On short rest here I am with a Saturday writeup as I fill in for Warren Wilson. It’s a huge 11 race program to look forward to highlighted by the $50k Albany which goes off as race 9. Quick recap on what’s happened so far this week. The early portion of the cards have been rather straightforward and chalky while the latter portion tends to bring us prices just like yesterday as our late double returned $728. Hopefully that will carry into today. The turfs were out at 20 feet the last couple days favoring speed but should be in a 0 today. The tapeta always plays fair for runners from different positions. Without any further to do here are my thoughts today:
133 race selections – 36 top pick winners (27%), 86 top picks in the money (65%)
Race 1: 6 Furlongs Tapeta $5,000 Claiming 3 year olds & up (6-1-5)
A great day of racing gets underway with a competitive group of claimers.
6 Mr. Diplomat comes in off a win against weaker competition. He was dropped in class that day. Two starts ago he was at this condition and lost by a neck at nearly 70/1. He won’t be any close to that price today. He has run pretty consistently of late and is also now in the new barn of Isidro Tamayo. Top jockey Juan Hernandez gets aboard.
1 Cash Money makes a quick return to the races in just six days. Last Sunday he won as the 7/5 favorite at a slightly lower level. He was claimed that day by Gary Greiner. Francisco Monroy stays aboard and the extra half furlong could allow him to close some more ground late. Worth a big look at 15/1.
5 Smokin Encounter makes his first start in 2.5 months. At this level and distance last time he was put on the lead. That is not his game as he does well coming from off the pace. The concern is the break however he’s been working pretty consistently. Catalino Martinez and William Delia have a good connection.
Other to consider: 4 Mr Bingley is an interesting runner shipping in. He was claimed by trainer Vann Belvoir in March at Los Alamitos at night and then shipped over to Emerald Downs to work. Now he shows up at this level. He had been running consistently at Los Al so he is interesting with the “stretch” out in distance.
Race 2: 6 Furlongs Tapeta $4,000 Claiming 3 year olds & up (6-2-1)
6 Fair Challenge made his return to the races 3 weeks ago off a 15 month layoff and won easily. He stalked the pace and went by in the stretch. He comes in off a sharp workout just like he did prior to his last start. The odds aren’t pretty but he’s taking a logical next step here and might be the best of the group.
2 Quetta’s in Charge ran a decent second on the cutback in distance last time out. He was making up a lot of ground in the stretch after breaking slow and also going 5 wide. He has a nice post position today and second time at this level has him as a contender.
1 North Cross exits a common event with the second pick here. He was only a neck behind him that day. He also benefits with the extra distance and could improve with this being his second start off a two month layoff.
Race 3: 6 Furlongs Tapeta $12,500 Claiming 3 year olds & up (2-4-5)
2 Electoral appears to be the one to beat as he is cutting back from a route race to a sprint as well as returning to the tapeta where his lone win came over. He also removes blinkers so hopefully he can relax midfield off the pace. Might be coming from well out of it.
4 Sayin Grace is winless over the Golden Gate tapeta in 10 tries however does have 9 seconds or thirds. He has been a beaten favorite the last couple outings and today he gets an extra half furlong to try to go by runners.
5 Wink and a Dream gets the nod for the third pick slightly over the 6 based on the fact he’s raced recently. He could show some speed out of the gate and could go gate to wire if uncontested.
Race 4: 6 Furlongs Tapeta $25,000 Maiden Claiming F & M 3 & up (6-8-5)
6 Thrill’s Legacy has been running at this condition in the past. She’s a lightly raced 4 year old with a second and third in three tries. This daughter of Sidney’s Candy is one of two horses in here for trainer Steve Specht and owner Jim Grigsby. This horse could get a good stalking trip just off the early leaders.
8 Illapawnie is a class dropping filly. She cuts back in distance and returns to tapeta. She’s gotten into a habit of running second as she’s finished there 4 times in 8 races. She has also been a beaten favorite a couple times in the past. Price is not enticing especially at 6/5.
5 My Three Kids makes her second start off a 13 month break. I think she needed the race last time. She was only beaten 2 lengths at 67/1. She has the speed to go gate to wire and appears to be the one that could be on the front end by herself.
Other to consider: 3 Tibby Gee makes a lot of sense as well at 8/1. Ignore that last race for a couple reasons: turf and a 15 month layoff. She gets back on tapeta where she has finished second or third 3 of 4 times. She is a late runner who could get a piece if the pace is hot and drops in from maiden special weights for a tag today.
Race 5: 1 Mile Turf $20,000 Claiming 3 year olds & up (7-5-1)
First turf event of the day with a nice competitive field.
7 Rustic Canyon appears to have a big shot at a nice price. He comes in off a starter allowance victory and will cut back to 1 mile. This son of Unusual Heat has hit the board in 8 of 10 tries over the Golden Gate turf. David Lopez rides back today and is the bigger price of the two Isidro Tamayo trained runners.
5 Upo makes his second start off the break. He ran well last time but was on the lead. He does better sitting a stalking trip off the leader and he will have a target to chase today. He has yet to miss the board in 4 tries here on turf. Could definitely improve second off the break.
1 Toro de Toro is back in the same condition he won at last time. The son of Oxbow is looking for his third win in a row and Juan Hernandez stays aboard here so that’s a good sign. Also draws the rail so gets a nice ground saving trip.
Race 6: 1 Mile Tapeta $5,000 Claiming 3 year olds & up (3-6-5)
We kick off the Golden Pick 6 here with a nice competitive two turn event on tapeta.
3 Kitten’s Royal is a 10 time winner who is riding a 3 race winning streak on tapeta. Last time he stepped on the turf course and finished 4th beaten three lengths. There appears to be some speed for this horse to chase.
6 Mercy Rule exits a race won by Kona Coast who went gate to wire. This horse will need to go by him today however he appears to have friends to set up his run. It’s good to see Desormeaux ride back despite a claim. A first and a second in two mile tries.
5 Maxinamillion makes his second start off the year long layoff. His last sprint race looks like a race to get him to go long as that’s what he does often. The son of Animal Kingdom drops in for his lowest claiming tag today and will be running on late. Juan Hernandez gets aboard for the first time today.
Horse to watch: 1 Aigle is making his return to the races off a 6 month break. He has been working well of late and has done well off a layoff in the past. The only concern is he hasn’t hit the board in 4 tries on the tapeta.
Race 7: 1 Mile & 1/16 Turf $25,000 Maiden Claiming 3 year old Fillies (8-2-3)
Big group of 11 3 year old fillies kick off the late pick 5 on grass.
8 Egyptian Goddess ran a good second last time facing some older competition. She and a couple others return here to face restricted 3 year olds. Originally a $185k daughter of Pioneerof the Nile she appears to sit a good stalking trip off the early leaders to make a run in the stretch. Ricardo Gonzalez stays aboard for Jonathan Wong. Gonzalez, Wong, and Tommy Town Thoroughbreds have hooked up recently with success.
2 Creer is one of two horses shipping in from SoCal. The daughter of Gervinho drops in class from Cal Bred maidens to a maiden 25 tag. A positive is she returns to restricted 3 year olds. She should improve on her class edge from races in SoCal and attracts Juan Hernandez.
3 Magical Path finished 5th in the common event with our top pick. She is another one who enjoys the pace being hot as she will sit near the back of the field to make her run. Frank Alvarado elects to ride this 10/1 runner over the rail horse.
Others to consider: 1 Go Vaidagirl finished 6th in the common event. She rallied and was only 4 lengths behind. She should have her stablemate target to run at. 11 Unusual Secret is the other shipper from SoCal. Hasn’t done much against tougher and ships in today taking the blinkers off. She can improve on the ship up. 10 Golden Goddess is a sneaky horse who could take advantage if given an easy lead. The apprentice Juan Espinoza gets the call on this 10 time maiden. She has done well with a couple seconds here on turf.
Race 8: 1 Mile Tapeta $8,000 Claiming 3 year olds & up (6-4-1)
We kick off the late pick 4 here in race 8 with a field of 8 and I think the favorite 3 Carolina Island is very vulnerable (1 for 18 on tapeta) at 5/2.
6 Robs Lucky Spirit exits a race on a surface he doesn’t like and is winless on. He returns to the tapeta and takes a slight drop in class today. Look for him to make his run on the far turn. Hopefully isn’t too far behind as this race does seem to lack a ton of speed.
4 Mad At Money is dropping in from starter allowance company. The son of Shanghai Bobby will likely be one of the backmarkers early. With the move into an 8 claimer and the tapeta surface where he’s won at this horse could be sitting on a nice race at 10/1.
1 Ride Into the Sky will be routing for the first time. He has primarily sprinted so far and will take on a new task of going two turns. I think if he can sit a good stalking trip the distance won’t be a problem. He always has a nice run in the stretch.
Horse to watch: 8 Sunny Spot makes his first start in 3.5 months. He was eased last time which is my lone concern. He is a lone speed in the race and could very well wire the field but what happened last time is concerning considering he had the lead as well. David Lopez gets aboard and it seems with Lopez on the front end he’s dangerous.
Race 9: 5 Furlongs Turf $50,000 Albany Stakes 3 year olds & up (6-2-8)
We have arrived at our feature event of the day and it’ll be the quickest race of the day literally and on paper it seems that way. There is A LOT of early speed with many runners likely to be forwardly placed.
6 Anyportinastorm makes his return to the races for the first time since the Longacres Mile last August. He has only been off the board once and that was going down the hillside turf at Santa Anita. In two other tries he has finished second and third. He is a stakes winner on dirt and tapeta as he looks to add turf to the category. He has speed but can also sit just off the pace. Go to rider Juan Hernandez chooses this runner here.
2 Daddysprize is a very lightly raced 5 year old. He won last out off a 14 month layoff. His win came stalking a quick pace, something that could occur again today. Kent Desormeaux stays aboard today. This runner was second at Del Mar in a stake as a 3 year old.
8 Passionate Reward will step up to face stakes company today. He has been running well over the tapeta in the higher claiming and allowance ranks. Of the two Isidro Tamayo runners I like this one because the maiden win came on turf but also can sit close just off the early leaders.
Rest of the field: 7 Mikes Tiznow won last year’s Albany in wire to wire fashion. This is his first start since then. He has won off a layoff in the past and has never missed the board in 4 tries on turf. 4 Baja Sur winner of the Oakland Stakes last year runs here. He has a ton of speed like the rest of the field but will be trying turf for the first time. New jockey will be aboard today. 3 Bear Chum has been a win machine on the tapeta. This race however is on turf and he is 1 for 14. Biggest class test thus far. 9 What’sontheagenda ships in from Santa Anita making his first start in 3.5 months. He is graded stakes placed on turf but is 0 for 11 at today’s distance. 5 Sparticle makes his second start in the Matthew Troy barn. This runner previously raced out East with a ton of quick speed. Will be trying turf for a first today. 1 Sunset Dragunn will be forced to send for speed from the inside. Trying turf for the first time but does have jockey David Lopez who went wire to wire last Saturday in the filly and mare stake at this distance.
Race 10: 6 Furlongs Tapeta Maiden Special Weight 3 year old Fillies (3-1-4)
Nice group of fillies will kick off the late double.
3 Wheal Grace is the top pick here. She’s a filly that broke slow on debut and rallied into second. Last time out she broke more alertly from the inside and dueled for the lead before getting caught in the stretch. I don’t think she needs the lead as there’s other speed for her to rate off of. Big rider upgrade to Juan Hernandez.
1 Carolina Mia broke slowly last out and rallied to finish 3rd beaten a neck. She was just a small piece away from our top pick and the winner. Unfortunately she draws the rail post position today.
4 Happy Road puts the blinkers on today. The daughter of Quality Road was originally a $150k purchase. In a different common race she was third behind our top pick by about two lengths. Second time starter should improve today and be seen late.
Others to consider/watch: 2 Reducta was fourth in the common race with our top two picks. She is making her second start off the layoff today and could be coming late. Was only 1 length away from our top pick last out. 6 Prudent is the only newcomer in this field. Seems to be a tough field but Quinn Howey is striking at 38% from 13 first time starters.
Race 11: 5 Furlongs Turf Allowance F & M 3 & up (5-9-3)
We conclude the day with a nice group of allowance level runners dashing 5 furlongs.
5 Promote will be looking to make it back to back wins. She was last in a starter allowance on tapeta. She can sit a stalking trip as she returns to turf. In two tries on turf she has two seconds although these were conducted in Great Britain. She could be a good price to end the day.
9 Dearborn is drawn to the outside. She has some speed and could use it to get early positioning so she’s not wide on the turn. At this level on tapeta she sped and finished third tiring in the stretch. The cutback to 5 furlongs could help today.
3 Nardini ships back up to Golden Gate after trying a statebred allowance optional claiming group. She is making her first start in 2.5 months and has been working steadily towards her return. The daughter of Acclimation could sit a group saving trip with a nice post position.
Other to consider: 8 Respect My Candor won last out from off the pace on a class drop. She steps back up in class hoping for a similar pace setup to run at.
Best Bet: Race 7 Egyptian Goddess 5/2
Price Play: Race 5 Rustic Canyon 8/1
Good luck on a big Saturday of racing all around the country! It should be a great day of racing here at Golden Gate. We’ll be back on Thursday for 8 races.
Twitter: @sportsandhorse