MOGER JR. EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE AFTER MULTIPLE 2-YEAR-OLD WINNERS ON FRIDAY
In horse racing, a glimmer of hope for the future never ceases to exist. That statement is especially relevant in the spring and summertime, when 2-year-old “early bloomers” begin their racing careers. For horsemen, owners, breeders, jockeys and racing fans everywhere, the dream is to find the next star.
This year in Northern California, trainer Ed Moger Jr. is certainly off to a good start.
Moger Jr., who currently has sixteen 2-year-olds stabled at Golden Gate Fields, debuted a pair of 2-year-old maiden special weight winners last Friday afternoon. Love Candy, the first starter (and winner) by fledgling stallion Danzing Candy, won the third race for Moger Jr. while Irish Wahine, by versatile producer Grazen, finished first in the filly division two races later.
Love Candy, owned and bred by Stuart Tsujimoto, stalked the pace early before drawing clear late to a 2 and 3/4 length victory against seven other rivals in Race 3. The gray or roan colt was ridden by Francisco Duran and paid $15.80 to win.
“I told everyone [Love Candy] was going to be our first 2-year-old winner,” said Moger Jr. “He is very athletic and mature for his age. Real professional. He does things the right way.”
About one hour later, Moger Jr. saddled Irish Wahine and Stanford filly Lion’s Lair to a 1-2 finish in Race 5. Sent off at odds of 9-1, Irish Wahine sat off the pace before producing an eye-catching move, sweeping past stablemate Lion’s Lair late to win the contest by a length and a half. Irish Wahine returned $20.40 to win, and the Moger Jr. exacta paid $69.90 for a $1 investment.
“Both fillies were raised on my farm, and we bred both of them,” said Moger Jr. “They’re beautiful fillies. I told a few people, ‘You won’t find better looking fillies in the paddock than these two.’ I think Irish Wahine will be better going a little longer, too. She’s one I’ve always liked.”
Irish Wahine certainly possesses the pedigree to enjoy added distance. Her older half-brother, Irish Heatwave, won the 2019 Silky Sullivan Stakes racing a mile on turf.
Moger Jr., who owns the 40-acre Sunny Creek Farm with his wife Geralyn in Galt, California, always has a strong prescence in Northern California 2-year-old races. This year, Moger indicated he is sending a string of “about 20” horses, many of them 2-year-olds, to Del Mar Racetrack over the summer. Love Candy and Irish Wahine are likely to be part of that group.
“The majority of our younger horses are California-breds,” said Moger. “There are races for them at Del Mar.”
ALL AMERICAN WINNER NAVY ARMED GUARD IN GOOD SHAPE AFTER STAKES WIN
Local 6-year-old gelding Navy Armed Guard may have been the hunch play of the meet at Golden Gate Fields. Sent off as the 3-1 third choice in Monday’s $100,000 All American Stakes on Memorial Day, the son of Midshipman stalked dueling pacesetters Zestful and Anyportinastorm, took the lead turning for home, was challenged by Santa Anita stakes winner Cupid’s Claws in mid-stretch, and outfinished the aforementioned rival for a half-length victory. Frank Alvarado was in the saddle for trainer Quinn Howey.
On Wednesday morning, Howey reported that Navy Armed Guard exited the All American with a clean bill of health.
“He came out of the race really well,” said Howey. “He pulled up well, looks good. He’s happy…he was playing around on the walker [machine] the next day.”
Howey was delighted with the trip Navy Armed Guard received, racing alone in third early while watching the top two “ding-dong” on the lead.
“That was the trip we were hoping for,” said Howey. “Frank and I talked about it before the race. We both thought we’d be laying third off the two Southern California horses [Zestful and Anyportinastorm]. If they were going 48, we’d be right off of them. If they went fast, which they ended up doing, then we’d be a few lengths behind. It worked out great.”
Navy Armed Guard showed adversity down the stretch when challenged by 2020 Tokyo City Cup winner Cupid’s Claws. Cupid’s Claws, who hadn’t raced since an off-the-board finish on Breeders Cup weekend at Keeneland, had to settle for second on the afternoon.
“At the 1/8th pole, I honestly thought we were running for second,” said Howey. “But [Navy Armed Guard] had something left. He kept running.
Whenever you see a horse go a mile in 1:36 and change over the Tapeta, it’s a big effort,” noted Howey on the final race time. “[Owner] Travis Boersma was really excited and I’m really happy for him. Whenever you can buy a nice horse like this and develop him into a stakes winner, it’s pretty satisfying.”
Navy Armed Guard earned a 98 Beyer speed figure for Monday’s win. Howey is still unsure where Navy Armed Guard will start next, but hinted at a possible stakes start at Del Mar.
“There aren’t really any races at Pleasanton for him,” said Howey. “I’m hoping to have a string of 10 to 12 horses at Del Mar and he’ll probably be one of them.”
2020 Snow Chief Stakes winner Indian Peak, who ran fourth in the All American for Howey, is also possible to compete at Del Mar this summer.
“[Indian Peak] is a California-bred, and there are some good races for good purse money at Del Mar for the Cal-breds,” said Howey.
NEVER FOR MONEY TRIES STAKES COMPANY AT SANTA ANITA
4-year-old filly Never for Money makes her stakes debut for trainer Andy Mathis in the Grade 2 Monrovia at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Monrovia, a six-and-a-half-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, is led by Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run winner Venetian Harbor, Grade 3 placed Superstition and recent stakes winner Constantia.
“There are no more ‘easy’ spots for her,” said Mathis. “She’s run through her conditions.”
Never for Money is lightly raced, with just five career starts to her name. Three of her five afternoon appearances have resulted in trips to the winners circle.
“She’s been a home run,” said Mathis, who purchased Never for Money with co-owner Michael Jawl for $2,200. “When she started working, she was outworking horses that we had bought for a lot more money. Before she ran in her first race, we knew she could run. Last year, she ran third in a second level allowance race and she was a 3-year-old facing older. That’s not an easy thing to do.”
Never for Money beat a second level allowance field in her 2021 debut on May 7, defeating stakes placed Sadie Bluegrass and stakes winner Hollywood Hills. The victory, at five-furlongs on turf, marked her first start in six months.
“I thought the distance might be a little short for her, but she was working good,” said Mathis. “She’ll do what you ask her to do [in her training]. The key before the race is getting her to relax. Sometimes she gets a little excited in the paddock and in the post parade.”
Never for Money, certainly a bargain buy for Team Mathis, is 20-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Geovanni Franco for the first time.
“I’m a realist,” said Mathis. “This is a tough race with some really nice sprinters. We’re hoping to pick up pieces late.”
ROMBAUER DRAWS POST 3 IN BELMONT STAKES, GETS NEW PILOT
2021 El Camino Real Derby and Preakness winner Rombauer drew post position 3 in an eight-horse Belmont Stakes field this Saturday at Belmont Park. Rombauer, listed at 3-1 on the morning line, will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez for the first time. Flavien Prat, who rode Rombauer in the Preakness, has opted to ride Kentucky Derby third place finisher Hot Rod Charlie.
Rombauer breezed a half mile last Friday in 50.01 seconds in preparation for the 2021 Belmont. Velazquez was aboard for the workout, which can be viewed on XBTV.com.
CLAIMS REPORT
Friday
Race 1: Runnin Diva (New trainer Melanie McDonald…new owner Audrey Martel)
Race 6: My Sunshine (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)
Race 8: Diction (Mike Lenzini…John Parker)
Race 8: Tough It Out (D. Wayne Baker…Baker, Bergounous, Decamilla, Hansen, Lang & Lang)
Saturday
Race 2: Kaline (Bill McLean…McLean, Naidoo, Schmit & Smith)
Race 3: Red Bunting (Owner/Trainer Faith Taylor)
Race 6: Oiseau de Guerre (Owner/Trainer Angela Aquino)
Race 7: Made in Karoo (Jonathan Wong…KAM Racing Stables)
Race 7: Northern Gem (Librado Barocio…Mia Familia Racing Stable)
Sunday
Race 3: Extractor (Blaine Wright…Bryan Smith)
Race 3: Rally Cat (Owner/Trainer Arturo Williams)
Race 3: Sweet River Baines (Jonathan Wong…Madden Racing and MJVET Stables)
Race 6: Megameister (Ed Moger Jr…Steve Moger)
Race 9: Trouble N Paradise (Isidro Tamayo…Lurdes Ochoa and Rafael Sanchez)
Race 9: True Friend (Jamey Thomas…Troy Thomas)
Monday
Race 3: He Be Mojo Risin (Victor Trujillo….Isidro Ruvalcaba and Trujillo)
Race 3: Second Bold (Jonathan Wong…Johnny Taboada)
Race 6: Pearl Dragon (Victor Trujillo…Marron Road Ventures LLC)
FINISH LINES: The nightcap on Sunday, a maiden special weight on turf for 3-year-old fillies, was won by Miss Bella Ciao. The Neil Drysdale trained daughter of Tapit was purchased for $900,000 as a yearling in 2019 and is a half sibling to multiple Grade I placed mare Madame Stripes…$16,893 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot pool on Friday…Happy birthday to trainer Steve Miyadi, who celebrates his birthday on Tuesday…Leg D of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate Fields on Friday.