Golden Gate selections for Sunday March 22, 2020 by Taylor Owens
Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1 – Claiming $4,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-5-3-1
4. Regal Lady – Making her first start off the claim for hot-trainer Navarre, she finished a strong second last out after going wide in the turn. She’s had two runner-up efforts in her last two starts, each with Monroy, and I think she has a good shot today.
5. Meritocracy – She isn’t solid over this distance but she does drop from Clm 12,500. I think the drop will benefit her, and she’s turned in some of her best performances over this surface.
3. Gambler’s Appeal – I like that effort last out that saw her catch the lead briefly before getting caught. She was always in the mix and I’m hoping we see that again today, but she’s too inconsistent for me to put her higher.
Race 2 – Maiden Claiming $12,500. 3yo. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-5-4
1. Dartmoor – Put in a really good effort in his debut in February. Will look to see him improve off that start.
5. Trabieso Avelito – Has a good rider aboard and improved off the drop last time out. Will drop again from Mcl25000 today, but he has the experience and some solid works that should see him improve today.
4. Nathansmimsy – his sire has produced some good horses off a similar cross, and his trainer is doing really well right now. His works aren’t flashy but they’re consistent and I like they’re a little further than most.
Race 3 – Stater Allowance $19,000 for 4yo and up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-4-3
1. Emerald Magic – looking to make it two in a row today, I really like the trainer for this horse and that J Hernandez will be riding. He faces winners today but he’s always shown up and has been tough to beat. You can even make honest excuses for his two off-board finishes.
4. Violent Behavior – Violence is a stallion I really like, and I think this son of his will do well today. He’s been running and placing higher as of recent, but I don’t like the switch from Gonzalez. However, this horse has had success with Pena and has hit the board a few times here. Strong contender.
Race 4 – Maiden Special Weight $30,000. 3yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 5-1-6
5. Thrill’s Legacy – there’s some speed in this race so I don’t think she’ll get the early lead, which is fine. She came wide in her debut and caught the lead before getting run down, but it was a good first-time effort. She’ll be tough today if she improves off that start.
1. Sparkling Unicorn – Showed a bit of early speed last time out and improved going up in class. I like the rail position today and think he’ll make the best of it.
6. Dynamic Duo – I’m putting this guy third because he showed some effort last time out, and with there being a bit of speed here I think he could make a late run.
Race 5 – Claiming $25-22,500 for 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-6-5
2. Clem Labine – This is a pretty salty field of 6, and Clem Labine will be facing several he beat last out again today. He ran a monster race last out to get that win, but he has a strong record here ath Golden Gate and at the distance. I don’t expect him to bounce, because he doesn’t really have a history of regressing after strong efforts.
6. Harvest a Storm – Consistently shows here, but is coming off a layoff after having been running on the turf for a bit. I anticipate his odds won’t be as low as 4-1, so you might catch a price on him. This is going to be a tough return spot, but he was running well before the layoff and has had some good works for this.
5. Midnight Destiny – Has been comfortable getting third these last several efforts, but with Hernandez aboard again today I think he might improve off that last start. I still like the others better, but if he runs a little straighter today I do expect a pretty tight finish.
Race 6 – Allowance $33,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 3-1-2
3. Coco Bee – She ran a bang-up third last time out, a start in which she was placed 2nd after being bumped around. This super-consistent mare has done everything right and has several wins in a row at this level. This will be a tough field to beat, but she always brings her best and just keeps improving.
1. Left Alone (GB) – The long shot of the field, she has done very well at this track and this distance. I like the trainer and jockey she has today and she’s another mare I think we will see improve today. She has been winning or placing in the upper-claiming ranks but will have to step up today.
2. Ima Happy Cat – Her record speaks for itself, and she’s not a mare I want to count out of my top three. As much as I like the connections for this mare, she is too inconsistent for the win and I don’t want to take the speed horse in this race.
Race 7 – Maiden Special Weight $39,000 for Cal-Bred or Cal-Sired Maidens. 3yo. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 3-4-2
3. Zinzan – I’m not just choosing Zinzan for the jockey and trainer combo, but I think there could be a lot of speed in this race so I’m going to look for something I don’t think will go to the lead. Making his second start since his 2yo debut, he has had some decent works going 5 furlongs and is coming in with a good foundation.
4. Flickering Light – I’m taking this first time starter to show because I like his morning works. Beyond the bullet 3 furlong work, he’s had a few nice 5 furlongs works. He should be ready for 6 furlongs today, and be sharp enough to use speed if need be.
2. Smiling Patrick – Finished second last time out as the favorite, but it was a good effort and he had easily cleared the rest of the field. He had a maintenance half-mile drill and will be ready to roll today.
Race 8 – Allowance-Optional Claiming $25,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 1-3-4
1. Golden Iris (GB) – Has a solid trainer and jockey, and she made a stronger effort last out than the time before that. It was a tight finish last time and she’ll be facing those top finishers here again today, but I think we can expect her to continue to improve.
3. Our Bold Princess – At 12-1, I think this mare will be overlooked. She doesn’t have a bad record and consistently shows here at Golden Gate. She appears to have tailed off in her last two starts and lost to several others she’ll face again today, but she usually puts in a strong closing kick which could be dangerous as there’s plenty of speed in this race. I also don’t think that 7th place finish last out was as bad as it looks on paper. Could definitely factor today.
4. Sunblessed (IRE) – She’s always run in the top three since coming to Golden Gate. After getting Desormeaux last out, she won at this distance, but she’ll be facing winners today and will have to continue to improve if she is to show up today.
Race 9 – Maiden Claiming $25-22,500 for Fillies. 3yo. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 7-5-1
7. Khaleesis Dragon – She’s been running at this level for her last several starts. After consistent placings she’s looking to finally get that win today, and I think she has the talent to beat this field. I don’t think she’ll have trouble with post 7, and if she can secure a good position into the turn she should be right in the mix as they come home.
5. Touble N Paradise – I don’t like the performance she put in last out against state-bred company, but she’s dropping again for the tag and should get some relief.
1. Shezjustinthyme – first time starter will be piloted by Desormeaux today. The work on the first of March from the gate sold me on her, but Justin Phillip is a pretty good stallion as well. Not worried about her drawing the rail, especially since she’s not breaking from another green horse.