With a purse increase, and a stakes packed weekend, Golden Gate Fields has attracted a strong field for the 2019 San Francisco Mile. 10 horses were entered for Saturday’s 250k G3 race.
I am not going to give selections, but I will give you guys some insight into each runner in the field. Also, I attached a replay for all 10 horses. Hopefully it will help you with your handicapping. Enjoy!
#1 Bowies Hero (Phil D’Amato/ Geovanni Franco) He is a G1 winner, and has a strong chance of going off favored. The 1 hole is not the worst post, as he is likely going to save a lot of ground on the inside. He has not been seen since August of last year, where he finished 11th in the G2 Del Mar Handicap. His race prior to that was in the G2 Eddie Read at 1 1/8m– he finished 4th after finding trouble late (click here). This 5yo son of Artie Schiller is also an impressive 5 for 10 going the distance of 1 mile. If he runs similar to his best form from last year, then he will be tough in this spot. He has 3 triple digit Beyer Speed Figures, while no other horse in the field has even run 1. An 8 month layoff is a long time, but D’Amato usually has them ready to roll.
#2 Blitzkrieg (Doug O’Neill/ Rafael Bejarano) This 4yo War Front gelding has proven to be quite the claim for Doug O’Neill. 3-starts back, he was claimed for 25k. After the claim he romped in a 6 1/2 length Starter Allowance win, and then won a first-level Allowance Optional Claimer by 2 1/2 lengths (click here)– both were going down the hill at Santa Anita. He does have a win going 2-turns, as he broke his maiden at the 50k maiden claiming level going 1 mile. Don’t think we will see him on the lead, but I expect him to be forwardly placed. Rafael Bejarano making the trip shows some confidence from the connections. Blitzkrieg is improving, but he is going to need to improve more if he is going to beat this caliber of a field.
#3 Mithqaal (Jonathan Wong/ Silvio Amador) Local horse who has held strong form throughout the meet. Tactical running style should be an advantage for him and I could see him sitting in 2nd or 3rd behind Many Roses. Figures are behind on paper, but he ran a nice 2nd in the Rolling Green Stakes over this turf course last September (click here). Should be able to save some ground from the 3 post. Has home field advantage but needs to take a step forward.
#4 Le Ken (Ronald McAnally/ Diego Sanchez) He is a multiple G1 winner in his home country of Argentina, and is looking for his first win in North America. Le Ken has been running behind top turf company down South and is coming off a close 3rd in the G3 Thunder Road Stakes (click here). He ran a very gritty race and gave it his all. Should be sitting around midpack and will be trying to run on late. Numbers kind of fit here on paper, and I could see him running in underneath at a big price. Sneaky horse, definitely one to include underneath.
#5 Wentwood (Dermot Weld/ Juan Hernandez) It is really amazing to see that the racing office at Golden Gate Fields was able to get an international runner into this year’s race. The Irish-based Wentwood is trained by the legendary Dermot Weld. He has shown his best form over quick ground, and Saturday’s conditions should only benefit him in his North American debut. This lightly raced 4yo (now has 7 lifetime starts) made his 2019 return on the 7th of this month a winning one. He beat a large field in a handicap at Cork in Ireland. He was number 7, and sat midpack on the outside in the green and red silks (click here). He finished up nicely and should have gotten a ton of fitness after going 1 1/4m. While he does not have the strongest form on paper, he is coming into this as an improving type. The firm ground and lasix should move him forward. Dermot Weld is not shipping him over to visit California– he means business!
#6 Many Roses (Ellen Jackson/ Cristobal Herrera) This son of Many Rivers looks like the speed of the speed in this field. Ran a strong 3rd in this race last year at huge odds (click here). This is a tough spot for his first race back since June of last year. Also, Jackson is 0 for her last 12 with runners coming off 180+ day layoffs. Has some long 7f drills so should have some fitness. Think the others will let him go and he could take them a long way. Wish he had a run of two under his belt though. Definitely one to consider underneath as he has run 3rd in the last 2 San Francisco Miles. Could get loose and will be a HUGE price.
#7 Grecian Fire (Jerry Hollendorfer/ William Antongeorgi) This son of Unusual Heat is coming off an impressive win sprinting over the tapeta (click here). It looked like connections just wanted to get a run into him and prep him for today’s race. All his prior success came at 2-turns, which makes his last effort even better. Ran 7th in this race last year but only lost by 3 1/4 lengths. Seems to be coming into this year’s race in better form. Will be running on late from the back. Some of his previous numbers fit well here and it looks like he could still be improving. Is going to be the shortest priced Northern California based horse.
#8 Choo Choo (Jerry Hollendorfer/ Irving Orozco) The 2nd runner in the race for Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer. Is coming off a solid Allowance Optional Claiming win over the main track (click here). Has shown some speed in the past, and I expect him to be sitting in a stalking position. Been running Beyers in the mid 80s, which is well behind many others in this field– is going to need to improve at least 10-12 points here.
#9 Souter (Mark Glatt/ Julien Couton) Coming off 3 wins and a 2nd in his last 4 starts. He showed a lot of heart in his last win as he took 2nd in an Allowance Optional Claimer going 1 1/8m on the turf (click here). Julien Couton jumps aboard and is looking to make it back-to-back San Francisco Mile wins. Will likely be stalking the pace and is a bit of grinding type. Numbers are a bit behind on paper and this is a big step up in company for him.
#10 River Boyne (Jeff Mullins/ Flavien Prat) This multiple Graded Stakes Winner is going to take a lot of money, and is likely going to be a top-2 choice at the windows. He is coming off of a 4th place effort in the G1 Kilroe Mile (click here). The son of Dandy Man had a 4 wide trip throughout in this 6-horse field and did not get any cover. It was a good run, and you have to figure he is going to improve in his 3rd start of the year. One cause for concern, is that he is drawn in the parking lot. It is pretty easy to get caught wide going this 1 mile distance– Flavien Prat is going to have his work cut out for him. Has good form over firm ground and has a versatile running style. Will be dangerous in this spot, especially if he can save some ground.
NorCal Horse Racing News 