The $75,000 Pike Place Dancer Stakes is the first of four 2yo stakes during the Fall meet at Golden Gate Fields. It is for 2yo fillies going 1m on the turf and will be run as the 7th race on Saturday’s 10-race card. While this year’s race did not draw the largest field, it is still a very competitive one.
Here is a list of the last 5 Pike Place Dancer winners.
2018: Lakerball
2017: Multiplayer
2016: Simmy’s Temple
2015: Stays in Vegas
2014: Sharla Rae
1- Shanghai Keely (Orozco/Herbertson): This talented daughter of Shanghai Bobby broke her maiden very impressively by 6 lengths back in July at Pleasanton. She then went into the deep end and ran a solid 4th behind Amalfi Sunrise in the G2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar– stayed on fairly well despite a wide trip. Class drop here. Strong work tab, so should be ready off the layoff. Seems like a filly that will appreciate going 2 turns. Her pedigree does not suggest turf at all, so surface is definitely a question mark for her heading into this race. Irving Orozco should have plenty of options from the inside, as this filly seems very versatile.
2- No Cover Charge (Couton/Wong): Done nothing wrong as she is a perfect 2 for 2. She is 1 of 2 entrants in this race for leading trainer Jonathan Wong. Debuted in a 25kMCL race at Santa Rosa and prevailed by a nose. The lightbulb must have gone on after that race, because in her next start she won a 50kSTRALW by 6 lengths (3rd place finisher Just Classy came back to win a Starter Allowance). Filly has a lot of speed and I would imagine she will be on the lead here. Quick works heading into this one. Very precocious pedigree with Kafwain on the top and Unbridled’s Song on the bottom. Do not see much turf in the pedigree. Distance and surface are question marks for her.
3- Convoluted (Hernandez/Miller): Southern California shipper is coming off a distant 2nd in the Phone Chatter Stakes at Los Alamitos. The winner of that race (Quality Response) came back to run 7th in the G1 Frizette Stakes. Her 1 turf try was in the the 100k Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes at Del Mar where she finished 7th by 8 and 3/4 lengths. Convoluted had a bit of trouble on the first turn, got into decent position on the backstretch, and finished up pretty one-paced in the stretch. I would imagine she will sit in a stalking position in Saturday’s race. Her speed figures are a bit behind the others in here, but has some class. The pedigree and connections are there, but is she fast enough?
4- Wise Rachel (Gomez/Howey): Pulled off the upset victory in her debut at Pleasanton in June. Since then, she went to Del Mar and ran 3rd and 4th respectively in 2 Cal Bred Stakes. All 3 of her starts have been sprinting on the dirt, and now stretches out to 2 turns on the turf. She is by English Channel and out of a Smarty Jones mare, so has both turf and distance in the pedigree. In the Generous Portion Stakes she got away slowly from the inside and was outpaced early. She dropped back to last by about 9 lengths and was left with a lot to do. She made a decent bid on the outside to end up 4th against a solid field. Wise Rachel has improved in all 3 starts, and I would have to think the surface and distance will only move her up. Will be running on late.
5- Colombian Gold (Antongeorgi/Lerner): Southern California shipper is still a maiden and is coming off a 5th place effort in a turf sprint at Santa Anita. Lerner is a very capable trainer and has had some success at Golden Gate Fields over the last year or so. Ran a decent debut at Del Mar, was on the lead and faded late– tough to win going 2 turns first out. Stretches back out to a route here. Numbers are slow but seems to be improving. Needs to find more in this spot.
6- The Adrie Factor (Frey/Wong): Thought this filly had talent, but was disappointed with her first 2 starts as she showed nothing in the sprint efforts. Made her 2 turn debut against the boys in an off-the-turf race at Santa Rosa where she set really quick fractions and tired out to finish second in a demanding race. Then, once she got put on the turf course, she was able to put it all together– she scored by 3 1/2 lengths in what was a visually impressive effort. Habobanero, who ran 5th in this race, came back to break her maiden last week. Turf routing is what she wants to do and draws a nice outside post in this spot. Kyle Frey will have a lot options to put her where he wants to.
Pace scenario: I think No Cover Charge will be sent from the 2 hole and go straight for the lead. Colombian Gold will probably sit close in 2nd. Shanghai Keely has some speed, but I think she will stalk the leaders and save ground on the rail. The Adrie Factor has options from her post. I see her stalking the leaders and sitting a similar trip to her last win. Convoluted should grab a stalking position too. Wise Rachel will likely be out the back.
Selections: 4-1-6-5
#4 Wise Rachel (5/1)– Has nice prior races on dirt, but think she wants to route on the turf. Pace in front of her should be solid enough, and will be flying late. Has improved in every start and should take a step forward here. Great value if you can get around the 5/1ml.
#1 Shanghai Keely (7/2)– I think this filly is super talented and is going to appreciate the route of ground. Should be ready to fire off the layoff. Only reservation I have is how she is going to handle the turf.
#6 The Adrie Factor (9/5)– Last start was impressive and is the filly to beat based on the fact that she has the fastest turf race out of anyone in the field. Caught a talented group here and a short price is tough to take.
#5 Colombian Gold (15/1)– Still a maiden but seems like she is improving. Form is muddied up. Can maybe catch a piece underneath.
NorCal Horse Racing News 