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.