GOLDEN GATE NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 23
by Gary Granade
DOVER DERE (Cherokee Run) recorded his first stakes victory on Saturday,
leading from start to finish en route to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $54,800
Gold Rush S. Ridden by Iggy Puglisi and trained by Doug O’Neill, Dover Dere took
the one-mile feature for two-year-olds in 1:36.55 and paid $8.20 as the second
wagering choice in a field of seven.
Ten horses were entered for the Gold Rush, but Chinese Checkers (Game Plan),
Yellow Out (Demons Begone) and Danny Dingle (Doneraile Court) were all scratched
from the race Saturday morning.
Dover Dere won the Gold Rush over a pair of long shots – Booming Along
(Boomerang), who was sent off at 29-1, and Krovitz (Trail City), who was
dismissed at 23-1.
Seize the Day (Montbrook), the 2-5 favorite ridden by Roberto Gonzalez and
trained by Kristin Mulhall, finished a disappointing fifth while trying a mile
for the first time. Seize the Day was coming off a third-place finish in the
seven-furlong Hollywood Prevue S. (G3), a race in which he was beaten only two
lengths by Declan’s Moon (Malibu Moon), who came back to win the Hollywood
Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park Saturday.
“I thought I was a cinch today,” Gonzalez said. “He was a little bit of an
idiot in the post parade. He was pretty green going into the first turn but I
got him to settle down on the backstretch. He never really fired. I chirped to
him at the half-mile pole and he gave me some run until the middle of the turn
and that was it. After the race Kristin said, ‘I guess I’ve got a sprinter, not
a route horse.'”
Dover Dere was professional and ready to roll Saturday, according to Puglisi.
“I really didn’t expect to find myself on the lead, but I could tell in the
post parade that he was going to be sharp today,” Puglisi said. “I was happy
when I went to the paddock and saw the heavy favorite (Seize the Day) was kind
of washy and acting up. I knew that would help my chances.”
CEE’S IRISH (Cee’s Tizzy) gave trainer O’Neill a sweep of the weekend stakes
races when she caught Island Escape (Petionville) and stuck her nose in front at
the wire to win the $60,400 Corte Madera S. on Sunday.
Cee’s Irish raced four wide the entire race but pulled even with pacesetting
Island Escape in the lane. The two alternated on the lead with Cee’s Irish
proving best at the right time, winning the one-mile race for two-year-old
fillies in 1:36.94. She gave back $4.20 as the even money favorite. On London
Time (Gilded Time) rallied along the rail to finish third, a half-length behind
the first two runners.
“I talked to my assistant after the race, and he said she wasn’t overly
tired,” O’Neill said. “I wanted her to get a clean trip, and Russell (Baze) gave
her a good ride.
“We shipped her up four days ago, and she left a little grain in her feed tub
which she doesn’t do up here. I guess traveling took a little bit out of her,
but I’m happy because we learned some things.”
Cee’s Irish also earned her fist stakes win. The gray, who was privately
purchase by Merv Griffin, finished second in the Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies S.
There will be a Pick 6 carryover of over $225,000 when racing resumes Sunday
after a series of longshots won the first three races on Monday’s card.
First timer CHULLO UNO (Chullo) scored a $143 upset in the first leg of the
Pick 6, which entered the day with a $94,951 carryover.
Trainer W.L. McDaniel, 0-for-82 on the year, saddled back-to-back winners in
the next two legs, winning with WILD SISSY (Wild Gold) at $80.40 and
CANTRESISTTHISKISS (Fine N’ Majestic) at $82.60.
The main track favored Early runners in sprints and Pressers in routes.
Closers, as usual, had the edge on the turf course.
Baze is well on his way to another riding title. He has won 42 times despite
missing time with a minor injury and suspension. Frank Alvarado is a distant
second with 28 trips to the winner’s circle.
Perennial leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has not been as dominant as he
has been at some previous meets, but won six times last week for a total of 28.
The only ones within shouting distance of him are John Martin with 19 and Art
Sherman with 17.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (12/15)
3RD – PATRIOT NOISE (Quiet American) looked like a 1-5 cinch in this spot and
won by 12 without ever being asked. Surprisingly, there were no takers. Hard to
beat next out, even jumping a couple of levels.
Thursday (12/16)
6TH – BULL HEADED WYNN (Northern Afleet) was never too far back, fanned five
wide while advancing on the turn and finished steadily. Lost by just over a
length.
8TH – DANCING STRIPES (Helmsman) ducked out at the start, trailed the field
to the turn, got fanned five wide to the stretch then finished gamely. Next out
should be her best.
Friday (12/17)
7TH – GOTTAHAVEMILK (Bartok) opened a long lead on a hot pace and just missed
holding off the 3-5 favorite. Goes from Steven Miyadi to Betty Whalen.
Saturday (12/18)
8TH – Seize the Day was washy in the paddock, unruly in the post parade and
failed to fire at 1-5. Seems more comfortable sprinting, so look for him to
bounce back next out.
9TH – RUNNING KITTY (Tactical Cat) just missed despite being fanned wide and
trading bumps with the winner all down the lane. That was her start at this low
level, so she is a likely winner under the same conditions.
Sunday (12/19)
7TH – CRISANTEMO (Fappavalley) was well placed early, boxed behind the
leaders on the second turn, lacked room to get through inside Sloat Blvd (Lit De
Justice) in the upper stretch, tried to get inside that rival in midstretch,
lost his path and checked hard, losing his best chance.