Race 1 – Maiden Claiming $5,000 for Fillies & Mares 3yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 3-2-8
3. Proud to Shoyu – She was third in her most recent start at the mile distance. I thought Proud to Shoyu improved a lot coming back off the break and the added distance. Frey is back aboard, and if they can work out a better ground-saving trip I think she will continue to improve.
2. Pajama Queen – She is one of the standouts in the field and she improved in her last start after stretching to a mile. She will likely get a similar set up this time and find herself on the lead today.
8. Kelly’s Amber – Went a little wide in her debut but never showed much in her first start. I’m willing to chalk it up to inexperience though, and since the race is pretty open for show I’d like to play her.
Race 2 – Starter Allowance $12,500 for 3yo & older. 5 ½ Furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-7-6
4. Arno’s Mane Man – He’s never been off the board at this distance and has consistently been running at higher levels than most of this field. He drew off impressively last time out and draws a good post.
7. Asset’s Included – Won on the turf after returning to Golden Gate. He hasn’t been worse than second in his last several starts and is certainly ready to step up today.
6. Neptune’s Spear – Coming in off an extended layoff, but he has a series of good works to get him ready for today.
Race 3 – Claiming $5,000 for Fillies & Mares 3yo & older Which Have Never Won 2 Races. 6 Furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 8-1-3
8. Norwegian – She’s only been off the board in 1 of her 6 starts at this track and is always very competitive. I thought that her last race, despite her running third, was a pretty good effort. Even though she drew the outside post today, this is a 6 furlong event and I think she has enough early speed that she won’t be hindered.
1. Two Bears – I didn’t put her on top because she hasn’t raced since last August and that makes me wary, but if she returns to form I think she could really be tough. She was especially good on the lead before her layoff and I think if she can get on it today, she could definitely hit the board in her comeback.
3. She’s in Luck – Very competitive at or about this level, but she’s not a consistent winner. She’s a gritty horse and I think she’s a safe play for show.
Race 4 – Maiden Special Weight $39,000 for California Bred or Sired Fillies. 3yo. 5 Furlongs. Turf. Picks: 4-9
4. Lous Tiznow – She already has one start under her belt against statebreds. She showed interest early but couldn’t stay on, but I think it was a good experience and it should set her up well mentally and physically.
9. Holy Zags – She is a little more outside of the field than I’d like, but this Smiling Tiger filly has two works from the gate. These works also come at the race distance so she should be ready to go today.
Race 5 – Maiden Claiming $5,000 for 3yo. 5 Furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-4
5. Comic Style – Showed a lot of improvement in his May start. He put up a really good finish in that last start and should move forward.
4. Neah Bay – Has flashed early speed in some of his starts and will look to factor early. He had a good run last time out and showed improvement in that start from his previous May race, and I expect that he’ll be fit and at the wire with the top finishers again today.
Race 6 – Allowance $31,000 for Fillies & Mares 3yo & up. 1 Mile. Turf. Picks: 2-5-6
2. Heathers Grey – This stakes-placed filly ships north to Golden Gate for the first time in her career. She is pretty consistent on the turf and may find relief here today. She also put in a very good half-mile work on June 7th to sharpen her for todays race.
5. Acclaim the Queen – She’s one of the longshots in the field, and seeing where she was running her last two starts it makes sense. She’s been up and down the ranks and has been successful at all of them. It was the $50,000 starter that she won in a very professionally. She hasn’t hit the board yet in any of her three turf attempts though, so for that reason I’m not picking her to win.
Race 7 – Claiming $6,250 for Fillies & Mares 3yo & up Which Have Never Won 2 Races. 5 ½ Furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 7-8
7. Takes a Village – In impressive fashion, she found her way to the winners circle last out after dropping in class again. She’s worked twice since that win and will be tough to beat today.
8. Seize the Chance – There were a few red flags in her three-year-old debut, but she was really consistent last year and she has since put in two half-mile drills. Hopefully her head is clearer, because I think she has some talent and could hit the board today.
Race 8 – Grade III San Francisco Mile. For 3yo & up. 1 Mile. Turf. Picks: 8-4
8. Restrainedvengence – Looking to make his streak three in a row, it’s really hard to go against a horse that appears to be peaking. He worked the bullet on June 7 and will be facing the other top two finishers that he beat last out, but it looks like he’s come out of that race all in good stride (no pun intended).
4. Murad Khan – A proven top-turf performer, he ships north from Santa Anita off a pair of grade-3 efforts on the turf. It wasn’t a bad finish for him last out and he is very consistent in his races, so I’m definitely going to play him in my top picks today.
Race 9 – Claiming $18,000-20,000 for Fillies & Mares 3yo & up. 1 1/16 Miles. Turf. Picks: 8-9
8. Splashing – She was game in her last start and was beat only by half a length for first. She hasn’t won at this distance, but she’s been steady as of late and I’ve liked her turf attempts. Hernandez is riding her stablemate today, but I think Splashing is good and if Frey can get her a good trip, she has a real shot.
9. Gratzie – Winner over several in this field already, she easily won her most recent race at todays distance. I think she is in good position to get on or just off the early going, but she’s proven she doesn’t need to be in front to do well.
Race 10 – Allowance $31,000 for 3yo & up. 1 Mile. Turf. Picks: 2-6
2. Bronze Warrior – Racing for the first time since December, he has several works going long, including a recent bullet 6 furlong work. I’m not doubting his fitness, and his best starts seem to come over the turf. Gonzalez will be aboard today.
6. On Raglan Road – May have just needed the start last time out but it was a close finish at the wire. Looking at his record he’s very consistent at the track and on the turf, and hasn’t been off the board at this distance. Leading rider Hernandez will be aboard today and this horse should be primed.
Race 11 – Claiming $6,250 for Fillies & Mares 3yo & up. 1 Mile. Turf. Picks: 5-8-1
5. Florista – I was surprised to see her morning line as I think she’s a pretty tough horse in this field. She’s not coming in on any sort of class drop or anything, but I think she was on the upswing earlier this year and in her last start she came from way off to lose to a decent horse. If she can get a little closer to the action today I think she could definitely try running them down. She worked long on the 6th, going 7 furlongs, and showed good improvement last out.
8. Bornonvalentineday – the class drop proved effective and she was a professional winner last time out. She’s fit and has since put in a maintenance half mile work.
1.Oursensationalgirl – she had. Areally good race last out over the turf and drops tosay, likely for the race itself so I’m not going to be super suspicious over the big drop. I think she likes the turf here a lot and will definitely show up today.