GOLDEN
GATE NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 18
by Gary Granade
Golden Gate Fields opened its 2004-2005 meeting Wednesday with
a victory for the First Wives Club.
A LIL’ ALIMONY (Mr. Procrastinator), a two-year-old filly
owned by five divorced women that race their horses under the
ownership name of First Wives Club, scored a wire-to-wire win in
the first race of the 59-day season.
A Lil’ Alimony made her career debut in the five-furlong dash
for maiden fillies and she won the race by two lengths. The even-money
favorite, A Lil’ Alimony was timed in :57.99 on a muddy racetrack
and paid $4.20.
Trained by Greg Gilchrist and ridden by Macario Rodriguez, the
filly earned $9,075 for her owners. However, the ladies were not
in attendance. The divorcees, perhaps spending some of their
alimony, are currently enjoying a vacation in Cancun.
New racing secretary Sean Greely received a rude introduction
to racing reality in Northern California for his opening-day card
on Wednesday.
Plans to open the meeting with a stakes race had to be altered
when weather conditions and the uncertainty of the availability
of the Lakeside Turf Course caused the Star Ball H. not to fill,
forcing the race to be postponed.
Under Northern California’s new race schedule, geared in part
to spread wet-weather dates between Golden Gate Fields and Bay
Meadows, Golden Gate’s usual 100+ day meet was cut to 58 days and
will run through January 30. Golden Gate Fields will run its next
meet from May 11-June 19.
The Star Ball was run on Sunday over a yielding turf course
and was taken by FRISCO BELLE (El Prado [Ire]) from the Gilchrist
barn.
Sent off as the next to longest shot in the race, Frisco Belle
had good position behind the leaders early. She split rivals in
the lane and went on to score by three-quarters of a length and
returned $22.60.
The place went to Stormica (Storm Cat) in a three-horse photo
with Shezsospiritual (Fly Till Dawn) and Shalini (Urgent Request).
Stormica, sent off as the 3-1 second choice, suffered a tough
trip and was probably best.
The main track, which wasn’t fast all week, played relatively
fair, favoring inside speed on Wednesday and Thursday. There was
only one race run over the turf course.
Francisco Duran is the leading rider with eight wins after the
first week, with David Lopez in second with six. Roberto Gonzalez
and Russell Baze are tied for third with five apiece. Baze, the
Hall of Famer and NoCal Kingpin, only began riding on Saturday
due to his recent suspension.
Gilchrist could not be hotter, having won with all four
starters to top the trainer’s race. Greg James, Ed Moger and Bill
Morey each have three wins. Perennial leader Jerry Hollendorfer
is off to a slow start with only two wins from his first 19
starters.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/10)
1ST – DIVINE MARK (Benchmark) chased all the way but could not
catch the odds-on winner. It was a promising debut for a barn
that never wins with first timers. She should be ready to score next out.
Thursday (11/11)
1ST – FINAL FINALE (Smokester) came up huge in his first start
off the Moger claim, having been haltered from a low percentage
barn. Should be well placed next out.
Friday (11/12)
2ND – FLYING ALIBI (Flying Continental) failed to fire in her
first start for a low percentage barn and did not appear to care
for the muddy track. Claimed by Hollendorfer and should bounce
back.
Saturday (11/13)
2ND – BOSSA RIO (Red Ransom) closed strongly in his debut,
earning a big Late Pace figure, and only missed by a nose to the
3-5 favorite. He finished 13 lengths clear of the field and is
sitting on a win for Art Sherman.
6TH – RAGINGBLUEWATER (Thorn Dance) showed in his previous
start that he wanted no part of a wet track, but was bet down to
even money anyway. He predictably did not handle the mud this
time either. Look for him on a fast track.
Sunday (11/14)
1ST – GOLD LODE (Muqtarib) was hammered down to 6-5 for her
debut off a blazing work tab but floundered in the mud. Give her
another try on a fast track.
9TH – ICICLE RIDGE (Devil On Ice) didn’t beat much in her
debut, but did it with style and recorded a time that was several
ticks faster than par at every call. Hard to hold vs. two
lifetime conditioned claimers.