MULTIPLE STAKES WINNER PAPA’S GOLDEN BOY TRIES TAPETA IN OAKLAND
2021 Emerald Downs Horse of the Year Papa’s Golden Boy makes his Northern California stakes debut on Saturday in the 6-furlong, $50,000 Oakland Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward. Papa’s Golden Boy, owned by Gary and Deborah Lusk, is a son of top Pacific Northwest stallion Harbor the Gold and has been working regularly over the Golden Gate Tapeta since shipping south after the Emerald Downs racing season.
Trained in Washington by Vince Gibson, Papa’s Golden Boy won two major sprint stakes over the summer at Emerald: the Budweiser and Governor’s Stakes. In both races, he earned the two highest Beyer speed figures of his career (88, 87) and was geared down in the concluding stages.
Now in the barn of Jack Steiner, Papa’s Golden Boy wheels back in just 13 days after a fourth-place finish against stakes caliber turf sprinters at Del Mar on November 7.
“We were trying to get him in races here and down south in October, but the races weren’t filling,” said Steiner. “We were training, training, training, and he was ready. Once the [November 7] race went down south, we sent him there to get a race into him before this one. He sort of got pinballed at the start and it was going to be tough for him to win the race after that, but we got a run into him and he’s ready for this stake coming up on Saturday.”
Although Papa’s Golden Boy has never run in a race on Tapeta, Steiner is confident he will handle the synthetic just fine.
“His works [over the Tapeta] have been great,” said Steiner. “His last work, he worked 47 flat and did it easy. It didn’t look like he was going that fast. He’s a horse that wants to be on the pace-he’s got a lot of speed-so he’s going to be up there.”
The top local contender entered in the Oakland is In Our A, who just three weeks ago lost by the narrowest of margins to multiple stakes winner Top Harbor in the $75,000 El Dorado Shooter Stakes. Trained by Ellen Jackson, In Our A has never finished worse than second in 10 lifetime starts.
Two Southern California invaders add intrigue to the race. Ultimate Bango ran third in last year’s El Dorado Shooter Stakes after suffering traffic trouble in midstretch. He looks to redeem himself in this year’s edition for trainer Mark Glatt. Most recently, Ultimate Bango finished third off a 10-month layoff to the Andy Mathis trained stakes winner Mike’s Tiznow in a turf sprint at Del Mar. Hall of Famer Richard Mandella sends out Border Town, who cuts back from a route to a sprint. From the beginning of his career with East Coast based Chad Brown to present day with Mandella, Border Town has never tried sprinting before. Earlier in the year, Border Town finished 2 and ¼ lengths behind Whisper Not in the San Francisco Mile, and lost by 2 lengths in the Wickerr Stakes to 2020 San Francisco Mile winner Neptune’s Storm over the summer at Del Mar. Like Papa’s Golden Boy, Border Town makes his synthetic track debut.
First level allowance winners I’mgonnabesomebody, Italiano and Rager complete the field. The 2021 Oakland goes as Race 7 on a 9-race card at Golden Gate, with post time for the race set at 3:45 PM PT.
Race 7: The $50,000 Oakland Stakes (for 3-year-olds and upward at 6 furlongs on Tapeta)
#1 In Our A (Jockey Pedro Terrero…trainer Ellen Jackson…morning line odds 2-1)
#2 Rager (Frank Alvarado…Tim McCanna…10-1)
#3 Italiano (Ruben Fuentes…Victor Trujillo…12-1)
#4 Ultimate Bango (William Antongeorgi III…Mark Glatt…3-1)
#5 Papa’s Golden Boy (Armando Ayuso…Jack Steiner…9-2)
#6 Border Town (Evin Roman…Richard Mandella…7-2)
#7 I’mgonnabesomebody (Irving Orozco…Bill McLean…15-1)
JOCKEY ADRIAN MARTINEZ SECURES FIRST CAREER WIN
Apprentice Adrian Martinez chalked up his first career win as a jockey with 46-1 upsetter Shanghai Mist in the second race last Friday at Golden Gate. Shanghai Mist, conditioned by Faith Taylor, was sent to the lead by Martinez in the one mile Tapeta route race and set moderate fractions of 23.63, 48.23 and 1:13.73 before outfinishing 7-5 favorite Quick Time for the victory.
After the winner’s circle photo, Martinez was greeted at the jockey’s room with a not-so-subtle surprise. The local riding colony poured buckets of water and sprayed shaving cream on Martinez-a regular tradition passed down from generation to generation after a jockey wins their very first race. Following the commemoration, smiles and congratulations were exchanged from fellow riders, jockey valets and racing officials.
“I was really happy,” said Martinez on his first win and the post-race celebration. “It was a great feeling.”
Martinez is no stranger to the racetrack. Prior to being a jockey, the 31-year-old native of Michoacán, Mexico galloped and worked horses for eight years for trainer Jeff Bonde. Martinez also comes from a racing family. His brother, Luis Martinez, rode in the Northern California racing circuit from 2005 to 2011. Another brother, Alex, gallops for O.J Jauregui, and a third brother, Hugo, is a groom for trainer Bill McLean.
Although a gallop boy throughout his 20’s, Martinez always knew that race riding was what he wanted to do.
“I’ve always wanted to be a jockey,” said Martinez. “I watched my brother ride races, but I watch everybody and try to learn all the time.”
Martinez is represented by agent John Buc, who says his fledgling apprentice continues to improve with race riding experience and an increase in opportunities from a growing list of trainers.
“His work ethic is off the charts,” said Buc. “He goes home, has dinner and goes to bed. He’s very mature. Every morning he gets to work on time. He communicates well and everything you ask him to do, he does it.”
Martinez has finished in-the-money with 50% of his 16 mounts so far, an above-average statistic. In many of these races, horses have outrun their odds.
“From all of the trainers I’ve talked to, he has a very good clock,” said Buc. “He knows how fast he’s going. He’s a very good gate rider-they all break well. He’s been around a while. He’s a good horseman and he’s only getting better.”
MISS LADY ANN “ON THE UP AND UP” FOR WRIGHT
5-year-old mare Miss Lady Ann looks to extend a win streak to five consecutive victories in the feature race on Friday at Golden Gate, a second-level allowance for filly and mare sprinters. Miss Lady Ann drew post position 2 in the feature, which goes as Race 7 on a 9-race program.
After 12 consecutive losses against tougher company in Southern California, Miss Lady Ann made her first start in Northern California for trainer Doug O’Neill in July. That day, she ran an uninspiring fifth against $12,500 claimers.
After the aforesaid poor effort, O’Neill opted to drop her another level, in for a $6,250 tag. She went to the lead and won the race by over 4 lengths, clearly best of the rest. The win seemingly gave Miss Lady Ann confidence, and since then she has won three additional races, continuously climbing the class ladder with start.
After a gate-to-wire win for $12,500 in August, trainer Blaine Wright tabbed Miss Lady Ann as a potential claim candidate. In her next start, the daughter of Munnings won for a $20,000 condition, and Wright and co-owners Davis Racing LLC and Joe Russell claimed her out of the race.
“She fit what we were looking for,” said Wright. “She had been running in Southern California against some good horses and she still had [race] conditions we could take advantage of.”
In her first start off the claim for Wright, Miss Lady Ann ran in a first-level allowance race on October 19 at Fresno. That day, she stalked the pace early before inheriting the lead into the far turn. She drew off from her competition down the stretch and won the race by four lengths, defeated Del Mar allowance winner Seven Sisters in the process.
This Saturday, Miss Lady Ann takes another class hike when she faces second level allowance foes. She will be ridden by Evin Roman, who has been aboard for three of her last four wins.
“We’ve been in the barn for a month and she’s ready to run,” said Wright. “She is running out of her conditions, but Quentin Miller’s mare [Tip Top Gal] ran out of her conditions at this level last time and she won.”
Wright was encouraged to see Miss Lady Ann stalk the pace in her last start. In her three previous Northern California wins, she went to the lead. This will only help her chances of working out a good trip against salty company.
“Evin [Roman] said she relaxed really well,” said Wright of her last start. “We draw towards the inside this time, but it looks like the rail [runner] has speed.
She’s on the up and up,” continued Wright. “I think getting up to Golden Gate helped because she got a chance to face some easier horses here, but she also seems to have a lot of confidence right now. She’s doing well and we’re looking forward to running her.”
Race 7: Second-level allowance (for fillies and mares at six furlongs on Tapeta)
#1 Tip Top Gal (Jockey Frank Alvarado…Trainer Quentin B. Miller…Morning Line Odds 2-1)
#2 Miss Lady Ann (Evin Roman…Blaine Wright…5-1)
#3 Wheal Grace (William Antongeorgi…Jose Bautista…9-5)
#4 Princess Vivian (Catalino Martinez…Sergio Ledezma…7-2)
#5 Midnight Flower (Alejandro Gomez…Andy Mathis…12-1)
#6 Babe Didrikson (Ruben Fuentes…Jose Bautista…8-1)
SUNDAY FEATURE ATTRACTS FULL FIELD, A PLETHORA OF HANDICAPPING ANGLES
Sunday’s signature eighth race of the day, a first level allowance at five furlongs on turf, overfilled with 12 entries. 10 fillies and mares comprise the main body of the field, with 2 others on the outside looking in on the also-eligible list. On paper, it’s a wide-open race.
We start with the rail runner Rebalation, out of the white-hot broodmare and multiple stakes winner Reba Is Tops. Rebalation was last seen winning an allowance race on Halloween, defeating the runner up finisher by over 2 lengths. Being a California-bred, she is eligible to win at this first-level allowance condition once more. The only time she has ever sprinting five furlongs on the lawn, she needed every inch of ground to defeat Allie’s Pal, a recent starter allowance winner who is also entered in this race. Rebalation sits off the pace and produces a flying finish; expect her to do her best work late.
Two recent maiden victors face proven winners for the first time The always well-regarded Crystal Proof broke her maiden for fun against California-bred maiden special weight foes on October 23 for trainer Cliff DeLima and looks to continue an improving pattern. Back On the Street, a Kentucky-bred by Malibu Moon out of multiple Grade 2 winner Doinghardtimeagain, defeated open company on September 17 and freshens up two months for leading Golden Gate trainer Jonathan Wong.
Queen Molotov is an interesting item from the Jamey Thomas barn. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Mizzen Mast, Queen Molotov was highly thought of before her career debut on February 27 and did not disappoint. Off at odds of 3-5, Queen Molotov went to the lead and never looked back, winning the contest by a half-dozen lengths. After a 9-month vacation, Queen Molotov returns to the races with a flashy morning work tab. Also running in this race off a layoff is Canam Gal, who won her first two career starts before running poorly against allowance company in her third lifetime race. She makes her first start since May for trainer Bill McLean.
Miss Megan can be inconsistent at times, but she’ll be a major player if she shows up with her “A game.” She makes her second start off a layoff for trainer Andy Mathis and is expected to be part of the pace. Both career wins have come sprinting against state-bred company.
Chieftain’s Lady was a dominant winner two starts ago against a salty group of claimers, but most recently ran fourth behind Rebalation after a wide journey. Zakkiyyah broke her maiden sprinting on the turf three starts ago and ran off the board in her next two starts routing. She should enjoy getting back to one turn. Carolina Mia hit the board in two races at this condition in September but threw in a clunker in her most recent afternoon appearance, finishing five lengths behind Rebalation on October 31. She makes her turf debut in this race.
Two fillies on the also eligible list will need scratches by 10:00 AM Sunday morning to draw into the race. 3-year-old filly #11 Squared Shady, who completed the trifecta in the Campanile Stakes on Gold Rush Weekend, ships north for Southern California for trainer Jeff Bonde. #12 Vegan would be making her first start for Andy Mathis in this race after a half-length loss against claimers at Santa Anita while under the care of Mark Glatt.
Post time for the eighth race on Sunday is approximately 4:15 PM PT.
Race 8: First-level allowance (for fillies and mares 3-years-old & up at 5 furlongs on turf)
#1 Rebalation (Jockey Frank Alvarado…Trainer Tim McCanna)
#2 Canam Gal (Adrian Martinez…Bill McLean)
#3 Miss Megan (Ruben Fuentes…Andy Mathis)
#4 Chieftain’s Lady (Catalino Martinez…Eddie Rich)
#5 Crystal Proof (Francisco Monroy…Cliff DeLima)
#6 Zakkiyyah (Evin Roman…Bill Delia)
#7 Back On the Street (Armando Ayuso…Jonathan Wong)
#8 Queen Molotov (Irving Orozco…Jamey Thomas)
#9 Allie’s Pal (William Antongeorgi III…Jonathan Wong)
#10 Carolina Mia (Pedro Terrero…Felix Rondan)
Also Eligibles:
#11 Squared Shady (Evin Roman…Jeff Bonde)
#12 Vegan (Ruben Fuentes…Andy Mathis)
BERKELEYSIDE ARTICLE HIGLIGHTS “COMEBACK KID” PEDRO TERRERO
“Pedro Terrero’s miraculous recovery has taken more than two years, but he’s back riding horses in Albany-only now at the front of the pick.”
On Sunday, Golden Gate trainer and freelance writer Aggie Ordonez highlighted the amazing comeback story of jockey Pedro Terrero, who has the most wins out of any rider at the current Fall Meet with 16 trips to the winner’s circle.
To read the full article, click on this link: https://www.berkeleyside.org/2021/11/14/pedro-terrero-jockey-golden-gate-fields-albany-berkeley-california
CLAIMS REPORT
Below is a list of claims from last week.
FRIDAY
Race 1: Red Hot Cat (New trainer Tirso Rivera…New owner Manuela Franco Sosa)
Race 5: Imperial Creed (Isidro Tamayo…Raymond Brogliatti, Michael Fried and Isidro Tamayo)
Race 8: Bourbonwithatwist (Tim Bellasis…Cassandra Tschanz and Tim Bellasis)
Race 8: Minsky (Jamey Thomas…Kevin Melder and Jamey Thomas)
SATURDAY
Race 5: Absolute Scenes (Isidro Tamayo…Leon Scott)
Race 8: Sojourner Truth (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)
SUNDAY
Race 1: Wind in His Sail (Owner/Trainer Dan Franko)
Race 5: Megameister (Pablo De Jesus…Cindy Winschell)
Race 5: Storming Warrior (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)
FINISH LINES: Happy birthday to Golden Gate Fields General Manager and Vice President David Duggan, who celebrated his birthday yesterday…4-year-old filly Dynasty of Her Own is a perfect 8 for 8 on the main-track Tapeta at Golden Gate. In this Saturday’s fourth race, she is the headliner in an allowance field that includes multiple Emerald Downs stakes winner and Washington-state champion Daffodil Sweet…Trainer Reid France picked up his 100th career win with Lagatha in Race 7 last Sunday. Coincidentally, winning jockey Irving Orozco won his 100th race of the year with the gate-to-wire victory…Golden Gateallowance winner Tesoro will tackle stakes company on Tuesday, November 23 at Zia Park in New Mexico. He runs in Race 8, the $250,000 Zia Park Derby for 3-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth. Regular rider Francisco Monroy is named to ride once again for trainer O.J. Jauregui…2020 El Camino Real Derby winner Azul Coast runs in the feature race at Del Mar on Saturday, the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes at 9 furlongs…On Friday at Del Mar, trainer Jamey Thomas saddles GGF shipper Lila At the Beach in the featured seventh race, a California-bred allowance. Abel Cedillo picks up the mount…The Tim McCanna trained Unraptured worked a half mile in 49.80 seconds last Sunday morning, his first recorded workout since an eye-catching maiden win on October 29…Race 2 on Friday has a Super High Five carryover of $5,345. Race 2 is also Leg D of the Stronach 5 wager…The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover is up to $19,443 heading into Friday’s race card.