EL CAMINO REAL DERBY WINNER ANOTHERTWISTAFATE TO THE SUNLAND DERBY ON MARCH 24
Trainer Blaine Wright reported earlier this week that Anothertwistafate, a 7-length winner of the 2019 El Camino Real Derby, will make his next start in the $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 24 at Sunland Park. The Sunland Derby, a mile an eighth dirt race, offers 50 Kentucky Derby points to the winner, 20 points to the second place finisher, 10 points to the third place finisher and 5 points to the fourth place finisher.
“After weighing all the options, we thought the timing of the Sunland Derby was perfect,” said Wright on Wednesday morning.
Anothertwistafate gained 10 points to the Kentucky Derby with the El Camino Real Derby victory. He also secured a free berth into the Preakness, with the El Camino Real Derby giving away the aforementioned incentive for the first time in the race’s 38-year history.
“We are on the Kentucky Derby trail now,” said Wright. “If he runs well at Sunland, we’ll proceed to the [Kentucky] Derby. If he does not make the Kentucky Derby, it will give us ample time to get him back home [to Golden Gate Fields], run him in the California Derby [on April 27 at Golden Gate], and give him that race as a prep for the Preakness.”
Anothertwistafate earned a 94 Beyer speed figure when finishing seven lengths ahead of the Bob Baffert trained Kingly and the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee More Ice in the mile and an eighth El Camino Real Derby on February 16. As of Wednesday morning, Wright reported that his star 3-year-old colt is very healthy.
“[Anothertwistafate] came out of the [El Camino Real Derby] good,” said Wright. “We weighed him the other day and he’s actually gained a few pounds. He’s eating well. He’s doing well. We’re happy.”
HIGH PRICED GOREN, SPEEDY MIKE’S TIZNOW CLASH IN FEATURE RACE ON FRIDAY
A salty group of 12 will contest the distance of six furlongs in Friday’s fifth race, a first level allowance for older male sprinters. The fifth race is also Leg D (the second to last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager on Friday afternoon.
Among the major players is Goren, a $1.1 million sale purchase by owner Larry Best, who races as OXO Equine LLC. Goren was last seen running third in an allowance race at Santa Anita and makes his Northern California debut in this spot. Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer trains and leading jockey Abel Cedillo rides for the first time.
Another sprinter figuring to get support in the wagering is Mike’s Tiznow, a front-running grey son of Slew’s Tiznow who most recently ran second to win machine Sir Vronski on January 18. Andy Mathis conditions and Ricky Gonzalez retains the mount. Other contenders in Race 5 on Friday include the John Martin trained pair of Sequentially and American Currency, and multiple allowance placed gelding Tomahawk Tuesday from the Cliff DeLima barn.
Post time for the feature event on Friday: approximately 3:00 PM PT.
Another notable race on Friday is Race 4, for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs. The morning line favorite is La Aguililla, who finished second to Grade 2 placed Tomlin in the Golden Gate Debutante last year. Other major players include allowance winner Empressive Cat, impressive maiden winner Cozze Kid and English Royality, who looks for her sixth win in a row.
9 RACES ON SATURDAY CARD INCLUDE A PAIR OF ALLOWANCE FIELDS
9 races are scheduled for the Saturday card, led by a duo of allowance races and a maiden contest.
The feature race on the card goes as Race 8, a first level allowance for older male routers, while the fifth race is a six furlong allowance sprint for 3-year-old males. The seventh race, a maiden event for 3-year-old fillies, drew a field of seven and features the debut of first time starters for top trainers Tim McCanna and Blaine Wright. Also in the race is six figure sale purchase Ballazano for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and the Angelo Tekos trainee Smiling Sunset, a well-regarded racer that is a half sibling to graded stakes performer and 891k earner Miss Sunset.
As a side note, Gulfstream Park showcases 9 stakes races on a large 14-race program this Saturday, led by the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes for 3-year-olds. Golden Gate Fields’ gates open at 10:00 AM for simulcasting, where fans can watch and wager on Gulfstream’s card as well as other major racetracks such as Aqueduct, Laurel Park and Santa Anita. First post at Golden Gate Fields is approximately 12:45 PM PT.
FINISH LINES: No change with regards to the leading jockey and trainer: Abel Cedillo has the most wins out of any jockey at the current meeting while Jonathan Wong continues to lead in the trainer standings…Trainer Steve Sherman won with Wasco and C C the Bartender on Sunday afternoon. Both Sherman trainees are chestnut colored equines that sport flashy, white blazes. The Sherman family are no strangers to flashy chestnuts; Steve’s father Art Sherman trained 2-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, another chestnut with a big, white blaze…Richiesinthehouse, a dominant synthetic sprinter under the care of trainer Larry Rivelli, runs in Race 3 on Friday. He is projected to go off at very low odds. Also entered in the race are stakes performers Camino Del Paraiso and Vronilla Parfait, allowance caliber mare Claudia Mae and Ferndale Marathon winner Engram…After a stint in Southern California, 3-year-old gelding Choo Choo is back in the Bay Area for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The Calumet Farm homebred won the California Derby in 2017 and worked five furlongs on Wednesday morning…Other new additions to the Northern California Hollendorfer string: stakes performer Grecian Fire and Sneaking Out, a 3-year-old California-bred filly who was last seen breaking her maiden at Del Mar on September 2 by over 10 lengths. Both aforementioned horses worked a half mile Wednesday morning…Golden Gate Fields is excited to have Gulfstream Park racing analyst Jason Blewitt on site for Gold Rush Weekend on April 27 and 28. Gold Rush Weekend features 8 stakes races, headlined by the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile, and a number of on-track events for patrons…Happy birthday to ex-jockey Chad Schvaneveldt, who celebrates his 55th birthday on Monday.