Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1: Maiden Claiming $8,000 for 4 yo & up. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 5-2-7-4
5. Luck Is My Name – This is a gritty horse with a will to finish. He’s coming back to the distance of a mile after having cut back for his last start and this is an angle I like to play. He should be sharp off his last race and is coming off a class drop. My only concern for this colt is if he will have a strong enough kick to get clear of the field as they come for home.
2. Battalion Won – I like his post position here. Being that there’s not a lot of early speed around him (unless the 1 shows their old style) he shouldn’t have a problem getting a good position into the turn. The trainer and jockey combination here is also something you shouldn’t shake your head at.
7. Dave’s Gift – He lost to two good horses at this level last out. If you’re someone who likes to go by speed figures he seems to be improving as of late. In this pretty open field, I am definitely willing to play a possible price here.
Race 2: Claiming $6,250 for 4yo & up Which Have Never Won 2 Races. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 6-1-5
6. Curry Nation – This horse has been super consistent at hitting the board at this level and has been close to notching a second win. He has lost to next out winners in his last few starts and this might be where he finds the winners circle again.
1. Papa Do Run – With his early speed and position on the rail, this horse should have no excuse to not secure a good early position. In fact, as the only speed in the race I expect him to try wiring the field here, a style that’s earned him a win and a few showings. Regular rider Duran will stay aboard.
5. Aerial Decoy – Here we have another horse that went wide and lost to a next out winner. This was one of its best performances, so there’s plausible concern for a bounce, but it was an honest effort with blinkers off and the horse will go without the equipment again here.
Race 3: Claiming $12-10,500. 4yo & up. 5 ½ Furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 6-2-1.
6. Easy Game – A pretty versatile racer, he’s won on and near the lead and even from the back of the back. He’s been up and down in the conditions and is ‘up’ today, but he’s won at this level so I’m not worried about it. Last out he soundly beat a next-out winner
2. Potente Alba – This horse doesn’t seem to be sold on the all-weather surface here, but he had a good 2019 season and is consistent at the distance. While he breaks alongside the 3 Cartoonist, who has shown early speed, I think Potente Alba is the better of the two and should outlast him.
1. Uncle Hal – Drops just a bit from the $16k claiming ranks. I do like the quick turnaround for him going 5 ½ furlongs, and the trainer and jock combo here isn’t terrible.
Race 4: Allowance Optional Claiming $50,000 for 3yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-4
2. Little Cents – This is a horse I feel comfortable singling. This Goldencents colt has done well at Golden Gate and has yet to finish off the board. Trainer Bill McLean is taking a unique approach with ihm; this horse has consistently been working 6 furlongs since November, a move that’s paying off. Little Cents will be facing the 1 Blaisin’ Eamon again, who he was beat by a neck by two starts back before winning next out.
4. Cajon Bettor – Another horse that has been consistent here at this track, I don’t like to play against horses that like the track and surface so I’m picking him to place. He’s also been competitive in the starter allowances and against Little Cents, but I don’t think he’s good enough to beat the 2 horse.
5. Prince de Prince – After having wired his state-bred company in a maiden special weight last out, he will be stepping up outside of state breds. This is definitely a step up for this lightly raced gelding, but with his early speed and away from the other speed horse (the one) he should have a clear path to vie for the lead.
Race 5: Claiming $20-18,000. 4yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 6-2-5
6. Awesome Heights – Will be running his first start at Golden Gate but had a bullet 5F workout on Jan. 2. In his best performances he’s used his early speed to get on or near the lead to secure a good finish. I think he’s at the level he should be, and after having run at Santa Anita and Del Mar he should be competitive.
2. Tivan – In his first start for his new trainer, I think there’s some value to be found in his 20-1 morning line. He went 5 wide last out and still managed a third place finish going 6 furlongs. The 1 on his inside has early speed, so I expect Tivan to settle close to the rail behind him.
5. Whoa Buddy – I admit, this 15-1 morning line shot has not had much success over the surface, which is partly the reason he’s only put to show. He has had minor success sprinting about this distance though on the all-weather and on the turf. Turf is a bit harder to run on, so I like that he’s switching over from turf. Finally, he’s shortening from a mile and returning to sprints, which can be a fun angle to play.
Race 6: Cal-Bred or Cal-Sired Maiden Special Weight $39,000. 3yo. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-1-2-6
4. Just Like Fred – This horse ran a wide trip last out to lose to a decent horse and 3rd place finisher Prince de Prince. He ran well in his debut, however, and I think he gets the idea of what this is about. If he moves forward off that attempt he will be tough here.
1. Arky Vaughan – Gonzalez gets the mount for this first time starter. I particularly like it when first time starters draw the rail to help them avoid potential trouble. His works are nothing flashy, but he’s got a solid foundation going into this race and should be fit.
2. Runkerry – I had a hard time putting this horse above Unusual Mischief and vice versa. I am picking Runkerry to show here because he has the early speed that will help him clear the field and, in his last start, he was just run down late. He is facing state breds again in this race where he wasn’t before, so he may find some sort of relief.
Race 7: Allowance $31,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 1/16 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 1-4-3.
1. Casino Games – There is a lot to like about this filly in this competitive field of nine so I’ll make this quick. She draws the rail again, where she’s shown an affinity for winning from inside positions. She won drawing away at this level last out and not only has a consistent career record, but she’s been doing well at Golden Gate.
4. Our Bold Princess – Another filly that likes Golden Gate and the surface, she typically runs from off the pace or closing, but being there’s not a lot of speed in this race it may not set up for her that way. This will be a slight step up from her last start.
3. Imperial Creed – I typically don’t like playing horses that are making their first start on a track and don’t have any works over it. However, I think there is a lot of potential value in this filly and she may go overlooked. At first glance she has had some poor performances, but those were all from turf. She strung together three solid performances over the dirt against strong competition back in 2018 at Santa Anita and Del Mar. Combined with the trainer and jockey combination, I think this is a filly worth taking playing.
Race 8: Allowance Claiming $40,000. 3yo. 1 1/16. All-Weather. Picks: 5-7-6
5. Mysterious Stones – This gelding has found a difficult spot to stretch his win streak to 4. He has shown to be pretty versatile, with the ability to win on the lead and off it, and having to route today he may be off the speedy 1 horse. While the charts say he was tiring, I do think he should be able to build off that last race and come back strong. I also like that Antongeorgi is on board.
7. Ajourneytofreedom – This Hard Spun should appreciate the extra sixteenth, being that he was either closing or still digging in to draw off in his last races. He is stepping up against some strong company and will be breaking from post position 7, but there’s a lot of time for him to settle into good position. Hernandez will stay aboard.
6. Little John – Looking at his past performances he lost to some decent horses last out. If you’re handicapping the card, they will be running today and Little John may be flattered should they run well. He also consistently cashes a check, but I don’t think he’s good enough to win against this field today.
Race 9: Maiden Claiming $12,500. 3yo. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 2-9-4-3
2. Dirt Road Red – He’s been up with the top finishers in his last few starts but hasn’t quite been able to secure that first win. I think he’s shown the potential to run higher after having running at a higher level, and therefore should be tough in this spot.
9. Gregs City Zip – Notably this colt is coming in on a class drop for his third start. Other than the 4 in this race there is no speed. I am expecting soft fractions in this race so it should set up for a big finish, especially from him-this colt has been picking off his foes late in each of his starts.
4. Successful Command – I’m not going to excuse his clipping heels with another horse for his poor performance last out. However, being the only speed in the race, he should be able to get the perfect trip. A big drop in class here may find him on the board here but I’m not confident he’s talented enough to wire this field.