The Pike Place Dancer Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on the turf is the featured event at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, October 31. First post is at 1:15 PDT for the last card in 2020 under Daylight Savings Time. Mild temperatures are forecast for another great day of racing in Northern California.
Race 1
Many of the horses in the Saturday opener all came from the same prior race, and of those horses, BUSTER DOUGLAS (3) is clearly the best option. He set a slow pace in the last race and kicked clear in the lane while never really under any threat of losing. That last effort was a significant class drop, however, perhaps the owners feel like there’s not much of an allure with someone claiming an 8-year-old – so they can get him in easier spots than a horse a few years younger would be able to be placed. Of the new shooters here, SPEED SAVER (5) looks to potentially rally and pick up some of the pieces late. His last two efforts on turf weren’t great, but he switches back to the Tapeta today and fits well against these. It’s anyone’s guess how much TOP OF THE GAME (7) has left in his tank. His form has tailed off significantly in the last few efforts off of the claim. He drops to his lowest career level in an effort to return to his winning ways. He’s been a “need the lead” type of horse over his career and he will need to break sharply and be used early to get that position.
Picks: 3-5-7
Race 2
Pedestrian local drills aside, BIG DRESS (1) should have every opportunity to graduate today. She ventures north and returns to turf routing – and admittedly, she didn’t show a big effort previously in SoCal doing that. However, she finds a much softer group than she’s faced before and looks to be the controlling speed today in an otherwise paceless field. LADY OF THE HOUSE (2) continues to show improvement in her three starts and can certainly get her picture taken with another step forward. She retains the same jockey and should settle in with a nice groundsaving trip. SANDY SUNSHINE (5) has shown basically what she is; a moderate competitor at this level. She’s faced some of the others in here, and most of them, she’s already beaten. If ‘DRESS isn’t able to last the entire trip, she should be the first to pounce and potentially hold off the closers.
Picks: 1-2-5
Race 3
It may be small in number, but the third race is large in quality. ZIARAH (3) has both class and the projected best trip here. There looks to be a decent amount of speed and she should be able to sit off those leaders and pounce. Her last four starts have been somewhat cool, however, so she’ll need to show her best effort. NEVER FOR MONEY (2) exits a race where the winner just came back yesterday to win again versus a solid field. She’s a filly facing older mares and routing for the first time, but there aren’t many free squares at this level. She’s shown great early speed compared to her rivals today, so it will be intriguing to see how she rations that. Definitely one to watch, though. NORTHWEST FACTOR (1) enters today off of an allowance optional claiming win and cuts back a bit in distance off of that effort. She switches to the leading jockey in the colony, but her best efforts have been on the lead – and with the presence of ‘MONEY, it’s hard to see how she gets that lead today. Still a quality mare, though.
Picks: 3-2-1
Race 4
There’s only one horse in this race who has any reasonable early speed at all, and it is CAMZUL (2). It certainly is no strong play to back a 13-start maiden, but the race seems to set up well for him if he can relax on the lead. He has only one prior effort on turf, and he ran second – so at least there are no questions regarding the surface. Modest upset chance here. KENJILOOKSLUCKY (1) was dead on the board in his local debut but ran a decent third against a similar field. He is still lightly raced and as a result, perhaps there is more room for improvement with him here today. He should settle into a stalking trip and perhaps get first run if CAMZUL tires late. EXETER (7) removes the blinkers after a few substandard efforts with them on. He has faced much stronger foes in SoCal, and certainly could reverse his prior poor form today. Quinn Howey spots his horses well and breaking from the outside, he should be free from traffic and able to put his best effort forth today.
Picks: 2-1-7
Race 5
ALBANY FRONT (6) has shown solid speed in the past few efforts and looks to be the controlling pace here. He gets weight from his rivals and should cross and clear with ease. The race is his to lose. BLUES RAPPER (3) has shown a solid closing kick in his recent efforts. He reunites with Kyle Frey and is another one that has consistently shown solid efforts at this level. Can’t ignore him today. GEM STATE (5) threw a clunker in last time, but prior to that, hadn’t missed a check in his five prior starts. He’s ran well at this level and condition and is another one that should be considered for a strong effort.
Picks: 6-3-5
Race 6
A total grab bag of a race is the 6th, where it feels like whomever feels the best today will show up and win. In what seems to be another race with a lot of early foot, how about KLONDIKE CREEK (2) picking up the pieces late for the win? He’s acquitted himself well at higher levels here in the past, and with the presumed perfect pace setup for him, perhaps he can get back to the winners circle. Those same things can be said for AVALANCHE (6), who is a one-run-plodder. On his best day, he certainly fits – but he takes yet another class drop in an effort to find a winning level. His best days are behind him, but perhaps the pace setup will be a good thing here. OCEAN FURY (1) ran a nice race in his last out, getting a victory. He was claimed from that win and steps up in class here. He will be somewhat pace-compromised, however, considering he will break from the rail and doesn’t ever show that he likes to pass horses once behind. Interesting task here. SPANISH HOMBRE (7) made his local debut a winning one in his last start. He steps up in class off of that race, and will also have to show that he’s going to sit off the pace and make a run.
Picks: 2-6-7
Race 7
Mares who have taken turns beating each other face the starter again in the 7th race. FELONY ONE (1) and AMBER LOUISE (3) figure to push the pace early on, leaving the doors open for a horse to close into that duel. The tepid choice here will be NAMORITA (2), who got up to win two back with a solid late rally. She tested tougher waters last time out and found that unsuccessful; she drops in class today and gets an extra 110 yards to run. Give her the nod in a tough contest. GO SMILEY GO (6) is another who should benefit from that presumed solid early pace. She should have plenty of options and is will also enjoy the added ground. The morning line favorite is ZELAIA (4), but there’s no telling what to expect from her today. In her lone 2020 start on the Tapeta, she finished sixth, beaten 22 lengths. She’s been facing much tougher competition, but the surface question looms.
Picks: 2-6-1
Race 8
The featured Pike Place Dancer Stakes brings a solid line up of two-year-old fillies to the starting gate. CONSTERNATION (1) flopped as a solid alternative to Madone in her last effort, in a race that she never looked comfortable. If the issue was that she didn’t like being inside of horses, then she’s likely in for a similar trip today, which could be to her detriment. The pick is I’M SO ANNA (2), who was stakes placed at Del Mar while sprinting on the dirt. She returned north in her last start and had a solid showing in a first level allowance. She has shown versatility through each start and that with her past class gives her the nod in the Saturday feature. SWEETEST ANGEL (6) ventures north for a chance at black-type also; her most recent effort was a third in a maiden race behind a well-meant runner from the Jeff Mullins barn. She also finished behind the aforementioned Madone two back and looks to be rounding into form. She takes the blinkers back off and looks to make a strong rally late into a race showing a lot of early foot. At a price, how about MISCHIEF FREE (3)? She has burned money in both of her starts so far, but gets to route today and she certainly is bred to handle the added ground. Her owners paid $210k for her as a yearling, so much is expected from her; perhaps her first effort around two turns will reveal that.
Picks: 2-6-3
Race 9
In the Saturday finale, give the edge to RIDEO (6). He fits the conditions well and will be first time out for John Martin. He also gets five pounds from all of his opponents and goes sprint-to-route. All systems appear to be go for him today. INCREDIBLE LUCK (2) made his return to the Bay a winning one last time as he dispatched a weaker group with relative ease. He will be first off the claim today for Isidro Tamayo and retains Evin Roman off of that winning effort. Hard to knock him here. MAD AT MONEY (3) also takes a dive in the claiming ranks trying to regain the winning form he showed three back. His Tapeta efforts have been reasonable, so he deserves a look as well. For a total flyer, what can you make of TEMPLE VIEW (1)? He was a solid performer when last seen on this circuit, being claimed in six straight starts. He then spends the summer in Seattle and beats one horse in three races. Perhaps feeling the Tapeta will wake him up.
Picks: 6-2-3
Best Bet: Albany Front (Race 5)
Longshot Play: Mischief Free (Race 8)