Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1: Maiden Claiming 12,500 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 6-2-1.
6. Perfect Edition – First thing to notice is that Hernandez will get the mount, which I really like. This mare has shown to be versatile enough to run on or off the lead. There is speed in this race but I think she’ll be close and get good early position going into the first turn.
2. Bank of Many – This horse showed early speed a few starts back. Being in post position two may help her here and get her on the lead. Trainer statistics suggest Ellen Jackson can place them well. Definite factor.
1. Ancona – 5-2 on the morning line, I’m putting her to show because I am not impressed with her body of works and her most recent attempt. She’s been running at Santa Anita and Del Mar but posted her career-worst speed figure last out. This is the lowest level she’s run at so far and arguably the softest competition she’s faced, however, so she shouldn’t be dismissed.
Race 2: Claiming 12,500 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up Which Have Never Won 2 Races. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 2-1-3-5
2. American Royalty – Going one mile, her post position should get her into the spot she wants, which is off the pace. This is her third race back after a year and she should be about to find her stride. Excusing her last race, she has been super consistent at this level and will be a player here.
1. Jaimi James – Sports a really good work tab and is stretching to a mile. Against this company, I don’t think the stretch out will count against her in this field; she went wide last out and finished strong going 5 ½ furlongs.
3. Dreaming About You – She’s getting a class drop running in this spot after having some minor success at the starter allowance level. The mile distance should suit her fine, but she hasn’t shown much early speed in the past and may lose a good position into the first turn.
Race 3: Allowance Optional Claiming $62k/N2X for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 1/16 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 4-5-1.
5. True To Herself – One of the three fillies that keeps meeting, she was 8th in the same stakes last out with Ziarah and was beat by 2 ¾ lengths. It was a solid effort and she should come off it improved. The distance here won’t be an issue for her.
4. Ziarah – She tends to run up close to the lead but her past performances suggest she doesn’t care for Golden Gate. She ran 5th last out in a stakes race in front of True To Herself, which proved to be a close finish with her only 2 ½ lengths back from the winner. She keeps facing this field and isn’t unbeatable, but she has a good body of work to set her up well.
1. Gettin Sideways – She had a poor trip last out going this distance and managed the win, posting the highest speed figure of her career. She has always placed at this distance and will definitely be a factor here. As much as I like her, I don’t like the inside post for her and she’s going to have to really step up against this group of horses.
Race 4: Claiming $3,200 for 4yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-2-7
5. Many Moods – It looks like he will be the speed of the field. His trainer has excellent stats and the horse wired the field last time out; without any other speed it’s plausible he’ll do it again. If speed figures factor into your handicapping, his have been pretty consistent and on par with the best of this field.
2. Mr. Diplomat – At first glance this is a horse that has been avoiding the board in his last three starts at the lower levels. I like Mr. Diplomat to show because of his weight allowance, which he’s getting anywhere from 7-10 pounds. Some of his better finishes have come from on or near the lead, so this race may set up in his favor.
7. Mo Dinero – This horse is coming north from Santa Anita and their lower claiming levels. He’s proven to be pretty consistent at Golden Gate and should do well here with a class drop.
Race 5: Claiming $12,500 for 4yo & up. 1 1/16 mile. All-Weather. 5-7-1-6
5. Gain Ground – In each of his last three starts he was beat by less than two lengths, including last out when he was gaining to finish 5th. He has the running style of a closer, which I think will help him out here, and his bullet 5 furlong work on January 4th should sharpen him up for this spot.
7. Red Clem – Moderately consistent here at Golden Gate, Red Clem was up close last out to finish fourth by a length ahead of Gain Ground. It was a good effort on his part and I think he’ll come back well, but I think Gain Ground will be better prepared off his work which is why I picked Red Clem for second.
1. Fabozzi – He’s gone a mile in his last several starts, but given that he went wide last time I think he will navigate the extra 1/16th just fine. He’s managed 4 placings in 2 years out of 12 starts and may be a factor here.
Race 6: Allowance $44k for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-3-6-5
1. Empressive Cat – I’m picking the 10/1 morning line horse to win because of her consistency at this track and her early speed. I’m not sure why she stopped last time, but it was an uncharacteristic performance for her and I’m willing to excuse it because her works have been good.
3. Coco Bee – While this horse has lower speed figures than the rest, she has been working well and has a strong career resume. She is pretty versatile and doesn’t need the lead to win, which should work to her benefit against this field. Looking for her third consecutive win, Coco Bee has been running and winning in higher company.
6. Mother of Dragons – She’s coming off a layoff of almost a year and a half, but her works have been good leading into this race. She was in stakes company before she went off the map. If she can hold off the 5, who I think will be picking up the pieces, I think Mother of Dragons has a good chance to show.
Race 7: Claiming $20,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up Which Have Never Won Two Races. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-8-4
5. Neon Gypsy – She’s been at this level for a long time and has consistently cashed a check with almost every race. She is cutting back from a mile after two attempts at the distance.
8. Miss Lucky Lager – She’s been running against some higher company as of recent so she should have some relief here. It was an inspiring finish last out and I think she is a good horse, but there are some tough ones in here and she’s going to have to improve here.
4. Morning Rose – She will see some familiar faces in this field that she’s beaten already. She has shown in the past some early speed, but she doesn’t need the lead to win. I put her to show because I don’t like the jockey change here.
Race 8: Allowance $31k N1X for 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-3-7
4. Detangler – He gained on the leaders late last out to finish third by 1 ¾ lengths. He hasn’t won at 6 furlongs but has been pretty consistent at or around the distance. He keeps Herrara and his speed figures are on par with the rest of the field.
3. Cats Blame – This horse will likely go off as the deserving favorite and won at Golden Gate in his first start here. Ever consistent at this distance, he was running at Del Mar and Santa Anita.
7. Sunrise Journey – Regular rider Hernandez is off this horse and on the 3. Sunrise Journey looks to be the speed of the race and should be ready to step up into allowance company. Outside posts haven’t been an issue running sprints in the past and I don’t think it will bother him here. His speed figures are right where they should be against this field.
Race 9: Maiden Claiming $8,000 for 3yo. 5 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-5-9
2. Lost the Minister – I like to play a second time starter because they’ve had the experience of a race and kinda have an idea what this is about. This colt is taking a big drop in class to be in this spot. He should be fit from his last start where he finished sixth, but he’ll have to improve to win here. Trainer stats are really good and I’m confident the trainer has placed him well.
5. Nextportofcall – He’s been trying to break his maiden at this level for a while and always tries hard, so don’t count him out in this large field of 9.
9. Neah Bay – This looks like the speed of the race. If he can get a loose lead he may try to wire the field before the others wear him down. Lost to Nextportofcall in his last start.