Golden Gate selections for Sunday March 8, 2020 by Taylor Owens
Twitter: @owenstaylor10
Race 1 – Maiden Claiming $5,000. 4yo & up. 5 furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-2
2. Dave’s Gift – One of his three on the board finishes come at this distance. He ran a really low speed figure last out, and at some point I think this horse will stop regressing and I think today is that day. He has shown a little bit of speed in the past when pushed; combined with the cut back from a mile and his recent 4 furlong work, I think he’s a good contender here.
1. Kenji’s Journey – In his third start off a long layoff, he had a 6 furlong workout prior to his last race that could help set him up here as he cuts back to 5.
Race 2 – Claiming $12,500 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up Which Have Never Won Two Races. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 4-1-3
4. Loretta – This consistent Golden Gate runner is very quick out of the gate and tends to go to the early lead. However, she has had several on the board finishes and I’m confident she doesn’t need the lead to win, and being that there’s other speed here she might not get to be the pace setter. That was a tough finish last time, but she had a maintenance 5 furlongs the first of March and should be set up well to improve.
1. Blushing Bay – This filly is also proven over the surface and is coming in off a win. Stepping up again today, she won last out drawing away at this distance and won with ease in a career-best performance.
3. Miss Indefatigable – was caught by the 4 last out and won third. It was a good first time effort against winners, and while I won’t count her out I don’t think she has what it takes to win in this spot today.
Race 3 – Claiming $4,000 for 4yo & up Which Have Never Won Two Races. 1 mile. All-Weather. Picks: 6-1
6. Clarence Heads – Broke his maiden at third asking, he moves up to face N2L for the first time. Drawing away over the mile distance, Clarence Heads returns with Gomez staying in the irons and will look to make it two in a row. Stepping up, I don’t see any stand outs in this field and expect him to return a winner.
1. Mr. Papas – Has shown mild improvement with Herrera aboard these last two starts. He’s been competitive at the distance and may benefit from the inside post.
Race 4 – Optional Claiming $40,000 for Fillies and Mares. 3yo. 1 1/16 Miles. All-Weather. Picks: 4-1-2
4. The Adrie Factor – She returns from Turf Paradise after two wins in stakes company. She won going a mile here back in December, but while she hasn’t had that extra sixteenth her performances suggest she’ll do well with it. Arguably better than her stablemate and I like Gonzalez is aboard.
1. Midnight Surprise – This filly is very good over this course, having finished on the board in all of her starts here. I’ll forgive her off the board finish, which was on the turf in stakes company down at Santa Anita, but she came back and was competitive at this level last out. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her.
2. Reiwa – If she wants it, I think the lead can be hers as I don’t see much speed in this short field of five. This Jonathan Wong trainee has done well her last several starts, and i’m particularly impressed with the effort back in December when she gained late and just missed for first. I think she’s better than she looks on paper and shouldn’t be ignored.
Race 5 – Claiming $8,000 for Fillies and Mares 4yo & up. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 1-2-6
1. Sierra Sunrise – This filly has been improving in each of her last several starts and will try to win two in a row today. I like her a lot because there’s a lot of speed in this race, and last out she won off the pace. I think if she can employ that same strategy it will pay off again today. Pena will be piloting her again today.
2. Diamondsnchampagne – It’s hard to keep this mare out of my top 3! Not only is she good at hitting the board at Golden Gate but she sports a really good record at this distance, including 5 wins, from 9 starts. She ran third last out at this level and will be facing Sierra Sunrise again, but this is a speedy filly and I really like her against this group.
6, Judicial – This is another mare that’s quick early on but she can’t always stay on at the end. She has taken some considerable drops in class these last several starts and finally won second last out at this level. I think she’ll be one of several to be in the mix early and will hang on to show.
Race 6 – Claiming $12,500. 4yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 4-3-7
4. Wilshire Dude – Wasn’t disserviced by that second place finish last out at Santa Anita when he tried to wire the field. Returns here and will drop a bit in class while going the same distance of a mile. Has placed or won in his two starts over the surface and will look to use his early speed to get a good position into the first turn.
3. Studly Perfection – Martinez will stay aboard as Studly Perfection looks to make it three in a row. He’s been very consistent as of late, but that finish in his last start can be a bit worrisome. He did have a 4 furlong drill since to sharpen him for today.
7. No Name Fred – I’m taking the outside horse here to show because he doesn’t need the lead to win. Last out we saw him get hustled early, but this time I’d like to see him sit off the pace (seeing as there should be plenty of it). As well, he’s dropping in class as well as cutting back to a mile.
Race 7 -Maiden Claiming $8,000 for 3yo. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 1-6-2
1. Matson – Much improved after coming north, he briefly held the lead before settling for a very close second. He has put in a maintenance work since then and should move forward off his last start.
6. Runaway Indy – We saw him gaining on the field in the final stages of both of his 5 furlong races. Now he is going two turns but I think he’ll appreciate the added distance, especially with his pedigree.
2. Qick Quack Quo – Returns to this level that saw him win second three starts back. He also made a good closing finish going 6 furlongs back in January and shouldn’t be one to be overlooked.
Race 8 – Claiming $20,000 for 4yo & up Which Have Never Won 2 Races. 5 ½ furlongs. All-Weather. Picks: 2-5-3
2. Potente Alba – This horse has plenty of speed and was able to wire the field lasat out on a heavily speed-favoring track. He’s kind of hit or miss over the surface but he’s excellent at the distance and I think his speed and running style will certainly help him today.
5. Tomahawk Tuesday – In a field that doesn’t have a lot of standouts, I’m looking at this horse because he’s coming in off a class drop and can reliably hit the board. I think the class relief will serve him well and he should perform well here.
3. Country Road – With a good trip this horse should hit the board. Prior to his last start he was consistently cashing checks and hitting the board, including in an allowance back in December. He has the form and can certainly be competitive here today.
Race 9 – Maiden Claiming $5,000. 4yo & up. 1 Mile. All-Weather. Picks: 9-6-2
9. Glenroy – I don’t really like the outside post going a mile, but I think today is Glenroy’s day. He won second going a mile last out from post position 9 so he can overcome it. He has also been pretty consistent at Golden Gate and I like that Krigger will remain aboard.
6. St James Place – Ran a decent 2nd two starts back at this level. Last time out ran fourth to two that he’ll face again today, including Glenroy, but he didn’t have a great start. With more experience and a better trip he will look to improve.
2. Gold N Grand – Is shipping north from Santa Anita and will be taking a big drop in class. He has had works over the surface, which I love to see even if they weren’t fast because at least he’s gotten over the surface. However, not every Santa Anita shipper has dominated this season and he didn’t show enough down south to convince me he wants to run, so I’m not putting him better than third.