Golden Gate selections for Sunday March 1, 2020 by Taylor Owens.
Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1 – Maiden Claiming $12,500 for Maiden. 3yo. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-5-3
1. Wonder of Autism – I’m not going to ignore the jockey and trainer combo on this horse and the success they’ve shared in the past. Wonder of Autism disappointed in his last start in a race that set him up to close well. He does keep improving in his starts and appears to be the most promising in the field based on his efforts and record.
5. Hula King – I really wanted to put him on top, and if he goes at the right odds I would definitely take another look at him. He dueled on the lead last out but couldn’t take it through the wire. If Herrera hustles him early and tries that tactic again, I don’t see anyone that will go with him.
3. Northern Quest – This is a six horse field and I think it’s pretty open for show. I’m picking Northern Quest as my third choice because I don’t like what I see from the other three. This gelding does have Couton aboard who will give him a good ride, and he’s had a recent gate work on February 8 that I like. Also, that wasn’t a bad work he published last week going 5 furlongs. Should do well on debut.
Race 2 – Claiming $4,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 3-4-1
3. Saturncloud – Hasn’t always brought her A-game to Golden Gate but she is coming in off a big class drop to run at this level. Her last two starts we didn’t see as much of that early speed we are used to seeing, but with the drop I think we will today. She’s not the only one that’s quick out of the gate but I do think she’s the quickest and should be able to out-duel a challenge.
4. Regal Lady – If any of the speed will get caught by a horse I think it’s Regal Lady. She hasn’t won at the distance but she closed last time out to win second. Her two wins on the chart come from off the pace; both were against higher competition and one was on the turf. If one is to close, I think it will be this one.
1. Gambler’s Appeal – At first glance this mare has consistently been losing and her last on the board finish was back in March of 2019 where she won at a lower claiming level. She showed some effort shortening to 5 ½ back in December before she returned to a mile. I made her my third pick because of her record at the distance; she’s been consistent. I also like that she recently worked the distance, and we know she has some speed because she worked the bullet back in early January. There are a lot of horses in this race with speed, so it may be to her advantage that she isn’t in the mix early.
Race 3 – Maiden Claiming $25,000 for Fillies, 3yo. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 3-1-6
3. Shake It Cali – She’s been on the board in 3 of her 4 starts here at Golden Gate on the Tapeta. She has done well coming off the pace, but that goes for most of the fillies in here so I don’t see the lack of pace as a big disadvantage to her particularly. I think she’s good enough to overcome it.
1. Khaleesis Dragon – She’s looking to turn the tables on Shake It Cali, but she will have to much improve here. I definitely won’t take away from the effort she showed in that start. This is her second start off the layoff and I think she’ll improve off last time, and I do like her sire. Second pick.
6. Gifty – Looks to improve off the last start. I’m not going to shy away from the jump up, especially against this field, but if you look at that last start she was gaining ground late and lost by ¾ length in a close finish. She has a new rider for this race, and the trainer certainly saw something in her that made him confident in her ability to go up in class. Don’t overlook.
Race 4 – Claiming $20,000 for 4yo & up. 1 1/16 miles. All-Weather. Picks: 1-3-4
1. Dano’s Dream – Yes, he’s been beat twice in a row by Uber Star, who is also in this race. I’m putting Dano’s Dream on top today because he’s very consistent at this distance and went head-to-head with Uber Star down the lane last out to lose by a head. In the start before that, he lost to him by two lengths. This suggests to me he’s improved, and he is a fighter down that lane. His record can’t be ignored as he’s done no worse than 4th in over two years.
3. Uber Star – Keeping J Hernandez aboard, Uber Star comes in off a win at this level back in early February. The trainer and jockey combo on this horse is one of the best at Golden Gate, and Uber Star always shows up. He’ll be tough.
4. Soberano – Having yet to hit the board since coming to the US, this gelding has been competing down south at Santa Anita and Del Mar as of late. Prior, he was competitive in France early last year. I’m looking at the switch from turf to help him and his performance, though I would have liked him more if he had a work over this surface.
Race 5 – Claiming $6,250 for 4yo & up Which Have Never Won 2 Races. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 4-6-2
4. Curry Nation – Has consistently hit the board since breaking his maiden last August, but he just hasn’t been able to get passed his competition. He showed a really good effort last time out after being carried wide. Going a mile I do like his post position and think today he’ll finally get that second win.
6. Battalion Won – He has some early speed that should help him get a good position. He had a really good race last out when he wired the field. He will look to get a similar trip here, but he is facing winners and with that, some tougher competition. Will have to step up.
2. Dr. Bagley – This gelding hasn’t done much since leaving Santa Anita and has since been looking for that level he’s competitive at. This is a big drop for him, and combined with the trainer and jockey with him he deserves a look. Stretches back to a mile and the blinkers come off for this start.
Race 6 – Allowance $33,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 6 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-1-3
4. Coco Bee – This is a small and salty field that will be tough to beat. Coco Bee will be a dangerous competitor in that she can win on the lead or close from off of it. Versatile, and having a good jockey aboard, will make her tough as she looks to extend her win streak to 4.
1. Gotham Desire – She gets Gonzalez aboard this time instead of Hernandez, but I think this is a pretty good filly that will be tough. She has really taken a liking to Golden Gate and that record speaks for itself. Looking at that last start, I can forgive that second place finish saw her just miss first. An easy work between races should have her ready to go today.
3. Mother of Dragons – she always shows up for her races, even when fifth by two. She has always placed or won at the 6 furlong distance and will be getting Desormeaux aboard today.
Race 7 – Maiden Special Weight $39,000 for California Bred or Sired Maidens, 3yo. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 4-1
4. Smiling Patrick – In a large field of eight maidens, I’m comfortable with going with one of many debuting. Sired by Smiling Tiger, this colt has a really good work tab, with his recent drill going a solid 5 furlongs. However, it’s the pair of 6 furlong works prior to that I especially like. This horse is coming in with a good jockey and a good trainer and is well-prepared for the distance today. Excited to see his debut.
1. Olympic Silver – One of the few with real-race experience, he’s still putting it all together but did well despite having lugged out in the final stages of his debut. Perhaps the blinkers and inside position will help him running straight this time, but I do look to him to improve.
Race 8 – Claiming $12,500 for 4yo & up Which Have Never Won 2 Races. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-3-4
1. Sayin Grace – I’m going right with the one here. Still looking for his first win at Golden Gate, he’s been super consistent as of late, including running 2nd last out after cutting from a mile. Shortening just a little more today, I like the jockey on him and these two have had success in the past. The 4 furlong work from the gate on the 22 should really help him here.
3. Cyclops – Pretty consistent here, he’s lightly raced and appears to be improving since he returned from the layoff. Gomez will stay aboard and they’ll look to make it two in a row today.
4. Aidan’s Harbor – Another one that likes the track, he went wide last out to hang on for third. It’s not a big field and he draws a little closer to the rail so hopefully this helps his trip, which it doesn’t look like he’s had the perfect one yet. Despite this he’s been a hard-knocking horse and has been showing good form.
Race 9 – Optional Claiming $25,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 4-3-1-5
4. Sloane Garden – Has been successful in her first two starts after coming to the US from Great Britain. She comes back to a mile again, the distance she won at earlier this year, and she keeps her jockey. Hard to beat in her current form.
3. Creative Romance – Beat by Sloane Garden last out, Creative Romance is another dropping from 1 ⅛ mile back to a mile. She was competitive at a higher level last year and has been consistent over the track. I like the move back to a mile and her two works since her last start.
1. Rose Princess – Second place finisher in her last start was a next out winner. Rose Princess is dropping a bit from the allowance ranks and will keep C Herrera aboard for this start. Not a lot of speed to her outside so she could get set up with a good position into the fist turn. This is her third start back off a layoff and I think she’ll show up today.