Gold Rush Weekend is finally here! There are a total of 23 races, including 8 Stakes races. The headliner of the weekend is the race that I am going to focus on, and that is the G3 San Francisco Mile. It has a purse of $250,000 and is (as the name suggests) run at 1 mile on the turf. This year’s edition features a strong field of 8 runners.
#1 Kiwi’s Dream (I Orozco/ Trujillo)- Was runner-up by a neck in this race last year. Coming off a 4th place effort in a Starter 40 on the turf at Santa Anita after setting the pace and tiring late. That effort was at 1 1/8m and I think he is more of a miler type. Sharp worktab coming into this one– have to think he’s fully cranked. There is a lot of speed in here, but could still see Orozco getting aggressive from the 1 post and sending for the lead or sitting just off of it. Kiwi’s Dream has a lot of fight in him and has always shown a ton of stubbornness in the lane.
#2 Keeper Ofthe Stars (Alvarado/ Wong)- Fired off two impressive wins last year at Santa Anita in the G2 Buena Vista and G1 Gamely Stakes. Ran subpar in both the G3 Wilshire at Santa Anita in June and the G2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar. Got an 8-month freshening after that and came back to win an open Allowance at GGF– that day she set the pace and dug in well in the stretch to win by a neck. I remember in an interview last year that trainer Jonathan Wong said Keeper Ofthe Stars runs a lot better when she is outside of horses, and that is exactly what happened in her 2 Graded Stakes wins last year. Last out she was stuck inside in a pace duel and was still able to win. Alvarado is going to have to work out a trip from the 2-hole, but she will get pace to run into. Comes off a 5f work in a sharp 59.4 on April 18th. Wong is 24% with runners 2nd off the layoff.
#3 Whisper Not (Franco/ Baltas)- Is coming off of a sharp gate-to-wire first level Allowance score at Santa Anita going 1m on the turf. Back in December he finished 3rd behind the talented Smooth Like Strait in the G2 Mathis Brothers Mile. He has fast pace figures, but has shown the ability to sit from off the pace in the past. I think he is going to rate in here and try to put the speed away on the turn. Has the fastest last-out speed figure in the field. Also is coming off 2 straight 5f drills in 59 and change at Santa Anita. His trainer Richard Baltas knows how to get a horse ready for this race as he won it last year with Neptune’s Storm.
#4 Diamond Blitz (Espinoza/ Ramos)- Since being claimed in February for 8k, Diamond Blitz has stepped up to win an 8k Starter Allowance and a 20k n2l claiming race. This is obviously a huge step up in class and he would have to improve a lot to contend here. Has one way to go and that’s being on the front end. Has very fast pace figures and likes to open things up on the front end early– he does not like to try to after grabbing the lead, he likes to gun it. I expect him to send like always and it will be interesting to see if anyone tries to go with him.
#5 Ohio (Gonzalez/ McCarthy)- The classy 10yo gelding is shipping up to GGF after a win in the 75k Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap at Turf Paradise. Seems like one that will take back and let things unfold in front of him. On his best day he might have been a clear favorite in here, but can he get back to that same level? Ricky Gonzalez takes the mount as he returns to his old stomping grounds in Northern California. Has back-class and should sit a good trip in here. His trainer Michael McCarthy is a strong 6-14 (43%) when shipping up to Golden Gate Fields this year.
#6 Border Town (Roman/ Mandella)- Appears to be the one true closer in this race. Has had breaking issues from the gate, but I don’t think that will harm him too much if the pace unfolds up front like it appears it is going to on paper. In a 100k optional claimer last out he got boxed in on the turn and managed to stay on for 2nd. 2-back he ran a nice 3rd behind the talented G1 winner Hit the Road in the G3 Thunder Road Stakes. Has a sharp series of workouts and think that his trainer Richard Mandella has him sitting on a top effort. Out of 35 starters, Mandella is an impressive 34% with shippers. Will be trying to mow them all down late.
#7 Brown Storm (Frey/ McCarthy)- The South American import has shown ability on both turf and dirt surfaces since moving to America. Last out he was in the same optional claimer as Border Town and Restrainedvengence– he set the pace that day and was able to hold on for 3rd. That was his first start since June, and he very well could have needed that one. I do think he wants further than a mile as he seems very one-paced in his stretch runs. He does stay on well, just doesn’t have that extra burst for the mile distance. While he does like the front end, he doesn’t quite have the same pace figures as Diamond Blitz or Kiwi’s Dream. Would expect him to try to rate behind the speed in here. As stated above, McCarthy is a strong 6-14 (43%) at the GGF meet so far. Also getting leading rider Kyle Frey doesn’t hurt either.
#8 Restrainedvengence (Baze/ Brinkerhoff)- Northern California racing fans have been familiar with this 6yo gelding as he has come up North many times. Last year in his 2 races up here he won the All American Stakes and was 4th in the G3 San Francisco Mile. He has made 2 starts this year on both turf and dirt. Two back, he was in the Optional Claimer with both Border Town and Brown Storm– that day he was caught wide and did not show much punch in the stretch. Last out he closed from the back to be 2nd behind Ax Man in the Santana Mile. Ax Man came out of that win to finish a well-beaten 4th in the G3 Kona Gold at Santa Anita. On his best day he’s a contender but not totally sure if he’s rounding back into top form.
Selections: 2-3-6-5
#2 Keeper ofthe Stars (6/1)- I think she needed that last race and should be ready to go 2nd off the layoff. Like the confidence that Wong shows by entering her here. Hoping she can swing to the outside and get in the clear early. Should get pace to run at.
#3 Whisper Not (3/1)- Think he is the most talented of the horses with early speed and seems like he is on the improve. See him rating behind the leaders and puting them away on the turn. Can he hold everyone else off?
#6 Border Town (7/2)- Mandella knows how to get his horses ready for big races. Working sharply and coming off 3 strong races in 2021. Will be doing his best running late.
#5 Ohio (6/1)- Not sure if he is at his best right now, but his win last out looks like a good confidence builder. Should get a solid setup in here.
Thank you for reading! Make sure to follow @NorCalHRNews on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news on racing in Northern California!
NorCal Horse Racing News 