.”

Brazenly has shown versatility in his last two races. He went gate to wire in his last start and stalked the pace two races ago when defeating maiden special weight company. Although a Kentucky-bred, Brazenly is sired by California-stallion Grazen, meaning he is eligible to win at the first-level allowance condition a second time without having to be entered for a claiming tag. He makes his career debut on turf this Saturday.

“I think he’ll really like the turf,” said Josephson. “He’s bred to like the grass. We skipped the Tapeta race [at this level] to try the turf.”

Among his main challengers is J T’s Watch, who makes his third start off a layoff and gets back to the turf for the first time in his current form cycle. Last year, J T’s Watch finished as the runner up in a grass race behind eventual stakes winner Jungle Cry. Most recently, the 4-year-old colt finished second behind Grade 2 placed Kazan in a high-level claimer at Golden Gate on March 14.

“He’s doing really, really good,” said J T’s Watch’s trainer, Reid France. “I think he should run really well.”

Seattle Bold is an intriguing contender. He exits stakes company, having just finished well behind the brilliantly fast Brickyard Ride in the Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita over dirt. The last time Seattle Bold raced on turf, he placed second behind eventual Grade 2 Del Mar Derby winner Noneabovethelaw in the Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate last year.

Loafers Boy finished third on the Tapeta at this level three weeks ago and returns to his favorite surface in the Saturday feature. Winter/Spring meet leading rider Pedro Terrero retains the mount for trainer Leanna Ekstrom.

Black Caspian has been unable to win at this level as of late, hitting the board in his last three starts. His lone lifetime victory came on turf when racing overseas in Great Britain. Vantage Point takes a bump up in class after an easy starter allowance victory, Of Good Report makes is first start off the claim for trainer Bill McLean, Strut to the Wire attempts routing for the first time and Govenor’s Party will need to improve after a pair of off-the-board finishes at this level.

A trio of turf races are scattered throughout the Saturday card, including a five-furlong turf dash with a full field of 10. First post is 1:15 PM.

Race 6 on Saturday (First level allowance at one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

#1 Seattle Bold (Jockey Evin Roman…trainer Jamey Thomas…morning line odds of 7-2)

#2 Loafers Boy (Pedro Terrero…Leanna Ekstrom…3-1)

#3 Of Good Report (Irving Orozco…Bill McLean …20-1)

#4 Black Caspian (Santos Rivera…Manny Badilla…4-1)

#5 J T’s Watch (Armando Ayuso…Reid France…9-2)

#6 Vantage Point (Kevin Orozco…Tim McCanna …10-1)

#7 Govenor’s Party (Cristobal Herrera…Dan Franko…6-1)

#8 Strut to the Wire (Assael Espinoza…Mike Lenzini…20-1)

#9 Brazenly (Ruben Fuentes…Jedd Josephson…10-1)

SHADOW SPHINX RETURNS OFF LONG LAYOFF FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONDITIONER MULHALL IN SUNDAY FEATURE

On Sunday, a second level allowance scheduled for turf attracts a field of eight routers. The mile and a sixteenth affair has been carded as the eighth of nine races and is the second leg of the Golden Hour Pick 4 wager.

The entrant that handicappers will find most thought-provoking is from Southern California. He has not raced since February of last year. Shadow Sphinx, trained by Kristin Mulhall, sports a steady work pattern at Santa Anita and ships North for his 2022 debut. The 7-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile was last seen running fourth, only beaten a length and three-quarters, in a mile and a quarter specialized starter allowance condition at Santa Anita. The winner of the race, Ward’n Jerry, won the Grade 3 San Luis Rey in 2020. In 2020, Shadow Sphinx hit the wire first in four of five races, with every start coming at 8 or 8.5 furlongs. In one of those races, he beat eventual 2021 San Francisco Mile winner Whisper Not. Shadow Sphinx sports a pair of six-furlong drills, along with a quartet of five furlong works, leading up to this race. William Antongeorgi III is slated to ride for the first time.

Seven local contenders are signed up against the comebacker. Irish-bred Mohawk King has scored two impressive gate-to-wire victories since being claimed for $20,000 by trainer Mike Lenzini and takes a hike in class to this second level allowance condition. Most recently, he beat first level allowance company. Ted draws the inside post and is likely to keep Mohawk King company on the lead. One of the best runs of his career-the last time he won-came on the grass when defeating a first level allowance field in the fall.

Tom’s Surprise was the beaten favorite at this level three weeks ago after sitting off a slow pace. Two starts ago, he won at low odds (3-5) while earning a career best Beyer speed figure (91). Both races were run on the main track Tapeta. He tries turf, a surface he has never won on before.

Shadrack makes his second start off a layoff, finishing right behind Tom’s Surprise on March 7. Before a six-month vacation, the son of Gig Harbor finished 3 lengths behind Camino Del Paraiso in the Rolling Green Stakes last September and beat 2022 San Francisco Mile contender and stakes winner American Farmer earlier in the season.

Ready Say Go, who is clearly most effective on turf, returns to his favorite surface on Sunday. His last recent appearance turf was at this condition in November, finishing ahead of American Farmer for second. He removes blinkers for trainer Sherrie Monroe after five consecutive races with the hood. Fuente is another that does his best work on the grass while Wine and Whisky, who rounds out the field, won at the second level allowance condition three starts ago but has since run poorly in two consecutive races.

Live racing concludes on Sunday with a 9-race card. 196 horses are entered throughout the racing week, equating to just under 8 horses per race.

Race 8 on Sunday (Second level allowance at one mile and a sixteenth on turf)

#1 Ted (Jockey Irving Orozco…Trainer Victor Trujillo…morning line odds of 15-1)

#2 Ready Say Go (Pedro Terrero…Sherrie Monroe…8-1)

#3 Mohawk King (Assael Espinoza…Mike Lenzini…7-2)

#4 Fuente (Frank Alvarado…Manny Badilla…15-1)

#5 Shadrack (Kevin Orozco…Tim McCanna…8-1)

#6 Shadow Sphinx (William Antongeorgi III…Kristin Mulhall…5-2)

#7 Wine and Whisky (Cristobal Herrera…Felix Rondan…12-1)

#8 Tom’s Surprise (Armando Ayuso…Jack Steiner…9-5)

CLAIMS REPORT

FRIDAY

Race 1: Knockout Bert (New trainer Ruby Thomas…New owner William Heck)

Race 3: Elgofranco (Sammy Calvario…Karla Estrada)

Race 3: Stand in Your Love (Owner/Trainer Jose Puentes)

Race 5: Sloane Garden (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 8: Our Expectation (Isidro Tamayo…Leon Scott)

Race 8: Potente Alba (Jesus Ramos…Candelario Barragan)

SATURDAY

Race 4: Rob’s Lucky Spirit (Jose Puentes…Marie Valenzuela and Puentes)

SUNDAY

Race 3: Half Hoping (Isidro Tamayo…Narasimham L. Ayyagari)

Race 3: Kiss Ride Goodbye (Reid France…Goat Racing Stables LLC)

Race 6: Descartes (Ruby Thomas…Sherry Kirk and Thomas)

FINISH LINES: Congratulations to trainer Jim Gilmour, who won with 3 of his 4 starters last week…Unraptured defeated stablemate Anthony’s Cleopatra to give trainer Tim McCanna the exacta in the sixth race last Saturday, a second level allowance for 3-year-olds. Colt Unraptured is possible for the $100,000 California Derby on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 30 while Anthony’s Cleopatra could point to the $75,000 California Oaks that same day for fillies…A half sibling to five-time Grade 2 winner Ashleyluvssugar makes her debut in Race 6 on Sunday. Ashley’s Rainbow, by Tom’s Tribute out of the Urgent Request mare Ashley’s Folly, faces six other rivals in a maiden special weight. Frank Alvarado rides for trainer Andy Mathis…Race 3 on Friday is Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager this week…The Golden Pick Six jackpot pool begins anew Friday. One sharp handicapper was the lone winning ticket for a 6 of 6 payout and took home the sweet sum of $25,728.70.

REIWA BACK AT HER FAVORITE TRACK WITH TURF RACING RESUMING ON FRIDAY

This Friday, Golden Gate Fields will run its first turf race of 2022. The fifth race on the Friday program, for fillies and mares four-years-old and upward, is a second level allowance on the Golden Gate grass course.

Most years, Golden Gate is voided of turf racing from mid-January through early April, running solely on the Tapeta main track during those winter months. With projected sunny weather and renovations of the turf course complete, Golden Gate Fields management gave the green light earlier this month to run races on the grass beginning this coming Friday, March 18.

Friday’s fifth features a quality-filled, contentious group of fillies and mares. The race will be run at one mile. Leading Golden Gate trainer Jonathan Wong believes Reiwa, listed at 3-1 on the morning line, will appreciate getting back to the Golden Gate turf course. The California-bred 5-year-old mare freshens up after a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Astra Stakes going one mile and a half at Santa Anita.

With four career wins to her name, Reiwa sports a 4 for 6 record on Golden Gate’s inner turf course.

Yes, all of her winning races have come at the bayside oval.

With that in mind, says Wong, he attributes the trend to Reiwa’s mentality heading into her races.

“She gets really nervous sometimes,” said Wong. “She’s not a great shipper. When she runs out of her own stall [at Golden Gate], she’s a lot calmer and in a much better state of mind.”

Reiwa will likely need to overcome a far from ideal pace scenario, noted Wong.

“It doesn’t look like there’s much speed in this race,” said Wong. “She does her best running when she can sit off a fast pace and make one run. She’s doing well, though, and she definitely likes the course.”

Another leading contender in the race is possible pacesetter Buyback. In her most recent afternoon appearance on February 13, the Blaine Wright trainee stalked the pace and finished as the runner up in a salty starter allowance at Santa Anita Park. Two races ago, Buyback went gate to wire against a first level allowance field.

The morning line favorite, 2-1 shot Sloane Garden, is a two-time stake winner on the Golden Gate grass course; in 2019, she won the Luther Burbank and Golden Poppy Stakes. Sloane Garden exits a pair of off-the-board finishes in Grade 3 races at Santa Anita and receives class relief for Manny Badilla, who also saddles Scherzo. Scherzo won a first level allowance race in January and most recently completed the superfecta in a second level allowance affair on Tapeta. She is arguably getting back to her best surface on Friday.

Joymaker makes her second start off a four-and-a-half-month break for trainer Quinn Howey, having just finished third in a sprint race behind the talented, stakes caliber sprinters Sadie Bluegrass and Rebalation. Like Reiwa, her most effective races have come routing on turf at Golden Gate. She easily defeated first level allowance foes in two separate races last year, though both races were restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

Gettin Sideways, who finished ahead of Scherzo for third in a February 5 second-level allowance, completes the field. The most experienced runner in the race, Gettin Sideways has won or finished in-the-money in 23 of 35 lifetime starts.

Eight races made the Friday overnight. Please note that first post is later than usual on Friday: 1:55 PM PT.

Race 5 on Friday (2^nd-level allowance for fillies & mares 4-years-old & upward at one mile on turf)

#1 Scherzo (Jockey Irving Orozco…Trainer Manny Badilla…morning line odds of 5-1)

#2 Buyback (Pedro Terrero…Blaine Wright….5-2)

#3 Sloane Garden (Frank Alvarado…Manny Badilla…2-1)

#4 Joymaker (Alejandro Gomez…Quinn Howey…10-1)

#5 Gettin Sideways (Julien Couton…Dan Markle…6-1)

#6 Reiwa (William Antongeorgi III…Jonathan Wong…3-1)

3-YEAR-OLDS AUDITION FOR GOLD RUSH WEEKEND STAKES RACES

Three fillies, two colts, and one gelding enter a peculiar condition for Saturday afternoon’s fifth race at Golden Gate: a second level allowance restricted to 3-year-olds. The half dozen contestants are auditioning for potential starts against stakes company during the third annual Gold Rush Weekend on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1.

Tim McCanna conditions a contingent in Saturday’s fifth race: colt Unraptured and filly Anthony’s Cleopatra. Unraptured won a first level allowance by four lengths in January before finishing 10 lengths behind race-winner Blackadder in the El Camino Real Derby. Always well regarded, the son of Uncaptured is a half sibling to two stakes winners.

“I didn’t really want to run [my two horses] against each other, but there are limited options at this point,” said McCanna. “Unraptured is doing well. We’re hoping he runs a better race [than he ran in the El Camino Real Derby.] The talent is there. He’s been coming back to the barn after his morning exercise and hasn’t been tired at all. He’s ready to run.”

Anthony’s Cleopatra, another who was well-received by McCanna since the beginning, is a perfect 2 for 2 sprinting. After a debut maiden win over eventual allowance winner Music Festival, Anthony’s Cleopatra won a first level allowance by four lengths while setting fast fractions of 21.2, 44.2 and 56.1. She stopped the clock for five-and one-half furlongs in a crisp 1:02 and 3/5 seconds. Anthony’s Cleopatra is by Grade I route winner Constitution and the first foal out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Luxor Lady.

“We’ve been two-minute licking her [a quick, two-minute mile gallop] and she looks like she’s got plenty of air,” said McCanna. “I think she’ll be okay routing. This is a good test to see how she does. If she runs well, we’ll shoot for the California Oaks [on April 30 at one mile and a sixteenth for 3-year-old fillies].”

Trainer Steve Specht saddles a pair of fillies in Ellamira and Sen Sen. Ellamira won the Golden Gate Debutante sprinting last November before shipping south and finishing fourth in two consecutive stakes: the California Oaks at one mile for California-breds and the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes against open company. Both races were run on the grass.

“She got in a ton of trouble in [the California Oaks],” said Specht. “She got bumped at the start and blocked behind horses in the stretch. If you watch the gallop out, she pretty much passed all of them. She didn’t have the smoothest trip in the Grade 3 either. She’ll be coming from off the pace. She’s a solid filly.”

Sen Sen has made all seven lifetime starts at Golden Gate. In her last two races, she beat first level allowance company in gate to wire performances. Both races came routing. Like her stable companion, she faces males for the first time on Saturday. Apprentice Jose Rodriguez rides, meaning Sen Sen will carry 3 to 10 less pounds than the rest of her competition.

“Sen Sen probably won’t go [to the lead] with Tim’s filly because she’s super fast, but we won’t be too far off,” said Specht. “Both my fillies train steady and they’ve been doing well. We’ll see what happens. With both these fillies, it’s been tough finding races for them to run in. The stakes [on Gold Rush Weekend] are on the calendar down the road.”  

Kentucky-bred C’Mon Man has danced many dances. As a 2-year-old, he finished third in the Golden Nugget Stakes and came up a length and a half short one month later in the Gold Rush Stakes. This year, he was a non-factor on turf in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita and closed good ground to run a better-than-looked fifth in the El Camino Real Derby. C’Mon Man-along with the filly Ellamira-will be running on the legal race day medication Lasix for the first time in Saturday’s fifth race.

“The more pace in front of him, the better,” said C’Mon Man’s trainer, Bill McLean. “He’s a horse that we always thought would be better with time, experience and distance. He’ll be coming from off the pace. We’ll see how he runs. We’re taking it one race at a time, but if he runs well and comes out of this race good then we’ll probably go to the California Derby [for 3-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth on April 30].”

Nuestro Engriedo rounds out the field. The Felix Rondan trainee finished ahead of Unraptured for seventh in the El Camino Real Derby and most recently ran third behind Il Bellator in a first level allowance on March 6. The aforementioned foe is pointing towards the $100,000 California Derby on Saturday, April 30.

9-races comprise the Saturday live program, with first post at 1:15 PM. Unless otherwise noted on specific race days (ex: this Friday), first post will be at 1:15 PM for the remainder of the Golden Gate Winter/Spring meet.

Race 5 on Saturday (2^nd-level allowance for 3-year-olds at one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Ellamira (Jockey Santos Rivera…Trainer Steve Specht…morning line odds of…5-1)

#2 Nuestro Engreido (Ruben Fuentes…Felix Rondan….9-2)

#3 Sen Sen (Jose Rodriguez…Steve Specht…6-1)

#4 Unraptured (Armando Ayuso…Tim McCanna…4-1)

#5 Anthony’s Cleopatra (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…9-5)

#6 C’Mon Man (Irving Orozco…Bill McLean…7-2)

TOP BAY AREA SPRINTERS CLASH SUNDAY

A speedy group of sprinters compete in the feature race of the day on Sunday, a second level allowance for 4-year-olds and upward. Seven runners entered to run at the 6-furlong distance.

The top three finishers in a February 27 race-Clem Labine, Hey Mate and War Games-are all wheeled back three weeks later in Sunday’s marquee race. Clem Labine, who won the February 27 contest, draws the undesirable rail post position this Sunday. The deep closer by Grazen hopes for a rapid pace to chase. On February 27, he was aided by a grueling pace up front.

Hey Mate was an eye-catching winner of a first level allowance race three starts ago, streaking clear to win by open lengths with a career best Beyer speed figure (85). Since then, he has failed to win in a pair of races at the condition in which he races in this Sunday. Most recently, he finished a head behind Clem Labine. Not far off.

War Games dueled on a punishing pace while going at fast fractions of 21, 44 and 56 seconds for the first quarter, half mile and 5 furlongs of the race. He faded to third, but only lost by three-quarters of a length in an admirable try. Cliff DeLima trains and employs Santos Rivera to ride for the first time.

Frank Alvarado has been aboard War Games in his last two starts and opts to ride a new shooter to this condition in Northern California: Perfectionistic. Under the care of Phil D’Amato in Southern California, the California-bred son of Vronsky won a first level allowance sprinting on turf at Del Mar but has since lost three consecutive races at the second level allowance condition at Santa Anita. He cuts back from a route to a sprint after a fifth-place finish behind next out winner Evening Sun in a 9-furlong race last month. Andy Mathis takes over the conditioning duties in Northern California.

The gutsy gelding In Our A threw in a clunker in the El Dorado Shooter Stakes, finishing towards the back of the pack with seemingly no excuses. His other two races this year came against route competition, where he finished third and fourth behind two of the best route horses in Northern California, Freeport Joe and American Farmer. From eight starts in 2020, In Our A won three times, including once at the second level allowance condition, and finished as the runner up in four additional races.

Cool Mountain Lad also exits the El Dorado Shooter. Trained by Victor Trujillo, the son of Unionize finished fourth behind multiple stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick in the aforementioned stakes start. The last time Cool Mountain Lad visited the winners circle, he dead heated with Clem Labine in a first level allowance race lasty December.

Long Lance completes the field. He exits a career best effort, easily defeating a first level allowance group while earning a career high Beyer speed figure (88). Leading jockey Armando Ayuso rides for trainer Tim McCanna; this jockey trainer combo has won at a 24% clip when teaming up together.

An eight-race card on Sunday commences at 1:15 PM PT.

Race 7 on Sunday (2^nd-level allowance for 4-year-olds and upward at six furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Clem Labine (Jockey Irving Orozco…Trainer Isidro Tamayo)

#2 Hey Mate (Evin Roman…Bill McLean)

#3 Long Lance (Armando Ayuso…Tim McCanna)

#4 In Our A (Cristobal Herrera…Ellen Jackson)

#5 War Games (Santos Rivera…Cliff DeLima)

#6 Cool Mountain Lad (Pedro Terrero…Victor Trujillo)

#7 Perfectionistic (Frank Alvarado…Andy Mathis)

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Friday

Race 1: Kiss Ride Goodbye (New trainer Jesus Ramos…new owner Candelario Barragan)

Race 3: Absolute Scenes (Jesus Ramos…Candelario Barragan)

Race 3: Maggie Fitzgerald (Leobardo Rivera…Manuela Franco Sosa)

Race 4: Damn the Torpedoes (Victor Trujillo…Jose Paredes and Trujillo)

Race 5: Katzumoto (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing)

Saturday

Race 1: Cielo Diamante (Mike Lenzini…John Parker)

Race 2: Minsky (Keith Craigmyle…4 Hares Racing Inc.)

Race 3: Walking Boss (Tim Bellasis…Bellasis, Donna Smartt and Cassandra Tschanz)

Race 4: Handsome Gary (Isidro Tamayo…Robert Fernandez and John Tipton

Race 6: Jan Jan Can (Owner/Trainer D. Wayne Baker)

Race 6: St. Annie’s Indy (Jesus Ramos…Roque J. Orta and Luciano Orta)

Sunday

Race 1: Cliffsofthunder (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott and Steiner)

Race 2: Floyd Knowles (Jonathan Wong…Johnny and Marcel Taboada)

Race 2: Go Thru the Hole (Leanna Ekstrom…Terril Ekstrom)

FINISH LINES: Three turf races are carded for this racing week at Golden Gate: the fifth race on Friday, a starter allowance (Race 3) on Saturday, and a maiden special weight (Race 4) on Sunday…The Blaine Wright trained Maybe I Will drew the rail in Saturday’s feature race at Santa Anita, the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred filly and mare sprinters…In Sunday’s main event at the Great Race Place, Steve Specht campaigns Sacred Rider in the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for California-bred colts and geldings. Both stakes at Santa Anita will be run down the hillside turf course at about six and one-half furlongs…$14,381 is carried over into the Rolling Super High Five bet for Race 3 on Friday, which is also Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager…There is also an $8,955 jackpot carryover into Friday’s Golden Pick Six jackpot bet…Happy birthday to jockey William Antongeorgi III, who celebrates his birthday early next week.

WRIGHT HOPES HE HAS THE RIGHT FILLIES FOR FRIDAY ALLOWANCE FEATURE

A salty group of 3-year-old fillies contest five and one-half furlongs in Race 7 on Friday, the marquee race of the day at Golden Gate. Trainer Blaine Wright, who saddles Power Surge and Slack Tide in the featured first-level allowance, was quick to point out that his fillies will need to bring their very best efforts to take home the gold medal.

“Pretty nice field, I think,” said Wright of the competition. “Golden Gate at this level…you’re never gonna get it easy.”

Both of Wright’s entrants should be listed as major players. Power Surge, a daughter of budding California-stallion Straight Fire, broke her maiden two starts ago and returned on February 6 to finish as the runner up behind arguably the best 3-year-old filly sprinter on the grounds in Anthony’s Cleopatra. From three lifetime starts, Power Surge sports one win, one second, and one third place finish.

“Power Surge ran a super race last time; I can’t be disappointed with her effort,” said Wright. “She’s come back and worked really good since then. She’s really learning to relax and run on, like we saw last time. I think she can do the same type of thing. It looks like there will be some pace in this race and we’re just going to let her get away from [the gate], get her feet underneath her and go from there.

I don’t think she’ll be as far back as she was last time,” continued Wright. “There was a pretty torrid pace going on in the last race. Then again, we don’t want to let someone get an easy lead either. She’s got speed if we need to use it.”

Slack Tide is the longer shot of the Wright pair. A filly by Shaman Ghost, Slack Tide makes her 3-year-old debut while racing over a synthetic surface for the first time. In two career starts last summer at Emerald Downs, she finished as the runner up in her career debut before wheeling back three weeks later to win the Angie C Stakes-as a maiden-by a decisive three length margin. Both races were run on dirt.

“Slack Tide will be fresh,” said Wright. “She’ll probably be a little precocious on the bridle. In her workouts, she’s been really up on it. I don’t think she has to have the lead, but she’ll be laying close enough. She worked with Power Surge a few weeks ago and they worked pretty good together.  [Slack Tide] might not be 100% cranked up for her first out but she’s darn near there.”

In her Emerald Downs stakes win, Slack Tide earned a light Beyer speed figure (39). Wright believes she fits with the field she is up against on Friday.

“Emerald Downs numbers don’t match up with Golden Gate’s at all, but she’s a quality filly,” concluded Wright. “She’s breezed against good horses. She’s gotten bigger and she’s gotten stronger [since her 2-year-old season]. She’s always shown us that she has some quality.”

Irving Orozco rides Slack Tide while his younger brother Kevin retains the mount on Power Surge.

Contention runs deep in Friday’s seventh race. Like Wright, trainer Steve Specht also campaigns a pair of contenders. Tamara Mine comes off a convincing maiden victory and looks to build off that. She will be breaking from the outside post. Meanwhile, stablemate Tam’s Little Angel finished a length and a quarter behind Power Surge for second in the February 6 allowance and draws the rail post position Friday.

Lovely Colleen, likely to get support in the wagering for leading trainer Jonathan Wong, was a low odds winner of a maiden special weight to kick off her career but regressed in her next start, unable to keep up with Anthony’s Cleopatra on February 6. Lovely Colleen was fourth best on the day. She figures to be close to the pace.

Three weeks ago, Dulce Emma beat maiden special weight company by over two lengths after sitting off the pace and producing a strong closing kick. The Jesus Ramos trainee has finished behind Power Surge and Lovely Colleen in past starts and will need to turn the tables in her first start against winners.

Rounding out the field is Miss Union, who easily defeated starter allowance company on February 11 and faces tougher this time around for trainer Isidro Tamayo. Although she is the co-longest shot on the morning line, she is the only runner in the race that has won at this condition. As a 2-year-old last year, Miss Union scored a gate-to-wire win on dirt at Fresno and, being a California-bred, is eligible to win at this level once more.

The first race on an 8-race Friday program kicks off at 12:45 PM PT. Gates open at 10 AM.

Seventh Race on Friday (1^st level allowance for 3-year-old filles at 5.5 furlongs)

#1 Tam’s Little Angel (Jockey Armando Ayuso…trainer Steve Specht…morning line odds of 9-2)

#2 Power Surge (Kevin Orozco…Blaine Wright…3-1)

#3 Miss Union (William Antongeorgi III…Isidro Tamayo…8-1)

#4 Dulce Emma (Pedro Terrero…Jesus Ramos…4-1)

#5 Slack Tide (Irving Orozco…Blaine Wright…8-1)

#6 Lovely Colleen (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong…7-2)

#7 Tamara Mine (Frank Alvarado…Steve Specht…9-2)

WHITE-HOT MCCANNA SEEKS A LATE DOUBLE SWEEP ON SATURDAY

Life is good for trainer Tim McCanna. The longtime West Coast horseman has won with 15 of his 61 starters at the current Winter/Spring meet, equating to a strong 25%-win clip. He also had a sensational fall meet to end 2021, winning with 28% of his 53 runners.  

“We have a good group of horses back there [at the barn],” said McCanna. “You take the ups with the downs.”

A pair of allowance races for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward comprise the late Daily Double sequence on Saturday afternoon. McCanna saddles a contender in each race.

In Race 8, a one mile and a sixteenth route, McCanna tightens the girth on Gea. A daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, Gea was purchased privately by owners Thelma and Louise Stables LLC after a conditioned claiming win at Woodbine Racecourse in Canada. Woodbine has a synthetic racing surface, so moving to Golden Gate’s Tapeta main track was an easy transition.

“She was purchased with the purpose of running on the synthetic here at Golden Gate,” said McCanna.

In her first start for the McCanna barn on February 18, Gea shipped south to Santa Anita Park to compete over turf in a one mile $25,000 claiming race. She raced towards the back of the field throughout and beat one horse home.

“There is a ship and win incentive at Santa Anita, so we picked up a $5,000 bonus just for running,” said McCanna. “We got a race into her. I think she’s a better synthetic horse, and she wants to run a little farther [than a mile]. She trains like she’ll run all day on the synthetic. She’s put on some weight and blossomed since she got to [Golden Gate].”

Don’t expect her to be anywhere close to the pace early, says McCanna.

“She’s a closer,” confirmed McCanna. “She doesn’t really have a sharp move, but she has sort of a steady, grinding move. We need a good pace scenario. We entered her a few times in a race that wasn’t filling, so we’re taking a shot in the allowance on Saturday.”

In Race 9, stakes winning sprinter Rebalation is back to the races after a second-place finish behind the talented Sadie Bluegrass in a high-quality starter allowance. She is projected to go off as a heavy favorite in the Saturday nightcap for sprinters. Rebalation is known for her flying finishes from the back of the pack and, last year, won the 6-furlong Bear Fan Stakes employing a last to first running style. This Saturday, she competes in a five-and-one-half-furlong sprint.

“She is better at six furlongs,” said McCanna. “Even so, she’s pretty honest so she’ll come running. We’d like a hot pace and a half-way decent trip where she doesn’t have to go too wide.”

Both halves of the late Daily Double are part of the Golden Hour wagers at Santa Anita every day in which Santa Anita and Golden Gate run concurrently. The 9-race Saturday program at Golden Gate begins at 12:45 PM PT.

POST POSITION THE BIGGEST HURDLE FOR LORD BRANCUSI IN SUNDAY ALLOWANCE

The connections of Lord Brancusi have been patient. Since the beginning of his career in 2020, Lord Brancusi has taken two consecutive, long vacations after physical ailments limited him to competing in just three races in a span of 16 months. One of these lengthy breaks came after his first start, from October 2020 to May of 2021, and the other began in June of 2021 and ended last month.

Lifetime start number four came in his most recent afternoon appearance-his first start off an eight-month layoff on February 20-and the result was encouraging. Sent off at 9-2 in a first level allowance, the 5-year-old grey gelding went to the lead, never got a breather while setting fast fractions, sprinted home in the final furlong before eventually getting tagged late by race winner Long Lance. Lord Brancusi earned a career high 85 Beyer speed figure.

This performance gave his connections the feeling that their patience may finally be paying off.

“I was extremely pleased [with his last start],” said Lord Brancusi’s trainer Jonathan Wong. “The winner is a nice horse. He came out of his last race good and worked a half mile last weekend. He’s always been a really good work horse.”

Lord Brancusi breaks from the inside post in a field of 10 in Sunday’s seventh race-his second start off an 8-month vacation. This scenario, says Wong, ensures the type of tactics that will be employed in Sunday’s first level allowance co-feature.

“The rail [post position] forces our hand,” said Wong. “Under the right circumstances, I wouldn’t be concerned if he stalked the pace. But we drew the inside, so we’re going to have to send and go.”

In 2020, Lord Brancusi began his career under the care of Jamey Thomas and won on debut in impressive fashion. According to Wong, Lord Brancusi has been well regarded since Day 1. He possesses the pedigree to be a decent horse, by multiple Grade 2 winner Dominus out of a South American Group 1 winning mare who has produced 2 other winning siblings.

“He always trains like a good horse,” said Wong. “He’s a really good-looking horse and he’s naturally quick.”

Among the main challengers set to tackle Lord Brancusi is California-bred R M C Hook’em, who drops out of stakes competition and has already won at this level once before. Also entered is improving gelding Murphys Tiger, Counting Cards, who seeks his fourth win in a row, and Our Bold Prince, who has hit the board in his last two races at this condition.

An 8-race Sunday card ends our racing week, with the first race set to go off at 12:45 PM PT.

Seventh Race on Sunday (1^st level allowance for 4-year-olds and upward at 5.5 furlongs)

#1 Lord Brancusi (Jockey Brayan Pena…Trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 2-1)

#2 Murphys Tiger (Armando Ayuso…Tim McCanna…10-1)

#3 Strut to the Wire (Assael Espinoza…Mike Lenzini…10-1)

#4 Stormy Charmant (Julien Couton…Cliff DeLima…20-1)

#5 Offshore Affair (Cristobal Herrera…Greg James…12-1)

#6 R M C Hook’em (Pedro Terrero…Victor Trujillo…9-2)

#7 Our Bold Prince (Irving Orozco…Eddie Rich…6-1)

#8 Counting Cards (Silvio Amador…Isidro Tamayo…6-1)

#9 Torpedo Away (Frank Alvarado…Blaine Wright…8-1)

#10 Sonofafinch (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong…12-1)

TURF RACING RESUMES NEXT WEEK

While speaking to TVG’s Dave Weaver on Monday afternoon at Golden Gate, Vice President and General Manager David Duggan noted that turf racing would be back in play on Friday, March 18.

“Turf racing will come back earlier than usual,” said Duggan. “We’ll be back on the eighteenth of March.”

One turf race is in the condition book for next Friday, March 18: an open allowance for fillies and mares at one mile and an eighth. Two additional turf races made the condition book on the weekend of March 19 and 20.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is the list of claims from last week:

Friday

Race 1: Friend of Autism (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owner Johnny Taboada)

Race 1: No Cover Charge (Owner/Trainer Ryan Hanson)

Race 1: Slew of Fashion (Miguel Ramirez…Baseline Equine LLC)

Race 1: Somara (Isidro Tamayo…John Tipton)

Race 2: My Sunshine (Jack Steiner…Jim Maher)

Race 4: Of Good Report (Bill McLean…Sharon Broetzman, Chris Carpenter, Cheryl Hauck, Kevin Jameson, Bill McLean and Doug Planchon)

Sunday

Race 3: Mount Pelliar (Gary Greiner…Renee Greiner)

Monday

Race 1: Smokinhotredhead (Monty Meier…Browne Cattle Co. and William Branch)

Race 6: Bigfoot City (Owner/Trainer Tim McCanna)

Race 6: Pappy Boyington (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott)

Race 6: Satanta (Jesus Ramos…Esmeralda Alvarado, Candelario Barragan, Luis and Salvador Ruiz)

Race 8: Tam’s Time (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)

Race 8: Whisper and Wink (Dan Markle…Peerenboom Racing Stables LLC)

FINISH LINES: Rapidly improving The Pharaoh’s Girl faces stakes winner Ima Happy Cat, stakes placed Tip Top Gal, and three others in Race 4 on Sunday, a second level allowance for filly and mare sprinters…Multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Camino Del Paraiso competes in the $100,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile at Turf Paradise in Arizona this Friday. The 3-1 morning line favorite will be ridden by Ricky Gonzalez for conditioner O.J Jauregui…On Saturday, the Steve Specht trained Jungle Cry runs in a second level allowance at Santa Anita. The race will be run on the six and one-half furlong hillside turf course. Jockey Tyler Baze has the call…Also in on Saturday at Santa Anita is Psycho Dar, who most recently ran third in the El Dorado Shooter Stakes on February 19. He is entered in a specialized starter allowance turf sprint for trainer Sammy Calvario…Golden Gate synthetic specialist Dynasty of Her Own seeks a graded stakes placing in the marquee race of the day on Sunday at Santa Anita, the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes. Ricky Gonzalez and Jonathan Wong team up…Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday is Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager…The Golden Pick Six jackpot pool begins anew on Friday with the mandatory payout last Monday. The Pick Six attracted over $1.3 million new money on Monday, bet into the $147,000+ carryover. The total pool hit $1.5 million and paid $1,889.78 for a 6 of 6 winning-ticket.

MANDATORY PAYOUT IN THE PICK SIX ON MONDAY AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS

This Monday, March 7, Golden Gate Fields conducts a nine-race program, with a 12:15 PM first post. The headliner for horseplayers on the day is a mandatory payout in the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager, a 20-cent minimum bet which features the last six races on the card. Heading into Friday’s live program, the jackpot pool sits at $124,190. Of course, the pool will increase by Monday if there fails to be a single ticket jackpot winner by then.

45 horses have entered to compete in the six-race sequence, which goes as Races 4 through 9. The first leg of the Pick Six, Race 4, has an approximate post time of 1:45 PM PT.

This week, Golden Gate Fields races on Friday, Sunday, and Monday. First post on Friday and Sunday is 12:45 PM. Although live racing will not be conducted on Saturday, horseplayers in the area can watch and wager on simulcast racing at Golden Gate. Among the options on the wagering menu is 1/ST Saturday, featuring a combined 15 stakes races from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita. Both aforementioned tracks, among other promotions, will be offering a pair of “Coast to Coast” Pick 5 wagers, with an industry low 12% takeout for both bets.

EL CAMINO REAL DERBY FOURTH PLACE FINISH IL BELLATOR BACK FOR MORE ON SATURDAY

3-year-old colt Il Bellator, who ran fourth in the El Camino Real Derby behind Blackadder and MacKinnon in the El Camino Real Derby last month, seeks a victory against proven winners while dropping in class in the co-featured seventh race on Sunday, a first level allowance. The one mile and a sixteenth contest is for 3-year-olds.

Il Bellator broke his maiden on November 25. That day, he stalked the pace, drew off from his competition down the stretch and crossed the wire with plenty more in the tank. It was his first try at a route of ground, and trainer Jose Bautista later noted that he always felt the son of Shackleford would be at his best going longer distances.

“We always though Il Bellator would be a better router,” Bautista said in a previous edition of our Golden Gate News and Notes.

A month and a half after the maiden victory, Il Bellator was entered to run in a January 14 allowance race. All good…until a day before the race. Il Bellator came up with a cough.

“He got a little sick and my vet recommended to scratch the horse,” said Bautista. “It was the best thing to do for the horse. It was really unfortunate that we had to scratch, but we always have do what is best for our horses.”

Bautista was forced to roll out Plan B: train Il Bellator up to the El Camino Real Derby. Sent off at odds of 37-1 in the February 12 ‘Derby, the Ed and Theresa DeNike homebred stalked the pace, battled for the lead in upper stretch and hit the wire fourth. It was a better than looked effort-one respectable enough-and something to build off heading deeper into 2022.

“He ran a hell of a race, to be honest. I’m proud of my horse,” said Bautista. “I was a little concerned that he might get a little tired the last eighth of a mile. I thought at the top of the stretch, ‘Is he gonna do it?’ Then he got a little tired.”

This Saturday, Il Bellator gets class relief at the allowance level. He also races on the legal race day medication Lasix for the first time.

”He is definitely going to be more fit for this race [than the El Camino Real Derby],” said Bautista. “He’s on his toes right now. He’s not going to get tired this time. I guarantee you.”

Among the main rivals facing Il Bellator is Midnight Mammoth, who finished behind his aforementioned counterpart in the November 25 maiden race. Most recently, the son of Midnight Lute went to the lead at low odds of 2-5 and ran a career best race, beating a maiden special weight group by a whopping 9 lengths while earning a career high Beyer speed figure (75). Compare the number to Il Bellator’s 72 Beyer in the El Camino Real Derby, and that alone indicates Midnight Mammoth is fast enough to be very competitive in Sunday’s co-feature.

“We’re on the rail, so we’re kind of at the mercy of everybody,” said Midnight Mammoth’s trainer, Steve Sherman. “They all get to look down on us. [Jockey] Armando Ayuso is going to have to play it by the break and see how the race unfolds.”

In past starts, Midnight Mammoth has been keen to race up on the pace. Sherman is hoping that over time, Midnight Mammoth will learn to settle. 

“He likes to be up on the lead. There’s no doubt about that,” said Sherman. “That’s where he’s most comfortable. That’s when he mostly relaxes-when he’s out there by himself. Getting to that point…he starts to get pretty racey.

I wouldn’t be concerned [if he was stalking the pace], but it would be interesting to see how the horse would be. When he gets to the point to where he can relax, I think he can be a pretty good horse. Once he figures it out, that it’s not all ‘go’ and there’s ‘stop and go’s’ in a race, then he’ll be a much better horse.”

9-races are scheduled for Sunday, with first post at the usual time of 12:45 PM.

Race 8 on Sunday (First level allowance for 3-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth)

#1 Midnight Mammoth (Jockey Armando Ayuso…trainer Steve Sherman…morning line odds of 8-5)

#2 Love’em N Leave’em (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong…5-1)

#3 Nuestro Engreido (Santos Rivera…Felix Rondan…4-1)

#4 Meetmeattheclub (Silvio Amador…Dan Franko…50-1)

#5 Bandera Azteca (Brayan Pena…Victor Trujillo…12-1)

#6 Il Bellator (Alejandro Gomez…Jose Bautista…9-5)

#7 Lying Ghost (Pedro Terrero…Faith Taylor…20-1)

TOM’S SURPRISE CONTINUES TO THRIVE HEADING INTO MONDAY FEATURE

Trainer Jack Steiner is off to a sensational start at the Winter/Spring meet. From 32 starters, Steiner has won 10 times, equating to a 32%-win rate. Steiner looks to keep the good times rolling in Monday’s feature race with 5-year-old gelding Tom’s Surprise.

“What can I say? He’s been a pleasant surprise,” quipped Steiner.

Steiner claimed Tom’s Surprise for $20,000 out of a November 5 sprint-a race in which Tom’s Surprise was all out to win. Since then, the California-bred son of Tom’s Tribute has won 3 of 5 starts for the Steiner barn, including a pair of allowance races. 4 of those 5 races came at a two-turn distance.

Steiner claimed Tom’s Surprise knowing he possessed backclass; in June of last year, he placed second behind talented router Desmond Doss in the Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos while under the care of Golden Gate leading trainer Jonathan Wong. The most recent afternoon appearance for Tom’s Surprise, on February 12, resulted in a neck victory at the same condition in which Tom’s Surprise races at this Monday. Sent off as the 3-5 post time favorite, Tom’s Surprise out finished stakes placed Tesoro, who is also entered in this Monday’s eighth race.  

In recent races, Tom’s Surprise has sat well off the pace before unleashing a power kick in the stretch. Steiner gives credit to the man who steers the ship.

“[Jockey] Armando Ayuso gets all the credit,” said Steiner. “Ayuso got on this horse and found out how he likes to run best, which is to sit back and make one, well-timed run. Ayuso waits until he hits the lane and then lets him run.”

As fun as it is for race fans to enjoy Tom’s Surprise and his burst of speed late in a race, Steiner noted it is equally as enjoyable to watch him train every morning.

“He bows his head and moves right along. He’s always looks for someone to go with him. He looks for any reason to take off. He starts off relaxed, but by the time he goes around a second time, it’s hard to get him to slow down. He absolutely loves to run.

I’m appreciative for each race that I’ve got from [Tom’s Surprise],” concluded Steiner. “He’s a cool horse. We just take it one race at a time.”

Contention runs deep in the Monday’s marquee event, a one mile and a sixteenth second level allowance for 4-year-olds and upward. Other main contenders include Tesoro, who finished second behind 2021 Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock in the Zia Park Derby last fall, 2021 Snow Chief Stakes winner Jimmy Blue Jeans,and Shadrack, a multiple allowance winner last year who makes his 2022 debut for white-hot trainer Tim McCanna.

Race 8 on Monday (Second level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at one mile and a sixteenth)

#1 Wine and Whisky (Jockey Cristobal Herrera…trainer Felix Rondan)

#2 Dulas (Santos Rivera…Manny Badilla)

#3 Shadrack (Irving Orozco…Tim McCanna)

#4 Tom’s Surprise (Armando Ayuso…Jack Steiner)

#5 Tesoro (Frank Alvarado…O.J. Jauregui)

#6 Jimmy Blue Jeans (Assael Espinoza…Andy Mathis)

#7 Ready Say Go (Pedro Terrero…Sherrie Monroe)

STAKES RACES IN THE FUTURE FOR AMERICAN FARMER

According to trainer Steve Sherman, 5-year-old horse American Farmer, who defeated 2021 Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap winner Freeport Joe in an open allowance race last Sunday, is bound for stakes races later in the meet.

“He came out of his race on Sunday in good shape. That’s all you can ask,” said Sherman. “We’ll shoot for the [Grade 3] San Francisco Mile [on April 30] and the All American [on May 30]. Those are my goals. Those are the races where I want to see if we belong in.”

Whether American Farmer races once between now and the San Francisco Mile remains up in the air.

“We’re still waiting to see what races will be available for him at the end of the month,” said Sherman. “If we have to train him up to the ‘Mile, he should be plenty fit for that.”

Sherman was very pleased with how American Farmer won on Sunday, showing a nice turn of foot when producing a last-to-first rally.  

“Like we talked about last week, we gave him some time off after a long year and a half as a 3 and 4-year-old. That [time off] really got his energy level back up,” said Sherman. “I saw a little explosion from him [last week] that I haven’t seen in a long time. Like a real ‘kick and go.’ He’ll never be a horse that wins by a lot because when he hits the lead, he sort of pulls himself up a little bit. I think towards the end of his 4-year-old season, he was running kind of tired, so he didn’t have that ‘oomph’ to him. I believe now that he’s a lot fresher.”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Friday

Race 3: Smokinhotredhead (New trainer Jonathan Wong…new owners Hon Cheung Kum and Hsui Mei Tsai)

Race 6: Arch Prince (Miguel Ramirez…Dave Milburn)

Race 8: Malibu Ghost (Reid France…Goat Racing Stables LLC)

Saturday

Race 2: Get’em Tiger (Isidro Tamayo…Miguel Chavez)

Race 6: Hydrogen (Tim McCanna…Pat LePley)

Sunday

Race 1: Marzonna (Blaine Wright…Halfmoon Thoroughbreds)

Race 2: Austrian Navy (Monty Meier…Browne Cattle Co.)

Race 3: Swanee (Isidro Tamayo…Marron Road Ventures LLC and Tamayo)

Race 4: Bold Article (O.J. Jauregui…Danny Eplin)

Race 7: Honeymoonz Over (D. Wayne Baker…Packsaddle Road LLC, Richard Barton and Baker)

Race 7: Slam Dunk Sermon (Victor Trujillo….Wayne Swisher)

Race 8: Bourbonwithatwist (Eddie Rich…Gary Peasley and Rich)

Race 8: Maybe Sometime (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)

FINISH LINES: Ultra consistent racer Sadie Bluegrass competes at Santa Anita on Saturday in Race 4, a starter allowance for filly and mare turf sprinters. Local jockey Brayan Pena makes the journey south to ride for trainer Jonathan Wong…Stakes placed Kiwi’s Dream is back on the work tab for trainer Victor Trujillo. The Australian bred ran second in the 2020 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile and finished as the runner up in three additional stakes that year. Kiwi’s Dream has posted a pair of three-furlong drills and will likely be getting to half mile works soon…On Thursday morning’s work tab: Golden Gate Debutante winner Ellamira, who blitzed six furlongs in 1:16 for trainer Steve Specht. Another Specht worker Thursday, multiple allowance winner Sen Sen, drilled the same distance in 1:16.40…Happy birthday to jockey Evin Roman, who celebrates his birthday this week…Leg B (the second leg) of the Stronach Five this week goes as Race 3 on Friday at Golden Gate.

FREEPORT JOE SEEKS TO EXTEND WIN STREAK TO FIVE

Top Northern California handicap horse Freeport Joe enters an open allowance event on Saturday, Race 8, in razor sharp form. Since winning a first level allowance on Tapeta in November, the 5-year-old son of English Channel wracked off three additional wins, including an upset victory in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap last fall. In his last three starts, Freeport Joe earned above average Beyer speed figures of 90 or 91.

Trainer Gloria Haley has not needed to do much with Freeport Joe. Since his last winners circle appearance on January 23, Freeport Joe has posted two three-furlong morning drills leading up to this Saturday’s feature race.

“He was just out there stretching his legs,” said Haley of both works. “He’s fit and happy. We’re just trying to keep him that way!”

In his past couple of races, Freeport Joe was placed a length or two off slow fractions. In a race with a quicker pace, Freeport Joe has shown the ability to sit farther off the speed. Haley said she leaves the tactics up to regular jockey Assael Espinoza, who retains the mount this Saturday.

“Assael has ridden him enough to know how to ride him,” said Haley. “I just let Assael play it based on how the race sets up. He’s the one who has to decide what to do.

He’s a pretty energetic horse,” said Haley. “At the barn and on the track, he’s a good-feeling horse. I attribute his progression to maturity. He’s just really matured. The English Channel’s seem to improve as they get older, and we’ve definitely seen that with Freeport Joe.”

Haley pointed out that, although Freeport Joe has won his last two starts at the one-mile distance and races at said distance on Saturday, he may be even better with more ground.

“I think he’ll be best at a mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter,” said Haley. “He wants to run long.”

Anybody who wins the eighth race on Saturday will need to bring their “A game.” Among the main competitors looking to snap Freeport Joe’s win streak is American Farmer, who defeated second level allowance company two starts ago. Most recently, the California-bred finished three parts of a length behind Freeport Joe in a January 22 race. That day, he encountered mild traffic issues in mid-stretch. American Farmer is a stakes winner, having won the Robert Dupret Derby on turf as a 3-year-old. That same season, he finished as the runner up to Grade 3 winner Azul Coast in the El Camino Real Derby. Steve Sherman trains the son of Bluegrass Cat.

“He’s coming into this race razor sharp, so we’re expecting a big effort,” said Sherman.

American Farmer has improved since coming off a layoff from July to November.

“I sent him over to Bobby Gonzalez’s ranch for some R & R (rest and recovery),” said Sherman. “He took 45 days off. He’s come back better than ever. He just needed some time. He hadn’t missed a dance in a year and a half. That’s a long time to go. He’s a very sound horse; we haven’t had any issues with him. He needed that little break and he’s come back a different horse. He looks bigger, he looks stronger, and he looks better.”

A third stakes winner in the Saturday feature is Northwest Factor, facing males after a dominant allowance win against fillies and mares. She makes her second start off a layoff for trainer Manny Badilla and is expected to be part of the pace.

9 races are on the docket this Sunday, with first post at 12:45 PM.

Race 8 on Saturday (Allowance for 4-year-olds and upward at one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Northwest Factor (Jockey Irving Orozco…trainer Manny Badilla…morning line odds of 6-1)

#2 Harmon (Julien Couton…Monty Meier…5-1)

#3 Nero (Armando Ayuso…Neil Drysdale…10-1)

#4 Descartes (Ruben Fuentes…Sammy Calvario…6-1)

#5 Freeport Joe (Assael Espinoza…Gloria Haley…8-5)

#6 American Farmer (Pedro Terrero…Steve Sherman…2-1)

MUSIC FESTIVAL PASSES THE ROUTE TEST WITH FLYING COLORS

In last Sunday’s seventh race, 3-year-old filly Music Festival was entering her first career route having just broken her maiden in smashing style against sprinters three weeks earlier. Under jockey William Antongeorgi III, Music Festival sat close to a slow pace, kicked away from her competition when asked at the eighth pole and hit the wire almost four lengths clear of runner up finisher Vincero Grande. Understandably, trainer Steve Sherman was very pleased with the effort.

“We wanted to route her,” said Sherman. “I always thought she could route. She’s a very smart filly. She does everything right. She’s a pleasure to be around, just a pleasure to train. I thought [her win on Sunday] was a good step forward.”

With the first-level allowance victory in the books, Sherman has Gold Rush Weekend circled on the calendar.

“A good long-term goal for [Music Festival] would be the California Oaks [for 3-year-old fillies on April 30],” said Sherman. “We’ll look for one race before then and, if things go well, give her a shot in the stake.”  

Music Festival, a Kentucky-bred daughter of turf router Vancouver, began her career in Southern California with trainer Mike Puype. After a better than looked fourth place finish in a maiden special weight, she was shipped to Sherman’s barn and has resided in Northern California ever since.

“I think she was sent to Golden Gate because of the company,” said Sherman. “She’s not a big, robust filly; she’s a little on the smaller side. I think the track and the [slightly easier] competition here…the owners felt that would help her out. She always tries. That’s all you can ask of any racehorse. She has a lot of turf pedigree. I can’t wait to get her back on the grass down the road.”

Music Festival was purchased for $75,000 as a 2-year-old and is owned by a large partnership group that includes Blinkers On Racing Stable and 13 other individual owners. This year, Music Festival sports a 2 for 3 record, with 1 second place finish. The lone loss came at the hands of Anthony’s Cleopatra, who came right back to win her next start against first level allowance company sprinting.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week.

Friday

Race 4: Grigoro (New trainer Steve Sherman…new owners Stewball Stable, Zvika Akin and Sherman)

Race 6: Autism Blue (Blaine Wright…Wright Racing Stable, Davis Racing and Joe Russell)

Race 6: Keep On Danzing (Jack Steiner…Remmah Racing Inc. and Steiner)

Race 7: Rocktillyoudrop (Ed Moger Jr…Steve Moger)

Race 9: Our Expectation (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott and Steiner)

Race 9: Perfect D (Owner/trainer Sergio Morfin)

Saturday

Race 2: Jedi Knight (Jack Steiner…Michael Radovich)

Race 4: Acai (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)

Race 6: Blue Diva (Andy Mathis…Richard Catone and Mathis)

Sunday

Race 2: Big Al’s Princess (Angela Aquino…Ashley Garcia)

Race 3: Evenrevenworse (Bill McLean…TKO Stables, Fred Desimone and McLean)

Race 3: McGeorge (Reid France…Albert and Kathleen Mattivi LLC)

Race 3: Surplus (Angela Aquino…Ashley Garcia)

Monday

Race 3: More Gumption (Owner/Trainer Reid France)

Race 4: Casino Games (Owner/Trainer Jacquie Navarre)

FINISH LINES: January 29 Golden Gate allowance winner Becca Taylor is now a perfect 6 for 6 after a convincing win against California-bred or sired stakes rivals in the Spring Fever Stakes on Monday at Santa Anita. Steve Miyadi trains for owner/breeder Nick Alexander…Dynasty of Her Own, 10 for 11 on the Golden Gate Tapeta, races down the hill at Santa Anita on Saturday in the $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes. Ricky Gonzalez rides for trainer Jonathan Wong…$106,859 is carried over into the Golden Pick 6 jackpot bet on Friday at Golden Gate…Race 3 on Friday is Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager.

BLACKADDER EARNS AUTOMATIC PREAKNESS BIRTH WITH EL CAMINO REAL DERBY VICTORY

3-year-old colt Blackadder punched his ticket to the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, with a victory in last Saturday’s El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate. Ridden to victory by Edwin Maldonado, Blackadder defeated 3-5 race favorite MacKinnon by a neck.

Since 2018, the El Camino Real Derby has offered the winner-if Triple Crown nominated-an automatic, free berth into the Preakness Stakes. Both Golden Gate Fields and Pimlico Racecourse, where the Preakness is run, is owned by 1/ST Racing. Last year, El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer won the El Camino Real Derby and, two races later, scored a “mild upset” victory over Kentucky Derby first place finisher Medina Spirit in the Preakness. This year’s Preakness is slated for Saturday, May 21.

Blackadder is trained by Bob Baffert, who picked up his third career El Camino Real Derby win. He also won the 1996 edition with Cavonnier and the 2019 running with Azul Coast. Winning jockey Edwin Maldonado made the trip North to ride Blackadder.

“[Baffert] told me that if I’m going to win, I’m gonna have to earn it because [Blackadder] is a bit lazy,” said Maldonado. “I wanted to be behind because there were three sprinters stretching out. I knew the pace would be fast, so I wanted to stay inside and then swing out when we got to the stretch. [Turning for home], there were too many horses outside of me, so I had to wait. I was able to get through an opening, and [Blackadder] got it done.”

As a yearling in 2020, Blackadder was purchased for a whopping $620,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale. The son of Quality Road is owned by the large partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm.

Less than 24 hours after the El Camino Real Derby win, Tom Ryan from SF Racing reported that Blackadder “ate up and jogged up in great shape” on Sunday morning. Blackadder shipped back to Baffert’s Santa Anita string earlier this week and will be trained there in preparation for his next start, which is yet to be determined.

The Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free also reported that El Camino Real Derby runner up MacKinnon, a multiple stakes winner last year and third place finisher in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, will freshen up 30 days on a farm before returning to the track with a summer/fall campaign in turf races.

STAKES WINNER BETTOR TRIP NICK WHEELS BACK QUICKLY IN EL DORADO SHOOTER STAKES

Multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick is the headliner in the signature race of the week this Saturday, the $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes at 6 furlongs on Tapeta. The race is restricted to California-bred or sired horses who are 4-year-olds and upward. Bettor Trip Nick, who won the Golden Nugget and Gold Rush Stakes in 2019, returns to the races in just 13 days after a powerful effort against second level allowance company.

In his most recent afternoon appearance on February 6, Bettor Trip Nick was making his first start off a 7-month vacation. That day, he established a clear lead and proceeded to win the race by a comfortable 2-length margin. After analyzing how Bettor Trip Nick came out of his race and the El Dorado Shooter nominations list, trainer Jonathan Wong decided to enter the son of Boat Trip in Saturday’s stake.  

“I just hope he doesn’t ‘bounce’ off his last race,” said Wong. “He’s coming back quickly. He ran really well the other day.

“There was no pressure to run him [in the El Dorado Shooter] if he wasn’t ready,” continued Wong. “He came out of his last race in really good shape. He’s cleaned up his feed tub every day and has plenty of energy. I nominated [to the El Dorado Shooter] and looked at what other horses might run in the race. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of speed and he does his best when he’s on the lead, so we’re giving it a go.”

Among his main competitors is In Our A, who cuts back from a route to a sprint after a pair of close finishes behind Grade 3 winner Freeport Joe while voyaging two turns. The son of Idiot Proof went off favored in his last sprint start three races ago, the Oakland Stakes against open company, and only lost by a length and a half after badly missing the break and racing wide on the course. In Our A competed in the 2021 El Dorado Shooter, run in October last year, and suffered a nose loss at the hands of classy colt Top Harbor.

A legit wild-card possibility is Psycho Dar, who bumps up in class and makes his Northern California stakes debut in the El Dorado Shooter. The Sammy Calvario trainee was claimed for $25,000 three starts ago and has since wracked off a pair of runaway first-level allowance wins. His last out Beyer speed figure (91) was not only a career best effort, but a best last-out speed figure out of any horse entered in Saturday’s field.

Trainer Victor Trujillo entered a trio in the El Dorado Shooter: Cool Mountain Lad, who lost by 2 lengths to Bettor Trip Nick on February 6, first level allowance winner R M C Hook’em and Square Deal. Square Deal was entered in an easier spot on Sunday and will likely scratch from this stake.

Two Southern California invaders round out the field. I Stand Taller (trained by Doug O’Neill) and Riding With Dino (Bob Hess Jr.) completed the exacta in an October 9 race against California-bred allowance competition at Santa Anita and face off against the Northern California contenders. I Stand Taller has failed to hit the board in three starts since while Riding With Dino has been much more consistent, winning a California-bred allowance race in January and, most recently, running third against open-company allowance foes.

The El Dorado Shooter goes as the eighth race on a 9-race Saturday card at Golden Gate. First post is 12:45 PM PT.

Race 8 on Saturday: the $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes (For California-bred or sired 4-year-olds & upward at six furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Cool Mountain Lad (Jockey Pedro Terrero…trainer Victor Trujillo…morning line odds of 10-1)

#2 Psycho Dar (Armando Ayuso…Sammy Calvario…5-2)

#3 In Our A (Cristobal Herrera…Ellen Jackson…7-2)

#4 Riding With Dino (Assael Espinoza…Bob Hess Jr…6-1)

#5 Square Deal (Santos Rivera…Victor Trujillo …20-1)

#6 R M C Hook’em (Ruben Fuentes…Victor Trujillo…15-1)

#7 I’ll Stand Taller (Irving Orozco…Doug O’Neill…10-1)

#8 Bettor Trip Nick (Brayan Pena…Jonathan Wong…2-1)

BRAZENLY GETS BRAZEN IN BIGGEST UPSET OF THE WINTER/SPRING MEET

The biggest upset we’ve seen so far this Winter/Spring meet came in the fifth race last Saturday when 4-year-old gelding Brazenly posted a 72-1 upset, beating a half dozen first-level allowance foes. Owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shapiro, Brazenly returned $147.90 to win, $29.40 to place and $11.20 to show.

Guided to victory by Ruben Fuentes, Brazenly went to the lead from the start, set soft fractions of 24.73, 49.45 and 1:13.56 before turning away a challenge from Black Caspian, who sat on Brazenly’s tail for the first three quarters of the race and went searching for the lead at the top of the stretch. Brazenly hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead, holding off a late challenge from oncoming runner-up finisher Rocks and Salt. Brazenly is conditioned by Jedd Josephson, who was pleasantly surprised with the result.

“Yeah, I’m a little surprised,” said Josephson immediately following the race. “We wanted to go early and get out in front. It was the plan, and it worked. [Brazenly] is just kinda green. He’s just catching on right now. In his last few races, he’d make a run and then back up in the turn, and then he’d come back. Today was the first time he put it all together.”

With Sunday’s victory, Brazenly picked up his second consecutive win. He failed to win his first three career starts sprinting, but since stretching out to a route of ground, now boasts a perfect 2 for 2 record at route distances. If all goes well, Brazenly will likely race in a second level allowance condition next.

HIGHLAND GHOST GETS BACK ON TRACK IN FRIDAY SPRINT  

Trainer O.J Jauregui was “taking a shot” with 3-year-old Highland Ghost in the California Derby on January 15 at Santa Anita. It was his third start in five weeks and, in his two prior races in that form cycle, he put together a pair of solid efforts sprinting. The California Derby was a mile and a sixteenth route race.

With world-renowned jockey Flavien Prat in the saddle, Highland Ghost dueled alongside heavy favorite Straight Up G in the first three quarters of the race. Highland Ghost eventually faded to last while Straight Up G got run down late by race winner Fast Draw Munnings. Clearly, the speed duel was not ideal for either horse.

“I made an error in running him in that race,” said Jauregui. “I didn’t get the greatest [trip] in the world-I would’ve liked to have seen him laying second or third-but other than that, I was still in the wrong race.”

Since the trip to Santa Anita, Highland Ghost freshens up, posts three strong workouts and is entered in the featured eighth race this Friday, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds. He also gets back to what he does best: sprinting.

“I thought for a minute he was going to be a better router because his brother and sister routed, and [his sire] Shaman Ghost was a router,” said Jauregui. “But he has the body of a sprinter. I still think he can handle routing, but we’re going to go back to sprinting for now. I think we’re on the right track again.”

Highland Ghost’s last two sprint efforts were admirable. Three starts ago, he lost by a nose after dueling on the lead to Love’em N Leave’em, who is also entered in Friday’s seventh race. Two starts back, Highland Ghost was sent off at an overlay price of 12-1 and scored a decisive victory, winning the contest by 2 lengths while geared down in the final strides. That day, he stalked the pace and ran by the leader in midstretch. Local rider Billy Antongeorgi III was aboard for both races and retains the mount in the Friday feature.

“I’m going to leave [tactics] up to Billy,” Jauregui. “I don’t want him to be too far out of it, but he definitely doesn’t need the lead. He’s going to be in contention.”

Highland Ghost’s main competition is Tizlightning, a California-bred son of Stanford who sports an unblemished 3 for 3 record for trainer Steve Miyadi. After breaking his maiden for a California-bred maiden $50,000 claiming condition, Tizlightning won a pair of starter allowance/optional claiming races at Del Mar and Santa Anita. In his last start, he unofficially hit the wire second, but was moved up to first via disqualification after the stewards determined he was cost the opportunity of a better placing when unofficial winner Con On the Run floated out Tizlightning in midstretch.

9 races comprise the Friday program at Golden Gate Fields. Keep in mind that first post is a little earlier than usual: 12:15 PM.

8th race on Friday (Allowance for 3-year-olds at five and one-half furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Fascinated (Jockey Brayan Pena…trainer Jonathan Wong…morning line odds of 8-1)

#2 Bandera Azteca (Pedro Terrero…Victor Trujillo…10-1)

#3 Love’em N Leave’em (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong…5-1)

#4 Highland Ghost (William Antongeorgi III…O.J. Jauregui…5-2)

#5 Tizlightning (Armando Ayuso…Steve Miyadi…9-5)

#6 Tolonisito (Irving Orozco…Jesus Ramos…12-1)

#7 Mob Boss (Assael Espinoza…Jeff Bonde…4-1)

IMPORTANT RACING DATES UPDATE

Racing fans and horseplayers are reminded that Golden Gate Fields offers a four-day racing week this week: we will have our usual Friday, Saturday and Sunday race cards, along with a special Presidents Day Monday program. First post on Friday is 12:15 PM while Saturday, Sunday and Monday offer a first post time of 12:45 PM. 

Earlier in the week, racing officials announced a a slight adjustment in race days on the first weekend of March. Golden Gate will conduct live racing Friday, March 4, Sunday, March 6, and Monday, March 7. Saturday, March 5 (Santa Anita Handicap Day at Santa Anita) will be a dark day at Golden Gate, though the facility will be open for local horseplayers to attend simulcast wagering on the third floor.

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

Friday

Race 1: Blueberry Eyes (New trainer Jonathan Wong…New owner(s) Madden Racing, MVJET Stables and Rockstar Racing Stable)

Race 1: Carasynthia (Tim Bellasis…Bellasis, Donna Smartt and Cassandra Tschanz)

Race 1: Sacred Beauty (Victor Trujillo…Jose Parades and Isidro Rubalcava)

Race 6: Amber Louise (Andy Mathis…Donna-Kay Martin)

Race 6: Noble Contessa (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)

Race 7: Push Through (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)

Race 8 Seaside Dancer (D. Wayne Baker…Richard Barton)

Saturday

Race 1: Egomania (Owner/Trainer Leobardo Rivera)

Race 3: Back Ring Luck (Librado Barocio…Mia Familia Racing Stable)

Sunday

Race 1: Bernalinho (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)

Race 2: Miss Lady Ann (Aggie Ordonez…Rancho San Miguel and William T. Clark)

FINISH LINES: Pike Place Dancer Stakes winner Vaping Angel is entered in the co-featured seventh race on Sunday, a first level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at one mile. Among her main challengers is maiden winner Music Festival and Alesha, who comes off a runner up finish behind stakes placed Sen Sen at this level two weeks ago…The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover has increased to $80,865 heading into Friday’s card…Leg C (the third leg) of the Stronach 5 this week goes as Race 3 on Friday at Golden Gate… Happy birthday to jockey Julien Couton and trainers Sammy Calvario and Tirso Rivera, both who celebrate their birthday’s this week.

FIRST, THIRD AND FOURTH PLACE FINISHERS IN DECEMBER’S GOLD RUSH STAKES HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE BIG PRIZE

9 of the 11 horses entered in this year’s El Camino Real Derby have raced multiple times or exclusively in the Bay Area. With that, few are scared to take on the likes of Breeders Cup in-the-money finisher McKinnon or Blackadder, from the powerhouse stable of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

The classiest of the local contingent in this Saturday’s ‘Derby is Boise, who won the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate in December. Before that effort, he came up three-quarters of a length short in the Qatar Golden Mile on Breeders Cup Friday at Del Mar. His most recent start, on January 2 in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita, was a headscratcher. The Jonathan Wong trainee never picked up his feet, racing in midfield throughout. Wong believes there was a legit excuse for the poor showing.

“He really didn’t get a hold of the turf [at Santa Anita],” said Wong. “He was spinning his wheels the whole time. It’s weird because he won on the turf first out [at Golden Gate] and ran really well at Del Mar. He’s doing really well since his last race. He went really good in his last two works.”

Jockey Evin Roman, who has worked Boise recently and will be aboard Saturday, concurred with Wong’s statement.

“I really liked the way he worked the other day,” said Roman.

In terms of tactics, Wong said that Boise has a preferable run style.

“We’ll let him place himself,” said Wong. “He’s got tactical speed. He can sit off and run on like he did in the Gold Rush or be close if the pace isn’t that fast. I don’t think the distance [a mile and an eighth] will hurt him at all.”

Two runners who failed to come home victorious in the Gold Rush will look to turn the tables on Boise. Dr Pescado won the Golden Nugget Stakes sprinting in November and returned one month later at a route of ground, completing the trifecta and finishing a length and a half behind Boise in the Gold Rush. He takes a two-month freshening and returns to the races with a pair of six furlong works on display for trainer Felix Rondan.

“Beautiful,” was how Rondan described Dr Pescado’s most recent morning drill. “He’s doing really good. He is ready.”

Rondan saddles a second entrant in Nuestro Engreido, coming out of sprint races. His pedigree, by Grade 3 route winner Cat Burgler out of a dam whose lone win was going a mile on the turf, suggests extra distance will not be an issue.

“Nuestro Engriedo will be on the lead,” said Rondan. “[Dr] Pescado will be off the pace.”

C’Mon Man, who like Boise also exits an off-the-board finish in the Eddie Logan Stakes, ran fourth in the Gold Rush, but was only a length and a half behind Boise and a nose away from finishing ahead of Dr Pescado. He posts a pair of 7-furlong stamina building drills for trainer Bill McLean and “should be fit and ready for his best” in the El Camino Real Derby.

“On the [longer] works, they don’t break off that fast. As long as they finish good the last three-eighths and gallop out good on the turn, that’s what we’re looking for,” said McLean. “Both times he worked, he finished really strong. [Exercise rider] Mario Cisneros came back to the barn [after both works] and gave me a high five.”

In the Eddie Logan, C’Mon Man was a non-factor. McLean said Juan Hernandez, who rode him that day, came back after the race with valuable feedback.

“Juan said he just hated the turf,” said McLean. “He couldn’t get a hold of it at all. He’s a nice horse and I think he’ll really like going the [mile and an eighth]. I think he’ll be laying in midpack and, like in his works, hopefully he comes home strong.”

The El Camino Real Derby is the eighth race on a 9-race program. If Triple Crown nominated, the winner will receive a free berth into the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, in Mid-May at Pimlico. Last year, El Camino Real Derby winner Rombauer took advantage of his free berth and went on to win the Preakness three months after the El Camino Real Derby triumph. The El Camino Real Derby winner also picks up 10 Kentucky Derby points.

The El Camino Real Derby (Race 8 of 9 on Saturday at 1 1/8 miles)

#1 Stormy Samurai (Jockey William Antongeorgi III…trainer Jack Steiner…morning line odds: 8-1)

#2 McKinnon (Abel Cedillo…Doug O’Neill…8-5)

#3 Unraptured (Armando Ayuso…Tim McCanna…10-1)

#4 Blackadder (Edwin Maldonado…Bob Baffert…7-2)

#5 Nuestro Engriedo (Santos Rivera…Felix Rondan…20-1)

#6 Boise (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong…9-2)

#7 Dr Pescado (Pedro Terrero…Felix Rondan…15-1)

#8 Meetmeattheclub (Silvio Amador…Dan Franko…50-1)

#9 C’Mon Man (Irving Orozco…Bill McLean…15-1)

#10 Il Bellator (Alejandro Gomez…Jose Bautista…20-1)

#11 Del Mo (Ruben Fuentes…Doug O’Neill…10-1)

UNRAPTURED “READY TO RUMBLE” AHEAD OF EL CAMINO REAL DERBY

Florida-bred Unraptured put up a pair of strong efforts in his first two lifetime starts sprinting. In career start number three, the Tim McCanna trainee got to a route of ground and showed the world he was ready to “run long” against tougher company.

Sent off as a low odds favorite against just two other rivals in a one-mile allowance race last month, Unraptured sat off the speed, blew past his company when asked to run down the lane and won geared down, winning by open lengths.

There is no doubt that Unraptured will get the acid test in Saturday’s El Camino Real Derby. McCanna believes his colt is up for the task.

“He didn’t beat a big field last time, but he did it the right way, and he had a lot more left in the tank,” said McCanna. “He’s got a very quick recovery time. After he works, by the time he gets back to the barn he’s not even blowing. After his races, he’s still got a lot of energy.”

McCanna is confident his El Camino Real Derby contender can stretch out another furlong to the mile and an eighth distance. The key, says McCanna, is having a horse that can relax and doesn’t expand a significant amount of energy early in a race.

“He’s just so ratable,” said McCanna. “He’s very push button. From what I saw in his last race, he might even be a better route horse [than a sprinter]. The ones who are rank horses aren’t the ones who get to run this far. He’s a very manageable horse on where you want to put him. Hopefully he gets a good, clean trip and can make a run at ‘em the last eighth [of a mile.]”

CEDILLO BACK AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS FOR SATURDAY’S ‘DERBY WITH MORNING LINE FAVORITE MACKINNON

Abel Cedillo hasn’t ridden at Golden Gate Fields in a few years. The last time we saw him here, he won the 2018 Winter/Spring meet leading rider title by a colossal margin. After that meeting, he relocated to Southern California and has had great success, riding for top outfits while winning a plethora of races every meet at numerous levels, from claiming affairs to Grade 1 glories.

This Saturday, Cedillo returns to his old stomping grounds to ride 8-5 morning line favorite MACKINNON in the El Camino Real Derby. He also picked up three additional mounts on the card: Kazan in Race 3, Lonely On Top in Race 4 and Amiko Chow in the ninth and final race.

MacKinnon will take some catching if he comes with his best effort. Most recently, the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah finish fourth behind next-out Grade winner Newgrange in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. Last year, MacKinnon ran third in the Grade I Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf and, before that, picked up a pair of stakes wins at Del Mar and Santa Anita on turf. Doug O’Neill conditions MacKinnon.

GGF PERSONEL GIVE THEIR PICKS TO WIN “THE BIG GAME” ON SUNDAY

The 2022 Super Bowl commences this Sunday between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. Earlier this week, we asked a slew of personnel at Golden Gate Fields who they are rooting for to win the “big game.” These are the responses we got.

• Linda Anderson (racing official): Bengals “I hate the Rams.”
• William Antongeorgi III (jockey): Rams “[Bengals quarterback] Joe Burrow baby!”
• Jose Bautista (trainer): Rams “We’re from California!”
• Matt Dinerman (track announcer): Bengals “LA is probably the better team, but I’m rooting for the underdogs.”
• Tom “Bomber” Doutrich (jockey agent): Rams “I’m picking the Rams because Dinerman is picking the Bengals.”
• Assael Espinoza (jockey): Rams “I was born in LA, so I have to root for my hometown team.”
• Steve Fisher (Horseman/Jockeys Room Attendant): Bengals “I love Joe Burrow. I’m rooting for his team.”
• Reid France (trainer): Bengals “I like Joe Burrow, and [the Bengals] have never won a championship. They haven’t been in the Super Bowl for a long, long time so I’m pulling for them.”                       
• Ruben Fuentes (jockey): Bengals “They haven’t been in the Super Bowl since 1988. Hopefully they made it this far to win it all!”
• Brett Harmon (jockey agent): Bengals “The Rams beat my 9ers and that’s the bottom line. So, I want the Bengals to win.”
• O.J Jauregui (trainer): Rams “I’m pulling for the Rams but I gotta say…I like Joe Burrow a lot.”
• Lisa Jones (racing official): Nobody “I want the Packers to win next year.”
• Erick Lopez (jockey): Bengals “They’re the underdogs! Why not?”
• Tim McCanna (trainer): Rams “My son and [Rams wide receiver] Cooper Kupp played basketball together when they were kids. He’s from Yakima, Washington, so there’s some hometown interest.”
• Bill McLean (trainer): Bengals “I’m hoping for a good, competitive game!”
• Jacqui Navarre (trainer): Bengals “Not the Rams. They play on Hollywood Park!”
• Fernando “Shoes” Navarro (jockey agent): Bengals “Two words: Joe Burrow. Plus, I don’t like the Rams.”
• Irving Orozco (jockey): Rams “They’re my team! I’m from the LA area and I’ve always been a Rams fan since they moved there.”
• Kevin Orozco (jockey): Rams “The Rams played where Hollywood Park used to be…and I was born in LA.”
• Jerry Stone (racing official/Equibase chart caller): Rams “I gotta root for the California team.”
• Jamey Thomas (trainer): Bengals “Joey Burrows and [wide receiver] Ja’Marr Chase are the real deal. I think the Bengals are peaking at the right time. The offensive coordinator knows the game plan and can make adjustments at half time. The Rams are good but I’m rooting for the Bengals.”
• Jayme Thomas (racing official): “I’m a Seahawks fan…and the Rams are in my division. So naturally, I’m rooting against them.”
• Tina Walker Bryant (racing official): I’ve got [score squares]. At the end of each quarter, if the Rams have a 4 at the end of their score (ex: 14) and the Bengals have a 0 at the end of theirs (ex: 10) then I win a prize! So, I’m rooting for the score!”
• Jonathan Wong (trainer): Bengals “The Rams knocked my 9ers out of the playoffs!”
• Blaine Wright (trainer): Rams “A while back I was in Vegas and I wagered on the Rams to win the Super Bowl this year. I got them at 6-1!”

CLAIMS REPORT

Below is a list of claims from last week:

FRIDAY

Race 3: Bourbonwithatwist (New trainer Reid France…new owner Lamonte Isom)

Race 7: Bandeena (Isidro Tamayo..Leon Scott)

Race 7: Brite Tan (Jamey Thomas..Hall, Merrill, Thomas & Thomas)

SATURDAY

Race 1: Hong Kong Cowboy (Terry Johnson…Reynaldo Gonzalez)

Race 4: Imperial Creed (Sammy Calvario…Huntertown Farm & Calvario)

Race 4: She’s a Lil Flirt (Blaine Wright…Chappell Alpine Farms LLC)

Race 5: Manaalaboutdamoney (Jack Steiner…Gary & Deborah Lusk)

Race 8: Megameister (Jose Puentes…Mendoza, Mendoza & Puentes)

Race 9: Cry Me a Runner (Manny Badilla…Debra Medlock)

SUNDAY

Race 1: Big City Bane (Gary Greiner…Desiree & Renee Greiner)

Race 5: Colormemoney (Jack Steiner…Randy Marriott & Steiner)

Race 5: Sunrise Journey (Salvador Naranjo…Silvia Soto)

Race 7: Torpedo Away (Blaine Wright…Seamist Racing, Wright Racing Stable, Becker & Becker)

FINISH LINES: Along with the El Camino Real Derby on Saturday, there are a handful of high-quality races on the card. Race 5 is a first level allowance, Race 6 is a maiden special weight and Race 7 is a second level allowance. In the seventh race, rapidly improving stakes placed gelding Tom’s Surprise takes a bump up in class and faced another stakes placed racer, Tesoro, and recent second level allowance winner Wine and Whisky in a salty field of seven…Happy birthday to trainers Jacquie Navarre and Isidro Tamayo, who celebrate their birthday’s in the next seven days….$57,763 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager for Friday…$3,637 is carried over into the Rolling Super High Five for the first race in which the wager is offered on Friday…Leg D of the Stronach 5 is Race 3 from Golden Gate on Friday...First post on Friday and Saturday is 12:45 PM while Sunday has an early first post of 11:15 AM.