Golden Gate selections for Sunday May 24, 2020 by Taylor Owens
Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1 – Maiden Claiming $8,000 for Fillies. 3yo. 5 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 3-6-7-4
3. Glitter Lake – Making her debut today, I really like the body of works this Lakerville filly has put in recently. She stretched out a bit in her recent May 16 work to go 6 furlongs, which will set her up nicely in this 5 furlong race, but she also has a good gate work going 3 furlongs on April 26 that should help her be primed for this afternoon. With Hernandez aboard, I think this filly will make a good first impression today.
6. Miss Vanjie Nation – She impressed her first time out last time by winning second. Having one of the best records of the field, I would not be surprised to see her morning line hold up, but I am worried about some of these younger horses’ schedules being interrupted recently. Her string of 5 furlong works aren’t flashy but suggest she is fit and ready for today.
7. Big Fun – Fell a bit flat on her debut, but a lot of times the first timers need that experience. I really like how Big Fun has been putting several 5 furlong works together, so coupled with the experience from her first start we may see improvement.
Race 2 – Allowance Optional Claiming $50,000 for 3yo & up. 1 mile. Turf. Picks: 1-3
1. Sacred Rider – In a short field with competitors that have faced each other before, I’m going with Sacred Rider. He already has a win on the turf and has been competitive in stakes company between Golden Gate and Santa Anita. He has shown to be versatile enough to win on the lead, and depending how he runs today that may be important.
3. Awesome Summer – This super consistent son of Vronsky showed no sign of regressing when he competitively placed third last out, and I actually think the brief break will help him today. Awesome Summer has been steadily training, and his recent works include a 6 furlong bullet work on April 19.
Race 3 – Maiden Special Weight $30,000 for 2yo. 4 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-6
4. Weapon – Sporting a good pedigree, this son of Dialed In has put in some speedy 4 furlong works recently. I would have liked to see a work over the Golden Gate surface, but he was solid purchase at the OBS sale and has a good jockey aboard today.
6. Brony Boy – The only reason I didn’t make this Street Boss colt my top choice is because of the outside post. Going right into the turn like this in a 4 furlong event might cost him, but I really like him and his two recent gate works. Watch out for Brony Boy.
Race 4 – Maiden Claiming $8,000 for Fillies. 3yo. 5 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 6-3
6. Tiz the Standard – This filly has been pretty consistent as of late but just can’t seem to find the wire first. Nonetheless, despite having been at this level for a while I am confident in her today. She’s been steadily working and I like the 6 furlong work here recently. She typically has a late kick, and while this field isn’t loaded with speed I think there might be just enough to benefit her today.
3. Charging Home – Beaten by double lengths in her only two starts, she comes north to Golden Gate where she’s been working. I like the 4 furlong move recently, and I’m willing to forgive the turf effort and say maybe she didn’t take to the surface. But despite the big class drop, she’s going to have to improve considerably to hit the board today, but I think her recent works reflect good form.
Race 5 – Maiden Special Weight $39,000 for California-Bred or California Sired 3yo. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 8-3-5
8. Kaline – I keep coming back to this horse on the racing form. This first-time starter has a decent California pedigree and a slew of 5 and 6 furlong works to prepare him for this start. With plenty of track to run before the turn for home, I like the outside post for him.
3. Bodega – He was, understandably, a bit green in his first start when he debuted at Santa Anita last week. He doesn’t have a work over the surface, but he has been going in respectable times and gets Desormeaux aboard.
5. Flickering Light – He put up an honest effort last out and was narrowly caught late. I expect him to get on the lead again, and with Hernandez aboard he will be tough.
Race 6 – Starter Allowance $12,500 for 3yo & up. 5 furlongs. Turf. Picks: 5-3-6
5. Assets Included – Being that there are many horses are stepping up in class today, I’m not weary of this spot for Assets Included. He was very consistent late last year and thus far this year. He won in his lone turf start.
3. Joejoe’s Kingdom – This is an interesting horse because he’s been running 870 yards in his last two starts against allowance company. Now, two works later he’s back up to 5 furlongs, a distance he usually hits the board with. I also like the trainer behind this horse and I expect a good race from this horse today.
6. Silent Movies – Another horse stepping up in class, I’m really looking forward to his race. He’s been dominating the ranks he’s been running at, and given his last two half-mile works I think he’s primed for a strong effort today.
Race 7 – Maiden Special Weight $39,000 for California-Bred or California-Sired 3yo. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 7-1-4
7. Insaniamania – Ran a decent third in his debut but got a little tired at the end. He has a good body of work coming in though and his trainer is doing well so far. Will look to improve today.
1. Let’s Rejoyce – I like the trainer and jockey with this horse, and he has a good body of works. He’s had plenty of gate works and has a pair of 5 furlong works to set him up today.
4. Autisms World – His works haven’t been flashy, but I like to see steady progression and that’s what I see in his. Doesn’t seem to break fast from the gate in his works, and hopefully that doesn’t count against him today.
Race 8 – Allowance $31,000 for 3yo & up. 1 1/16 mile. Turf. Picks: 7-5-4
7. Hootie – He’s kind of hit or miss on the turf surface, but his recent races come from Santa Anita and if he stays true to form he will be tough today.
5. Irrefutable – Will look for the lead today but he won’t be the only speed. He has placed at the distance and won at a mile, so I’m not concerned with the distance today. He’s been winning and placing in starter allowances and has always been competitive.
4. Klondike Creek – This horse has really stepped up and been super consistent since coming to Golden Gate. He is hard to ignore with his race form, including the win on the turf at this track a few back, but he’s facing a really solid field today.
Race 9 – Maiden Claiming $25-22,500 for 3yo. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 6-3-
6. You Light Me Up – I really like the connections behind this horse and Wong usually does well with first-time starters. He had a recent gate work going half a mile, and with as well as he did that I’m not worried about his post position today.
3. Hard Pass – I really like the pedigree this colt sports, and he had a bullet half mile followed by a six furlong work. I do like he’s been working beyond the distance he’ll be racing at today, and with several gate works he shouldn’t have trouble getting out today.
10. Albany Front – I like the trainer and jockey behind this horse and his recent works. He does break from the extreme outside, and with a long stretch before the turn it shouldn’t hurt him too much, but I don’t like to take first-time starters on the way outside of a large field.