Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1 – Claiming $5,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 5-4
5. Cash for Cass – This filly has been pretty consistent over the surface here at Golden Gate and at the distance of a mile. There’s plenty of speed in this race so I’m going to go with Cash for Cass in this race, who has come off the pace before and won. I think a similar trip will reward her today.
4. Missionelle – It’s hard to pick against one of the best trainer and jockey combinations of the field, and more so when the mare has already beaten several that she’ll face. I really like Hernandez is staying off after that easy win last out and I think Missionelle will handle the higher claiming rank just fine.
Race 2 – Allowance $50,000s for 4yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-4-5-2
1. Irrefutable – Running in his third start since his layoff, Irrefutable is looking to win at this level for the first time after a promising effort last out going a mile. I don’t see much speed next to him and expect him and Duran to get out early and get on the lead. He won going 6 furlongs two starts back in his comeback so he should do well with the cut back from a mile.
4. Violent Behavior – Still seeking a win at Golden Gate, Violent Behavior has a few on-the-board finishes at this level. He typically does his running a little late but I don’t think the race will set up for any sort of closer. He did post a bullet work going four furlongs last Sunday, as well as several other half-mile drills that should have him sharp for today.
5. Electoral – Wong brings this colt back from a mile and switches to Hernandez. This colt seems to like this track and will try to improve from third to first at this level. He doesn’t have a work between starts, but being that he is shortening from a mile to 5 ½ furlongs I’m okay with not seeing that work.
Race 3 – Claiming $12,500 for Fillies and Mares 3yo. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 3-5-6
3. Ladies Luv Munny – She beat next-out winner Emmas a beast two starts back, who she will be facing again today. She wasn’t embarrassed when she stepped up and ran third in a starter allowance back in January. I expect her to be the pacesetter and do well with the class drop today.
5. Going to Shabooms – Another speedy filly, she has really taken a liking to this track and has been pretty consistent at this level. She was claimed out of her last race and has put a few works put into her, including two going 5 furlongs but nothing flashy.
6. Eddie’s Princess – What I like about this filly is that she came up on the rail and was able to run down her competitor to win. Not every horse will go up like that and I think that speaks about her heart. In a race with plenty of speed to offer, I’m comfortable taking a filly who seems to be improving. I don’t think she’s quick enough to win, but I really like her to show.
Race 4 – Claiming $40,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-3-4
2. Sweetly Spoken – This is a compact and competitive field, but I think if Sweetly Spoken can get onto an easy early lead she will be the one to beat. She’s been very competitive in the allowance and optional claiming levels and seems to like the track just fine. I don’t like her speed figures, but I think the level she’s been running at and how she’s been doing it is more telling. My top choice.
3. The Spiral Jetter – Came from almost-last to win by ¾ last out on a track that heavily favored closers. I don’t think the race will set up that way for her again, but she’s competitive and will keep Hernandez for the trip.
4. Left Alone – She has disappointed as the favorite in her last two starts and I don’t like how she’s been finishing her races. Alas, she is consistent at Golden Gate and was second at this level last out.
Race 5 – $30,000 Maiden Special Weight for 3yo. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-5-6
2. Piston – Breaks beside his stablemate, who is making his debut as well. Piston is the youngest of the field but has one of the best bodies of work, including a half mile bullet last Sunday.
5. Exhort – Another that’s debuting, he was a pricey purchase back in April for $135,000. The Doug O’Neill trainee has good works coming in here and was entered to run at Santa Anita on the 22nd instead.
6. Balius – I like the trainer and jockey that this horse has. A first time gelding, he was third in his first start, having gained ground after going wide and losing to a next-out winner. He steps up the ranks here and will be making his first start at Golden Gate, but I think he learned a lot in his first start and he should do well in his second career start. He hasn’t raced since June and has run substantially slower in the mornings, so I’m only picking him to show.
Race 6 – Allowance $31,000N1X for 4yo and up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-3-2
5. Smokin Blackjack – Finished an uncharacteristic 8th last out but was consistent in the three Alw 50000s before that. He is the likely pace in the race and if he can stay out of trouble could run well here. Note that he beat Violent Behavior two starts back, who will be running in a Alw $50,000s in race 2. Smokin Blackjack could be flattered by that horse, depending on how he runs.
3. Honeymoonz Over – Has some early speed but doesn’t need the lead to win. He didn’t finish a terrible fourth last out and will drop just a bit in class today. This gelding has done well here at Golden Gate and hits the board pretty consistently. Will switch jockeys again and Gonzalez will be back aboard.
2. Make It a Triple – Willing to take a shot on this gelding, who ships north from Santa Anita to run here for the first time. Desormeaux gets the call to ride, but this horse won’t have it easy in this spot.
Race 7 – Claiming $25,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-4-7
5. Heatseeker Baby – Hernandez is back on board, and together they’ve made 2 of her 4 trips to the winners circle. Two starts back she wired the field at this level. Being that there’s no real speed in this race I expect Hernandez to send her out again and the pair will try and go 3-3 together.
4. Oyster Shooter – In her first start in roughly four months, she makes her 2020 debut off the turf. This isn’t a concern to me, as she has a decent record on the surface and has won at the distance, which she cuts back to after having been routing. It is a drop in class, so she’s looking for a softer soft in which to make her return. Looking at her last start, it was a little out of character and she probably needed the break.
7. Lucky Antares – Steps up in class, but has run and performed well higher. I like that Gonzalez is aboard, even though her regular rider is Alvarado and he’s on her stablemate. I think she’ll handle the bump in class well but she may have to work to get a good post position.
Race 8 – Allowance $31,000N1X. For 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-7-6
2. Tap It Champ – Ran a really good second last out after having left the gate slow and running very wide. Still gained ground and narrowly lost. Has been doing very well these last four starts and is a fairly versatile runner.
7. Detangler – This consistent runner got the best of the 2 Tap It Champ last out. He’s been doing well at this level and appears to do best off the pace, but I don’t expect there to be much of that in this race. Nonetheless this is a good horse and I think he’ll be competitive today.
6. Mystery Messenger – His record on synthetics is a primary reason I’m not picking him to win, but he will likely factor and hit the board. He ships north after having 2 strong efforts on the turf at Santa Anita. Doug O’Neill and Desormeaux team up for this one.
Race 9 – Maiden Special Weight $30,000. 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-3-4
2. Trash Talkin Cat – Had an awful trip last time out. Hopefully with a more inside post he’ll stay out of trouble. I really like the effort he showed two starts back; if he shows that form again, he will be tough.
3. Emerald Magic – He was part of the field with the 2 horse and didn’t have a good trip last out. Before that he was pretty consistent here on the track and at this level and could factor again. Worked from the gate on the 20th.
4. Big Cheddar – In a race that’s relatively open, I think he could run well and show here. This Goldencents gelding is coming up borth after a good finish over the turf at Santa Anita, having beat a next out winner. I don’t like that he doesn’t have any works over the surface so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles it, but he will be in good hands with Hernandez.