The calendars have been given away and a new year is upon us. Happy New Year to all readers and Happy birthday to the horses who turn a year older. Many race conditions will now be either restricted to 3 year olds only or 4 years old and upwards for a couple months. We hope to give out some more winners the way we closed out 2019 with opening day bringing us three top pick winners, three second or third picks, and a couple wild card consideration runners. One of our top pick winners was one of two best bets and our price play finished second beaten a nose. Jockeys off to a good start include Juan Hernandez who is picking up where he left off with 10 wins in 29 mounts (34%) in week 1. Trainers off to a good start include Quinn Howey who has won with 4 of his 5 starters thus far. Bill McLean and Frank Lucarelli also have gotten off to a good start with their runners finishing in the money quite often. Frank Alvarado (1 for 20), Francisco Monroy (1 for 22), and Brayan Pena (2 for 29) will look to rebound in week 2. Trainers who look to rebound in week 2 will be Victor Trujillo (0 for 12), Jonathan Wong (1 for 15), and Isidro Tamayo (1 for 11). Willing to bet things will change for these barns especially the Wong barn as he has won the last couple training titles. Also lets wish William Antongeorgi III a speedy recovery after taking a spill and injuring a rib this weekend. 9 races today first post 12:45 on a special Wednesday program. Here are my thoughts.
Race 1: 5 Furlongs $5,000 maiden claiming F & M 4 & up (4-3-5)
#4 Blushing Bay drops in class after a maiden 8 run last time. Was making up ground late and she has a knack for finishing in the money (6 for 8). Only concern is the cutback to 5 furlongs but I’m hoping she will sit closer than usual to make her run. #3 Noble Girl is 0 for 8 but has turned things around since dropping to this maiden 5 level. Expect this horse to sit close off the leader and get first run. I like that Pedro Flores stays aboard as he’s ridden this horse well. #5 Dixie Peggy gets Juan Hernandez for the first time. Also returns to this lower level maiden condition. Ran fourth two back behind a couple others in this race. I think Hernandez aboard could turn the tables against these others. Other to consider: #1 Enchanting Eva made her first start in two years last time and ran a good second getting tired late. Second time off the layoff should show improvement but if another horse puts pressure (6 has speed) she may fold late.
Race 2: 1 Mile $12,500-$10,500 claiming Fillies 3 year olds (6-1-3)
#6 Text Dont Call takes a huge drop in class. She broke the maiden going wire to wire on the turf two back and stepped up against starter allowance company. Showed speed and faded that day. Now drops back to the claiming ranks and should be the one to catch. #1 Snow Pack broke the maiden last time against maiden 8s. She has never been off the board at Golden Gate. She is going to be sitting off the pace. Last time she went as there was no speed in the race. Maybe she will try and take them all the way again, but I expect her sitting a stalking position. #3 Teaspoon of Pepper goes from a sprint to a route. She broke slow and made up ground last time sprinting. She should appreciate the added ground and could run on late for minor awards.
Other to consider: #5 Charlie’s Belle broke the maiden last time against maiden 8s. Has performed well since dropping to the lower level maiden ranks and today will step back in against tougher competition. If she builds off her last two races she might have a shot. Trainer Ellen Jackson strikes at 26% with last out winners out of the last 19.
Race 3: 1 Mile & 1/16 $20,000-$18,000 maiden claiming Fillies 3 year olds (6-1-2)
#6 Golden Goddess exits a straight maiden race. Had the lead and weakened late. Returns to the maiden 20 level where she finished second two and three starts back. Two back winner runs in race 2 so depending how that runner does, may show what Golden Goddess has faced. Those races were on turf but if she runs those races again she may be tough. #1 It’s Big Aine puts blinkers on after taking them off last time out. Interesting move as I thought she ran a pretty good race without them last out. Winner of that race Fire Diamonds came back opening day and didn’t fire her best against starter allowance company. Interesting note Fire Diamonds finished behind the 6 horse two back. Second time routing can give this filly some improvement. #2 Rev Ree puts blinkers on for a new barn Steve Sherman. Has the stamina to route after just one try. Could possibly be sent for the lead with blinkers and second time out.
Race 4: 6 Furlongs $4,000 claiming 4 & up (5-2-1)
#5 Hardy Chisel is the top pick here. This horse gets more distance to run at after making up ground late last time. I like the race three back where he stumbled and came home running late. He should benefit if there is pace up front. #2 Nervous Nellie is a little price to consider at 5/1. Drops in class and cuts back to a sprint. He has stamina as he has routed quite often. I think if he sits close behind the speed and gets first run he will be tough to beat. #1 Royal Bar is another who cuts back to a sprint. He has sprinted in the past and I expect this horse to push for the lead. My concern with this horse he hasn’t hit the board in 3 tries on tapeta here. Other to consider: #4 Lu Cat can be dangerous if he is given the lead alone. He is quick and has finished second 3 of 5 here on tapeta. He should get the lead up front as the question becomes whether he will hold on as he tired late going 5.5 last time. He is definitely one to watch.
Race 5: 1 Mile $12,500-$10,500 claiming 4 & up (1-6-4)
#1 Mr. Q has always been a hard consistent runner. He’s hit the board in 9 of his last 10 outings including the exacta 7 straight times. He has slowly climbed up the claiming ladder with his runs. Expect him running on late as he will benefit from a quick hot pace. Jockey Juan Hernandez retains the mount today. #6 Sayin Grace is a horse I used underneath as he has a knack for running second or third. In fact he is 4 for 5 finishing in the money here at Golden Gate. He is another who does his best running late but I expect him to get first run. At 5/1 he is worth a play. #4 Rey Coliman will aim for back to back wins. He is running for his lowest level claiming tag once more as he ran in the El Camino Real Derby in February. I like that he turned in a win last time for the n2L condition and is now in the n2x condition. He should fill in the trifecta coming from the clouds. Others to consider: #5 Pioneerofthestorm takes a huge drop from starter allowance to 12500 claimers. He should try to take the field wire to wire however and does sport a nice record on tapeta. I just don’t like the big class drop and am willing to beat this runner. #2 Rustic Canyon is another who drops from starter allowance to 12500 claimers but is 0 for 5 over the tapeta surface.
Race 6: 1 Mile $8,000-$7,000 claiming 4 & up (6-2-5)
#6 Monsajem Pervade returns to the 8 claiming condition where he won two back. Last time tested a higher level in 12500 claimers and made noise late. I expect this horse to come running late and should benefit with the pace setter (1) flying up front. #2 Crazy Prophet is a reclaim for Blaine Wright who had this horse early on in the year. In fact he won at the 16 claiming condition and hasn’t had success since being claimed away from Wright. Now in for the 8 condition and back under Blaine Wright, he just might be able to sway that neck defeat last out his way. #5 Run Like Rhett has always run well over this tapeta surface finishing in the money 5 of 6 including 2 wins. Jockey Luis Reyes who rode this son of Afleet Alex retains the mount and will look to repeat as the winner again. He is another who benefits from the speed up front. Other to consider: #4 Going for the Win is a price horse to consider at 10/1. He finished underneath behind a couple common foes last time out. Benefits from a quick pace and also looks to turn the tables on the 5.
Race 7: 1 Mile $8,000-$7,000 claiming F & M 4 & up (2-1-3)
Looks like a race where we can beat the favorite (4) who hasn’t run her best in three tries over the tapeta. #2 Cash for Cass has never been off the board here at Golden Gate. She ran in starter allowance races earlier in the year and has taken this tapeta surface well. Last time she won a 5 claimer and now takes the step up to 8. Kevin Krigger retains the mount and he has gotten off to a nice start at this meet. She is a good price at 8/1 my price play of the day. #1 Pure Perfection is another price contender at 12/1. I get she hasn’t won in her last 12 but she can fill in the spots underneath at a good number. She also looks to be running into a quick pace up front today (4 & 6) and can be dangerous. #3 War Moccasin goes from a sprint to a route. She has two wins over the surface from her younger days. She does have some late speed as she showed it sprinting. She also drops in class and is a big contender with her 2 for 5 record at this 1 mile distance. Others to consider: #5 Leonilla is 0 for 10 on tapeta and runs better on turf but does take a drop in class. #7 Oursensationalgirl has never finished on the board in 4 limited tries however she drops in class and if she can transfer her turf success to tapeta the daughter of McCann’s Mojave has a shot.
Race 8: 5.5 Furlongs $40,000 Allowance optional claiming Fillies 3 year olds (5-4-6)
#5 Bulletproof One ships up north for trainer Peter Miller. This horse was a talented 2 year old early on winning his first 3 starts. Ran second in the Speakeasy stakes and ran into a super Cal bred Been Studying Her the other two times. She was considering to run in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint but didn’t get any help with scratches. She is the class of the field and at 2/1 is my best bet of the day. I just don’t see anyone possibly with enough speed to stick with her throughout. #4 No Cover Charge has never out of the exacta sprinting. She presents some early speed to stick with the 5 however she seems to get tired late as she lost last time to Eclair in a stakes event. She may benefit with the 5.5 furlong distance but I don’t see her hanging with the 5. #6 I’m a Rockette is a price horse underneath I throw in. She has never lost and now she cuts back from a route to a sprint. She should come late and her odds may be enticing as well. Others to consider: These are horses to throw underneath at prices. #2 Stradari returns to NorCal after running in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies on the Breeders Cup undercard. #3 Smokin Hot Bobbie always comes late to try to pick up the pieces. There is speed up front which she likes but the question is whether she’ll catch third. #7 Anna Lee Encore cuts back from routing to a sprint. The daughter of Uncle Mo will have the stamina edge over some of the others but will be coming home late at 15/1.
Race 9: 1 Mile $12,500 maiden claiming 3 year olds (2-8-4)
#2 Dirt Road Red takes a drop in class from maiden 20s to this condition. He ran a good third to Fire Diamonds. The fourth place finisher that day runs on the card today so how he performs can signal what to expect from this son of Clubhouse Ride. Odds present some value at 4/1. #8 Rowdyrooster sure looks like the one to beat. He’s run twice at this condition and distance finishing third then second. Gonzalez stays aboard looking to break the maiden today. #4 Fort Jackson has finished behind Rowdyrooster the last two tries and will need to pick up some pieces to beat him. Others to consider: #6 Megameister comes north after one try and takes a drop in class. This son of Bodemeister comes into the Jonathan Wong barn and will try two turns. Maybe will go as far as he can and stop. #7 Aero Street finished behind the 8 and 4 last time. Second time routing may bring some improvement at 10/1.
Best Bet: Race 8 Bulletproof One 2/1
Price Play: Race 7 Cash for Cass 8/1
Reminder racing resumes Friday after today. No racing tomorrow. Good luck on all plays today at Golden Gate Fields where the bay comes to play.