Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1: Claiming $3,200 for F&M 3yo and up. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 3-4-1
3. Warrens Lil Margie – My top pick in this race has a lot of early speed. Combined with her post position, I hope that she utilizes this early speed to gain good field position. If she can get on the lead early she should be able to avoid the troubled trip she received last out. It may be worth noting that jockey Hernandez will be riding her instead of the 1 horse.
4. Missionelle – I couldn’t leave her out of the top three. This filly has been super consistent with trainer John Selvester and has been in the money in 75% of her 2019 starts here at Golden Gate. This filly doesn’t need to be on the lead and I expect her to settle in 2nd or 3rd.
1. Fantastic Secret – I made her my third pick because I think the 3 will set a comfortable pace on the lead, setting up Fantastic Secret for a rally for show.
Race 2: Maiden claiming $12,500 for F&M 3yo and up. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 4-5
4. Perfect Edition – this is a horse that consistently shows up and earns a check but is still looking for a win at Golden Gate. She’s returning to the level I think she’s best at, but her last two efforts were valiant against tougher competition and it should set her up nicely here.
5. Hearing Sirens – I like she’s been working long, even if the times aren’t impressive. I made her my second choice seeing what the rest of the field is capable of I like to pay special attention to first-time starters because you don’t have much of an idea what they can do in the afternoons.
Race 3: Claiming $3,200 for 3yo and up That Have Never Won 2 Races. 5 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-1-6.
4. Fly First Class – Here is a horse that consistently shows at Golden Gate, having been on the board in 7 of 9 starts. On paper this horse tends to have better early speed than the 1, which should help him get the lead here.
1. Silent Movies – another horse that can be quick out of the gate, this horse is coming off a layoff of over a year and a half! Silent Movies has been consistently working at the race distance and is returning in a much softer spot than what he was racing at, but trainer Jack Steiner hasn’t brought a lot of horses back from a layoff like this. I don’t think the horse will be too eager out of the gate, being it’s his first race back, so I don’t expect any sort of speed duel with the 4 on the front end.
6. Gallant Heat – This horse was a little wide last time but was still game. With what will hopefully be a better trip this time, Gallant Heat should do well off his recent 4 furlong work and be competitive.
Race 4: Claiming $6,250 for 3yo & up That Have Not Won Since Oct. 1, OR Never Won 4 Races. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-3-6
1. Tomasino – Should go off as the deserving favorite. Forgiving his last start, which saw him hustled to the lead, dueled, and outrun, Tomasino should come off the effort fit and game for this spot. Jockey Kevin Krigger will be in the irons for the first time this year.
3. Prikati – At first glance, this is a horse that is facing arguably tougher horses today than he has previously. If you go back, this horse was competitive at Emerald Downs against non-winners of 3 and posted one of his highest speed figures on his first time on an All-Weather track last out. At a 10-1 morning line this is a horse that could be overlooked.
6. Admiral Bloom – This horse has already beaten two in this field, Life is a Trip and Kona Coast. In fact, I chose Admiral Bloom to show over Life is a Trip for that reason. As well, he has had some pretty good works recently going into this race.
Race 5: Maiden Claiming $8,000 for 3yo& up. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 1-3-7.
1. Glenroy- Time and time again this horse has suffered poor trips but his efforts are always honest. He doesn’t need to be on the lead but I’m hoping the 1 position will help him secure a good trip.
3. My Man Draymond- Also drawing a good post, My Man Draymond faces the 1 horse for the third time in his career and will be looking to beat him for the first time. He posted the highest speed figure of his career last out, but I don’t expect a bounce; this horse put in a swift 5 furlong workout on December 23 and keeps improving!
7. Secret Mania – I don’t expect this horse to make the lead here in the early going but I think that will help him. While this is his second race off a layoff, his longer works should have given him a solid foundation to go a mile.
Race 6: Claiming $32,000-30,000. 3yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-3-2.
1. Whatwasithinking – In his last start, Whatwasithinking beat a next-out winner. Some may be concerned about a bounce after he ran a career-high speed figure last out, but given his record I don’t expect one. This horse has consistently run the high-80’s and 90’s and appears to be on the upswing; I think this will continue today.
3. Cross Creek – This horse has been relatively consistent at the 6 furlong distance and overcame coming wide to get second in his first start at Golden Gate. Cross Creek was off slow two starts back and failed to recover, but his efforts going wide in three of his last four starts will earn my forgiveness. He’s definitely one to watch, especially at the 8-1 morning line.
2. Mon Camo – He’s consistently placed third in his last several starts but his stats suggest he’s not a fan of the track or favors the distance. If he saves ground, however, he has a good chance to show.
Race 7: Maiden $39,000. Cal-Bred or Cal-Sired 2yo. 6 Furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-6-8.
5. Jazz Street – Jazz Street made a good effort last out to win second and has Alvarado aboard this time. He posted a bullet 5 furlong work on the 14th of December. The only downside I see with Jazz Street are his trainer stats.
6. Oasis – His last two works have been bullets at 4 furlongs, including one from the gate which is always a plus for a two-year-old.
8. Hula King – At 20-1 morning line I think this guy has a great chance here to show. He had a really troubled trip last out but I think this will make him more experienced, and getting caught wide going 6 furlongs will make him a bit more fit. And don’t let that fifth place fool you; for going wide, he only finished 3 ¾ length behind the winner!
Race 8: Allowance Claiming $40,000. 2yo Which Have Never Won $10,000 Other Than… 6 Furlongs. Picks: 6-1-5
6. Cajun Bettor – This is a two-time winner already and only continues to improve. Super consistent at Golden Gate, having placed in each of his five starts here, he’s the one to beat, but it won’t be a lock.
1. Little Cents – This son of Goldencents will likely go off as the favorite. Having broken his maiden at Del Mar earlier this year, he had a troubled trip for a fourth place finish after and then, two starts later, won a starter allowance at Golden Gate. Having had success over the surface he will give the 6 a run for his money.
5. Admirably – Hernandez will retain the mount on Admirably this time. He beat Prince de Prince, who runs in race 7 today, along with two next out winners in his first two starts. While my top two picks will be tough, I expect Admirably to be right with them at the finish.
Race 9: Allowance $31,000 for F&M 3yo & up Which Have Never Won $10,000 Once Other Than… 1 mile. Picks: 3-1-6.
3. Babe Didrikson – She may have been fifth last time but it was a tight finish. She has been very consistent for trainer Jose Bautista and I think she’ll step up for the win in this spot.
1. Casino Game – After several turf attempts she returns to this surface with a record of 1 win from 2 starts. She has a recent bullet work going 6 furlongs to make her sharp for this race.
6. A Lonna At the Top – It was tough trying to put Casino Game (1) over this filly, and vice versa. Alas, you have to make a pick! She’s been pretty consistent since switching trainers, including two of her highest speed figures. If you follow these religiously (so to speak) I made her my third pick because the 1 horse has better figures, on average. A Lonna At the Top is still looking for a win here at Golden Gate, and while I think it’ll be a little too tough for her this time I wouldn’t count her out of getting third.