G. G. Ryder denies Summer Hit in San Francisco Mile

The San Francisco Mile was the second career stakes win for G. G. Ryder (Shane Micheli/Vassar Photography) G. G. Ryder (Chhaya Dance) wore down his older, front-running stablemate Summer Hit (Bertrando) inside the final furlong to post a half-length victory in the $100,315 San Francisco Mile (G3) at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. The pair, one of three in the field representing Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, were the second- and third choice, respectively, in the field of eight. Ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez, G. G. Ryder returned $8.20 as the second choice. Tracking no more than 3 1/2 lengths behind Summer Hit, who set a slow pace of :24 3/5, :49 2/5, and 1:13 1/5, G. G. Ryder found his best stride late and completed the race in 1:37 4/5 over a good turf for owners Hollendorfer and George Todaro. For Summer Hit, it was his third consecutive runner-up finish in the San Francisco Mile. He missed by a neck in 2013 and by three-quarters of a length last year.

Finishing third, three-quarters of a length behind Summer Hit, was Are You
Kidding Me (Run Away and Hide). Completing the order of finish were 2014 San
Francisco Mile winner Pepper Crown (Peppered Cat), Tiz Dynamic (Tiznow), Edge of
Reality (Lawyer Ron), the Hollendorfer-trained Toruk Makto (Rahy), and
Polytechnicien (Royal Academy).

This was the second career stakes win for G. G. Ryder, who landed the $75,000
Alcatraz over the course and distance last May. He subsequently finished second
in the Berkeley H. (G3), and preceded this victory with an allowance second to
Pepper Crown, who beat him in the Berkeley but who had finished behind him in a
trio of allowances dating back to November. G. G. Ryder’s record now stands at
18-9-3-1, $315,114.

Bred in California by Eagle Oak Ranch, G. G. Ryder was reared by Stormy Gigi
(Storm Boot), a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Force Freeze (Forest Camp), stakes
winner Barber (Storm Boot), Grade 2-placed Declan’s Fast Cat (Bluegrass Cat),
and stakes-placed Ice Legend (Bertrando). All were produced by stakes winner
Antifreeze (It’s Freezing).

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