GOLDEN
GATE NOTEBOOK
November 24
by Gary Granade
The $50,000-added Golden Bear S., scheduled as Saturday’s
feature at Golden Gate Fields, was canceled when only three two-year-old
colts were entered.
Racing secretary Sean Greely is not optimistic about
rescheduling the race.
All four scheduled stakes at the meet have failed to fill. The
Star Ball, scheduled for opening day, was brought back and run on
Sunday.
There are several stakes scheduled over the Thanksgiving
holiday. On Friday, the $75,000-added Forty Niner H. is expected
to take place. Two Jerry Hollendorfer trainees, Adreamisborn (Kris
S.) and Yougottawanna (Candi’s Gold), are both considered
probable.
Also scheduled to run are Royal Place (Out Of Place),
Kristine’s King (El Prado [Ire]), Californian (GB) (Zafonic), My
Creed (Beau Genius) and Oceanus (Ocean Crest).
“This is a product of 20 years of racing getting worse
and worse (in Northern California),” Greely said. “Field
size has decreased as has handle. We need purse money to go out
and recruit the horses of the caliber we need to fill this kind
of race.”
Trainer Brian Koriner, who wanted to run multiple stakes
winner Wind Water (Bold Badgett) in the Golden Bear, is also
saddened. “It kind of leaves you up in the air. It’s kind of
disappointing if you want to stay here.”
Saturday’s four-horse spill looked horrible, but, remarkably,
injuries to the riders turned out to be minor.
The accident occurred in the second race when Irish Tizzy (Proud
Irish) broke his right ankle approaching the quarter pole and
fell, causing a chain-reaction crash with three other horses.
Francisco Duran, Alfredo Miranda, and David Lopez were
hospitalized, while the fourth rider, Iggy Puglisi, rode in the
next race.
Miranda and Lopez were released Saturday night with minor
concussions and bruises. Duran was kept in the hospital because
of severe bruising caused when Sky Guy (Skywalker), the third
horse to go down in the spill, fell on him.
The original diagnosis was that Duran had broken his
collarbone, but further X-rays Sunday determined the bone was not
broken.
Irish Tizzy was euthanized, but Rippling Water (Mr.
Procrastinator), Sky Guy, and True Stride (Bartok) were uninjured
except for some stitches Rippling Water needed on his chin.
The main track favored early runners on Friday and Saturday,
while promoting closers on Thursday and Sunday. The turf course
mildly favored closers.
Hall of Famer Russell Baze had a huge week, visiting the
winner’s enclosure 15 times. He has now taken a commanding lead
in the rider’s race with 20 wins. Duran is a distant second with
11 victories, followed by Lopez with eight.
Trainer John Martin won eight times this week and has now
scored with 10 of his 27 starters. Jerry Hollendorfer got back on
track with seven victories during the week and is second with
nine overall. Greg Gilchrist is third, having won with five of
six starters this meet.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/17)
6TH – DIANA’S READY (More Than Ready) was certainly ready for
this one after being pulled up in the race from which
Hollendorfer claimed her. She won with gas left in the tank,
posting a huge Speed figure. With no takers, Hollendorfer has
many options.
Thursday (11/18)
6TH – KLEVEN’S ALIBI (Kleven) has become a money machine,
winning four of her last five with ascending numbers. Count on
Hollendorfer to place her conservatively once again. It was very
surprising that there were no claims in for her.
7TH – DANNY DINGLE (Doneraile Court) was entered in a stakes
that didn’t fill, so he made short work of this first-tier
allowance. He pulled away powerfully in the lane after setting
the pace from the rail. Very impressive on a day when all of the
other races were taken by rally-wide closers.
Friday (11/19)
4TH – ESPECIALISTA (Brown Arc) came from well off the pace to
run down a pretty nice horse without ever feeling the sting of
the whip.
8TH – FAITH OF THE WEST (Elusive Quality) stretched out after
being claimed by trainer Steven Miyadi and posted an awesome win.
Miyadi has improved virtually everything he has claimed lately,
and this gelding will be hard to beat next out.
Saturday (11/20)
7TH – BOKONON (Sharp Victor) appeared well placed by Jeff
Bonde and would have been a handy winner if he hadn’t suffered a
terrible trip. He was taken up repeatedly down the lane and was
flying at the leaders late when finally clear, missing by only a
neck.
Sunday (11/21)
8TH – RAE’S TOTTS (Native Prospector) was stopped cold when
rallying in midstretch, but was able to shift to the rail and
squeeze through a small opening to get the win. Improving with
every start.