GOLDEN GATE NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 2
by Gary Granade
YOUGOTTAWANNA (Candi’s Gold) bounced back from a disappointing effort in the
California Cup Classic at Santa Anita with a game victory over stablemate
Adreamisborn (Kris S.) in the $82,650 Forty-Niner H. on Friday.
Yougottawanna, ridden by Chad Schvaneveldt, took command from fellow
front-runner Kristine’s King (El Prado [Ire]) at the top of the lane and then just
held off Adreamisborn to win the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-olds and up by a
neck in 1:42.16.
The first two finishers are both trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who was
puzzled by Yougottawanna’s performance in the Cal Cup Classic. Yougottawanna
finished eighth in the $250,000 race, beaten more than 30 lengths by winner Cozy
Guy (Alphabet Soup).
“Why he made such a bad run at Santa Anita, I don’t know,” Hollendorfer said.
“This has been a consistent horse throughout his career.”
“He sure is game,” said Schvaneveldt, who rode Yougottawanna for the first
time Friday.
“About 100 yards from the wire I thought I was beat, but he kept digging. He’s a
classy horse.”
Adreamisborn, who was coupled with another Hollendorfer runner, Gold Ruckus (Gold Alert), made a good run at Yougottawanna but ran out
of real estate. Russell Baze rode Adreamisborn, who was making his first start
since finishing fifth in the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park on September 18.
“A couple of more jumps and we’d have had him,” Baze said. “My horse probably
needed one more work. Jerry told me after the race that he wished he had gotten
one more work in him. But what a nice horse. When you get him out and chirp to
him, he takes off.”
Yougottawanna paid $13.80 as the third choice in the wagering. The entry was
favored at 4-5.
Hollendorfer has won 20 stakes in Northern California this year and the
Forty-Niner marked the sixth stakes in which he saddled the exacta.
In Wednesday’s 5TH race, apprentice jockey Kate Repp was taken to Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley with
a concussion and possible rib injuries after her mount, Wild Irish Dreams (Proud Irish), clipped heels with
Pia’s Courage (Distinctive Cat) inside the sixteenth pole .
As Wild Irish Dream tried to get up from the spill, she was broadsided by
Sexy Splasher (Bertrando), forcing her jockey Pedro Mercado to fall. Mercado rolled
under the inside safety rail and walked off the track.
Wild Irish Dream got up and was finally caught by an outrider. Sexy Splasher
was eventually able to regain her feet and was taken off in a horse ambulance.
Early indications were that neither horse was seriously injured.
Both the main track and the turf course played fair and were free from bias
this week.
Hall of Fame rider Baze continues to dominate as usual with 27 wins,
more than double that of Roberto Gonzalez, who is in second place with 12.
Perennial leading trainer Hollendorfer got to the top after the third
week of racing and now has 14 wins. John Martin is winning at a 36 percent clip and is
next with 12.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/24)
5TH – DEVIL’S SIS (Devil His Due) needed her first race here after shipping from
the Northwest but came to life this time, finishing a sharp second as the front
wraps came off. Taken by Steven Miyadi, so she will be live for sure next time out.
Thursday (11/25)
4TH – MY FAVORITE SPORT (Helmsman) was a very impressive debut winner for Cliff
Delima. She dropped well back when steadied sharply at the start, circled the
field under a tight hold and drew clear without being asked.
Friday (11/26)
3RD – LOVE THAT MAN (Manlove) rallied into the second turn, was forced to circle
five wide to the stretch, then finished steadily to take his second in a row. Taken
back by Art Sherman, who lost him in his previous start.
6TH – ICED OUT (Comic Strip) ran much better than looked against the bias in
his debut and was no secret, bet from 12-1 on the line down to 2-1. He fell far
back early, advanced quickly under his own courage, circled rivals five wide on
the turn with only mild coaxing, took command in the upper stretch and drew off
without ever being asked.
8TH – Adreamisborn was, as Baze said, a bit short of his best condition. He
will win a race like this in his next start.
Saturday (11/27)
1ST – GHOST ACTOR (Theatrical [Ire]) looked too good for this field and beat them by
16 lengths in freak-out fashion. His Speed rating was many lengths faster than par and Hollendorfer lost him to John Martin.
8TH – PHEIFFER (Lyphaness) looked like a winner in deep stretch but
flattened out in the final 100 yards. She needed the race and will be hard to
deny next time out.
9TH – KIMI ANNE (Prospect Bay) was heavily bet for her debut and would have
been the winner if she had not been severely blocked in the lane. Looks like a
pretty nice filly.
Sunday (11/28)
3RD – DYNAWHITE (Lite the Fuse) finished a close third in a fast race despite
racing extremely wide. The New York-shipper should win soon for John Martin.