WRIGHT MULLS OPTIONS FOR ANOTHERTWISTAFATE
Trainer Blaine Wright observed his Golden Gate string of horses Wednesday morning, but with plenty on his mind. He currently has three horses in Kentucky, including 3-year-old star Anothertwistafate, and a large barn of horses at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington, a track which is set to kick off their racing season on Saturday.
Wright comes off a busy week. The aforementioned Anothertwistafate ran in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland and, although earning 8 additional Kentucky Derby points, still sits 23rd on the leaderboard. Anothertwistafate stalked the pace early, encountered traffic when boxed in on the rail at the far turn, but eventually found a clear path to race down the stretch. The son of Scat Daddy had to settle for second, though, finishing almost two lengths behind the Brad Cox trained Ownedale.
“[Anothertwistafate] came out of the race good,” said Wright. “He tried hard. He always gives it his all. I just wish he got a little bit of a better trip.”
Anothertwistafate is set to van to Churchill Downs soon and will train up to his next start in Kentucky. His next race, however, is yet to be determined.
“If there are three defections, then we make it into the Kentucky Derby,” said Wright. “We earned a free berth into the Preakness with the El Camino Real Derby win, though, so we definitely have our eyes on that race.”
So what happens if three horses are taken out of consideration for the Kentucky Derby, whether it be due to illness, an injury or any other unforeseen circumstance?
“We’ll see how [Anothertwistafate] is doing and go from there,” answered Wright. “The horse needs to take you to the race. If he is to run in any big race like the Kentucky Derby or even the Preakness, we need to make sure that he is ready to run his A+ race.”
FINISH LINES: Eight stakes races will be part of next week’s inaugural Gold Rush Weekend. Many locals are prepping their horses, along with a number of out-of-town-shippers…Jerry Hollendorfer is scheduled to send out stakes winners Choo Choo and Grecian Fire in the Grade 3 $250,000 San Francisco Mile on Gold Rush Weekend. The ‘Mile is the headliner of the weekend…Among horses Hollendorfer nominated for Gold Rush Weekend include Grade 3 winner Danuska’s My Girl to the Golden Poppy and El Camino Real Derby third place finisher More Ice to the California Derby…According to multiple sources, Grade I winner Bowie’s Hero and Grade 2 winner River Boyne are scheduled to race in the San Francisco Mile. Both colts are trained down South, the former conditioned by Phil D’Amato and the latter under the care of Jeff Mullins…Leading trainer Jonathan Wong plans to run stakes winner Gabo’s Macondo and stakes placed Mithqaal in the San Francisco Mile. He also has I Love Romance for the Camilla Urso Stakes, The Creep for the California Derby and Our Silver Oak for the Silky Sullivan Stakes…Bill Delia indicated that El Camino Real Derby fourth place finisher Angelo’s Pride is likely for the California Derby…Trainer Blaine Wright has the Camilla Urso Stakes tabbed next for seven time stakes winner Alliford Bay…Impressive maiden winner Queen Helene is possible for the Campanile Stakes, according to trainer Jamey Thomas…Trainer Andy Mathis nominated Royal Descendant to the Camilla Urso Stakes and Early’s Kid to the Campanile Stakes. Both horses are listed as “possible”…Frank Lucarelli relayed that stakes winner Whatwasithinking is possible for the Lost in the Fog Stakes for sprinters…Grade 1 placed Ollie’s Candy is possible for the Golden Poppy Stakes, as is the Leonard Powell is likely to run recent Golden Gate allowance winner trained Melissa Jane, who recently won an allowance race at Golden Gate… Gulfstream Park analyst Jason Blewitt and XBTV’s Millie Ball and Jeff Siegel will be on site next weekend covering all Gold Rush Weekend races via the Golden Gate fields simulcast feed. There will also be a pre-race seminar in the paddock pub on Saturday and Sunday, beginning an hour before the first race…Good luck to jockeys Franklin Ceballos, Heribert “Eddie” Martinez and Kevin Orozco. All three journeymen riders shipped their tacks to Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington for the summer and have mounts on the Saturday Opening Day card…The Golden Pick Six Jackpot pool carryover has climbed to $265,121 heading into Friday’s card. The first leg of the wager is Race 3 on Friday and Race 5 on Saturday…Happy birthday to jockey agent Fernando “Shoes” Navarro, who celebrates his birthday over the weekend.