A successful return to racing last week. We had great fields and terrific prices and some very nice handle numbers at Golden Gate highlighted by a $2.1 million pick 6 pool which returned over $6,000.
We’re back to start a 5 day racing week highlighted by a special Memorial Day holiday program on Monday. The feature of the week will be the All American Stakes for $100,000. It should be a great race. As far as today we have a 7 race program set for the day. Now a quick recap of last week’s action. Jockey Juan Hernandez picked up where he left off picking up 10 wins in 28 mounts including 20 in the money finishes. Ricardo Gonzalez went 6 for 24 while trainers Manuel Badilla (4 for 8 with 7 in the money finishes) and Isidro Tamayo (7 for 16 with 10 in the money finishes) both enjoyed good weeks. Jockey Kyle Frey returned to the Bay Area however is a cold 1 for 17 thus far. Same can be said for Kevin Orozco (0 for 19) and Cristobal Herrera (0 for 12) while trainer Frank Lucarelli was 0 for 12. Now let’s dive into today’s program. Quick glance is there are quite a few older runners on today’s program.
108 races selections – 29 top pick winners (27%), 68 top picks in the money (63%)
Race 1: 1 Mile $5,000 Claiming 3 year olds & up (5-1-6)
We kick off the day going two turns on tapeta. A 10 year old and a 9 year old is in this race. There is no speed at all in the race. I’m thinking a runner who can go to the front could go gate to wire.
5 Magic Rate is the top pick. He is the least experienced but I’m thinking he’s the only one that will be on the lead. Everybody else likes to come from off the pace and I’m thinking Catalino Martinez could try and control this race up front. He broke the maiden for 20 on turf and won on tapeta to clear the n2L condition. Both races were in gate to wire fashion. He has faced slightly tougher company and drops in for 5 today.
1 Unusually Green has been a horse that’s trending upwards. After running in higher claiming levels last year trainer Jonathan Wong dropped this horse all the way to the bottom. This 9 year old has responded by winning 3 of 4. He merits respect as he is a 10 time winner and oftentimes he grinds away in the lane even if there is no speed.
6 On the Key is another veteran in here. He is a 10 year old with 18 lifetime wins. He is taking a slight step up in class after winning against beaten 4 company. Today is in for 5 looking for back to back victories. Juan Hernandez the leading jockey retains the mount for trainer Manuel Badilla who had a nice last week.
Other to consider: 4 Native Chieftain is the only other horse other than our top pick who has shown some sort of early speed. In the past he has shown the ability to go gate to wire. The only way I see this horse winning is on the front end.
Race 2: 1 Mile $8,000 Maiden Claiming 3 year old Fillies (2-7-3)
We start the pick 6 early today as this also starts the early pick 4.
2 Oh What a Ride the daughter of Clubhouse Ride will be the top pick here. She’s routing for the second time which definitely can bring improvement. She ran decently, finishing third last time. I look at the last race as a learning experience for this filly to improve. Her odds aren’t bad either at 6/1.
7 Salsa Verde ran well debuting on tapeta last out. She drops from her 12.5 tag to the maiden 8 today. The class drop and a repeat effort could be enough for her to graduate at this level.
3 I C Fire finished second last time in front of our top pick. However this filly tends to be inconsistent. She can run a couple good races and bounce so watch her on the far turn to see if she has her kick.
Others to watch: 4 Sweet Sarah Bear routes for the second time and drops in class from maiden 20s to maiden 8. She could improve off the class drop. 1 Firstclasstoparis drops in class and tries two turns. She has yet to hit the board in 5 tries so I’m gonna see how she handles the two turns today.
Race 3: 6 Furlongs $5,000 Claiming F & M 3 & up (4-1-6)
The late pick 5 starts and it doesn’t seem like there is a ton of speed for a sprint race here.
4 No Spin Zone appears to be a runner who could be forwardly placed. She makes her first start off the claim for trainer Isidro Tamayo who is striking at 31% off the claim from his last 58. This mare is also dropping into the lowest claiming level. It’s interesting she was claimed for 6250 but today is in for 5. Maybe she’s just spotted well as she is winless in her last 12 although those were against tougher.
1 Sierra Sunrise takes the class drop from beaten 8 claimers into today’s beaten 5 claimers. She will be closing from off the pace and as mentioned there isn’t a ton of speed here. She draws the rail post and should be winding up down the stretch. The class drop could be the difference.
6 Hammy Time dead heated for the win last out for 3200. She steps up for 5 today. I think she could be forwardly placed and get first jump if the early leader tires. She is a price contender to definitely consider in the spots underneath in the trifectas and superfectas.
Other to watch: 2 Lacey’s Rainbow is who Hammy Time dead heated with. This 8 year old mare has run well since dropping in against weaker and sprinted. She drops in after a dismal run against 6250.
Race 4: 5.5 Furlongs $8,000 Claiming 3 year olds & up (3-5-6)
Trying to beat the favorite and speed Aalsmeer here. Appears he could be challenged up front against the rail runner.
3 Canada is a 7 year old who wheels back from a route to a sprint. He should be coming from off the pace. The concern is the break as the last three times he’s run here he has been off to a slow start. He’s got great numbers over this tapeta surface and sprinting at this distance has resulted in superfecta finishes in all 4. Trainer Quinn Howey is having a tremendous meet thus far.
5 Malibu Alex comes in off a win against slightly lower. He is a 7 year old who was once considered one of the top sprinters here in NorCal. I’m hoping the win last time wakes up this gelding. Juan Hernandez will retain the mount as well.
6 Uncle Hal is dropping in class. The numbers for this runner are not so pretty as he’s 1 for 17 over this tapeta surface. However the lone win came at today’s condition of beaten 8 claimers. Could be winding up from off the pace.
Other to note: 2 Sunday Nap is making his first start in 3 months. In the past he has won off a 3 month break but last time wasn’t the case. He’s been working lights out of late and could be coming from just off the pace.
Race 5: 6 Furlongs $8,000 Maiden Claiming 3 year olds & up (10-8-1)
Nice field of 11 maidens here and it’s another race where there doesn’t appear to be a lot of early speed.
10 Silver Fury is the pick here. I get that he’s 0 for 14 but he’s been close of late. He is dropping slightly from 12.5 to 8 today and a repeat effort from last time should be enough to get the job done. This horse has finished second and third in two tries at this distance. Trainer Blake Heap has had nice success with shipping runners in. He has a win and two seconds with his three runners.
8 Ice or Fire is also taking a slight drop from 12.5 to 8. Two back he finished third when our top pick finished second. This 4 year old has been knocking on the door and could possibly be the one who gets first jump over our top pick. He stretches back out to 6 furlongs after shortening up to 5.5 last time.
1 Darkhawk ships in from SoCal for trainer Brian Pitnick. He has had steady works over this surface and appears to sit a good stalking trip down along the inside. This son of Smiling TIger adds blinkers today maybe hoping to get him in the race earlier. Expect to see him running down the lane.
Others to consider: 11 Muskoka was originally purchased for $120k but has struggled just to hit the board in 8 tries. Drops in for maiden 8s today and gets the Desormeaux brothers. 5 Billtown Banner ran a good second last time. He’s a runner who grinds away slowly in the stretch. He adds an extra half furlong from his last start and could pass the extra runners late. 2 Clifton Hollow hit the board but faded after showing speed early last time. He will look to improve off that effort. Would like this horse to rate instead of showing early speed.
Race 6: 1 Mile Turf $12,500 Claiming F & M 3 & up (5-2-7)
Our only turf race here kicks off the late double.
5 Splashing is dropping in class. She exits races over the tapeta where she has started getting used to the surface. Today she returns to the turf and she should be sitting a stalking trip. Leading jockey Juan Hernandez gets the call. This mare has been consistent of late in terms of hitting the board.
2 Everybody Does It is one of the speeds in the race. She exits racing over the tapeta where she only has one win. She will be forwardly placed on this turf course. Depending on the pace scenario she could wire the field if nobody contests with her early on.
7 Please Do will hope there is a speed duel up front. She does her best running from off the pace and she returns to turf where it looks like she has better success. She will have to get by some common foes from their last race.
Other to watch: 6 Side Effect is making her first start off the claim for trainer Victor Trujillo. She steps back up in class and gets on turf where she only has 1 win. Appears this horse could play a factor in the pace scenario for the closers.
Race 7: 1 Mile $3,200 Claiming 3 year olds & up (9-7-6)
9 My Friend George a 12 time winner drops into the 3200 claiming condition today. This 8 year old should sit midfield and look to make a run in the stretch for jockey Francisco Monroy. Trainer Manuel Badilla will look to stay hot from last week.
7 Askin’ for Trouble exits a common race to our top pick. That day he was ridden by a 7 pound apprentice. Today the leading jockey of the meet gets the call. He should sit up close to the lead if not on it and get first jump.
6 Dynamite Ride makes his second start off a layoff. This 8 year old has a lot of early speed and should be fresh off the break. He will try to take them all the way if nobody contests. He is a 6 time winner in the past and has faced tougher competition before being sidelined.
Other to watch: 2 Elevate is a runner who I’ve chased in the past. This 5 year old drops out of a beaten 4 claimer. The winner from his last effort runs in the opener today so keep an eye on how that runner does. This horse could push the pace or sit just off of it but the form of late has not been nice.
Best Bet: Race 3 No Spin Zone 2/1
Price Play: Race 1 Magic Rate 6/1
Only one turf race today but I think we can beat some favorites today especially early on in the program. Good luck!
Twitter: @sportsandhorse