Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1 – Claiming $4,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 6-2-4
6. Missionelle – I’m not going with the speed in this race. Missionelle not only has the best trainer and jockey combination but has been incredibly consistent as of late. Her race last out was good and she wasn’t disgraced running second last out, and I expect her outside post won’t hinder her today.
2. Stratus Bird – She’s been second in her last two starts after leading the field. Speed isn’t always the way to go at Golden Gate, which makes me weary of putting her on top. Stratus Bird deserves to be played, however, as I think she’ll get a good trip on the lead with her post position. She’s placed in both starts at the distance and has a respectable jockey and trainer combo behind her.
4. Fruitfully – Her record speaks for itself and she shouldn’t be counted out of the top three. She’s never been off the board at the distance, and I like that Martinez is aboard. I’m not putting her on top because she doesn’t win consistently, with only 3 wins at Golden Gate from 14 starts, and last out I thought that was a field she should have won against.
Race 2 – $6,250 Starter Allowance for 4yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 3-5-1
3. Rush – I’m putting the morning line favorite on top for this race. He’s very good over this surface and hasn’t been worse than third at the distance. I also really like that win last out that saw him draw away to win by 2 ½ at 6 furlongs.
5. Honeymoonz Over – This gelding is clearly the class of the field but is taking a major drop in class after having won a $35,000 allowance last out. He did win this condition back in December, but I am suspect of the big drop.
1. Hill Croome – With a better trip I think he could’ve gotten a better placing in his last two starts. In only a field of five, I don’t think he’ll get any relief here either, after having been carried wide in some small fields his last few starts. He is still pretty consistent and makes a pretty good effort when he runs so I will keep him to show.
Race 3 – Maiden Special Weight $30,000. 3yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 2-1-
2. Major Kong – This gelding likes to hit the board, but he likes to run this or around this mile distance. He had a good effort last out but I think the distance was just a bit too short for him. I really like him coming into this spot and I think this will be the day he finally breaks his maiden.
1. Unusually Handsome – I really like that Gonzalez is aboard for this geldings Golden Gate debut. He last started at Del Mar back in July of 2019 in a good second place finish, but I think he’ll need a start or two before we see the best of him.
6. Lookin for Revenge – I’m taking this second-time starter mainly because of the jockey, but he also made some ground late going 6 furlongs in his debut. The mile distance may not be a problem for him, and the bottom side of his pedigree suggests he’ll do fine with the distance.
Race 4 – Claiming $16,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 4-5-1
4. Gratzie – She usually gets the best of Smiling Ann (5) and will be looking to win against her today after having had a tough second to her last out. She’s a really consistent mare and has won higher; will be tough today.
5. Smiling Ann – Winner last out, she’s looking to make it three in a row today. She’s been very good these last several months and faces Gratzie again today. She has some good connections behind her, but I think Gratzie is just a bit better and that’s why I’m choosing Smiling Ann for second.
1. Buttie – She really likes to alternate between winning and not, but excusing that fourth place finish two starts back she’s been tough. She steps up today, but she has the right jockey and trainer to do it.
Race 5 – Claiming $12,500 for Fillies and Mares 3yo. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-1
5. Baby Hang On – She broke her maiden on her sixth attempt with Desormeaux aboard for the first time. I do like that he’s back aboard, and I also like the way she won last time, especially after going wide around the turn. There’s enough speed in this race that, if she runs similarly, she could deliver another closing kick.
1. Sadie Bluegrass – She really seems to be putting it together her last two starts, and today she’s dropping from a start allowance effort that saw her get a close third. She’s got some dangerous early speed that will be tough for this field to beat.
Race 6 – Maiden Special Weight $30,000 for 4yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-7-1
4. Big Cheddar – Has shown early speed in his last few starts, and looking at the field I don’t see much that would go with him early or that could catch him late. I also like that Hernandez will be aboard again. Big Cheddar narrowly lost last out by half a length, but with a start over the surface I expect him to improve today.
7. Inquisition – Has been placing at the maiden special weight level against some others in this field. If you go by speed figures he’s definitely one to look out for, but in this race I don’t think his closing style will get him to the winners circle.
1. Hollywood Heat – showed mild interest late in his last start. This will be his third start off a short break and I think we can expect some more improvement from him. I also really like what I see from his last drill going 4 furlongs earlier this month.
Race 7 – Claiming $3,200 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 2-3-6
2. Moscato Girl – She’s the only one with any sort of speed I have in this race, and she used it to win second two starts back. She lost a duel last out, but I don’t expect that sort of pace scenario here today. I also like her post position going a mile.
3. Night of Idiots – Consistently hits the board and finishes her races strong. She had a really good effort over this distance last out and I think that will only help her today. Along with her record over the surface, I think it will make for a close finish for first.
6. Lea’s Reward – I think this is a pretty open race for third, so I’m making this mare my third pick because she already has two wins over the distance and is a bit of an unknown here at Golden Gate. She’s coming off a race going 870 against QH and Thoroughbreds, which will have sharpened her for a mile, and I think she has an honest shot at hitting the board today.
Race 8 – $31,000 Allowance N1X for 4yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 7-1-3
7. Tap It Champ – Has been doing really well this 2020 season. I’m particularly impressed with the effort three starts back when he broke from post 8 going 6 furlongs and won. So I’m not worried about the outside draw and think he is a strong win contender today.
1. Detangler – This is a pretty solid field, but I keep coming back to this gelding trained by Eaton. He has been going back and forth with my top choice here, and with the speed in this field I think he can definitely come late to pick up foes. He’s been very consistent at or about this level and shouldn’t be counted out.
3. Smokin Blackjack – Narrowly missed first last out after having set the pace. He has a really good record over the surface here and I think he’s the best speed in the field, so I think he’ll hang on for third.
Race 9 – $30,000 Maiden Special Weight. 3yo. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 3-8-4
3. Exclusive Speaker – He did almost everything right in his debut but just couldn’t run down the winner in time. I expect he’ll go off at much lower odds than he did last time, but I like his chances today and think he will improve off his first effort. An interesting stat is his trainers’ maiden 2nd start at 29%.
8. Temple of Sol – Ran third in his debut, just behind my top choice, but was unfortunately caught wide. I don’t think he’ll get a much better trip today unless he can show some speed to overcome that outside draw, but he’s had two four-furlong drills that may help with this.
4. Seizetheday Rexy – Finished second last out as the heavy favorite in a maiden $50k. Now he ships north from Santa Anita to try his luck here. Call me crazy for not putting this O’Neill trainee on top, but I am suspicious of the horse coming here and the choice of jockey for the trip. As well, he doesn’t have any works over the surface and I don’t like to see that when looking for a winner. However I don’t want to discredit his finishes against tougher competition and I won’t be leaving him out of my top picks today.