The Fair circuit now shifts to the California State Fair in Sacramento. The meet runs from July 12-28. Sacramento is not one of the fair meets that I feel like I have the best handle on, but I am going to share some thoughts on what to expect and who to look out for.
While Sacramento does have a dirt track, it seems to play a bit different than Pleasanton. Tracks can change daily in terms of biases, but over the last few years Sacramento has seemed to play very kindly to the outside paths. It’s something to note when handicapping and the first few races on the card can be telling if a bias is in place.
There is only 1 stakes race during the meet and it is the 50k Governor’s Handicap on July 20th. The Governor’s Handicap is for fillies and mares 3yos and up going 6f. It looks like defending champion Alliford Bay could be pointing to this race again– she last worked 6f in 1:15.40 on July 7th for trainer Blaine Wright.
3 Trainers to watch:
John Martin- Martin tied for 3rd in the trainer standings at Pleasanton (5-14; 36%). He now returns to one of his most successful tracks. Over the last 5 years he has 19 wins from 62 starts (31% and 74% ITM).
Victor Trujillo- Now Trujillo did not have a great Pleasanton meet, where he was just 3-28 (11%). But he now returns to a place where he has had success in the past. In the last 5 years he has 19 wins from 81 starts (23% and 59% ITM).
Quinn Howey- He is coming off a strong Pleasanton Meet where he was tied for 3rd in the trainer standings (5-15; 33%). Howey in the last 5 years at Sacramento has 10 wins from 51 starts (20% win and 57% ITM).
3 Jockeys to watch:
Irving Orozco- He is coming into this meet in great form, as he was the leading rider at Pleasanton. Orozco was 3rd in the Sacramento meet standings last year (10-34; 29%) and won the jockey title 2 years ago (10-35; 29%). He is riding with a ton of confidence right now.
Juan Hernandez- Has been riding good in 2019, as he is 23% on the year. Was an amazing 15/34 (41%) to take down last year’s jockey title at Sacramento. Plenty of success over the years at this track.
Kyle Frey- Returned from a 10-month layoff due to injury towards the end of Golden Gate Fields Winter/Spring meet. While he was just 9-65 at Pleasanton, he was ITM with 52% of his mounts. He is continuing to get more comfortable, and I would look for him to show improvement at this Sacramento meet.
It was a very successful 4 week meet at Pleasanton, as there was a 20% increase in handle from the previous year.
Irving Orozco wins back-to-back riding titles.
Jockey Standings:
Jonathan Wong kept his hot-hand going, as he has now won both the GGF Winter/Spring Meet and Pleasanton Meet training titles.
Trainer Standings:
Stakes recaps:
The 50k Oak Tree Sprint featured some of the top sprinters on the NorCal circuit. After finishing 2nd to Mike’s Tiznow in the Albany Stakes, Summersimage was able to breakthrough with his 2nd career stakes win in the Oak Tree Sprint. This 5yo son of Slew’s Tiznow sat a length off of pace-setting Touched by Autism and was able to reel him in in the stretch. Jockey Kyle Frey did a great job getting to the outside and staying out of trouble. Summersimage has now won $231,243 and is trained by Ricardo Perez. The final time for this 6f race was 1:10.88. Touched by Autism got a smart ride from Juan Hernandez and was almost able to steal the race on the front end. 3rd place went to Tribal Storm. While Summersimage has proven to be a dynamic sprinter, it would not surprise me to see him in the 50k Joseph T Grace Handicap at Santa Rosa next out. Back in 2017 he won the Robert Dupret Derby on turf going the same 1 1/16m distance.
Summersimage takes the 50k Oak Tree Sprint over a game Touched by Autism
— NorCal Horse Racing News (@NorCalHRNews) July 5, 2019
The dazzling debut winner Bulletproof One put in another dominant performance, as she beat the boys by 9 1/4 lengths in the 100k Everett Nevin Stakes. The Ellen Jackson trainee earned a 69 Beyer Speed Figure for her victory. That was an 11 point jump from her first start. She went to the front under Cristobal Herrera and never looked back. The daughter of Idiot Proof threw down fractions of 22.34, 45.73, 58.16, and finished with a final time of 1:05.04. Roses for Laura rallied off a wide trip to just get up for 2nd by a neck over another that had a wide trip in Drippin Sauce. 4th went to the first time starter Doc Tommy. Bulletproof One has now banked $80,400 in 2 lifetime starts. I would imagine that the 100k CTBA Stakes at Del Mar could be the next spot for this talented filly.
Bulletproof One dominates the Everett Nevin Stakes!
This 2yo daughter of Idiot Proof is now a perfect 2-2
Congrats to trainer Ellen Jackson and jockey Cristobal Herrera
— NorCal Horse Racing News (@NorCalHRNews) July 7, 2019
While I do not know too much about Mules, Arabians, and Quarter horses, I still thought it would be important to highlight the stakes winners of their respective divisions. Price Check won the Pleasanton Mule Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths. R B KINDLE took the Pleasanton Arabian Stakes by a commanding 11 1/4 lengths. Snowy Coronitas won the Jack Robinson Handicap for Quarter Horses by an easy 1 1/4 lengths.
2yos to follow:
There were 2 notable 2yo debut winners from this meet that look like they have a lot of potential. The first is a 2yo filly by Shanghai Bobby that is named Shanghai Keely. The Ari Herbertson trainee dazzled on debut as she pressed the pace early and then took off when asked by Irving Orozco, to win by a dominant 6 3/4 lengths. She ran 5f in 59.01. Darnquick is a calbred 2yo that people should keep an eye on. Even though he was sent out by low profile connections, this son of Run Brother Ron took some early money and was around 4/1 when the tote opened up (he would drift to 11/1 at post time). Darnquick broke like a rocket and took the field gate-to-wire– he went on to win by 5 lengths in a hand-ride. He managed to stop the clock in 58.60 in this 5f race. There are not really any options for these 2yo winners in NorCal over the summer, so we could very well see them run in stakes down south at Del Mar.
The fair circuit now moves on to Sacramento from July 12-28. Be on the lookout for a Sacramento meet preview on Thursday.
You know it’s summer time when the Fair Circuit is back in action. The longest fair meet of the year is at Pleasanton, and they are slated to begin their 4 week meet this Friday (June 14th- July 7th). Pleasanton is a 1 mile dirt track, and was constructed all the way back in 1858. It is unfortunate that the number of tracks on the fair circuit have diminished, but it is still something that NorCal horseplayers look forward to every year. The tracks on the 2019 calendar are Pleasanton, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Ferndale, and Fresno. This Year’s Pleasanton meet is headlined by 2 Stakes races. They are the 50k Oak Tree Sprint on July 4th and the 100k Everett Nevin Stakes on July 6th.
The Oak Tree Sprint is for 3yos and Up going 6f. This division is always competitive in Northern California. Three horses that I think could show up here are Touched by Autism, Summersimage, and Tribal Storm.
The Everett Nevin Stakes is run at 5.5f for 2yos and is restricted to Cal-breds. While there have only been 3 2yo races this year in Northern California, there is usually a lot of competition in this race. I am sure there will be a few quick turn backs from Pleasanton 2yo winners and there is also the occasional maiden that runs in these spots. Also, SoCal usually tends to have a strong hand in this race too. The Norcal horses to watch for this race are winners Bulletproof One, Jedi Knight, and Smokin Hot Bobbie.
We have seen some nice 2yos run at Pleasanton over the last few years. The ones that come to mind are G1 Breeders Cup winner She’s a Tiger, Grade 3 winner Stay’s in Vegas, and 5x Stakes winner Smokey Image. I am sure we are going to see some of the horses from the ‘NorCal 2yos to Follow‘ blog run at this meet.
Sometimes track bias can change, but Pleasanton is a track that seems to always play kindly to speed (and the rail too). Racing on this dirt surface is very different than the tapeta at Golden Gate Fields. Looking at a horses prior dirt form is something to pay attention to when handicapping this meet. Also another thing that I have noticed about the fair circuit is that class jumps are not quite as prevalent as they are at Golden Gate Fields.
The trainer standings are usually always compact because it is only a 4 week meet. Last year’s winner was Bill McLean, who hit at a very strong 41% clip. There were 7 trainers within 2 wins last year. Irving Orozco won more comfortably in last year’s jockey standings, and is definitely one to watch this year– he has ridden very well since coming back from injury.
3 Trainers to watch
Jonathan Wong- Coming off a red-hot winter/spring meet at Golden Gate Fields. Wins at a career 28% and is an incredible 74% ITM at Pleasanton.
John Martin- Finished up the Golden Gate Fields Winter/Spring meet strongly. Has won at a 31% clip over the last 5 years at Pleasanton.
Ari Herbertson- Won at 25% last year at Pleasanton and was 13/16 (81%) ITM.
All 3 trainers are very good with claiming and spotting horses, which is a recipe for success on the fair circuit.
3 Jockeys to watch
Juan Hernandez- Always up there for the riding title, no matter the meet.
William Antongeorgi- Won above 22% in 2 of the last 3 Pleasanton summer meets. Riding very well as of late and climbed into the top 3 in the standings of the Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate Fields after a slow start.
Irving Orozco- Saw him back in the saddle later in the Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate Fields. Finished at 30 wins from 157 starts (19%). Finding his form again and also won the Pleasanton riding title last year.
I will be doing some previews, recaps, and 2yo pedigree notes throughout the meet. Stay tuned and follow along on the blog/ twitter page.
Golden Gate Fields capped off their Winter/Spring meet on Sunday June 9th. A total of 23 races were run on Saturday and Sunday, giving fans a great send-off into the summer. I do not have the total meet handle numbers yet, but I would have to think that they continued the trend of yearly handle increase. There were many highlights from the Winter/Spring meet, and I am going to go over them below.
For the first time in a very long time, we saw a Northern California based horse make a lot of noise on the Kentucky Derby Trail. Anothertwistafate’s dominant win in the El Camino Real Derby was a performance that the locals are going to remember for a long time. He would rebound out of the El Camino to run 2nd in both the G3 Sunland Derby and the G3 Lexington Stakes. While things did not go as planned by not getting into the Kentucky Derby, it was still great to see him running on the national stage and representing Northern California in the G1 Preakness. He is currently getting a little break, but I would imagine we could see him on the work tab in the next few weeks. His trainer Blaine Wright has done a tremendous job with him so far. There are many options for Anothertwistafate on both dirt and turf surfaces over the remainder of the year.
Also, we saw the unveiling of a new stakes-filled weekend of racing at Golden Gate Fields. Gold Rush Weekend was comprised of 8 stakes races and was headlined by the $250k G3 San Francisco Mile. It was really awesome to see Golden Gate Fields be apart of the national racing chatter– it was a weekend that many across the country were looking forward to. Both TVG and XBTV were live on-site during the week. Attendance was strong and total handle was over $12.6 million for the 2 days. Gold Rush Weekend was a big success in it’s inaugural running, and I am looking forward to next year’s.
Alcatraz Stakes- Visitant T: John Martin J: William Antongeorgi
G3 All American Stakes- Grecian Fire T: Jerry Hollendorfer J: William Antongeorgi
Albany Stakes- Mikes Tiznow T: Andy Mathis J: Ricardo Gonzalez
After missing by 1 win in the fall meet’s jockey standings, Abel Cedillo was able to keep his hot hand going by winning this meet’s title. Also, Jonathan Wong has now won his 4th straight training title at Golden Gate Fields. He won this year’s by an impressive 48 win margin! In the hotly contested owner standings, Carrol Stubbs held on by 2 wins– she finished with 13 total. Congratulations to all the meet leaders!
Trainer Standings
Starts
Wins
2nds
3rds
Win %
ITM %
Earnings
Jonathan Wong
318
90
66
39
28
61
$1,379,497
Jerry Hollendorfer
216
42
37
39
19
55
$906,369
John F. Martin
145
37
29
27
26
64
$537,046
Jockey Standings
Starts
Wins
2nds
3rds
Win %
ITM %
Earnings
Abel Cedillo
571
134
115
80
23
58
$2,273,252
Juan J. Hernandez
445
104
86
76
23
60
$2,031,849
William Antongeorgi III
508
77
65
76
15
43
$1,459,398
Owner Standings
Starts
Wins
2nds
3rds
Win %
ITM %
Earnings
Carrol Stubbs
86
13
12
13
15
44
$162,265
Steve Moger
89
11
18
9
12
43
$245,139
Patricia’s Hope LLC
19
10
3
2
53
79
$89,060
Shout out to both Uber Star and Dom the Bomb for each having 5 wins during the Winter/Spring meet.
Racing will return to Golden Gate Fields for the start of the Summer Meet on August 15th. Stay tuned to the blog and twitter page as we will keep you updated on all things NorCal racing.
Here are some notable 2yos that have been training at Golden Gate Fields. These barn matches might not be 100% accurate, so if you see anything wrong please let me know on twitter. Many of the horses below will be seen this summer on the fair circuit and at Golden Gate Fields. This NorCal 2yo crop seems stronger than normal, and I am looking forward to seeing how they all do.
Manuel Badilla:
Opera Ghost (LA) g- Sold for $30k at the TTA Sales. Owned by J.C. Racing Stable. Has some quick works over the tapeta surface at GGF. By multiple Grade 1 winning sprinter Palace. Here is his TTA Sales work: https://youtu.be/0yN5u9lAbjc
Ari Herbertson:
Shanghai Keely (KY) f- Sold for 40k as a yearling at Keeneland. Purchased after OBS March. By Shanghai Bobby out of G2 winner Silentlea. Strong pedigree and has 4 works so far at Golden Gate fields. Coming off a 4f drill in 49.20. OBS work can be seen here https://www.obssales.com/marcatalog/2019/470.mp4
Jerry Hollendorfer:
Been Studying Her (CA) f- Has had a few works for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Most recently worked 3f in 35.80 and got a rank of 2nd fastest out of 56. She is by Fast Anna and out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Maddie’s Odyssey. Also, she is a half sister to stakes winners Grecian Fire and Sneaking Out. Definitely one to look out for when she makes her debut.
Ellen Jackson:
Sizzling Indian (CA) c- Full brother to speedy debut winner Indian Evening. Sire was a debut winner and had a lot of success as a 2yo. Look for this one to come out running early– very precocious pedigree. Owned by Victory Rose Thoroughbreds.
Andy Mathis:
Lous Tiznow (CA) f- Purchased for $29k at Barretts yearling sale. By Slew’s Tiznow and out of the Maria’s Mon mare Babes Bridge It. Her dam had 5 wins in 18 starts, and banked over $100k. She is a full sister to Golden Gate Fields Allowance winner Mike’s Tiznow. 2 2f drills for her so far.
Thismustbetheplace (CA) c- $35k Barretts October purchase. By Run Away and Hide out of the Stormello mare Kiki Chaser. He is a half brother to Group Text 4-2-0-1 $62,350. Has 2 2f works so far.
Ed Moger:
Miss You Mom (ON) f-Ran a strong 2nd in the career debut on 5/31. Broke slow from the 2 hole and was outpaced early. Found herself in last by 8 lengths. Made a wide move on the turn and finished up full of run in the lane to finish a close 2nd. Seemed like a good educational run. Should get a lot out of it.
Tribal Impact (CA) c- By Clubhouse Ride and out of the Tribal Rule mare Tribal Feathers. He is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Tribal Storm and impressive maiden winner Tribal War Chant. Has some quick works for a barn that usually does not work them fast.
Steve Sherman:
No More Fireball (KY) c- $50k FT October purchase. By Super Saver and is out of the Curlin mare Sylvia T. Bred to love 2 turns. Most recently worked a 3f bullet in 36.60 (best of 23).
Steve Specht:
Group Sermon (CA) g- By Rousing Sermon and out of multiple stakes winner Gn. Group Meeting. Is a half brother to An Unusual Group, Generally Lucky, Midvale Magic, and Unusual Meeting. Slow works so far, but that is not unusual for this barn.
Unnamed out of Grand Advice (CA) f- Sold for $55k at Barretts October sale. 55k is a lot for a Slew’s Tiznow, so should have some promise. Specht is a strong 2yo trainer too. Has just 1 work over the tapeta so far.
Jonathan Wong:
The Adrie Factor (FL) f- Sold for $43k at OBS April. Daughter of The Factor is out of the stakes placed mare Proud and Charming. Worked a 3f bullet with stablemate Clear to Close in 35.20 on May 25 (best of 32). She looks like a solid mover and was professional in her OBS work https://www.obssales.com/aprcatalog/2019/502.mp4
Clear to Close (KY) c- Sold for $60k at OBS April. Son of More Than Ready has 5 works at Golden Gate Fields so far. Worked a 3f bullet with stablemate The Adrie Factor on May 25– 3f in 35.20 (best of 32). Breezed in a quick 10.1 at OBS https://www.obssales.com/aprcatalog/2019/630.mp4
Blaine Wright:
Anneau d’Or (As the Crow Flies) (KY) c- $480k OBS April purchase. Great pedigree being by Medaglia d’Oro and out of the G3 winning Tapit mare Walk Close. Been working at GGF but would imagine we will see this one running down south at Del Mar over the summer. Here is his strong OBS work: https://www.obssales.com/aprcatalog/2019/818.mp4
Active Pass (CA) g- $55k Barretts Select yearling purchase. Gelding is a full brother to synthetic stakes winner Curvy Cat (27-10-5-4 $386,055).
Cakewalk (KY) f- $110k KeeSept yearling purchase. By Majesticperfection and out of Knight of Thunder (Thunder Gulch). Is a half to G2 placed Fleetwood. Looks like she has been working with 2yo colt Gem State.
Gem State (CA)- By Gemologist. Has some fast works early on. Half brother to Sheeza Sassy Girl 15-4-1-3 $78,265. Fast works and looks like he has been working with Cakewalk.
Unnamed out of Warriorscmoutoplay (CA) c- $75k OBS April Purchase. Candy Ride colt looks speedy and precocious. Been working with As the Crow Flies. https://www.obssales.com/aprcatalog/2019/825.mp4
Unnamed out of Imprecation (KY) c- $180k OBS April purchase. Hard Spun colt has not had any works yet, but he is one to keep an eye on as he is a 1/2 brother to El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate. Here is his OBS work: https://www.obssales.com/aprcatalog/2019/150.mp4
Unnamed out of Curie (KY) c- Sold for $52k at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale. Turf on the bottom side of the pedigree. Maclean’s Music colt has one work at Golden Gate Fields so far. Here is his FT sales work: https://youtu.be/HIGdh1AcJcE
Grecian Fire in the paddock prior to the 2019 San Francisco Mile
The 100k G3 All American has been a Memorial Day Monday staple at Golden Gate Fields over the last few years, and this year’s addition looked very competitive on paper (6 of the 8 horses were 10/1 or lower). As the gates opened, Many Roses was sent hard for the lead and he assumed his usual pace-setting roll. Fractions of 23.43 and 47.48 were set, and the real running did not begin till the field hit the far turn. Gabo’s Macondo took over the lead from 2nd under a comfortable hold, while Grecian Fire was making a move from 3rd on the rail. William Antongeorgi wheeled the 5yo son of Unusual Heat out to the 3 path in the stretch, and once he was asked, he took off from the others– it was a fantastic ground-saving trip. Builder rallied on strongly from the back for 2nd, but was no match for the winner. Sprint Stakes winner Touched by Autism stayed on for 3rd after a 3 to 4 wide trip from the 8-post. SoCal shipper Red King rounded out the superfecta after not taking particularly well to the tapeta surface. The final time for the 1m G3 was 1:36.49. Grecian Fire is a 5yo gelding by Unusual Heat out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Maddie’s Odyssey. He is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and owned by KMN Racing LLC. Also, he is a 1/2 brother to 3yo stakes winner Sneaking Out (Both Grecian Fire and Sneaking Out have a 2yo 1/2 sister by Fast Anna that has been working out at Golden Gate Fields– her name is Been Studying Her).
The versatility of Grecian Fire gives him plenty of options going forward. Not only does he hold wins over dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces, but he also is a calbred. I could see him going down south to Del Mar again this summer, but if not, there are some options on the fair circuit. I would imagine we will see a few of the runners in this race pop up in both the Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton, and the Joseph T. Grace Handicap at Santa Rosa.
The winter/spring meet has flown by, and we are now approaching the final 2 weeks. There are usually strong cards at the end of the meet, so I am looking forward to the racing. The final stakes race of the meet is the 50k Albany Stakes on June 8th.
Once Gold Rush Weekend was announced, it immediately put a smile on my face, as I knew top class racing was coming to Golden Gate Fields for a huge stakes-filled weekend. I was fortunate enough to attend the races on Saturday, and it did not disappoint. A big crowd was on hand, and racing fans from all over made their way to Golden Gate Fields. 25 races was a lot for 2 days, but it gave horse players many different options to wager on. All of the stakes action was a great change of pace, because we had been so accustomed to just seeing 1 stake on the previous big days. Horse players showed the move to this “stacked” weekend was a good one, as a total of $12, 606,831 was handled over the 2 days. I am excited to hear that Gold Rush Weekend is going to return next year, and it is only going to get better!
After watching the replays from Saturday, it became pretty apparent that the main track was favoring speed and the rail. Also, the turf course seemed to favor the inside. It is going to be interesting to see how these horses run back. Definitely something to note.
Sold It came into the 75k California Oaks as the big favorite for trainer Doug O’Neill, and at short odds, she did not disappoint. Rafael Bejarano gave her an aggressive ride and it fit her perfectly. He sent this daughter of The Factor to the lead and never looked back. Coming into the race it looked like the distance could be in question, but this time, she showed plenty of finish in the lane. Runner-up went to Creative Romance, who sat second for most of the race but could just never cut into Sold It’s margin. Long shot Karsavina rallied on for 3rd. The final time was 1:44.78 for the 1 1/16m California Oaks. Sold It earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure for her win.
Sold It in the paddock prior to the California Oaks
The 75k Golden Poppy Stakes was dominated by the 2 favorites. Making her first start in North America, Simply Breathless was able to get the job done. This daughter of Bated Breathe had strong European form, and her numbers keep continuing to improve– it makes her a very intriguing horse to watch going forward. She sat on the inside in 4th, and then shifted out 3 wide in the stretch and kicked on strongly to get up for the win. She moved over the turf course beautifully and responded well when asked. She won by 1 length over Zaffinah. It was a ways back to long shot Tizno’s Dilemma in 3rd. The final time was 1:43.48 for 1 1/16m race. Simply Breathless is trained by Neil Drysdale and ridden by Flavien Prat. She earned an 86 Beyer Speed figure for her win.
Simply Breathless in the paddock prior to her first North American start in the Golden Poppy Stakes
Simply Breathless (Gb) makes her U.S. debut a winning one in the Golden Poppy @GGFRacing for Trainer Neil Drysdale & Cloros Bloodstock! Jockey Flavien Prat on the mount. @GoldRushWeekendpic.twitter.com/ATXlZZPnch
The next stake is named after one of the best sprinters from this century, and a Northern California legend. The Lost in the Fog Stakes was run at 6f on the main track and contained the top sprinters in Northern California. Even-money favorite Anyportinastorm lived up to the hype by winning stylishly for trainer Blaine Wright. The son of City Zip rated off the pace perfectly on the outside under Juan Hernandez. He showed another gear in the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths going away. To me, this was the most impressive performance from Gold Rush Weekend (especially considering the bias). Long shot Algenon was on the lead early and held for 2nd. 3rd went to Sequentially who closed from the back of the pack. The final time was a swift 1:08.80. Anyportinastorm earned a career-high 94 Beyer Speed Figure.
Anyportinastorm looking the part in the paddock before the Lost in the Fog Stakes
#8, Anypointinastorm is your winner of the Lost In the Fog Stakes @GGFRacing. Jockey Juan Hernandez on the mount for Trainer Blaine Wright and Owner Peter Redekop.
The 100k California Derby had a lot of familiar faces. The favorite Kingly was ultimately able to hold on gamely in the stretch to get his first stakes win. The Bob Baffert trained son of Tapit sat in second behind pace-setting Erlich, and was able to take over the lead in the stretch– he kept going on the rail. I can definitely see him maturing, as he appeared to be much more professional in this race. Also, not to go unnoticed, this marked the 3rd win in the last 4 California Derbies for jockey Mario Gutierrez. Visitant closed valiantly in the stretch, but just couldn’t find enough to get past Kingly. He showed he could hang at this level and he is going to be an interesting horse to follow over the summer as he is still lightly-raced. More Ice stayed on well on the inside to get up for 3rd. The final time was a fast 142.73. Kingly earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for his win.
Kingly in the post parade for the California Derby
The Gold Rush Weekend headliner was the G3 250k San Francisco Mile, and it was won by SoCal invader Blitzkrieg. He sat a beautiful trip behind the leader under Rafael Bejarano, and they were able to open up a sizable lead in the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths. This son of War Front has proven to be quite the claim! He was claimed for 25k 3 starts ago by Doug O’Neill, and he parlayed his win that day into 3 straight wins for the new connections. Assistant trainer Leandro Mora said the addition of a shadow roll has helped focus the 4yo gelding (per DRF.com) Also, he was very relaxed in the paddock, and I am not sure if the prior connections put ear plugs in, but those seemed to have calmed him down too (you can see them in the picture below). Blitzkrieg is a great story, and it is going to be interesting to see if he can continue his hot streak. The favorite River Boyne rallied on the outside strongly for 2nd, but he just wasn’t able to find his best stride till late– the turf course definitely wasn’t playing to his favor. Long shot Choo Choo ran huge for 3rd at 44/1. The final time was 1:35.56 and Blitzkrieg earned a career-high 99 Beyer Speed Figure.
Rounding out the stakes action of Saturday was the Camilla Urso Stakes. This 5f turf dash was for fillies and mares 4yo and up. The favorite S Y Sky had shown speed in the past and had run well sprinting on the dirt and sprinting down the hill at Santa Anita. However, she had never run 5f on the grass before. She would put all doubt to rest, as she was able to win by a comfortable 3 1/2 lengths. Flavien Prat rated her beautifully behind the pace, and when he pushed the button to go, she accelerated effortlessly. Trainer Phil D’Amato did a great job getting her ready for today’s effort. Ima Happy Cat ran well in her turf debut for 2nd, and 44/1 long shot Claudia Mae closed in for 3rd. The speedy 2nd choice was Go On Mary, but she unfortunately lost all chance at the start as she could not get away from the gate quickly. The final time was 56.48 and S Y Sky earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.
S Y Sky in the paddock for the Camilla Urso Stakes
Moving onto Sunday, the first of 2 stakes was the Campanile for 3yo calbred fillies. They were going a mile on the grass, and it attracted a field of 10. Kitty Boom Boom got an aggressive ride from Geovanni Franco and pounced on the lead early from sitting in the 2nd position. The daughter of Tizbud basically put this field away at the top of the stretch and she cruised to an easy 4 length victory. Trainer Richard Baltas did a great job having this lightly raced filly ready in just her 4th lifetime start. Hollywood Hills rallied on strongly to get up for 2nd, while Apache Princess got 3rd. The final time was 1:36.81.
The stakes finale on Gold Rush Weekend was the Silky Sullivan Stakes. 10 calbred colts and geldings lined up for this mile race on the turf. This year’s Silky Sullivan was a thriller, as it ended with 3 horses on the wire! Irish Heatwave got a comfortable trip under Irving Orozco sitting in 2nd, and then moved up the rail to take the lead towards the top of the stretch. The favorite was Lieutenant Dan, and he showed some late energy by charging towards the wire late in his turf debut. Northern California hopeful Our Silver Oak was under some urging on the turn and seemed to be losing a lot of ground from a stalking position. Then, all of a sudden, he was able to find another gear and closed with a lot of determination on the outside. In the end, Irish Heatwave’s number was posted in first– he got a great bob on the line. Our Silver Oak and Lieutenant Dan ran 2nd and 3rd respectively. Irish Heatwave is by Unusual Heat, and is trained by Keith Desormeaux. The final time was 1:36.60.
Photo finish in the Silky Sullivan @GGRRacing! #3, Irish Heatwave gets the win for Trainer Keith Desormeaux. pic.twitter.com/490jeBoxMk
This 5f 75k turf sprint stakes has drawn a field of 9 older fillies and mares. A fun race to close out the stakes portion of Saturday’s card.
I am not going to give selections, but I will give you guys some insight into each runner in the field. Also, I attached a replay for most of the horses. Hopefully it will help you with your handicapping. Enjoy!
#1 Alliford Bay (Blaine Wright/ Juan Hernandez) Reeled off 5 straight stakes wins last year (all on the dirt). Rail draw is not ideal, but has a versatile running style. Only previous try on grass was at 2-turns, and she was on a very hot pace that fell apart. Bred to like this as she is by City Zip and out of a turf sprint winning mare. 2nd start off the layoff here. Last race was nice and should set her up well for this race– showed a lot of energy late and finished up nicely (click here). Ran 3rd behind Ima Happy Cat and Claudia Mae.
#2 Vronilla Parfait (Sergio Ledezma/ Frank Alvarado) Will need some pace to run at here, and could get it. Coming off a wide trip 4th in the Ima Happy Cat race (click here). Has won her last 2 races at a 5f distance (one on grass and one on tapeta). Will be running on late and could be interesting at a price if she can get a pace setup.
#3 S Y Sky (Phil D’Amato/ Flavien Prat) SoCal invader is going to take a lot of money in here. She ran a close 2nd in the Irish O’Brien Stakes (click here). Has speed but I don’t think she will be on the pace. Could see her sitting off of it and pouncing. Surprisingly has never run 5f on the grass. Has strong form, but will it transfer to 5f on grass?
#4 I Love Romance (Jonathan Wong/ Jorge Velez) Has really turned the corner as of late and is coming off 3 wins in her last 4 starts. Her last win was a 6f gate-to-wire score in an Allowance on the main track (click here). She also has 2 wins and a 2nd in her 3 lifetime starts on the turf. Has some speed to her but doesn’t need the lead. Figures are behind but she is improving and coming off of a lifetime top.
#5 Go On Mary (Doug O’Neill/ Rafael Bejarano) SoCal shipper is a stakes winner going 5f on the turf. Going to take a lot of money at the windows. Last out, she ran 3rd in the Mizdirection Stakes at Santa Anita (click here). Has a ton of zip and I would expect her to be on the engine. Proven at this level and distance.
#6 Ima Happy Cat (Dan Markle/ Ricardo Gonzalez) Grey filly is coming off a gate-to-wire Allowance score against many in here (click here). She is making her first start on turf in this race. Is by Smiling Tiger and out of a turf winning mare. Has speed but doesn’t need the lead. Figures need to improve a little. 5f too sharp for her?
#7 Claudia Mae (Tirso Rviero/Francisco Duran) Ran 2nd to Ima Happy Cat in her last race (click here). Has a win going 5f on the grass. She earned a figure in that win last year that puts her in the ballpark here, but hasn’t run close to that since. Going to be coming from off the pace here. Seems a cut below.
#8 Impecunious (Frank Lucarello/ Silvio Amador) Has never run close to fast enough in the past to suggest she can contend today. Has a lot of speed and I would assume they are going to send. Daughter of Vronski has never tried the turf before.
#9 Spring Heat (Clifford Delima/ Cristobal Herrera) 2 for 4 lifetime going 5f on the grass. Has a lot of speed and appears like the only way she can win is if she is in front. Some speed to her inside doesn’t make things easier. Been out of form in last 2 starts. Needs to show more.
Kingly in the paddock prior to his runner-up finish in the El Camino Real Derby
The California Derby came up strong this year, and many familiar faces are back. A field of 9 is set to run in this 100k stakes race. It is for 3yos only and is going to be run at 1 1/16m on the main track.
I am not going to give selections, but I will give you guys some insight into each runner in the field. Also, I attached a replay for most of the horses. Hopefully it will help you with your handicapping. Enjoy!
#1 Rey Coliman (Felix Rondan/ Catalino Martinez) Was nowhere close in his 2 prior stakes runs, and looks like he is in against another deep field today. A plodding type that will be running on late. Coming off a decent 2nd to Vistant (click here). Only 1 win in 10 starts, but has 4 seconds. Looks outmatched here.
#2 Mayor Cobb (Jonathan Wong/ Jorge Velez) Is coming off a 3rd place effort in an off the turf stake in the slop at Santa Anita. Nearly a 2-month break heading into this one. Needs some pace to set things up for him. Gets to save some ground and will be running on late. One to consider using underneath at a price.
#3 The Creep (Jonathan Wong/ Juan Hernandez) The son of Twirling Candy is a perfect 2 for 2 in the Wong barn. Is coming off a solid Allowance score on March 8 (click here). Looks like he’s been working well and he should be on the improve. Will likely be sitting just off the pace.
#4 Angelo’s Pride (William Delia/ Silvio Amado) Is coming off a win at the 50k Starter Allowance level. Ran a credible 4th in the El Camino Real Derby after making an early move and being caught wide (click here). Will be running on late and is going to be a big price. Definitely one to use at least underneath. Going to be a big price and has shown he can mix it up with some of these.
#5 Sparky Ville (Jeff Bonde/ Flavien Prat) Last seen winning a G2 at 7f in the San Vicente (click here). Has the best credentials in this field. The big question is going to be if he can be as successful at 2 turns as he is at 1. Has turned into a completely different horse since being gelded. His only route race was a poor effort, but it could be forgiven since it was on the grass. Tough call. Pedigree suggests he should have no problem routing. If he is able to transfer his 1-turn form to 2-turns, he is going to be tough to beat.
#6 Kingly (Bob Baffert/ Mario Gutierrez) Ran into a monster (AKA Anothertwistafate) in the El Camino Real Derby. Was up close to the pace that day, but was no match in the stretch (click here). The brother to New Years Day and Mohaymen stayed on well to hold 2nd– had a huge gallop out. Shown some greeness in his prior starts, so hopefully the bit of time off has helped his maturity. Has a lot of early speed, and shortening up a 1/16th of a mile should be no problem.Would not surprise me if he goes off the favorite.
#7 More Ice (Jerry Hollendorfer/ Rafael Bejarano) Waters were way too deep in the G1 Santa Anita Derby last time out. Ran a solid 3rd in the El Camino Real Derby off a wide trip from the 12-hole (click here). Shortening up a 1/16th of a mile should benefit him. Sort of a one-paced type that grinds away.
#8 Visitant (John Martin/ William Antongeorgi) Son of Ghostzapper is a perfect 2 for 2 in his young career. Coming off a solid 2-turn Allowance Optional Claiming win (click here). This is going to be the acid test for him, as he is facing a quality field. Figures are relatively light on paper, but the way he has won has been visually impressive. Also, this is going to be his first start with John Martin, who is an impressive 22% with new acquisitions. Hasn’t done anything wrong, and will be a good price if you like him in here.
#9 Elrich (Blaine Wright/ Julien Couton) Definitely the wild card in this race. Coming off a very fast figure in a dominant 4 1/2 length msw slop win at AQU. First time in the Wright barn. Actually ran 2nd by a nose to Tacitus back in November at AQU. Has a lot of speed and would imagine he is going to sit close or be on the pace. Did he finally put it all together in the last start, or was it the slop?
Touched by Autism in the Santa Rosa paddock. From last August.
We have a field of 8 for this year’s Lost in the Fog Stakes. This 75k stake is run at 6f on the main track.
I am not going to give selections, but I will give you guys some insight into each runner in the field. Also, I attached a replay for most of the horses. Hopefully it will help you with your handicapping. Enjoy!
#1 Summersimage (Ricardo Perez/ Catalino Martinez) He is in good form and is looking to add another stakes win to his resume. Inside draw might force their hand to send. Has had a nice meet so far– a win and 2 seconds in 3 starts. Finished behind Richiesinthehouse in February, and finished behind Grecian Fire last start (click here). Versatile running style. Definitely a contender.
#2 Tough Sunday (Steve Miyadi/ Flavien Prat) Has run faster figures than anyone in this field. However his 2 starts in the last year haven’t been close to his tops. Last time he ran a close 3rd behind Summersimage and SF Mile runner Grecian Fire (click here). Got away from the gate slowly and was able to finish well– screws should be tightened for this run. Will likely be stalking off the pace. One you have to consider.
#3 Algenon (Duane Offield/ Julien Couton) Coming off a win sprinting at the 40k level. Has run well in the higher claiming ranks, but just hasn’t been able to break through at the Allowance and Stakes level as of late. Looks outmatched here.
#4 Touched by Autism (Marcia Stortz/ Silvio Amador) Started the meet off with a solid 2nd behind Richiesinthehouse, and then wheeled back 9 days later to run in G2 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita. After his 6th place effort in the Palos Verdes, he was given some time off. He returns here at the same distance as his win in last November’s Oakland Stakes (click here). Will likely be stalking the pace. Likes the track and has been working quick down south.
#5 Whatwasithinking (Frank Lucarelli/ Rafael Bejarano) Ran 5th after a wide trip last time out in the Grecian Fire race (click here). Stakes winner is 2 for 3 over this tapeta surface, and is making his 2nd start off a long layoff. Blinkers come off and it looks like he is going to sit back and make one run. Things need to fall apart up front, but he could come in underneath– kind of sneaky here. Numbers are not very close, but it looks like he could take a step forward.
#6 Sequentially (John Martin/ Frank Alvarado) Has been a strong claim for John Martin. He is in razor sharp form after coming off back-to-back victories. His last was a visually impressive Allowance win (click here). Will be making one run from the back of the field. Needs a solid pace up front for him to run at. Figures are a bit light, but he is improving. John Martin is not running him in this spot for fun– he is here because he thinks he has a shot at winning. Let’s see if he can continue to build off his last 2 races.
#7 Candy Zip (Robert Bean/ Francisco Monroy) Could not win a 4k claimer 3 months ago at Golden Gate Fields. Could be an early pace factor here. Is extremely overmatched on paper.
#8 Anyportinastorm (Blaine Wright/ Juan Hernandez) The one to beat in this field, and is going to be a solid favorite. He is coming off a close 3rd in the 100k Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes at Sunland (click here). Gets off the rail and has a nice outside post here. Should be ready to go 2nd off the layoff (Wright is a strong 23% with this move). Would imagine he sits a nice trip on the outside rating behind the speed. The one to beat.
NorCal Horse Racing News 