Golden Gate Fields Saturday March 21, 2020
Warren Wilson
Twitter: @HorseAnalystWW
Top Choice Season Statistics:
92 selections – 29 wins (31.52%) $2.00 Win bet ROI $2.45 (+22.5%)
Race 1 – 12:45pm (PST) 3yr old fillies Mcl 12500 5-1/2 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 7-6)
Top Choice: (7) Beautiful Babe drops into claiming ranks after facing open maidens last out. She gave a good account of herself there hanging up the top number any of these has run. She draws outside again and figures to improve after a bit of experience. This is the money try.
Backup: (6) Spicy Perfection had a horrible trip last out and then disappeared for a bit. Note she was a vet scratch at the $8000 level back on Jan 24th. She has sinced worked out fast and steady since Feb 21. She also steps up in class and should definitely take a step forward. Draws Amador, which is another positive.
Race 2 – 1:15pm (PST) 4yr olds and up Str 4000 1-1/16 miles All-Weather (Selections: 3-5)
Top Choice: (3) Colour Me Happy draws Martinez away from Giant Mark. He also has the ability to stalk the pace. Comes off of two strong wins and seems very well placed here. Live.
Backup: (5) Native Chieftain loves this tapeta course having scored all 7 of his lifetime wins on it. He had now chance last out against the slow pace, but still managed to hang up a sub 24 second final split. Third start after the brief layoff should have him locked and loaded. Could roll over the top.
Race 3 – 1:47pm (PST) 3yr old fillies Str 50000 1 mile All-Weather (Selections: 1-2)
Top Choice: (1) Daniel the Dreamer seems well placed inside, dropping back 1/16 of a mile after making the brutal jump from 5.5 furlongs to 8.5 furlongs last out. She’ll appreciate the cut back and retains Hernandez. Maiden win two back has seen (3) next out winners. Big shot.
Backup: (2) Born to Reign beat the top choice last out, but had the benefit of route race conditioning. Desormeaux sticks with her and has worked in preparation. She makes her 8th straight start at this very class level. Good for a piece.
Race 4 – 2:18pm (PST) 4yr old and up Str 12500 1 mile All-Weather (Selections: 6-1)
Top Choice: (6) Platinum Equity is shipped in just for this condition by Steve Knapp. Been holding much tougher company at SA. He’ll find a nice stalking position and will get first run on Platinum Forest our second choice. Only question mark is the surface.
Backup: (1) Premium Forest finds another starter allowance field (he is 4 of his last 5 in these types of events). He loves the surface, loves Monroy and can really mow down that final quarter mile. Always a contender.
Race 5 – 2:50pm (PST) 3yr old fillies Mcl 12500 5-1/2 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 2-6)
Top Choice: (2) Shake It Cali cuts the price tag in half after the last out failure at 4-5 odds. Came home in approximately the same pace, so feeling is she was just too far behind on a slow pace. Has the most experience of these which isn’t a bad thing with maiden claimers historically.
Backup: (6) Breakfast Ball debuts for Tim McCanna, who does very well with maiden claimers on debut (15.6%) over the past ten years. Working steadily, but not fast, which is typical for McCanna. Don’t sleep on her.
Race 6 – 3:20pm (PST) 4yr old and up F&M Clm 25000 5-1/2 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 4-1)
Top Choice: (4) Oyster Shooter signaled she’s ready for her 4-year old campaign with an impressive 4th last out at this level. That was one of her better numbers speed figurewise. Should improve second up and regular rider Martinez is aboard.
Backup: (1) Sari’s Tiger has been consistently improving each time here on the tapeta course. Has a tendancy of breaking slow and rail draw doesn’t help that by any means, but she has a killer closing kick and in this small field that will get her a piece of the pie.
Race 7 – 3:50pm (PST) 4yr old and up Clm 5000b 5-1/2 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 3-7)
Top Choice: (3) Roman Rocket has done very well at this trip and surface. He chased a lone leader in Many Moods all the way around last out and was getting to him late. Thought that was a better than looked effort. He meets a slightly tougher group here, but could stun at big odds.
Backup: (7) Toothless Wonder might just be the speed of this field as he cuts back and drops significantly in class. Surface is a bit of an unknown, but Street Boss has done well with progeny on all weather surfaces. Should be there if surface is a fit.
Race 8 – 4:22pm (PST) 4yr old and up F&M Str 12500 1-1/16 miles All-Weather (Selections: 2-3)
Top Choice: (2) Wicked Old Fashion comes down from open allowance types to this starter allowance. She has done most of her damage on the turf, but that last out number on the tapeta along with the stout closing kick signals she’s ready for her first win on this surface. Looks double tough.
Backup: (3) Music Babe made a menacing move last out and then got flat late. She has historically done very well on the tapeta seems rightly placed here. Should close out the exacta.
Race 9 – 4:54pm (PST) 3yr old fillies MdnSpWt 6 furlongs All-Weather (Selections: 2-4)
Top Choice: (2) Black Drop looks like a well meant first time starter. Decent enough work tab, but the breeding is what get the pulse going. Dam Midnight Margarita had blazing speed early on in her career. Lone half sibling Chazelle won twice at Laurel and Penn. Antongeorgi taking the mount signals there is something under the hood. Rivera/Antongeorgi 2/5 (40%) since 2018.
Backup: (4) Poulaphouca is another first time starter and is the first foal out of the excellent Runfasterelse. Mare was a 10x winner, many over the Tapeta. Dad Gig Harbor hitting at 8% with first time starters, but those 5f works are more than average. Looks like another first timer with promise.