Golden Gate Fields Saturday February 22, 2020
Warren Wilson
Twitter: @HorseAnalystWW
Top Choice Season Statistics:
55 selections – 17 wins (30.91%) $2.00 Win bet ROI $2.51 (+$0.51)
Best Bet: Doggy Dreams in Race 7
Race 1 – 12:45pm (PST) 3yr old filles Clm 6250 1 mile All-Weather (Selections: 5-3)
General Comments: Competitive group of bottom level 3 year old fillies contest a mile.
Top Choice: (5) Raelee looks to get back to the winners circle here. Filly ran evenly last out to a pretty tough group, posting a solid closing kick. Switch to Herrera seems like a good choice here. Two nice morning workouts to top off her tank. Live.
Backup: (3) Perfect Sale is intriguing after a debut win at the $8k level. She does not boast much in the way of distance pedigree, but the race she exits has since produced (3) winners, Baby Hang On (5th) won for Mdn $12500, Calese (6th) won at TuP for Mdn $10k and Flashproof (2nd) came back to win Mdn $8k. Might make it 2 for 2.
Race 2 – 1:14pm (PST) 4yr old and up F&M 5-1/2 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 1-3)
General Comments: Half of this field are over the age of 5 years old: She’s So Pretty (6), Rocketann (6) and Doubelievenmagic (7). She’s So Pretty and Rocketann dead heated for 4th last out at the maiden special weight level.
Top Choice: (1) She’s So Pretty makes her third start (second on the tapeta) and looks primed after a bit of trouble in the stretch last out and drops to the claiming ranks for the first time. Speed figures are solid and she draws Desormeaux who has been doing very well since switching home base to GG.
Backup: (3) Thrill’s Legacy a homebred for Jim Grigsby and Stacy Moon, looks well placed here after showing some ability in the mornings. There was a 25 day break in workouts from Dec 29th to Jan 23rd which is a cause for concern. This gal is a half to 6x winner Saxon Lord ($133k) and 4x winner Dark Brago ($40k) out of a champion Idaho mare Thrill After Dark. Could surprise at a price.
Race 3 – 1:43pm (PST) 4yr old and up Str 8000 6 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 5-1)
General Comments: Race is essentially a two horse race with My Friend Tony and Rush having run 1-2 last out at the $32k level.
Top Choice: (5) Rush won’t have to chase My Friend Tony this time and should find a nice stalking trip behind his rival and Revernd Al. The 5 year old has a strong kick and should be able to cut down the leaders in time.
Backup: (1) My Friend Tony got loose last out and took them all the way. Today’s pace doesn’t look to be as kind with a speedy Reverend Al to his outside. Still is the best of the speed and could repeat if ‘Al doesn’t get out of the gates well.
Race 4 – 2:13pm (PST) 4 yr old and up Clm 4000b 1 mile All-Weather (Selections: 5-6)
General Comments: A bunch of big class droppers are featured in this event.
Top Choice: (5) Speed Saver has consistently unleashed a ferocious kick and now drops to the bottom here. He should be able to storm late and mow down whomever is in his way. Comes back on 6 days’ rest, but that means he should be sound, so no worries from me. Strong chance.
Backup: (6) The Ref draws Desormeaux’s attention and has always fit at this level. He just missed by a nose two back and merit’s consideration here, especially for exotics. Consistent sort.
Race 5 – 2:45pm (PST) 4yr old and up F&M Clm 4000n2L 6 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 6-4)
General Comments: Live It Well will go off as favorite as she drops back down to $4k, but added front wraps last time and didn’t fire a lick. We’ll try to beat her.
Top Choice: (6) Hope Wins at one time had some real ability. Last out she came back to beat one rival at the $4k level, but that wasn’t a bad showing given she was off 8 months. Two nice 4 furlong works in the am in prep for this and she draws outside this time after drawing the rail in her previous. Good chance at good odds.
Backup: (4) She’s in Luck is another who came back last out after a nearly 8 month break. She broke a step slow and closed on to just miss getting to Live It Well. She has two gate works in prep, which means they are working on her fear of the gate. If she overcomes the gate fear, she’ll likely win. Big chance.
Race 6 – 3:15pm (PST) 4yr old and up F&M Clm 12500 1 mile All-Weather (Selections: 1-4)
General Comments: Not much pace in this heat. Please Do adds blinkers after three efforts without them.
Top Choice: (1) Buttie should be able to dictate terms from the rail here. She loves to win and is an incredible 19/41 in the exacta. Top jock retains the mount. Will be hard to overhaul.
Backup: (4) Splashing creeps down in class for the second consecutive race after winning at the $20k n2x level. That win two back was extra impressive as she came from last to win when they ran ¾ in 1:17.6. She’ll probably find a similar scenario here and will need to turn on the turbo boost to get to the winner’s circle again. Nonetheless she should be included in all exotics.
Race 7 – 3:48pm (PST) 3yr old fillies MdnSpWt 5-1/2 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 8-3)
General Comments: Cannot believe how many young fillies Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and Wong have started in these GG maiden special weight races this season. Seems they have an endless supply. They start two fillies here (Moon Over Mag Bay, Sweet and Softly).
Top Choice: (8) Doggy Dreams returns in two weeks after posting an even effort at this level. She now makes her second start for Jauregui who is 18.8% with 2nd time MSW starters. She also draws the services of Hernandez, while drawing outside after a bit of a tardy break. Big chance to win in what appears to be a soft event.
Backup: (3) Sweet and Softly should be fast being that her daddy is Speightstown. She has shown some fast drills in the morning. Wong has not typically gone to Amador so not sure what to make of that, though they are 1/3 in 2020.
Race 8 – 4:19pm (PST) 4yr old and up F&M Str 50000 5-1/2 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 2-7)
General Comments: Race could have a barn burning pace if Whirling Candy attempts to go with Spanish Magic. Hernandez holds the key to how this race will unfold.
Top Choice: (2) Jenpirestrikesback fits her after stringing two nice wins from off the pace in her last two. Confidence is high. Steady works since that last win that featured a next out winner Hit it Twice who came back to score at the same level.
Backup: (7) You Wanna Ear Rip draws outside, but loses Alvarado to the top choice. That was a nice return after a very long layoff. She has shown ability in both her races and like that she is protected from claim in this spot. Could upset.
Race 9 – 4:49pm (PST) 4yr old and up F&M Alw 31000n1x 5-1/2 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 1-3)
General Comments: Big field of 11 closes out the card here. Great betting race that should offer value. Princess Vivian returns after winning the Bear Fan stakes, but spotty morning work tab is a cause for concern.
Top Choice: (1) Respect My Candor was only 1-1/2 lengths away from winning last out after breaking last. Her tapeta sprint efforts have all been strong and she now gets an additional 1/16 of a mile to run down the leaders. Regular rider Couton sticks with her. Big upset chance.
Backup: (3) Morning Cynn ran into traffic and still only missed by 1-1/2 lengths finishing slightly ahead of the top choice. Liked that she came from off the pace last out. She has a great record over the tapeta.