We’ve got a nice weekend of racing coming up. After racing was cancelled last week here at Golden Gate there is a big weekend in store. The only track to be running during the day time in California with nice sized fields with big cards as well. Aside from yesterday’s 7 race program the minimum the rest of this weekend will be 10 races which is what we’ve got in store today. A couple hot trainers to keep in mind: Blaine Wright was 5 for 15, Jack Steiner was 4 for 7, Steve Miyadi was 4 for 10, and Samuel Calvario was 3 for 9 (all prior to the cancelled cards last week). Hot jockeys to keep in mind include: Frank Alvarado and Julien Couton (4 for 12) as well as Alejandro Gomez (4 for 15 with an average double digit odds). Enough talking here is my thoughts on this terrific Friday card.
Race 1: 5.5 Furlongs $12,500 Maiden Claiming 2 year olds (9-6-4)
9 Flight Speed is one of a couple first time starters in here and is one of two for trainer Steve Miyadi. This gelding has had a steady work pattern coming in. He is running in a winnable spot here despite being on debut. The horses with experience have ugly lines so one of the firsters winning wouldn’t be a complete shock.
6 Call Sign Lucky is one with experience and ugly racing lines in the form. He is a son of Square Eddie who debuted here in June. He was sent for speed and weakened. In two subsequent starts down South at Del Mar he showed speed and faded. He has gotten back on the work pattern since shipping back here and he is taking the drop to 12.5. Interesting note two back runner up came here to break the maiden on turf against open maidens.
4 Sweet Bags is a longshot horse to consider underneath. On debut he flashed some speed and tired. This will be his second time out so he could improve. Most importantly dropping a level in class. Will try to hang in there for a slice late.
Race 2: 5.5 Furlongs $4,000 Claiming F & M 3 & up (5-6-3)
5 Final Demand comes in off a maiden victory last time out. She did so sitting off the pace and rallying. There appears to be some speed for her to run at today similar to how she closed last out. Kyle Frey gets the call for Steve Sherman who’s having a nice meet.
6 Commissioness is one of three horses exiting a common race. In fact she finished the best out of the three. She will be closing from off the pace. She’s run good races on tapeta and could be coming late.
3 Gothic GIrl is coming in off a 7 month break. So this means she’ll be fresh and ready to go for trainer Clifford Delima. She may be a horse to keep an eye on next out if she needs today’s race. Evin Roman gets the call on this longshot.
Race 3: 1 Mile & 1/16 (Turf) $20,000 Maiden Claiming F & M 3 & up (9-1-2-3)
9 Holy Zags is exiting a common race with the second choice on the morning line. In fact this horse finished in front of the other filly. That filly is 3/1 and this one is 10/1. On the class drop, trainer Blaine Wright is 29% from 21 starters. His barn has been firing lately and this is a price play to consider especially since this is part of the Stronach 5 sequence that usually pays well.
1 Surface is an 0 for 10 4 year old who hasn’t lived up to her expectations. She was purchased originally for $130k but is in for 20 today. This horse sat midfield lst out and tried to rally. The extra half furlong should help for late closing style. Interesting to note Santos Rivera gets the call as Frey rides the other Sherman runner.
2 Kiss of Congrats exits some tough races against Cal Bred maidens at Del Mar. Trainer Rene Amescua could have a nice runner considering she was shipped to run down South instead of staying put. She figures to appreciate the drop in class and could sit an off the pace trip. Frank Alvarado has always been known for riding well here on turf.
3 Lakaya exits a similar race to the 2. Her races of late haven’t been great but with a new scenario up North and a drop in class she could improve. This is also her third start in the form cycle.
Race 4: 6 Furlongs $12,500 Claiming 3 year olds & up (4-6-5)
4 Smiling Angelo is looking for his third win in a row. He’s won against allowance non one other than and then dropped in for 16 and won going away. Today off those wins he is dropping another step. Usually you win and move up the ladder but this guy is winning and dropping in class. It’s worth noting that the work 5 days ago was a rather slow work considering what he’s done in the past. With that being said this horse is the speed of the speed in here and should be the one to catch.
6 Potente Alba exits some tougher races and drops back in for 12.5 where he last won. He has flashed some speed but doesn’t appear to be as fast as the top pick. Could win the race if it was for second.
5 Arno’s Mane Man will be rolling from the back of the field. He would appreciate a pace to chase but will be rolling late. Kevin Orozco got to know this horse last out and retains the mount today. He’s also been in the exacta 5 of 10 at this distance.
Race 5: 5 Furlongs $5,000 Maiden Claiming F & M 3 & up (9-8-10)
9 Perfect Mood has run some good races finishing second a couple times. She is drawn nicely to the outside. Alejandro Gomez rides for Ellen Jackson who is still sitting on a goose egg so far this meet. Hoping she can take the next step today as she figures to get play after going off as the 6/5 post time favorite last out.
8 Tiz the Standard is 0 for 17 but does have 12 seconds and thirds combined. This horse seems to run the same race over and over and that’s not winning. She makes a move on the far turn catching the eye but hangs in the stretch. Maybe the 18th time will be the charm.
10 Crookhaven Lass is a first time starter by Clubhouse Ride so she may appreciate going longer next time. She’s had a nice steady work pattern to get her ready and in a race filled with horses with experience maybe the firster can come through.
Race 6: 6 Furlongs $50,000 Allowance Optional Claiming 3 year olds (9-1-3-4-5)
9 Slam Dunk Sermon exits a 4th place finish against allowance company. I think he was up against slightly tougher that day as the winner ended up winning next out (in fact is running earlier in today’s program). He sports two wins on this tapeta surface and appears he can get a nice stalking trip. David C Lopez on call once again as he has ridden this horse the last couple tries.
1 Eustace is back in NorCal after a good second at Del Mar. He sat off the pace and came running in the stretch only to come up short beaten by less than 2 lengths. He figures to get a similar pace setup to last time. Only negative today is the rail post. He’s run well over the tapeta in the past going 4 of 6 in the trifecta. Plus Kyle Frey gets aboard today.
3 Foothill ships in from Southern California for trainer Sean McCarthy. He broke the maiden two back on turf going 5 furlongs. He should appreciate the added ground for him to run at. The only concern will be whether he can handle the tapeta. Figures to get some play from the 5/1 morning line.
4 Little Cents is a gelding making his first start in 6 months. He’s run well in the past and finished 4th last out to a couple next out winners. He figures to be fresh and should be coming on from off the pace. He’s only missed the trifecta once in 6 starts on tapeta.
5 Prince de Prince is an interesting runner here. Last out he sat off the pace and rallied to get beaten by a short margin. In the past his ways of winning was wire to wire. There is other speed in here. If he sends the pace might be super fast. But if he repeats his last effort maybe he can get the win.
Race 7: 1 Mile (Turf) Maiden Special Weight F & M 3 & up (3-5-11-10)
3 Tsunami Spring gets back on the turf today. She finished 4th on debut sprinting 5 panels but she was flying late beaten only by a half length. Then trainer Andy Mathis shipped her to run at Del Mar and she was an okay 5th. Last time she sprinted 6 furlongs as the favorite. That was a race she should’ve won but I’ll give her the tapeta excuse and give her another shot at this spot. The price should be encouraging as well at 6/1.
5 Scherzo is making her first North American start for trainer Manuel Badilla who’s been pretty cold so far this summer. This horse ran second twice in Great Britain and those races were on the synthetic. I wonder if her preferred surface is the tapeta. So it is interesting she’s on turf today but I could be totally wrong about that.
11 Lemon Drop Tini is 0 for 9 but I’m willing to give her one more chance. She had the lead in the stretch briefly before getting nabbed last time. Albeit those were maiden 20s and today is in against open maidens. Would like to have seen a work between starts so that’s a slight concern.
10 La Gata Elegante is a price play underneath. Look at the race two back against maiden 25s. She was a big price that day and nearly won it but was caught by another price that day. He came back last out off a two month break and faded after showing speed. She could definitely improve second off the brief break and she’s been working well too.
Race 8: 6 Furlongs Allowance F & M 3 & up (8-4-3)
8 La Aguililla figures to improve off her last effort today. She was making her first start off a 9 month break. She made an earlier move than usual on the far turn and just hung in the stretch as she didn’t go by the other. I think that had to do with her stamina since that was her first start of the year. She also should appreciate the 6 furlong distance and there’s speed for her to chase.
4 Sing in the Wind was the winner in a common race with 5 others last out. She won by a nose from off the pace. The added half furlong will benefit her as will the pace setup. Catalino Martinez has gotten to know this horse pretty well and figures to be in for a piece late.
3 Meet Miss Kitty is a hard knocking 9 year old mare. She’s won 6 times but has 6 seconds and 10 thirds. She’s always trying hard and figures to be coming late. Her last win was February at this similar level. Last out she finished third to a class dropper who probably could’ve been in this spot as well. This will be a nice price to use underneath as well.
Race 9: 1 Mile & 1/16 (Turf) $20,000 Claiming 3 year olds & up (6-5-1)
6 Mad At Money comes in off a win at 12.5 n2x level at today’s distance. The step up in class is a logical one considering he won that day. I don’t think you’ll get 10/1 on this horse come post time. He gets top jockey Kyle Frey and figures to get the perfect setup with the pace scenario.
5 Implicitly ships in from Southern California for trainer Mark Rheinford. He has been roughed up lately but those races were on dirt. Today he’s back on the turf. He could show speed but could sit a stalking trip. His bullet work on 9/7 makes me think he’ll send but my concern would be other speeds. Last time this horse was on turf he finished 3rd against tougher down south. Apprentice Santos Rivera on call today.
1 Pioneerofthestorm is one of two for trainer Jonathan Wong. I would say this horse seems to like the tapeta just a tad more than turf but does have a win and two other in the money finishes. He will be on the front end looking to take the field all the way. Should also benefit from a rail saving trip drawn post 1.
Race 10: 1 Mile $8,000 Maiden Claiming 3 year olds & up (1-7-4)
1 Kaline is taking a massive drop in class. This son of Grazen had race against open maidens here before shipping down to run against Cal Bred maidens at Del Mar. Ships back into the Steve Specht barn and takes the drop to maiden 8. Third place finisher from his last race ended up winning next out. Is prefered over other droppers based on the fact that he can hang in their for a minor award nad not tired to last like the 2. Blinkers going on and second start off the brief 2 month break and the team of Frank Alvarado and Steve Specht have been known for being successful for a while now.
7 Four O’Five ran 5th on turf against maiden 20s last out. He actually finished the best out of the group exiting that common race in here today. Has been working over this tapeta since his last start so that’s a good sign. Julien Couton on board for Richard Baltas.
4 Island Heat exits that common race with our second pick. Today he’s in for his lowest claiming tag and figures to sit midfield off the early speed. Catalino Martinez has been the regular pilot for this horse who worked well 9/3.
There we have it. It should be a great day of racing. If you missed the first half of the card make sure you go check it out in a separate link. 10 good races today and 11 more tomorrow and Sunday. Good luck!