Another week of racing set to kick off here at Golden Gate Fields. 7 race program today. Since our last writeup there hasn’t been much change. Juan Hernandez and Jonathan Wong continue to dominate in the jockey and trainer standings. Brayan Pena racked up 3 wins last week while William Antongeorgi and Ricardo Gonzalez have gone 5 for 16 and 4 for 14 respectively. Shocking to say but trainer William Delia is 0 for his last 15 and the same can be said for jockey Francisco Monroy. Kent Desormeaux is having success and in return is getting the call for a lot of different trainers. Here are my thoughts on this Thursday card:
Our results: 64 races – 21 top pick winners (33%), 40 top picks in the money (63%)
Race 1: 6 Furlongs $8,000 Maiden Claiming 4 year olds & up (3-2-5)
3 Ivorian has finished second three times in a row. Has been knocking on the door. Gets an extra furlong to run at. Only concern is the short price but should be the one to beat.
2 Second Bold makes his third start off a year layoff. Has finished behind Ivorian in both races before. Made up some lengths last time out passing runners in the stretch. Apprentice Juan Espinoza has been riding better of late and he gets the call on a runner he handled well last time. The extra half furlong will surely help.
5 Billtown Banner will be making his second start off the layoff. Finished 5th last time tiring late. Hoping the second start off the break can be a difference maker.
Other to consider: 6 Kenji’s Journey is making his second start off a 4 year layoff. Showed speed and tired last time. Wouldn’t shock me if he found a way into the winner circle today.
Race 2: 1 Mile $3,200 Claiming 4 year olds & up (1-5-3)
1 Aerial Decoy makes his second start at this level. Finished second making up ground late. Ideally would like to run into a pace duel but will be coming late.
5 Louie the Gambler is a horse that will know if he has a chance right out of the gate. His last two races have been broke slow and broke step slow. Three back he got out of the gate clean and was passing runners late. Hoping for a clean break.
3 Gimme Space takes a slight drop in class. Has been knocking on the door at the 4k claiming tag. Only negative is he’s never won over this tapeta surface and he’s 6/5.
Other to consider: 4 Ur Not My Presidnt is the lone two time winner in the field. Both wins came at this distance. Likes to run and pass runners late. Doesn’t seem to be a pace in this race to chase though.
Race 3: 1 Mile Maiden Special Weight F & M 4 & up (1-2-5)
1 La Shirimp returns to the route of ground she covered two back. Stalked the pace that day before making a rally. Last out she didn’t show much in the sprint race. Second start off the two month freshening should bring her improvement.
2 Envy makes her first start routing. She has done well sprinting. Trainer Bob Hess has an 18% win clip on runners going from a sprint to a route.
5 Sunblessed will be making her second start off a break. She stalked and rallied well last time. She should appreciate going the longer route distance today. Hot riding Desormeaux gets aboard.
Race 4: 5.5 Furlongs $12,500 Claiming 4 year olds & up (2-1-4)
2 Stocked is one of a few coming out of a common event February 6. Stocked was second that day missing by half a length. Two back he won at this 5.5 furlong distance and he should be able to take advantage of the speed duel up front.
1 Arno’s Mane Man won on the class hike last time. He’s a consistent in the money finisher at this distance. Cut back to 5.5 might be the lone disadvantage.
4 Ride Into the Sky will be a runner who benefits from the early pace battle up front. He’s a runner who always picks up the pieces late. Good price as well at 8/1.
Other to consider: 3 Mercy Rule is on a two race win streak including last time winning off the claim for Steve Miyadi. He should sit close to the leaders to make his run late. Only concern cutting back to 5.5 furlongs.
Race 5: 1 Mile $20,000 Claiming F & M 4 & up (5-3-1)
5 Jaimi James has run some of her better races routing. She stalked the pace last time and rallied late to win. She does take a class hike but I like her chances considering she could be running into a pace battle.
3 Papaya will be making her first start off the claim for trainer Reid France. She will also be routing. I expect her to sit in the second flight just off the leaders to make her run. Has never won over this tapeta surface but does sport five runner up efforts.
1 Mulhima is actually eligible for a n2L race. She will be making the first start off the claim for Michael Lenzini. Last time she was on the front end of a super slow 26 and 52 opening quarter and half mile. She doesn’t run her best on the front end. In fact she benefits from off the pace especially with the speed signed on here.
Other to consider: 4 Irish Affair will be dropping in class from a starter allowance to a claiming event. Two back won stalking the pace in a n2L race. Now the next logical condition is the n3L which isn’t too common at this claiming level. Reunites with jockey Julien Couton who has handled her well.
Race 6: 1 Mile & 1/16 Starter Allowance $50,000 3 year old Fillies (4-6-2)
4 Born to Reign will be our best bet of the day. She always comes running late at the 1 mile distance. Today she gets an extra half furlong to run at which is definitely to her favor. First time Kent Desormeaux could possibly start turning into a handicapping angle.
6 Billy’sgotasingle has her lone win at today’s distance. Since routing over this surface she has improved her numbers by far. The extra half furlong today should provide her another shot to run home.
2 Yangtze River comes out of a n2L win and enters the starter allowance ranks once more. Two races back she stalked and made a mild run in the stretch. That was her first time routing. WIlling to bet she will improve even against tougher company.
Other to consider: 5 Daniel the Dreamer made her first start a winning one coming in from Oregon. This daughter of Giacomo might relish at this distance too. First time routing as the favorite is the lone negative.
Race 7: 5.5 Furlongs $6,250 Claiming 4 year olds & up (2-5-6)
2 Red Star broke the maiden for 8 and today is in for 6250. Should sit off the pace and close and he offers great odds at 8/1. Trainer Isidro Tamayo strikes at 25% with lst out winners and today could be another example.
5 Mondolonia will add an extra half furlong today. He won at the 6 furlong distance for 12.5 so dropping in today for half that tag, if he can make up ground late he could be the one to catch.
6 Persistence is making his second start off the break. He also is dropping in class today. He showed speed and faded last time out. The freshening and class drop could make the difference.
Best bet: Race 6 Born to Reign 7/2
Price play: Race 8 Red Star 8/1
It’s a small sized card but I think it’s not that bad as it looks especially the back end of the card. Good luck today!