Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1 – Maiden Claiming $22,500-25,000 for 3yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-5
4. Unflappable – Carrying the least amount of weight in this sprint, I am giving this one the nod today because of the trainer and his recent half-mile work. I think the weight allowance may help the first time starter. I’m also not worried about him breaking in the middle of the field, given that the horses on either side have race experience or have plenty of gate works that give me the confidence that he shouldn’t get pinched.
5. Continental Union – Only horse in the field with any race experience, he improved last out on the turf after several uninspiring finishes. He returns to the tapeta, where he has a few good finishes, and I expect his form to carry over to today.
Race 2 – Starter Allowance $19,000 for Fillies & Mares 3yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-4
1. You Wanna Ear Rip – Looks to turn the tables on Chirp today. She draws the rail in this race and drops considerably after having been competitive in the higher ranks.
4. Lady of Perception – She ran to her odds last time out in her first start on turf, but I’m not going to hold that against her. I think you could catch a price on this filly, and she ran a smart race two back and was third behind You Wanna Ear Rip. She drops in class today too.
Race 3 – Maiden Claiming $22,500-25,000 for 3yo. 1 1/16 miles. Turf. Picks: 3-6
3. North Fork – The only horse that’s consistently been running at a mile or more, North Fork is stepping up in class today and trying turf for the first time. He’s always in the mix, and I think that if he can stay closer to the rail and save ground coming for home then a good trip will do him a lot of good here.
6. Synthetic Joe – An interesting play in the field, he has improved in his last two starts since being gelded. It looked like he was really putting things together in his race in May, even if he only came in fourth, but he’s competitive and willing at this level so I’m looking forward to seeing how he runs today.
Race 4 – Claiming $5,000 for Fillies & Mares 3yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 6-4
6. Sierra Sunrise – This race looks like it will have a lot of speed, so I’m taking Sierra Sunrise here because her running style, coming from off the pace, has seen her to the winners circle and in the money. I think that will be to her benefit again today, and she’s been in the money four times from seven starts at Golden Gate.
1. Indian Dancer – I’m wary of putting her on top because of the layoff, but she was super consistent around this level before the layoff going longer. She cuts back for her return, and her works suggest she has the speed to try and wire this field. I expect she’ll be hustled early, being that there’s speed to her outside, but with her trainer and jockey I think she’s in good hands for her 2020 debut.
Race 5 – Allowance $31,000 for 3yo & older. 5 furlongs. Turf. Picks: 7-4-6
7. Potente Alba – Coming in off two straight wins, he is stepping up in class today but given his winning with ease in these last few starts I don’t have a doubt he’s ready. In his most recent start he beat a next out winner.
4. Show Me the Mints – After almost a year since his last race, Show Me the Mints was a 2 year-old stakes winner up in Washington and recently put up a bullet half mile over Golden Gate’s surface. I like to see consistent works, and I especially like seeing a horse put a work over a surface it’s never run on. I think his form is good and I expect a big performance in his return.
6. I Am Allthatyouare – Impressive winner in his debut in a maiden special weight. Steps up to allowance company over the turf and he breaks alongside the speedy number 7 horse. If he runs like he did in his first start, he will be tough.
Race 6 – Claiming $10,500-12,500 for 3yo. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-4
5. Kona Skye – His speed has seen him wire fields running at this level, and looking at the field I’m expecting a similar performance. He will have speed on his inside, but he has more experience and has been running at a higher level this year.
4. The Filter – He won last time out in a very determined finish. It seems that the layoff, and being gelded, has helped and he’s matured some, and we’ll see how he steps forward today. He’ll be quick from the gate and has had a maintenance half-mile drill since his last start.
Race 7 – Golden Poppy Stakes for Fillies & Mares 3yo & up. 1 1/16 miles. Turf. Picks: 3-6
3. Desert Oasis – She’s been winning against the upper allowance-optional’s at Santa Anita and Del Mar. She posted her career-best speed figure last out and has continued to improve with each start.
6. Blue Diva – She only has one win on the turf, but she’s won a stakes race at Golden Gate and has done well against higher company. I’m not concerned about there being only one win, as she’s only had six stars and she’s pretty consistently in the money on the turf.
Race 8 – Maiden Special Weight $30,000 for 3yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 6-2-10
6. A.P. Pharoah – He’s been game in his first few starts, but those all come at a mile or more. He cuts back a few furlongs today and I think he’s going to appreciate the shorter distance. I like he’s been consistently working the distance, and he recently went 3 furlongs from the gate to sharpen him up for here. He also gets leading rider Hernandez aboard.
2. Exeter – This son of English Channel makes his debut here today. He has a pair of gate works coming in, and while the recent one isn’t flashy I really liked the work from May 17. I think his post will help him get into the mix early.
10. Let’s Rejoyce – I really like this colt, who placed second in his debut against state breds. He does face open company today, but I think he’ll handle it well considering his performance last time out. I didn’t put him higher than third today because of the outside post, and he’ll have to use a lot of speed to get out if he wants the lead again.
Race 9 – Allowance $31,000 for 3yo & up. 5 furlongs. Turf. Picks: 3-1-4
3. Reedley – He’s done really well since coming to Saldana’s barn. I think he’ll fit well with the competition today considering the level he’s been running down at Santa Anita, and this is his second start back since February.
1. Palaleo – He proved he can come off the pace when he won his last start, and today could set up a similar trip for him. I really liked that win and he did it professionally, setting a respectable winning margin going short.
4. Rush – Most recently he’s been running in the lower level starters, but he has done well in the upper level claiming races here. He’s hit the board three times in four turf starts, and while I think this is a pretty big step up for him, he’s proven to be an eager runner and I think we’ll see him improve a lot today.