2018 Golden Poppy Stakes winner Bella Luma. Here she is in the paddock at Santa Rosa last August.
A field of 7 is set for the 75k Golden Poppy Stakes. It is at 1 1/16m on the turf for fillies and mares 3yo and upward.
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 Consolida (Patrick Gallagher/ Juan Hernandez) Last year’s California Oaks winner (click here) is back at Golden Gate Fields, and is looking for another stakes win. Has not run since June and is making her return here. Will be running on late and definitely would benefit from a hot pace up front. Numbers are well behind in this spot, but she should improve a bit from age 3 to 4. Needs a lot to go right for her to win.
#2 Simply Breathless (Neil Drysdale/ Flavien Prat) She is making her first start in North America for trainer Neil Drysdale. Has seemed to have shown her best ability over fast ground. Was primarily a miler in Europe, but usually those horses have no problem stretching out an extra 1/2 furlong over here. Last seen in September, where she won a Handicap going a straight mile at Ascot (click here)– she showed a very strong turn of foot that day. Over the past 5 years, Drysdale strikes at 11% first time out with foreign shippers (43% ITM). Lasix could move her up some too. Interesting in this spot!
#3 Tizno’s Dilemma (Andreas Psarras/ Ricardo Gonzalez) Making her 2nd start off the layoff and should be more cranked for this spot. She is jumping in class a lot here and looks like a longshot on paper. Whenever she faced top company in the past, she has never been a factor. Will be trying to run on late from the back. Looks outmatched here.
#4 Zaffinah (Jack Carava/ Rafael Bejarano) The deserving favorite in this spot. She is coming off of a narrow 2nd in the G3 Santa Ana Stakes going 1 1/4m (click here). Before that, she ran 3rd behind Vasilika in the 1m G3 Megahertz. Has a pretty tactical running style which should be to her advantage as there is not much speed on paper. Will be tough to beat if she runs her best.
#5 Thousand Oaks (Jeff Bonde/ William Antongeorgi) Had some solid form in France, but has not shown a ton in her 2 North American starts. In her first start here she got in a speed duel going down the hill at Santa Anita and did not run a step. Then she shipped up to Golden Gate and ran a non-threatening 5th in a strong allowance race. Connections are going to stretch her out to see if that does the trick. Bonde is 14% going sprint to route. There is not much pace in this race on paper, and she could show some speed on the stretch-out. Tough read.
#6 Melissa Jane (Leonard Powell/ Julien Couton) Is coming off 2 confidence building wins on the main track. Has some speed, and could show it in this spot. Last race was an easy 2nd level Allowance Optional Claiming win (click here). Figures are starting to round back into form, and some of her prior figures put her in the ball park here. One thing to note is that she is winless in 12 starts on the turf. Also, her last 2 wins were against 5-horse fields. Is a contender, but not overly wild about her.
#7 Bella Luma (Ed Moger/ Frank Alvarado) Last year’s Golden Poppy winner is looking to defend her title. She is making her 2nd start off the layoff, and it looks like her last race was a prep for this. Blinkers come back on which should put her a bit closer to the pace. Thought her comeback race against the boys was nice (click here)– it should set her up well for today. Her best races definitely put her in the mix, and it looks like she is rounding back into form.
8 3yo fillies are set to line up in the 75k California Oaks. It will be contested 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 Karsavina (William Delia/ Catalino Martinez) Sat closer to the pace than she normally does in her last start. Got beat soundly by Creative Romance and Oh My Oh that day (click here). Think her best chance is to sit back and make one run. Needs to improve a lot on paper. Think she is better on turf than the tapeta.
#2 Sold It (Doug O’Neill/ Rafael Bejarano) Will probably go off favored. Has strong back class, which includes a 5th by 4 lengths in the G1 Starlet behind Chasing Yesterday (click here). Has speed to her which should help in this spot. Should handle the tapeta– her sire The Factor was a G1 winner on the synthetics, and her dam was a winner on turf. Distance could be a question here, as she has seemed to lack late punch in her 2-turn races. Fastest figures on paper and will sit a nice forward trip.
#3 Soothing (Bob Hess Sr/ Juan Hernandez) Is still a maiden and her form is pretty muddied up. Actually finished ahead of Sold It in a maiden sprint at Santa Anita last October. Ran a good 2nd behind Slewgoodtobetrue after having a very wide trip, and ran a distant 3rd in a race in the slop. Shipped up North after that and finished 2nd in a MSW behind a quality prospect in Kynance (click here). Will likely stalk the pace. Think she is better than her figures indicate, and is definitely one to include at least underneath.
#4 Creative Romance (Ed Moger/ Alejandro Gomez) 2 starts back she ran against Karsavina and Oh My Oh in a 2-turn Allowance. Sat a perfect trip that day and managed to run a non-threatening 2nd (click here). Came out of that to run 3rd behind a quality sprinter in Mucho Amor. Daughter of Creative Cause has improved her figures in each race. Is improving but looks outmatched.
#5 Respect My Candor (Bill McLean/ Flavien Prat) Coming off 2 consecutive wins but is taking a big step up in class here. Her only route effort was very poor, but it was over the turf. Her pedigree suggests she should be able to handle the distance. Figures have improved. Will be sitting off the pace. Getting the services of Flavien Prat does not hurt. Could maybe see using her in the bottom of the superfecta. Behind a bit on numbers.
#6 Oh My Oh (Quinn Howey/ Julien Couton) Last 2 efforts were solid. Was caught closing into a super slow pace in her last start, and finished 3rd behind horses that got the jump on her (click here). Her route efforts have been solid and she likes the tapeta. The daughter of Comic Strip is definitely one to include underneath, and is a contender if she can get a strong pace in front of her.
#7 California Canter (Holly Evans/ Francisco Monroy) Coming out of a 4th place effort behind Mucho Amor. This will be her first time trying 2-turns. Could be a pace presence in here. Pedigree suggests she can get the distance, but Evans is only 3% routing. Could turn into a decent cal-bred, but this class hike seems like it’s too much to overcome.
#8 Apache Princess (Jerry Hollendorfer/ William Antongeorgi) Entered on Sunday so might scratch here FYI. Could go off favored, and will definitely be one of the top 2 choices. Has solid Southern California form, including the off-the-turf G3 Sweet Life Stakes win (click here). Also has a few strong wins on the grass going down the hill at Santa Anita. She surprisingly has never won going over a route of ground (ran a super narrow 2nd in a MSW routing on the turf). Daughter of Unusual Heat should be able to handle the tapeta. Will be running on late and her speed figures fit really well here.
With a purse increase, and a stakes packed weekend, Golden Gate Fields has attracted a strong field for the 2019 San Francisco Mile. 10 horses were entered for Saturday’s 250k G3 race.
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 all 10 horses. Hopefully it will help you with your handicapping. Enjoy!
#1 Bowies Hero (Phil D’Amato/ Geovanni Franco) He is a G1 winner, and has a strong chance of going off favored. The 1 hole is not the worst post, as he is likely going to save a lot of ground on the inside. He has not been seen since August of last year, where he finished 11th in the G2 Del Mar Handicap. His race prior to that was in the G2 Eddie Read at 1 1/8m– he finished 4th after finding trouble late (click here). This 5yo son of Artie Schiller is also an impressive 5 for 10 going the distance of 1 mile. If he runs similar to his best form from last year, then he will be tough in this spot. He has 3 triple digit Beyer Speed Figures, while no other horse in the field has even run 1. An 8 month layoff is a long time, but D’Amato usually has them ready to roll.
#2 Blitzkrieg (Doug O’Neill/ Rafael Bejarano) This 4yo War Front gelding has proven to be quite the claim for Doug O’Neill. 3-starts back, he was claimed for 25k. After the claim he romped in a 6 1/2 length Starter Allowance win, and then won a first-level Allowance Optional Claimer by 2 1/2 lengths (click here)– both were going down the hill at Santa Anita. He does have a win going 2-turns, as he broke his maiden at the 50k maiden claiming level going 1 mile. Don’t think we will see him on the lead, but I expect him to be forwardly placed. Rafael Bejarano making the trip shows some confidence from the connections. Blitzkrieg is improving, but he is going to need to improve more if he is going to beat this caliber of a field.
#3 Mithqaal (Jonathan Wong/ Silvio Amador) Local horse who has held strong form throughout the meet. Tactical running style should be an advantage for him and I could see him sitting in 2nd or 3rd behind Many Roses. Figures are behind on paper, but he ran a nice 2nd in the Rolling Green Stakes over this turf course last September (click here). Should be able to save some ground from the 3 post. Has home field advantage but needs to take a step forward.
#4 Le Ken (Ronald McAnally/ Diego Sanchez) He is a multiple G1 winner in his home country of Argentina, and is looking for his first win in North America. Le Ken has been running behind top turf company down South and is coming off a close 3rd in the G3 Thunder Road Stakes (click here). He ran a very gritty race and gave it his all. Should be sitting around midpack and will be trying to run on late. Numbers kind of fit here on paper, and I could see him running in underneath at a big price. Sneaky horse, definitely one to include underneath.
#5 Wentwood (Dermot Weld/ Juan Hernandez) It is really amazing to see that the racing office at Golden Gate Fields was able to get an international runner into this year’s race. The Irish-based Wentwood is trained by the legendary Dermot Weld. He has shown his best form over quick ground, and Saturday’s conditions should only benefit him in his North American debut. This lightly raced 4yo (now has 7 lifetime starts) made his 2019 return on the 7th of this month a winning one. He beat a large field in a handicap at Cork in Ireland. He was number 7, and sat midpack on the outside in the green and red silks (click here). He finished up nicely and should have gotten a ton of fitness after going 1 1/4m. While he does not have the strongest form on paper, he is coming into this as an improving type. The firm ground and lasix should move him forward. Dermot Weld is not shipping him over to visit California– he means business!
#6 Many Roses (Ellen Jackson/ Cristobal Herrera) This son of Many Rivers looks like the speed of the speed in this field. Ran a strong 3rd in this race last year at huge odds (click here). This is a tough spot for his first race back since June of last year. Also, Jackson is 0 for her last 12 with runners coming off 180+ day layoffs. Has some long 7f drills so should have some fitness. Think the others will let him go and he could take them a long way. Wish he had a run of two under his belt though. Definitely one to consider underneath as he has run 3rd in the last 2 San Francisco Miles. Could get loose and will be a HUGE price.
#7 Grecian Fire (Jerry Hollendorfer/ William Antongeorgi) This son of Unusual Heat is coming off an impressive win sprinting over the tapeta (click here). It looked like connections just wanted to get a run into him and prep him for today’s race. All his prior success came at 2-turns, which makes his last effort even better. Ran 7th in this race last year but only lost by 3 1/4 lengths. Seems to be coming into this year’s race in better form. Will be running on late from the back. Some of his previous numbers fit well here and it looks like he could still be improving. Is going to be the shortest priced Northern California based horse.
#8 Choo Choo (Jerry Hollendorfer/ Irving Orozco) The 2nd runner in the race for Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer. Is coming off a solid Allowance Optional Claiming win over the main track (click here). Has shown some speed in the past, and I expect him to be sitting in a stalking position. Been running Beyers in the mid 80s, which is well behind many others in this field– is going to need to improve at least 10-12 points here.
#9 Souter (Mark Glatt/ Julien Couton) Coming off 3 wins and a 2nd in his last 4 starts. He showed a lot of heart in his last win as he took 2nd in an Allowance Optional Claimer going 1 1/8m on the turf (click here). Julien Couton jumps aboard and is looking to make it back-to-back San Francisco Mile wins. Will likely be stalking the pace and is a bit of grinding type. Numbers are a bit behind on paper and this is a big step up in company for him.
#10 River Boyne (Jeff Mullins/ Flavien Prat) This multiple Graded Stakes Winner is going to take a lot of money, and is likely going to be a top-2 choice at the windows. He is coming off of a 4th place effort in the G1 Kilroe Mile (click here). The son of Dandy Man had a 4 wide trip throughout in this 6-horse field and did not get any cover. It was a good run, and you have to figure he is going to improve in his 3rd start of the year. One cause for concern, is that he is drawn in the parking lot. It is pretty easy to get caught wide going this 1 mile distance– Flavien Prat is going to have his work cut out for him. Has good form over firm ground and has a versatile running style. Will be dangerous in this spot, especially if he can save some ground.
Anothertwistafate in the paddock prior to the El Camino Real Derby
The El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate tried to punch his ticket to the Kentucky Derby in the G3 Lexington Stakes over the weekend at Keeneland. 20 valuable Kentucky Derby points were awarded to the winner, and Northern California’s local hope desperately needed those. He ran a valiant race, but once again found himself finishing in 2nd. The son of Scat Daddy got boxed in on the inside and was left with too much to do once he found an opening. He finished up strong on the rail under Javier Castellano but it was ultimately too late. It also appeared like he prefers more ground than 8.5 furlongs. He finished in 2nd by 1 3/4 lengths and only managed to win 8 Derby points. Anothertwistafate is on the outside looking in, and currently sits in 23rd place with 38 points– the top 19 will earn a spot in the starting gate. The Blaine Wright trainee is going to need some defections to get in. I personally feel like it is going to be 50-50 wether or not he will make the race. Connections have stated they will run if they can get in, and he is going to stay in Kentucky to see if anything opens up.
Saturday’s effort earned Anothertwistafate a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, which is 1 point higher than his runs in the Sunland Derby and the El Camino Real Derby. If Anothertwistafate does not make the Kentucky Derby starting gate, he still has an automatic berth into the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown (His El Camino Real Derby win was a Win and You’re In for the G1 Preakness). He has shown he can run solidly on the dirt, and I think he has the potential to make some noise in the Triple Crown races. One race that I would love to see him run in this year would be the G1 Belmont Derby. He is bred to love the grass (by Scat Daddy out of a 1/2 to a French Oaks winner) and should like the 1 1/4m distance. It should be a fun campaign for his connections, because there are so many different spots for him to excel in.
Friday:
(Race 7: CLM20k 3yo 1m T) While Brilliant Richie was coming off of an impressive 7 length win at the 6250 claiming level, today’s race was a big step up. He ran really well going a route of ground last race, and trainer Jonathan Wong decided to keep him going long— this time he switched him to the grass. The son of Brilliant Speed sat in a nice stalking position going 3 wide. He made a bid for the lead on the far turn and then was able to quicken really nicely in the lane to win by 1 3/4 lengths. This was also the first turf race at Golden Gate Fields since January. Red Clem and Cash Money ran 2nd and 3rd respectively. The final time was 1:37.88.
Race 8: Adorned was able to score a dominant win in his 2019 debut. The 5yo Uncle Mo gelding has had to deal with some layoffs and is lightly raced for his age. After his debut in 2016, he did not make his second start until 2018. Today’s race was back at a sprint distance and his conditioner Blaine Wright did a great job getting him ready for the race. He was towards the back of the pack early, but would steadily improve his position on the turn. In the stretch, he leveled off super nicely to win by 4 lengths over pace-setter Mikes Tiznow. Adorned has now shown success sprinting on the main track, and going long on the grass, so it leaves plenty of options going forward. 3rd went to Tanners Pride. The final time was a swift 1:02.91.
Saturday:
(Race 7: MSW 3yo F 5.5f) SoCal shipper Posit was able to get the job done and break her maiden in career start number 5. Her figures were strong on paper and the 7/5 favorite looked tough on the cutback. The Simon Callaghan trainee was in a nice position sitting in 2nd on the outside of pace-setting first time starter Premiere Lady. She pulled ahead in the stretch to score by 2.5 lengths. First time starter Spanish Magic was able to get up for 2nd, and Premiere Lady held on for 3rd. The final time was 1:03.77.
Posit, con Juan Hernández, ganan un Maiden Special Weight en @GGFracing para Simon Callaghan.
(Race 5: ALW/OC40k n1x 3yo F 6f) Mucho Amor was making her first start as a 3yo after showing some precocity as a 2yo. The Mucho Macho Man filly won her debut in a 4 1/2f race at Keeneland and was able to run 4th in the G2 Adirondack at Saratoga. She also was making her first start for trainer Blaine Wright. As the gates opened she showed a bit of speed and sat in 2nd behind the pace-setting favorite Stealthediamonds. On the turn she made a move to press the leader, and was able to pull away in the stretch to a 4 length win. She was really impressive in here, and in fact, ran .13 seconds faster than the 3yo colts Allowance race in the 3rd. She has had layoff lines after all her prior efforts, but hopefully she comes out of this one well. Finishing 2nd was Stealthediamonds, and 3rd went to Creative Romance. The final time was 1:09.75.
Mucho Amor, con Juan Hernández, fue superior en la 5ta carrera de @GGFracing.
(Race 7: ALWn1x 3yoUp 1 1/16m T) Builder has proved to be a strong claim for tainer Isidro Tamayo. He has now won back-to-back races since being claimed for 12.5k 2 starts back. Last out he won a 50k Starter Allowance on the main track and this start he was jumping up to face Allowance company on the turf. The 4yo gelding only had one prior turf effort, and it led to a 6-month layoff (so something could have gone wrong from the race). He is by multiple G1 turf winner Gio Ponti, and also his trainer is a strong 20% going from synthetic to turf. Julien Couton got Builder in a great rating position off the pace and made a strong move on the turn. He pulled ahead in the stretch slightly, but then was faced with multiple challenges. Builder showed a ton of heart in the lane and refused to lose– he re-rallied to win by a nose. 2nd place went to Big Buzz and 3rd went to Lymebyrd. The final time was 1:43.08.
(Race 8: ALWn1x 3yoUp F 5.5f) Coming off a solid maiden win in her North American debut, Left Alone was stepping into the deep end against a strong first level Allowance field. The Manuel Badilla trainee was breaking from the 10 post in this field of 11. She sat in 5th early on, and then made an assertive move 3-wide on the turn under leading jockey Abel Cedillo. The daughter of Reckless Abandon powered home strongly in the stretch to win by a convincing 2.5 lengths. Strip it Down ran on well for 2nd, and Gotham Desire held on for 3rd. The final time was 1:03.39.
(Race 6: Claiming 16k 3yoUP 6f ) The speedy Lawaun took them gate-to-wire on the class drop. Jockey Kevin Orozco did a great job sending the 4yo The Pamplemousse gelding to the lead and making sure there was enough in the tank for the stretch. Lawaun dug in gamely to take this 16k claimer by a head for trainer Frank Lucarelli. It was a strong run as he had not been seen since running 4th in a 25k Optional Claimer at Turf Paradise. He had some decent showings on the fair circuit last year, and I would imagine today’s effort helped prime him up for another run at it. Finishing a close 2nd was Incensed, and 3rd went to Synnin. The final time was 1:10.44.
(Race 7: Claiming 20kN2x 3yoUP F&M 1m) The 8yo Mare Chapter Ten was able to claim her 4th victory in her 24th career start. She sat a few lengths off the leader in 3rd behind Just Be Held and made a nice move under Catalino Martinez to grab the lead in the stretch. The William Delia trainee was very game in the stretch and was able to hold off a late-running Tizno’s Dilemma by a diminishing neck. It was a break of 4 more lengths back to Pure Perfection in 3rd. The daughter of Ten Most Wanted was going sprint to route in her 2nd start off an 8-month layoff, and was also coming off a 4f bullet work in 47.2 on March 22nd (best of 33 that day). The final time was 1:38.75.
Jockeys: William Antongeorgi got off to a slow start this meet, but has managed to flip the switch quite nicely. He led the way on Thursday with 2 wins– they came in races 3 and 5.
Trainers: All 7 races on the card were won by different trainers.
(Race 1: MCL 8k 3yo F 5f) In the Friday opener, we saw a stylish debut win from the Harris Farms homebred Little Tomato. The Lakerville filly showed a lot of speed early and began to put some distance between herself and the rest of the field on the turn– she would cruise to an easy 5 length win under jockey Heribert Martinez. Trainer John Martin would complete the exacta in this race, as the favorite Two Bears was able to hold on for 2nd. Little Tomato stopped the clock in 59.05.
(Race 3: MSW 3yo CA 1 1/16m) While No Name Fred did run a close 2nd to Shadrack 2 starts back, he had failed to show the ability successfully sit off the pace. Trainer Bob Hess Sr did a great job getting him ready off the 2 1/2 month layoff. After veering in a bit at the start, jockey Abel Cedillo did a great job getting him to relax and was able to save a lot of ground sitting off the pace on the rail. On the turn he made a strong move in-hand but had absolutely nowhere to run. In the stretch, Cedillo had to swing the son of Ultimate Eagle out into the 3-path after being boxed in– he found a clear lane and kicked on very strongly to score by an easy 3 lengths. It seemed like the lightbulb turned on here, and it will be interesting to see how he runs in his next start out of this. He has a lot of options being a Cal-bred, and has shown good form on the main track and the turf course. Finishing 2nd and 3rd were a pair of SoCal shippers in No Parking Here and Scrappy Deville. The final time was 1:45.38.
(Race 6: CLM 20kN2x 3yoUP 1m) While it looked like a competitive 9-horse race on paper, trainer Ari Herbertson was able to finish with the exacta. Jockey Luis Ocasio had to be patient on the turn, but once he found a seem in the 4-path, he was able to kick home strongly aboard Premium Forest and run down stablemate Katie’s Cowboy. The son of Forest Command improved in his first start off-the-claim, and Ari Herbertson must have had some confidence in him because he stepped him up from the 12.5k claiming level to the 20k level. 3rd place went to Invertigo. The final time was 1:38.37.
Jockeys: Abel Cedillo had 2 wins on the day– he had the double in races 2 and 3.
Trainers: All 7 races were won by different trainers.
(Race 8: ALW 3yoUP F 5.5f) Stakes winner Ima Happy Cat was able to claim her 2nd win of the winter/spring meet. Jockey Ricky Gonzalez put her on the lead from the 2 post and did a great job rationing her energy in the early parts of the race. The Smiling Tiger filly was able to hold in the stretch and won by 3/4 of a length. She earned this win today against a strong field as she set fractions of 21.66 for the 1/4 and 44.87 for the 1/2. Trainer Dan Markle has kept this 4yo filly in great form and she is continuing to improve. Finishing 2nd was Claudia Mae. 3rd went to the favorite Alliford Bay who was running on well late– it was her first start since her Zia Park Distaff win from back in November. The final time was 1:03.29.
(Race 9: CLM 20kN2x 3yoUP 5.5f) The drop in class from Allowance company seemed to do the trick for the Jonathan Wong trained El Chavo Del Ocho. Breaking from post 1, he did not get away the most alertly and would find himself sitting in last of this field of 7 heading into the far turn. Jockey Catalino Martinez did not panic and began to make a strong move up the inside. The son of Tannersmyman was left with a lot of work in the stretch but would level off nicely to get up by a perfectly timed 1/2 length over the favorite American Currency. 3rd went to other Wong trainee, Kerri’s Choice. El Chavo Del Ocho stopped the clock in 1:03.72.
Jockeys: Juan Hernandez led the way with 2 wins.
Trainers: Leading trainer Jonathan Wong took 2 wins. He won race 6 with Kona Coast and race 9 with El Chavo Del Ocho.
(Race 3: ALW/OC 62kN2x 3yoUP 5.5f) Sequentially was able to make it 2 straight wins for trainer John Martin after his win in the 3rd race on Sunday. This was his 3rd race since being claimed for 20k– he has proved to be a strong claim as he now has 2 Allowance victories. Frank Alvarado got him to sit in a perfect trip in 3rd behind the dueling leaders Kiwi’s Dream and Sunset Dragunn. He showed a strong late kick and went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Kiwi’s Dream crossed the line in 2nd, but he would ultimately be placed 3rd after the stewards ruled he interfered with Sunset Dragunn late in the stretch. Kiwi’s Dream ran well off the layoff, and it should set him up well for a turf sprint race next out. The final time was 1:03.88.
(Race 4: MSW 3yoUP 1m) Trainer Doug O’Neill continued a nice week up North with a win in the 4th. His 3yo Twirling Candy gelding was able to break his maiden on the surface switch. William Antongeorgi did a great job keeping Of Good Report relaxed on the outside in the clear. In the stretch he did drift inward a bit, but he accelerated really nicely to win by a 1/2 length over a stubborn On Raglan Road. It was a break of 2 1/2 lengths to Minister’s Glory in 3rd. The final time was 1:39.12.
(Race 7: MSW 3yoUP F 6f) Keeper Ofthe Stars was making her first start since November. Her 3 lifetime races were in SoCal and she ran against some very strong competition– she ran against the likes of Bellafina, Vibrance, and Der Lu. The public turned this 5-horse race into basically a 2-horse race. Keeper Ofthe Stars would go off at 4/5 as the slight favorite over Starza who was even money. The Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly Keeper Ofthe Stars would go to the lead under Frank Alvarado. On the turn, Starza and Tizzy would make strong moves at the leader– but they would ultimately get turned away. The daughter of Midnight Lute would win by 4-lengths going away. She had a series of stamina-building works, and they seemed to give her enough bottom in the lane. She looks like a nice filly and can definitely build off Sunday’s effort. Starza and Tizzy would run 2nd and 3rd respectively. The final time was 1:10.53.
Jockeys: Frank Alvarado had a strong day with 3 wins on the card. He won races 3, 5, and 7. Also, William Antongeorgi was able to score 2 wins.
Trainers: Doug O’Neill had 2 wins on the day. He won races 4 and 6.
El Camino Real Derby winner Antothertwistafate is scheduled to run in the Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland. If he wins, it will give him enough points to get into the Kentucky Derby. If he runs 2nd it will be close but he will still be on the outside looking in. You can catch his latest work below.
Video of Anothertwistafate’s work from last Thursday at Sunland Park. 4f in 46.4
The El Camino Real Derby winner has 30 points and is ranked 22nd on the KY Derby Leaderboard
He is scheduled to run in the Lexington Stakes this Saturday @keenelandracing
— NorCal Horse Racing News (@NorCalHRNews) April 10, 2019
Turf racing is scheduled to return this Friday! It is going to be great to have the turf course back as we edge closer to Gold Rush Weekend. Also, the first 2yo is in the condition book for this Sunday! Live racing resumes this Friday with an 8-race program. First post is at 12:45pm.
Here is the March 28th- March 31st weekly recap for Golden Gate Fields.
Thursday:
(Race 5: 1 1/16m 3yo F ALW/OC40k n1x) Blue Diva had previously run 2nd at this level in an Off-The-Turf event back in October. After that, connections wanted to use her conditions and put her in 3 Starter Allowance races– she crossed the wire 1st 2 times (but got disqualified and placed 6th in 1 of them) and had a close 3rd. Those seemed to give her a lot of confidence and showed that she was progressing. The daughter of Bluegrass Cat sat patiently early under Abel Cedillo. Once she swung to the outside at the top of the stretch, she unleashed a furious rally and drew off to a strong 3 length win. Trainer Steve Sherman has done a great job with her so far and she will have options moving forward once the turf course opens up again. Creative Romance ran a strong 2nd in her first career route. And the favorite Oh My Oh finished 3rd. The final time was 1:46.19.
Blue Diva, con Abel Cedillo, destapó potente atropellada para ganar la 5ta carrera programada en @GGFracing.
(Race 6: 6f 3yo MSW) It took him 9 starts, but Alleva was finally able to get the job done and claim his first victory. The 3yo colt by Goldencents had run some competitive races down south and was the one to beat on paper. He broke alertly from the 2 hole and never looked back. Abel Cedillo kept him on a comfortable lead the whole way and saved enough in the tank for the stretch drive. He went on to score by 3 lengths for trainer Doug O’Neill. This is definitely a versatile horse, as he has hit the board in sprints, routes, and on dirt, turf, and synthetics. Running a nice 2nd was the debut runner Koa– he was a 725k 2yo in training purchase for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. 3rd place went to the late-running Dub Town. The final time for this sprint was 1:11.18.
Jockeys: Abel Cedillo and Silvio Amador both scored 2 wins on the 7-race card.
Trainers: All 7 races were won by different trainers.
(Race 6: 1m 3yo ALW/OC4ok n1x) The stylish debut winner Visitant was taking a big step-up in class and routing for the first time today. He was facing a tough field of 7 and was sent off as the 7/2 2nd choice. Prior to his debut win, trainer William Morey said in an interview on TVG that he can’t wait for Visitant to go long, and that he has a really big stride. As the gates opened, Visitant was not super keen to go on with it, and sat patiently under William Antongeorgi. The son of Ghostzapper sat in 5th on the backstretch. He was under a hard ride to get going on the turn, but once he was asked, he responded. Visitant showed a strong kick in the lane to grab the lead at the 1/16th pole and went on to win by 1 length. He is improving nicely and I would imagine he will continue to progress through his conditions. The other Morey trainee in the race was Our Silver Oak, and he had a very rough trip. The blinkers came off for this run, and he made a huge eye-catching move up the rail. However, the hole closed up and forced him to steady hard. Our Silver Oak to settle for a hard-luck 3rd today. 2nd place went to the late running Rey Coliman. The final time for this race was 1:38.60.
(Race 7: 1m 3yoUp F&M ALW n1x) Renny’s Lady was coming off a distant 6th place effort last time out, but was able to turn the tables today against Gettin Sideways. The daughter of Excelebration was outrun early and found herself sitting in last in this field of 6. She began to make some progress on the turn and unleashed a strong kick to get up on the wire by a neck– it was a perfectly timed ride by Irving Orozco. I sound like a broken record typing this, but yes, trainer Manuel Badilla won a nice race with yet another European import. The favorite Gettin Sideways was narrowly defeated in 2nd. Pace-setting Miss Super Saint was able to hold on for 3rd. The final time for this race was 1:38.04.
Jockeys: It was a competitive day, as all 8 races on the program were won by different jockeys.
Trainers: Just like the jockeys, all 8 races were won by different trainers.
(Race 6: 1m 3yoUp ALW/OC62k n2x) Coming out of a solid 2nd behind local talent Mugaritz, Choo Choo was looking to get back to his winning ways. The public saw his strong form lines, and bet him down from a 9/2ml to 2/1. The son of English Channel sat a stalking trip on the inside under Irving Orozco. Orozco was able to shift him out from the rail at the top of the stretch and ran on strongly to score by 2 1/2 lengths. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee now has 2 wins and a 2nd from 4 starts over the tapeta, and has definitely seemed to have regained his form since shipping back up from Southern California. There are going to be some options for him on the main track and turf moving forward. Respect the Hustle and More Power to Him ran 2nd and 3rd respectively. The final time for the mile was 1:37.93.
(Race 7: 6f 3yo F CA MSW) The first time starter Queen Helene was able to get the job done against a solid state-bred maiden field. The 3yo daughter of Unionize was coming into the race off of a best of 75 5f bullet in 1:00.00. Also, trainer Jamey Thomas is very capable with first-time-starters and can get them cranked up. She would be sent off as the 7/2 3rd choice. Alejandro Gomez got her in a nice stalking position on the outside and was able to get her to relax a bit. Once asked on the turn, she responded very well, and went on to win by an easy 1 3/4 lengths going away. While there is not a ton of pedigree on the top side, there is some stamina on the dam side. Plus, she is a half to few decent runners. 2nd went to Check Out, and 3rd went to Rebalation. The final time was 1:10.36.
Jockeys: Irving Orozco, William Antongeorgi, and Frank Alvarado all won a pair of races on Saturday’s program.
Trainers: Victor Trujillo took races 2 and 4 on the card.
(Race 6: 6f 3yoUp CLM 25k) The 6th race today was filled with a lot of hard-knocking older horses. It was a very competitive 25k claimer. There was quite a bit of pace on paper, and it played out that way (1/4 in 22.22, 1/2 in 45.30). Midnight Destiny sat in last and rallied on very strongly to win by 1/2 a length. This was another first off the claim win for leading trainer Jonathan Wong. The 7yo gelding now has 12 wins from 50 starts. Finishing well for 2nd was Awesome Silver, and Speed Saver rallied on for 3rd. The final time was 1:09.72.
(Race 7: 6f 3yoUp MSW) Exhortation was making his 2nd career start today and he was coming off of a 6 month layoff. He did not show much at all in the debut run, but maybe something went amiss, which would explain the layoff. The 4yo Lucky Pulpit colt sat patiently on the inside and was well off the early lead that was set by Klay Nation. Silvio Amador made a strong move on the tun in-hand and just needed to point Exhortation in the right direction in the stretch. He swallowed up ground quickly and went on to romp by 5 lengths for trainer Gloria Haley. Today’s performance was very strong and he looks like a horse with some potential. 2nd went to Union Leader, and 3rd went to Dynamic Duo. The final time was 1:10.48.
(Race 10: 6f 3yo CAL MSW) It was great to see Leadville finally enter the winner’s circle. He was coming off a nice 2nd place effort and was making his 2nd start of the year today. In his prior 7 starts he had 2 2nds and 2 3rds, including a stakes-placing. Today, he was able to rally on the outside in the stretch and grind away to hold off the late closers. There was a lot of bumping in the stretch between Leadville and Our Bold Prince, but the stewards would ultimately rule no change. Leadville is trained by Felix Rondan and was ridden by Catalino Martinez. Starring John Wain finished 2nd, and Our Bold Prince was a troubled 3rd. The final time was 1:11.10.
Jockeys: Irving Orozco, Catalino Martinez, William Antongeorgi, and Cristobal Herrera all had strong 2 win days.
Cedillo *85* 2. Hernandez *63* 3. Martinez *47*
Trainers: Victor Trujillo kept things rolling, as he won races 4 and 8.
Anothertwistafate in the paddock prior to his dominant El Camino Real Derby win
Heading into the 800k G3 Sunland Derby, there were 2 main questions that needed to be answered by Anothertwistafate. Could he handle the dirt? And could he sit behind horses? Well, we found out after the race that the short answer to both is “yes”. He broke well and showed speed early. He was tucked in on the rail behind the pace-setting favorite Mucho Gusto. Anothetwistafate took some kickback and had to be patient as he did not have much room to make a move. After being trapped inside, on the far turn Juan Hernandez finally got an opening and wheeled out for the stretch drive, but it would ultimately be too late. He began to finish rapidly down the center of the track, but would run out of real estate. Anothertwistafate finished a nose short behind the Todd Pletcher trainee Cutting Humor. The El Camino Real Derby winner ran valiantly and just had an unlucky trip. He now sits in 12th in the standings with 30 Kentucky Derby points and it will be close to whether or not he will get in. Connections had said entering before the race that they would push on for the Derby with a top 2 finish. If the son of Scat Daddy does not make the cut, he still has the automatic birth to the G1 Preakness tucked in his back pocket– not the worst plan B. Trainer Blaine Wright said after the race that there are few options moving forward. He could go to the Derby, or either the G1 Arkansas Derby/ G3 Lexington, or lastly, prep for the Preakness in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields. Anothertwistafate represented Northern California on the main stage, and he has made everyone proud. Even though his pedigree suggests he is bred for turf, he continues to show his talent on both synthetics and dirt.
Saturday:
(Race 8: 1m 3yoUp ALWn1x) Southern California shipper Jungle Warfare was able to get his 2nd lifetime win in 18 starts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. He had been knocking heads with some strong company down South, and the bit of class relief today seemed to do the trick. He sat in 5th and made a strong move to the lead in the stretch where he was able to hold on very gamely by 3/4 of a length over a lot of late running horses. The 4yo son of Animal Kingdom has been as consistent as they come. He has hit the board in 16 of his 18 starts, and has shown ability sprinting, routing, on dirt, turf, and synthetics. Running 2nd was War Chest. 3rd place went to Lymebyrd, who had one of the most horrific trips I have seen in a long time. He stumbled out of the gate, checked hard at the 7/16ths pole, and had to steady multiple times late. The final time for the race was 1:37.16.
(Race 6: 6f 3yoF MSW) Tip Top Gal was able to score a 12/1 upset to break her maiden. She broke from the rail and was sent to the lead. Nobody went with her and she was able to get brave up front. The field probably thought she was going to come back to them due to her odds, but she didn’t– she went on to score by 3 lengths. This daughter of Old Topper was coming off some subpar performances down South, and was looking to rebound in her first start over an all-weather surface. She was ridden by Silvio Amador and was trained by Marcia Stortz. Running 2nd was the Doug O’Neill trainee Morning Synn. ‘Horses to Watch’ horse A Lonna At the Top was grinding away from the back of the field, but could only manage 3rd. The final time was 1:10.14.
(Race 5: 5.5f 3yo ALW/OC40k n1x) The SoCal shipper Lieutenant Dan was much the best in this allowance race, as he dominated it to score by 4 lengths. He sat just off the leader Boa Nova and responded well when asked by jockey Abel Cedillo. The Steven Miyadi trained son of Grazen now has 2 lifetime wins, and looks like he could be a quality cal-bred sprinter. Mr Paytience and Loud Mouth ran 2nd and 3rd respectively. The final time was a quick 1:03.07.
Jockeys: Silvio Amador led the way with 2 wins on the day.
Trainers: It was a very competitive day, as all 9-races were won by different trainers.
(Race 6: 1m 3y0Up F MSW) Kynance was making her 4yo debut, and her first start in North America after 6 career runs in Great Britain. She had 4-runner up finishes coming into this one, so we knew she was on the verge of breaking through. The Canford Cliffs filly was sitting unhurried in 5th on the backstretch. However, once in the stretch, she showed a devastating turn of foot to score by 2 lengths. She ran the final 1/8th in 11.94. Trainer Manuel Badilla has yet another strong European shipper in the barn. Also, it was great to see Irving Orozco back in the winner’s circle for the first time since his injury last fall. Congrats Irving! Running 2nd was the favorite Soothing, and completing the trifecta was Callmejessiejames. The final time was 1:39.50.
(Race 8: 6f 3yoUp F&M ALWn1x) I Love Romance took them gate-to-wire in this allowance feature on Sunday. Apprentice jockey Jorge Velez gave this 4yo Black Seventeen filly a great ride and they were able to hold on by 3/4 of a length over stablemate C C the Bartender– it was a Jonathan Wong exacta. I Love Romance is now 6 for 16 lifetime and is continuing to improve. Running 3rd was Angels N Devildogs. The clock was stopped in a solid 1:10.01.
Jockeys: Julien Couton had a riding double to conclude the weekend at Golden Gate Fields. The jockey colony is super strong and competitive right now with all of the SoCal competition (same goes for the trainers).
Cedillo *81* 2. Hernandez *61* 3. Martinez *42*
Trainers: Leading trainer Jonathan Wong scored 2 wins on the day. He won race 5 and had the exacta in race 8.
Wong *55* 2. Hollendorfer *22* 3. Morey *19*
Live racing resumes Thursday with a 7-race card. Also, there have been some European horses confirmed for Gold Rush Weekend by trainers Dermot Weld and Jane Chapple-Hyam. We are still a month away and I am sure we will see some more confirmations of horses both domestically and internationally.
Siblings Grecian Fire and Sneaking Out were both able to get Allowance wins on today’s card for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. They are both out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Maddie’s Odyssey.
(Race 4: 6f 3yo up ALW/OC 80k n3x) Stakes-winner Grecian Fire was making his first start in 2019 after a long 11-race 2018 campaign that ended in November. This son of Unusual Heat has showed all of his prior success routing, which made today’s race appear as a starting point (since it was at a sprint distance). The 5yo gelding was out-paced early and found himself sitting about 5 lengths off the lead in last. In the lane, he began to grind away and was closing steadily. He was forced to go out into the 6/7-path, and would ultimately find himself getting up by a neck on the line for the win over Summersimage. It was a perfectly timed ride by jockey William Antongeorgi. This should set Grecian Fire up for a nice season, and there are a few options for him in California. He did run in the G3 San Francisco Mile last year, and it would not surprise me to see the connections try that spot again with him. Running 2nd by a neck was a stakes-winner in Summersimage (Grecian Fire ran 2nd in the 2017 Robert Dupret Derby to Summersimage, and was able to reverse the form today). Coming in 3rd was SoCal stakes-winner Tough Sunday. The final time for this race was 1:09.93.
Grecian Fire y @Jockeybant volaron del último al primero en la 4ta de @GGFracing, un Allowance Optional Claiming.
(Race 7: 5.5f 3yo F ALW/OC n1x) Last seen breaking her maiden by 10.5 lengths at Del Mar in September, Sneaking Out was making her 3yo debut today. She figured to be tough in this spot, and she garnered the public support– she was bet down to 4/5. This daughter of Indian Evening sat in a nice patient position in 2nd under Juan Hernandez. Once she was asked in the lane, she kicked on very impressively and pulled away to win by 2.5 lengths. This completed a double on the day for Jerry Hollendorfer. Finishing well for 2nd was Cozze Kid. And GG Debutante 3rd Stealthediamonds returned to complete the trifecta. I always like to speculate where horses might show up next, and there are quite a few spots for Sneaking Out since she is a cal-bred. The 100k Campanile Stakes (April 28th) would make a lot of sense. It is for state-breds, and she has the pedigree– she is out of a turf route winner and is a 1/2 to Grecian Fire who is a stakes winner on the turf. The final time for today’s race was 1:03.63.
(Race 5: 6f 3yo up ALW n1x) Sequentially was coming off a 5th place effort (only beaten 2.5 lengths) at this level last time out, and figured to improve in his 2nd start in the John Martin barn. Today’s race set up a lot better for him, as there was plenty of speed signed on. He broke a lot better today under Frank Alvarado and would settle in 4th early. The son of Forestry kicked on strongly in the 4-path in the stretch and cruised to a going-away 3.5 length victory. He was claimed for 20k 2-back, and looks like he still has a lot of upside. Finishing 2nd was Tanners Pride, and 3rd was longshot Sith Lord. The final time for this race was 1:09.97.
Jockeys: Abel Cedillo, William Antongeorgi, and Hugo Herrera all had 2 wins on today’s 8-race card.
Cedillo *79* 2. Hernandez *60 3. Martinez *41*
Trainers: Jerry Hollendorfer scored a double to claim 2nd in the trainer standings.
Wong *53* 2. Hollendorfer *20* 3. Morey *19*
Live racing resumes tomorrow with a 9-race program. First post is at 12:45pm.
(Race 6) My Sweet Lou was able to get the job done on the class drop today for trainer Ed Moger and jockey Juan Hernandez. This 4yo filly was coming out of 2 tough allowance sprints and was dropping into the 20k claiming level here. The pedigree suggested that she could handle her first time routing as she is by multiple G1 winning router Acclamation, and is out of a stakes winning router. As the gates opened, Juan Hernandez sent the speedy filly to the lead and she never looked back. She maintained an easy solo lead throughout and kicked on very nicely in the lane to score by 4 lengths. My Sweet Lou showed a lot of ability, and I would imagine she will be in a protected spot next out. Trainer Steve Specht claimed her for the 20k tag after the race. Sparkle Shine and Angelofmontgomery finished 2nd and 3rd respectively at big odds. The final time for the 1m race was 1:39.12.
(Race 7) Palermo Style is a horse that has shown talent, but has just seemed to find some bad racing luck. After a close 2nd down South in a turf MSW, trainer William Morey shipped him up North and kept him at a route distance. The son of Animal Kingdom was finally able to put it all together in start number 5. He found himself on the lead early and was going fairly easy up front. On the turn, Minister’s Glory made a move to try to grab the lead, and when Juan Hernandez asked Palermo Style to take off, he did. The 4yo gelding showed a nice turn of foot and went on to win by an easy 6 lengths. It was nice to see a horse with his talent figure things out, and hopefully this was a “lightbulb turning on” type of moment for him. On Raglan Road got up by a neck for 2nd over Minister’s Glory. The final time for this 1m MSW race was 1:38.76.
Jockeys: Today’s card was dominated by 2 riders. Abel Cedillo and Juan Hernandez both won 3 races. They combined to win 6 of the 7 races!
Cedillo *77* 2. Hernandez *59* 3. Martinez *41*
Trainers: All 7 races were won by different trainers.
Wong *53* 2. Morey *19* 3. Hollendorfer *18*
Live racing resumes tomorrow with an 8-race card. First post is at 12:45pm.
The most impressive performance on the day went to the 3yo filly Faithful One in race 8. She only had one prior start, and it was a MSW at Del Mar over the summer. Today, trainer William Morey dropped her in for a 25k tag in this 5 1/2f MCL dash. As the gates opened, she was sent hard by Heriberto Figueroa to get the lead. She would continue to widen her margin as the race went on, and when she crossed the line she had won by a devastating 15 lengths. She showed multiple gears and kept on going– it is extremely rare to see double digit length wins on this tapeta track. The Tommy Town Thoroughbreds homebred put it all together today and I am sure they are happy to see there was no claim put in for her. There must have been some potential early, because she took some money on debut– was bet down to 8/1 in a field of 10. Obviously something went amiss because today was her first run back since that early September run. It was a far distance back to Senssorey in 2nd, and the first time starter Fabled was able to get up late for 3rd. Faithful One stopped the clock in a very quick 1:03.28.
Race 4 was was a 12.5k claimer for 3yos and it was scratched down to just a field of 4. Gray Donovan sat in 2nd behind the pace-setting Lucky’s Last Song and Abel Cedillo began to press the pace on the turn. He would kick clear in the stretch to score by 3 lengths going away. This was the 3yo Graydar colt’s first start in the Jonathan Wong barn since being claimed. Gray Donovan adds to Wong’s already impressive 25% ‘First of the Claim’ percentage. Lucky’s Last Song still managed to hold 2nd, and Cinderellas Prince got 3rd. The 6f were run in 1:10.92.
Multiple stakes-placed Algenon took a competitive field of 40k claimers gate-t0-wire and scored at a solid price of 9/1. Frank Alvarado did a great job hustling Algenon to the front while saving enough in the tank for the stretch drive. The pace was solid up front and the horses that sat 2nd and 3rd finished 5th and 7th in the field of 7. Algenon has now banked over $186k in 24 starts. This 6yo has been consistent and has stayed competitive at the high claiming and allowance levels throughout his career. Mal Verde and Malibu Alex finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. The final time was 1:10.13.
It was great to see Golden Gate Fields eclipse $4mil in handle on back-to-back Dollar Day Sundays. Hopefully Golden Gate Fields can continue to gain momentum and keep the trend going. The weather has improved a lot, and it looks like we could be just a few weeks away from the turf course re-opening!
Jockeys: Frank Alvarado had a big day with 3 wins. Catalino Martinez and Heriberto Figueroa both had solid 2-win days.
Cedillo *74* 2. Hernandez *56* 3. Martinez *41*
Trainers: William Morey (Races 8, 11) and John Martin (Races 1,2) each had training doubles on the day.
Wong *52* T-2. Morey, Hollendorfer *18*
Live racing will resume Thursday with a 7-race card. First post is at 12:45pm.
NorCal Horse Racing News 