MARTINEZ WINS FIVE RACES ON SUNDAY
Jockey Catalino Martinez had a sensational afternoon on Sunday, picking up five wins from eight mounts on the dollar day program. After two weeks of racing at the current Winter/Spring meet, Martinez holds second place in the jockey standings with 13 wins.
The 34-year-old journeyman rider won the first four races on the program with maidens When Jesus Walked and Boyson, claiming sprinter Hopscotchy and starter allowance victor Smokin Blackjack. Martinez completed his five-bagger in Race 8 with impressive maiden special weight winner Johnny Podres, a 3-year-old California-bred trained by Steve Miyadi and owned by Nick Alexander.
“Catalino had a good day, to say the least,” said jockey agent Fordell Fierce, who represents Martinez. “He has been getting a lot of nice opportunities and taking advantage of them. He is a hard worker and a very good horseman.”
Martinez has been a mainstay in the Bay Area jockey colony since 2007. His 2019-a career best year-is certainly worth mentioning. Catalino made more money in purses last year than ever before, with $2,307,589 accumulated throughout the 365-day period. He also tied his own record for most wins recorded in one year, with 133 trips to the winners circle. In 2017, he also won 133 races.
“2019 was a terrific year,” reflected Fierce. “Hopefully 2020 is just as good, if not better. We ended the year strong, too, because Catalino won 3 of the 9 stakes races at the fall meet. That was a big help.”
WRIGHT MAPS OUT PLANS FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS ANNEAU D’OR AND AJOURNEYTOFREEDOM
Trainer Blaine Wright relayed to Horse Racing Nation Chief Editor and columnist Jonathan Litner that a duo of well-regarded 2-year-olds in his shedrow, Anneau D’Or and Ajourneytofreedom, are getting ready for races in the near future. Both colts are owned by Peter Redekop, who also campaigned last year’s El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate.
Anneau D’Or, a $480,000 sale purchase by Medaglia D’Oro, broke his maiden by open lengths at Golden Gate Fields in September. He returned in his first start against winners on racing’s biggest stage, the Breeders Cup, and finished a terrific second in the Grade 1 Juvenile. Wright and Redekop opted to run their star 2-year-old once more in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity and picked up a second place check after finishing a head behind the well-regarded Thousand Words. The Bob Baffert trained Thousand Words was sold to his current connections for $1,000,000 and has always been seen as a top prospect from Baffert’s stable.
Not surprisingly, Anneau D’Or will compete in Kentucky Derby points races in hopes of making the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. Anneau D’Or could run in the February 1, Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita or the prestigious El Camino Real Derby on February 14. The March 7 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita is also a possibility. Wright noted that the April 4 Santa Anita Derby would be a logical final prep for the Kentucky Derby.
Ajourneytofreedom, a 3-year-old half sibling to Anothertwistafate, is a son of Hard Spun that broke his maiden routing over the Golden Gate Tapeta on December 14. He was purchased by his current connections for a good chunk of change, $180,000, and will face winners for the first time in his next start. Wright indicated that he would like to run Ajourneytofreedom in a first level allowance race this month before a potential try at the El Camino Real Derby gold prize. The El Camino Real Derby not only offers the winner 10 points to the Kentucky Derby, but it also grants a free, all expenses paid berth into the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.
LIST OF CLAIMS ON THE WEEK OF JANUARY 1-5
Wednesday, January 1:
Race 1: Blushing Bay (New trainer Ari Herbertson, new owners Dorothy and Michael Fried)
Race 5: Sayin Grace (Trainer/Owner Victor Trujillo)
Friday, January 3:
Race 5: Hurley (Trainer Blaine Wright, owners Paula and Tracy Henline)
Race 8: Pivo (Trainer Duane Offield, Owner John Harris)
Saturday, January 4:
Race 1: Van Cortlandt (Trainer/Owner Victor Trujillo)
Race 5: Temple View (Trainer Jonathan Wong, Owner MJVET Stables)
Sunday, January 5:
Race 9: Don’tteasethetiger (Trainer Blaine Wright, Owner Steve Menne)
Race 9: Tivan (Trainer Pablo De Jesus, Owner Tim Bankers)
FINISH LINES: Jockey Juan Hernandez holds an 18-13 win lead in the jockey standings over Catalino Martinez. William Antongeorgi III, third in the standings, is well behind the top pair with 7 first place finishes…Jonathan Wong has the most wins out of any trainer at the current meeting with 5 victories. Quinn Howey and Bill McLean are chasing right behind with 4 wins apiece…Bear Chum, the winner of the nightcap on Sunday, possesses pedigree not often seen in the United States. The 7-year-old bay gelding is by top Australian sire I Am Invincible and out of a Flying Spur mare. Fun fact: I Am Invincible is the sire of Australian supermare Winx‘s first baby…Bred in Australia, Bear Chum began his career at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong and moved to the United States in early 2018. …Multiple Golden Gate allowance winner Oiseau De Guerre competes in Friday’s sixth race at Santa Anita: a second level allowance race for sprinters dashing five and a half furlongs on the turf. Joel Rosario picks up the mount for trainer Michael McCarthy…At Turf Paradise in Arizona, Grade 3 Berkley Handicap runner up Ohio races for McCarthy in the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile on grass. Jose Valdivia Jr. rides…Frank Lucarelli campaigns a stakes contender on Saturday at Turf Paradise in Golden Gate allowance winner Killarney Lass. She makes her 4-year-old debut in the Glendale Handicap…2018 Camilla Urso Stakes winner Mother of Dragons is nominated to the $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday. Conditioned by Andreas Psarras, the daughter of First Dude has not raced since May of 2018 but has reportedly been working well for her return to the races…Race 3 on Friday at Golden Gate Fields will be run as Leg D of the Stronach Five wager. Once again, the Stronach 5 pool is guaranteed at $100,000.