A field of 7 is set for the 75k Golden Poppy Stakes. It is at 1 1/16m on the turf for fillies and mares 3yo and upward.
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 most of the horses. Hopefully it will help you with your handicapping. Enjoy!
#1 Consolida (Patrick Gallagher/ Juan Hernandez) Last year’s California Oaks winner (click here) is back at Golden Gate Fields, and is looking for another stakes win. Has not run since June and is making her return here. Will be running on late and definitely would benefit from a hot pace up front. Numbers are well behind in this spot, but she should improve a bit from age 3 to 4. Needs a lot to go right for her to win.
#2 Simply Breathless (Neil Drysdale/ Flavien Prat) She is making her first start in North America for trainer Neil Drysdale. Has seemed to have shown her best ability over fast ground. Was primarily a miler in Europe, but usually those horses have no problem stretching out an extra 1/2 furlong over here. Last seen in September, where she won a Handicap going a straight mile at Ascot (click here)– she showed a very strong turn of foot that day. Over the past 5 years, Drysdale strikes at 11% first time out with foreign shippers (43% ITM). Lasix could move her up some too. Interesting in this spot!
#3 Tizno’s Dilemma (Andreas Psarras/ Ricardo Gonzalez) Making her 2nd start off the layoff and should be more cranked for this spot. She is jumping in class a lot here and looks like a longshot on paper. Whenever she faced top company in the past, she has never been a factor. Will be trying to run on late from the back. Looks outmatched here.
#4 Zaffinah (Jack Carava/ Rafael Bejarano) The deserving favorite in this spot. She is coming off of a narrow 2nd in the G3 Santa Ana Stakes going 1 1/4m (click here). Before that, she ran 3rd behind Vasilika in the 1m G3 Megahertz. Has a pretty tactical running style which should be to her advantage as there is not much speed on paper. Will be tough to beat if she runs her best.
#5 Thousand Oaks (Jeff Bonde/ William Antongeorgi) Had some solid form in France, but has not shown a ton in her 2 North American starts. In her first start here she got in a speed duel going down the hill at Santa Anita and did not run a step. Then she shipped up to Golden Gate and ran a non-threatening 5th in a strong allowance race. Connections are going to stretch her out to see if that does the trick. Bonde is 14% going sprint to route. There is not much pace in this race on paper, and she could show some speed on the stretch-out. Tough read.
#6 Melissa Jane (Leonard Powell/ Julien Couton) Is coming off 2 confidence building wins on the main track. Has some speed, and could show it in this spot. Last race was an easy 2nd level Allowance Optional Claiming win (click here). Figures are starting to round back into form, and some of her prior figures put her in the ball park here. One thing to note is that she is winless in 12 starts on the turf. Also, her last 2 wins were against 5-horse fields. Is a contender, but not overly wild about her.
#7 Bella Luma (Ed Moger/ Frank Alvarado) Last year’s Golden Poppy winner is looking to defend her title. She is making her 2nd start off the layoff, and it looks like her last race was a prep for this. Blinkers come back on which should put her a bit closer to the pace. Thought her comeback race against the boys was nice (click here)– it should set her up well for today. Her best races definitely put her in the mix, and it looks like she is rounding back into form.
NorCal Horse Racing News 