A talented group of 9 2yo fillies are set to square off in Friday’s 50k Golden Gate Debutante. This is one of the deepest stakes races I’ve seen this year in Northern California, and I am looking forward to going over each runner in this field.
Here is a a list of the past 5 Debutante winners:
2018- Tomlin
2017- Steph Being Steph
2016- Isa Firecracker
2015- Code Warrior
2014- Seduire
1- Stradari (Couton/ Jauregui): Had some buzz before her debut and won very impressively on September 21st to break her maiden (6th place runner came back to win next time out going 1m on the grass). She sent straight to the lead that day and took the field all the way. Impressive how she held everyone off and still managed to widen her margin in the stretch. Came back last time and found the waters too deep against Been Studying Her in the 7f Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on the Breeders Cup undercard. Was in contention early but backed out of it heading into the turn– tough to hold effort against her considering how weird that track has been playing. Hand is probably forced to show speed from the rail.
2- Shanghai Keely (Duran/ Herbertson): Talented filly won very impressively on debut by 6 3/4 lengths at Pleasanton going 5f. After that she stepped up to G2 company in the Sorrento at Del Mar and ran a distant 4th behind the very talented Amalfi Sunrise. Took a few months off and came back with a 5th place effort the Pike Place Dancer Stakes (1m on turf). Had quite the trip that day as she encountered plenty of trouble. Broke a step slow from the rail and got stuck inside horses early on. Was pulling early and looked very uncomfortable– she didn’t settle until they got onto the backstretch. Made a steady move into contention and was loaded in the lane. Unfortunately nothing opened up for her on the inside, and the pace-setter backing up caused her to lose all her momentum by having to check. Like the gate work on Nov 16th, should sharpen her up for today. See her settling off the pace.
3- Say Yes Sally (Herrera/ Miranda): Vronsky filly is a perfect 1 for 1 lifetime. Won a statebred MSW stylishly on Nov 9th. She rated the leader that day, took command on the turn, and powered home in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths. This is her dam’s (Cyclone Sally) 1st foal. Her dam is also a 1/2 sister to MGSW Sircat Sally, 23x winner Sir Vronski, and MSP Accomplishedsister. Facing much saltier company this time, going to need to take a big step up. Has speed to be in the mix early if needed.
4- Eclair (Baffert/ Hernandez): Well-bred runner from the Bob Baffert barn ships up North looking to claim some black-type. Broke her maiden in start #3 at Los Alamitos as the 1/2 favorite. Came out of that race to run a distant 3rd behind the talented Leucothea in the Anoakia Stakes. Last out she tried routing on the turf in an Allowance at Del Mar and did not show much at all. Facing easier today than what she has been running against, and a synthetic surface should be no problem. Puts blinkers back on here– hasn’t worn them since her debut where she showed speed and faded. Leading rider Juan Hernandez is coming off of a red-hot weekend. Connections likely to take a lot of money.
5- Smokin Hot Bobbie (Martinez/ Gonzalez): The first of 2 Coach Bob runners for the Reina Gonzalez barn. Making her 7th start of the year and has been facing some of the top 2yos in Northern California. Has runs against Bulletproof One, Darnquick, and Misirlou. Ran on well to be 2nd behind likely favorite Misirlou in the last start. She is going to running on late and if the pace collapses up front, she could definitely catch a piece of it at a huge price. Coming off of a 4f bullet work in 48 flat on Nov 22.
6- Habobanero (Amador/ Gonzalez): Stablemate to Smokin Hot Bobbie is also coming out of the Misirlou race on Nov 8th, where she ran 4th. Showed some promise early on by running 2nd by a neck to Big Maria on debut and then broke her maiden in her 3rd career start. Has a lot of speed and I would expect her to show it here considering there is other speed to her outside. Needs to improve in this spot.
7- Mischievous Curlin (Gonzalez/ Taylor): Longshot debut winner took the field gate-to-wire in her maiden breaking win. Big step up to stakes company in her 2nd career start here. Has a ton of speed and would expect her to send for the lead. 1/2 sister to 176k career earner Lostintranzlation. Ran .41 seconds faster than Say Yes Sally did on the same Nov 9th card. Think she is talented but is going to have to be able to withstand pace pressure from others and still be able to hold off the closers late. Her last win makes her competitive with these.
8- No Cover Charge (Reyes/ Wong): Kafwain filly is a perfect 2/2 lifetime sprinting and goes out for leading trainer Jonathan Wong. Set the pace routing last time in the Pike Place Dancer and faded in the lane to finish 4th. 2 races back she won by a commanding 6 lengths in a Starter Allowance over the main track going 5 1/2 furlongs. Been in front at the 1st and 2nd call in all 3 of her races. Has a lot of zip and will either go for the lead or sit very close to it.
9- Misirlou (Alvarado/ Specht): Talented filly has really done nothing wrong so far and is likely to be the betting favorite. 55k yearling purchase is a full sister to former El Camino Real Derby winner Zakaroff. Coming off 3-straight wins, all of which were over this tapeta surface. Very versatile and has shown the ability to win by sitting close to lead or by coming from out of it. Her win against the boys on Sep 29th was very impressive and really showed to me that she has a ton of talent. Won very professionally last time out. Think she is going to let the speed go and take back into a nice spot on the outside in the clear. Coming off a 5f work in 1:00 on Nov 24th. Should be ready to run.
Pace scenario:
Oh man, this is a tough one to project. A lot of these runners are so lightly raced, that it is going to be hard to estimate what kind of trip they’re going to sit in here. I see Mishievous Curlin going for the lead and No Cover Charge sticking to her from her outside. Habobanero, Stradari, and Eclair are to their inside and they all have some speed. Say Yes Sally has speed but I see her sitting back just off the leaders. Shanghai Keely, and Misirlou will grab a stalking position and get to see how things in front of them unfold. Smokin Hot Bobbie will be towards the back of the field.
Selections: 2-9-1-4
#2 Shanghai Keely 8/1– Form is muddied up but think she has a lot of ability. Will need to work out a trip from the inside. Great value if she stays around 8/1.
#9 Misirlou 5/2– Talented filly is looking for her 4th straight win. Should sit a nice trip outside. Versatility helps. One to beat.
#1 Stradari 6/1– Return to GGF should benefit her. See her sitting a good trip just behind the leaders. Debut win was legit.
#4 Eclair 9/2– SoCal shipper has been knocking heads with some talented runners down south. Tapeta shouldn’t be a problem. Hernandez has been hot.
NorCal Horse Racing News 