STALKING SHADOW, KEEPER OFTHE STARS EXIT GOLD RUSH WEEKEND EFFORTS IN GOOD SHAPE
California Derby winner Stalking Shadow and San Francisco Mile runner-up finisher Keeper Ofthe Stars both exited their respective Gold Rush Weekend stakes races in good order, per trainer Jonathan Wong, and will target additional stakes in the coming months.
Stalking Shadow, who sat off a fast pace before running down stablemate Jimmy Irish in the California Derby, is a son of Minister’s Wild Cat owned and bred by Tom and Debi Stull of Tommy Town Thoroughbreds. The California-bred has now won 4 of 5 races this year, with 2021 earnings of $122,400.
“He knows the difference between race day and when it’s just time to breeze in the morning,” said Wong. “He’s never been a good work horse, but he is fit and happy right now. We just try to keep him that way. He’s gotten better and better.”
The May 23 Alcatraz Stakes, for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf, is a likely next spot for Stalking Shadow.
Jimmy Irish, who completed the Wong exacta in the California Derby, was healthy on Wednesday morning but will soon transfer barns.
“The owner called me last night and said [Jimmy Irish] is heading down south to Doug O’Neill’s barn,” said Wong. “He ran an impressive race [in the California Derby]. I wasn’t surprised he ran as well as he did because we had high hopes for him.”
2020 Grade I Gamely winner Keeper Ofthe Stars faced males in the marquee race on Saturday, the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at eight furlongs on turf, and ran a bang-up second, finishing a head behind race-winner Whisper Not. She earned a 94 Beyer speed figure for her effort.
“Keeper Ofthe Stars ran great,” said Wong. “We’re really proud of her. She was pretty tired after the race. She ran hard. She’s doing well, though.”
Wong noted that Keeper Ofthe Stars is possible to defend her title in the Gamely next month, May 31, at Santa Anita.
I’M SO ANNA FINDS HER BEST STRIDE IN CAMPANILE
I’m So Anna defeated eight other rivals in the co-feature on Gold Rush Weekend Sunday, the $75,000 Campanile Stakes for California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies at one mile. The race was originally scheduled for turf but was moved to the Tapeta after mid-morning rain hit the Bay Area.
Trained by Steve Sherman, I’m So Anna went to the lead, set solid fractional times and powered home to a convincing two and a half-length score. Kyle Frey was aboard for owner/breeder KMN Racing LLC.
“I was a little nervous when I saw the fractions,” said Sherman. “They were going quickly. I think the rain earlier in the day tightened up the track a little bit and that helped. As soon as she kicked clear [in midstretch] and nobody was really moving to her that quickly, I felt we had it.”
I’m So Anna, who won the Pike Place Dancer Stakes on turf as a 2-year-old, now sports a 3-2-2 record from 10 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $174,240. She has won both sprinting and routing.
“What’s important for [I’m So Anna] is how the race shapes out,” said Sherman. “That’s the key. She can sprint or route. She’s a filly that has natural speed. She isn’t as comfortable when she is behind horses or getting kickback. The key is…she likes to be in the clear, and when she’s in the clear she runs nice and relaxed.
She’s a racehorse,” continued Sherman. “When she won [the Pike Place Dancer], there were multiple horses running at her and she never quit. When she’s comfortable running out there, she shows a lot of heart. She tries.”
I’m So Anna may race next in the $150,000 Melair Stakes for California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies on June 19 at Santa Anita. The Melair is run at a mile and a sixteenth on dirt. The 7-furlong, $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes on July 23 at Del Mar is a summertime target. The Fleet Treat is also a California-bred stake.
FREY AND ROMAN WIN THREE STAKES APIECE; CONTINUE TO BATTLE FOR TOP SPOT IN JOCKEY STANDINGS
Local jockeys Kyle Frey and Evin Roman each won three stakes races on Gold Rush Weekend, cultivating fine afternoons for both riders who lead in the way in the jockey standings at Golden Gate. Heading into Thursday’s card, Frey holds a 74-73-win lead over Roman in the standings. Irving Orozco sits in third place with 45 wins.
Frey won the first stake of the weekend with Altea in the $75,000 Golden Poppy for female turf routers. Four races later, Frey picked up another victory, this time in the $75,000 California Oaks with 3-year-old filly Pizazz. His final stakes victory of the weekend came in Sunday’s $75,000 Campanile Stakes with California-bred I’m So Anna.
“It was an honor to win three stakes [last weekend],” said Frey. “I’m very grateful to the trainers and owners for the opportunity.”
“It was a terrific weekend for us,” emphasized Frey’s agent, Fernando “Shoes” Navarro. “It takes a team effort, and we really appreciate the support of everyone who gave us an opportunity. Kyle rode his [tail] off.”
Roman, who won four races on Saturday and two more on Sunday, rode both Peter Miller stakes runners to victory: Lost in the Fog winner Anyportinastorm and Silky Sullivan first place finisher None Above the Law. Roman was also aboard Stalking Shadow in the $100,000 California Derby.
“I am super happy with last week, especially since we won three stakes races,” said Roman. “I feel grateful for the opportunity that the owners and trainers gave me to ride their horses. Thanks to them, and for the hard work that is done to prepare the horses every morning. We will continue working hard to earn the trust and support of the trainers and horse owners because without them, this success would not be possible.”
For Roman’s extraordinary weekend, he was named North America’s Jockey of the Week for April 19-April 25. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockey’s Guild. Frey was also a finalist for the award this past week.
Said Leo Rodriguez, Roman’s agent: “We’re having a great meet. Thanks goes to everyone who has given us an opportunity to ride some amazing horses. Evin’s a really smart rider. He has patience and makes good decisions.”
CLAIMS REPORT
Below are a list of claims for last week:
Friday
Race 1: Hydrogen (New trainer O.J Jauregui…new owner(s) Charles Gerson and Angel Valadez)
Race 8: Nolongerahobby (Reed Saldana…Johnny Taboada)
Saturday
Race 3: Music Babe (Reid France…Hat Trick Racing)
Sunday
Race 1: Macedonian Ruler (Jonathan Wong…MJVET Stables)
Race 2: Flashy Pass (Angela Aquino…Ashley Garcia)
Race 2: Raelee (Jeff Metz…Saratoga West)
Race 8: Admirably (Lorenzo Ruiz,..Belico Racing LLC)
Race 8: Clem Labine (Isidro Tamayo…John Tipton)
Race 8: Square Deal (Victor Trujillo…Kenneth Seastrom and Victor Trujillo)
FINISH LINES: With a victory by Whisper Not in the San Francisco Mile, trainer Richard Baltas picked up his second consecutive win in the race. Last year, Baltas won with Neptune’s Storm…2020 Snow Chief Stakes winner Indian Peak is back in winning form. The son of Comic Strip won a second level allowance race for trainer Quinn Howey last Sunday, earning an 88 Beyer speed figure for the victory…Another stake winner, Ima Happy Cat, snapped a losing streak with a gate to wire score in Race 6 last Friday…Anyportinastorm successfully defended his title in the Lost in the Fog Stakes last Saturday, defeating seven others in a snappy 1:09.62 for three-quarters of a mile. He received a 98 Beyer. The son of City Zip won the 2019 Lost in the Fog Stakes while stabled in Northern California. Peter Miller, who trains Anyportinastorm, also won the Silky Sullivan Stakes on Sunday with None Above the Law…Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella won the California Oaks trophy with 3-year-old filly Pizzazz while another Southern California trainer, Leonard Powell, sent North the biggest surprise of the weekend in Gypsy Spirit. Gypsy Spirit won the Camilla Urso Stakes for filly and mare turf sprinters and paid $62.80 for a $2 win investment…Rounding out the stakes recap, French-bred Altea beat Grade I winner and heavy favorite Red Lark in the Golden Poppy for filly and mare turf routers. Altea is trained by Michael McCarthy…$8,114 is carried over into the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager heading into Thursday’s program…Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday…Happy birthday to trainer Dan Markle, who celebrates his birthday on Friday.