Friday, March 09, 2012

3-YEAR-OLDS IN MAIN EVENT AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS SATURDAY

ALBANY -- Five 3-year-olds, including a pair of runners that competed in both the California Derby and El Camino Real Derby, will meet Saturday at Golden Gate Fields in a $30,000 allowance race.

The one-mile test is the second race on a nine-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. and features a carryover of $54,932 in the Pick Six. The Pick Six will be held on races four through nine and post time for the fourth is 2:18 p.m.


Unveiled Heat, who finished fifth in the California Derby on Jan. 14 and fourth in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 18, and Cahill Chrome, the California Derby runner-up who bounced in the El Camino Real Derby and finished last, both return to the allowance ranks looking for a win.

Unveiled Heat is the 2-to-1 second choice on the morning line and Cahill Chrome is the fourth choice in the field at 6-to-1. The 9-to-5 morning line favorite is Nonios, a Kentucky-bred colt by Pleasantly Perfect who made a winning debut at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 11.

Nonios, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, captured a six-furlong maiden allowance race by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:10.43 and figures to have no trouble stretching out to a mile. Jockey Russell Baze guided Nonios to his maiden score and is sticking with the horse that cost $73,000 as a 2-year-old.

Hollendorfer will also send out 8-to-1 outsider Red Danger, who won a one-mile starter allowance race under Baze on Jan. 29. Jockey David Lopez will replace Baze aboard Red Danger, who was purchased as a 2-year-old for $105,000.

Completing the field is Diamond of Blue, the 5-to-2 third choice. Diamond of Blue has won both of his starts in impressive fashion, and like Nonios, will race around two turns for the first time Saturday. Diamond of Blue will be ridden by his regular pilot, Kerwin John.

Comments (0)