Saturday’s 11-race card at Golden Gate Fields is headlined by the 50k Albany Stakes– it is for 3yos and Up going 5f on the turf. This year’s field came up very salty, and I am excited to go over all 9 runners. Jockey tactics are going to play a big roll in this race as there appears to be a lot of horses with early speed. The conditions should be firm for this 5f turf dash. Let’s dive into it.
#1 Sunset Dragunn (Rivera/ Lopez): Jockey David Lopez pulled off a big upset breaking from the rail over this course in last week’s Camilla Urso Stakes, and he will be looking to do it again in the Albany. He is coming off a 3 month freshening and worked 4f in a sharp 48.1 (2/73) on May 30th. Last out he was 3rd behind Bear Chum in a 40k claimer over the tapeta. He took back further than usually and stayed on in the lane. Would have to think he is going to try to send from the rail. I am not sure if he is fast enough to get the lead but he will be forwardly positioned. Taking a jump in class.
#2 Daddysprize (McCanna/ Desourmeaux): Seems like this 5yo has dealt with his fair share of setbacks in the past as he’s only run 7 times. His last race on May 17th was his first start in over a year, and he managed to win in a tough 2nd level Allowance going 6f on the tapeta. Ran a strong 2nd in the 150k Real Good Deal Stakes back in 2018 and earned a 90 beyer that day. His one previous try on turf was going a mile as a 3yo and he bolted out on the first turn. Would draw a line through that. Should have no problem with the turf being by Scat Daddy. His figure of 84 in his last race appears on the slow side, but he was only 2 lengths off a very fast pace and managed to pull away in the stretch. Trainer Tim McCanna is 25% from 12 starters going 2nd off a 180+ day layoff, so would have to think he will take a step forward here. Kent is going to need to work out a trip from the inside. See him rating behind the speed.
#3 Bear Chum (Tamayo/ Monroy): This 7yo has sure been finding the winner’s circle recently as he is going to be going for his 5th straight victory on Saturday. While the top corner of his pps don’t show him having much success on the grass, it couldn’t be further from the truth. He started off his career in Hong Kong and back in 2016 he ran 2nd to super star Pakistan Star. Bear Chum has been climbing up the claiming ranks and is going to be facing his toughest field to date since coming to North America. Will need to take a step forward but does have confidence. His trainer Isidro Tamayo has been having a strong meet. See him sitting an inside stalking trip.
#4 Baja Sur (Wright/ Martinez): Last year’s Oakland Stakes winner will be making his first start since January, where he finished 5th after getting hooked in a speed duel in the 150k California Cup Sprint. His win in the Oakland was very legit and if he runs to that he will be very tough to beat. However, this is his first time on turf and he is going to take on some other speed types early. Ships in from Emerald Downs where he was training for this. Trainer Blaine Wright is 10% with first time turfers. I do not see much turf pedigree, but Smiling Tiger progeny have shown some ability on the turf and the dam ran her fastest beyer over it. Will be up near the lead early.
#5 Sparticle (Matthew/ Antongeorgi): Set the 6f track record at Penn National 3 starts back and then came to the west coast. May 17th was his first try in Northern California and he ran a late closing 4th behind Daddysprize. He showed a ton of speed in his starts back east, but this time he took back to last from the rail and made one run late– makes me think that it was a prep for today’s race. He is such a puzzling horse as he has the fastest pace figures in the field, but will he take back again? Or was that just to get ready for this? His closing run last time was a bit dressed up as the pace was very fast. Troy Matthew is a strong 20% 2nd off the layoff and should have him more cranked in here. Don’t see any turf in the pedigree at all. Will he send?
#6 Anyportinastorm (Wright/ Hernandez): Last year’s Lost in the Fog Stakes winner is making his first start of 2020 in here. Was last seen running 2nd by a head in the G3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs. Has been running at this level consistently and looks like the one to beat on paper based on figures. Has speed, but is very tactical, and I would like to see him sit a similar trip to the one he had in the Lost in the Fog Stakes (sitting outside just behind the speed). Juan Hernandez had his choice between the Wright runners and opted here over Baja Sur. Previous runs on the grass have been solid enough but does seem like he prefers tapeta and dirt over it. Very sharp worktab heading into this one. Should be ready to fire.
#7 Mikes Tiznow (Mathis/ Gonzalez): The defending champ is going to have his hands full making his first start of 2020. He seems like the definition of a 5f turf specialist– in 4 starts he has 3 wins and a 3rd. Has a ton of early speed and has been in front at the first call in his last 7 starts. It could be tough for him to get the lead with a lot of pace to his inside, and he has never had to run on a fast pace before. Has some fast works coming into this one, but is going to have to fire his best ever effort to win in here. Andy Mathis is 8% off a 180+ day layoff. Facing his toughest field to date.
#8 Passionate Reward (Tamayo/ Frey): The 2nd of 2 Isidro Tamayo runners in here. Was 3rd to Bear Chum last time out. Came on in stretch but got cut off, shifted out, and came on again at the end– I don’t think he would have won, but I do think it cost him 2nd. Jumping up from 40k claiming level into Stakes company. Will need to run his best race to contend here. Could get some pace to close into if he sits back early. Has 1 win from 5 starts on the grass.
#9 What’sontheagenda (O’Neill/ Couton): The lone Southern California shipper in here is looking for his 1st Stakes victory. Was looking like he was going to become a major player in the California turf sprint division back in 2019, but hasn’t seemed to return to that form since. He did run a decent 3rd in the Clocker’s Corner Stakes. Has a lot of early speed but is breaking from the far outside and taking the blinkers off. Seems like he is going to sit a wide trip that’s close to the pace in here– it could be tough to overcome that late. Out of 11 races going 5f on the turf, he has no wins and 5 seconds. Can he return back to his top form in here?
Pace Scenario:
Out of all the stakes previews on here, the pace scenario in here looks like the toughest to predict. I see 2 main speed horses with Baja Sur and Mikes Tiznow. Sunset Dragunn could go too and Sparticle is more than capable of going to the lead. Daddysprize, Anyportinastorm, and What’sontheagenda have tactical speed and should be sitting just off of it. Bear Chum and Passionate Reward look like they’ll be at the back early. The pace should be fast in here.
Selections: 2-6-4-3
#2 Daddysprize (10/1): Wanted to take a shot in here with a price as many of the runners have question marks. Will have to work out a trip from the 2 hole. Should move forward 2nd off the layoff.
#6 Anyportinastorm (2/1): Class of the field and is coming into this one with a sharp worktab. Think he sits a nice trip. Goes out for strong connections.
#4 Baja Sur (7/2): Definitely a contender if he fires his best. Should be near the lead early. Trying turf for the first time.
#3 Bear Chum (10/1): Riding a 4-race win-streak. Could run on late to catch a piece underneath.
NorCal Horse Racing News 