GGF Recap- $1.45Mil Purchase Mantaray Island Goes Gate-to-Wire in Maiden Score- 2/17/2019

The fans came out to Golden Gate Fields on a beautiful Dollar Day Sunday in the Bay Area. Attendance was over 3400 and total handle reached the 3 million dollar mark (both according to equibase charts). It was a fun card with a lot of competitive races.

In race 6, the 1.45 million dollar purchase Mantaray Island got the job done. He went to the lead from post position 5 and never looked back– he turned them all back in the stretch to win by 3 lengths. The opening 1/4 and 1/2 went in 22.04 and 45.69. He stopped the clock in 1:04.14 for 5 1/2 furlongs. It took the Doug O’Neill trainee 3 starts to get his diploma. Mantaray Island is by Bernardini and out of a Horse Chestnut mare. He is a half to GSW Ocho Ocho Ocho, and his 3rd Dam is Personal Ensign. He has the pedigree to go along with his natural speed, and it will be interesting to see if he can build off this performance.

The 2nd race was a 1 1/16m Maiden Special Weight for Fillies and Mares 4yos and up. 7th time’s the charm for Arch Anthem, as she broke her maiden for trainer Richard Mandella. She had a big class edge on this field, as all her prior starts came in Southern California. Today she stalked the pace on the inside patiently under leading jockey Abel Cedillo, and then kicked on nicely in stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Ronsky’s Hope lit up the tote board in Race 8 by paying $45.40 to win. Trainer Daniel Franko added the blinkers today and it put this son of Vronsky much closer to the pace. He pressed the lead under jockey Wesley Henry and pulled ahead in the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The 6 furlongs were covered in 1:12.01.

In the nightcap, we saw an impressive 50k Starter Allowance win by Angels N Devildogs. She was sent hard early, and was put on an uncontested lead by jockey William Antongeorgi. She looked loaded the whole way, and totally ran them off their feet– she won by a dominant 4 lengths. John Martin trains this 4yo Midshipman filly, and she has now earned her 3rd win from 8 starts. She ran the 5 1/2 furlong race in a 1:04.12

Jockeys: Abel Cedillo extended his lead in the standings after a strong 3-win day. Catalino Martinez continues to ride well after winning 2 races on the card.

1. Cedillo *52* 2. Hernandez *40* 3. Martinez *28*

Trainer: All 9 races on the program were won by different trainers. Jonathan Wong added another to extend his lead in the trainer standings.

1. Wong *38* 2. Wright *14* 3. Hollendorfer *13*

There will be a special 9-race holiday card tomorrow for President’s Day. First post starts at 12:45pm.

Race 1:

1. She’s a Spy J:Amador T:Lenzini $6.00 $3.40 $2.40
2. Mixed Media J:Couton T:Cone $4.20 $2.60
3. Merittris J:Henry T:Gonzalez  $2.60

Race 2:

1. Arch Anthem J:Cedillo T:Mandella $5.00 $3.20 $2.80
2. On Raglan Road J:Amador T:Tamayo $7.60 $5.40
3. Irish Swing J:Monroy T:Lucarelli  $4.60

Race 3:

1. Phantomista J:Herrera T:Howey $6.20 $2.80 $2.10
2. Propeppy J:Amador T:Kenney $2.40 $2.10
3. Cattering J:Antongeorgi T:Jauregui  $2.60

Race 4:

1. Capall J:Cedillo T:Miyadi $3.80 $2.40 $2.10
2. Concensus J:Hernandez T:Wright $3.40 $2.60
3. Pampers n’ Boots J:Antongeorgi III T:Martin  $2.60

Race 5:

1. Bold Roman J:Martinez T:Bautista $7.60 $3.60 $2.20
2. Dixie Pulpit J:Hernandez T:Morey $4.00 $2.60
3. Runformefreddielee J:Antongeorgi III T:Delia  $2.10

Race 6:

1. Mantaray Island J:Cedillo T:O’Neill $11.80 $8.40 $5.00
2. Sought Bai J:Amador T:Valenzuela $32.60 $10.60
3. Sir Eddie J:Gonzalez T:Blacker  $2.80

Race 7:

1. Knust J:Martinez T:Wong $5.20 $3.00 $2.60
2. Drinkin and Dialin J:Monroy T:Sherman $3.20 $3.00
3. Rush J:Hernandez T:Josephson  $4.00

Race 8:

1. Ronsky’s Hope J:Henry T:Franko $45.40 $15.40 $10.40
2. Nizamdcarchy J:Duran T:Rivera $3.40 $2.80
3. Crazy Dane J:Monroy T:Winick  $4.00

Race 9:

1. Angels N Devildogs J:Antongeorgi III T:Martin $8.60 $4.60 $3.40
2. Quick Song J:Monroy T:Winick $9.80 $5.20
3. Streetlightromance J:Couton T:Psarras  $4.00