With Sunday’s card getting canceled, we were left with just 2 race days on opening week at Golden Gate Fields. Nothing too crazy jumped out at me, but I did think there were 2 interesting maidens to take a look at that could take a step forward. Let’s get into it!
10/22/2021
Please Please Please (Race 1): The 2yo daughter of Tom’s Tribute made her career debut on Friday at the 8k MCL level. She broke sharp from the rail but got shuffled back as a pace battle ensued in front of her. She then got boxed inside and began to lose ground on the turn. Once she got to the stretch she switched outside and finished off the race well to be 4th. I feel like this was also a tough spot to debut at for the level because the winner was a big class dropper from Southern California. Her jockey Lorenzo Lopez has had a tough year so far being 0/44 in 2021 and the Monroe barn doesn’t typically win first time out (8%), their runners usually do better with some racing under their belts. Breaking from the rail first out is never easy, and it seems like this was a good learning experience for Please Please Please, it should set her up well next time out.
10/23/2021
Ascendancy (Race 7): This 2yo filly has run well in both lifetime starts at the MSW level as she ran 3rd on debut and 2nd on Saturday. In the debut she got lit up early on the pace going 5.5f on the main track, was able to put away the other speed, but got ran down in the stretch (Alesha who finished 2nd that day came back to win a 25K MCL last week). On Saturday she broke fairly sharp again and was on the engine early (this time going 5f). It was a tussle for the lead but she and first time starter Avery On Pointe found themselves dueling. Ascendancy may have won the battle by putting away Avery On Pointe, but she ultimately lost the war as she was run down by Ellamira (who seems to be a filly with some talent) in the stretch. Now the reason why I think Ascendancy is one to follow is that I think she has not been running at her optimal distance yet. Her pedigree screams route and there is also some turf in there too. She is by Classic Empire (Arkansas Derby Winner) and out of the War Front mare Tensa’s Punch. The dam was a stakes winner routing and has dropped some solid route horses too. The second dam Indy Punch has been a very productive broodmare producing the likes of MGSW ($1.8mil earner) United and G3 winner Harlan Punch. Along with the pedigree, Ascendancy galloped out fairly well in both of her starts. The extra distance should also help relax her more early and wouldn’t think she will get lit up on the lead the same as she did sprinting. She has shown talent in both starts and I think she could show her full ability if she gets to run a route of ground at some point in the future.
NorCal Horse Racing News 