Albany, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2016) — Fast and Foxy, with jockey Catalino Martinez aboard, spent no time waiting for the group as she took off in the stretch to win by 4 ½ lengths. Trained by Holly Evans, Fast and Foxy, is the winner of the inaugural $75,000 Bear Fan stakes race named by Racing Secretary, Patrick Mackey. The race was for California bred or California sired fillies and mares three years old and upward. The race leader took the victory in a wire to wire performance in 1:09.48 proving herself much the best. Favorites, Desert Steel and Toomuchisnotenough, never offered closing responses and placed 3rd and 4th respectively. Light One circled five wide to the stretch, but still managed to get the nod over Desert Steel to place 2nd. Fast and Foxy paid $14.60 for today’s effort.
Catalino Martinez hadn’t ridden the horse before, but had ridden against the horse and knew its style. “I saw the two and the five horse had a lot of speed so Holly told me send it and if they go with you it is nothing to worry about. And when they took back I saw I was in the lead and it was perfect. Then at the 3/16 pole I knew I still had a lot of horse and they would have to run to beat me. I was loaded and she was still wide open even at the end,” said Martinez.
This is Holly Evans’ second stakes race victory; she picked up her first in Santa Rosa with Sing and Tell. “She likes this track and it has been hard to hold her on the ground. I knew she was going to have speed today,” said Evans. Fast and Foxy had traveled down to Santa Anita, but didn’t do well and returned to Golden Gate Fields to rest. “She needed a vacation, she’d been running a long time. She just needs a jockey who will leave her alone and let her run.”
Next week, December 8-11, will be closing weekend of the Fall Meet. The weekend will be highlighted by the $50,000 Miss America on Saturday and a Mandatory Payout on Sunday. The pick six pool is currently at $47,000. Dollar Day is every Sunday at Golden Gate Fields with $1Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, and $1Program. Golden Gate Fields will be running until December 11th. The First Post time Thursday – Sunday is at 12:45 PM.