Monday, October 06, 2008

MONDAY GOLDEN GATE FIELDS

Jerry Hollendorfer and Russell Baze, Northern California's all time leading trainer and jockey, respectively, scored victories Sunday during the $13 million California Cup program Sunday hosted by the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita. Unlike so much of their success locally, however, the pair did not combine talents in either race.

Hollendorfer employed jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard Kool Comic to score a mild upset in the $50,000 Starter Sprint Handicap. Baze teamed with locally based Roger Hansen for an impressive front running tally aboard Kjell Qvale's Tribesman in the $150,000 California Cup Sprint.


Both races were at six furlongs Kool Comic, owned by George Todaro and Hollendorfer, abandonned his normal frontrunning tactics by rallying from sixth early to gain the lead in the stretch then draw off to a 2 3/4 length win in 1.08:09. Claimed earlier this year for $20,000, Kool Comic won his fourth race in five starts for Hollendorfer and earned $30,000. He paid $10.60 to win.

Tribesman, probably Northern California's top sprinter for most of the last two years, was never headed as he ran his six furlongs in 1.07:85 for his fourth win of the year and eighth in 15 lifetime starts. He banked $90,000 for his efforts to bring his career earnings to $222,081. Favored over his nine rivals, Tribesman paid $7.40 to win. Northern California's most notable entrant in the Cal Cup races was Bold Chieftain, trained and owned in part by Bill Morey Jr. Bold Chieftain competed in the California Cup Mile over the grass course and was narrowly beaten as the 4-5 favorite.

Last year, Bold Chieftain won the $250,000 Classic. Sunday, ridden by Baze, he took the lead deep in the stretch of his turf fixture but was tagged in the final stages by the 11-1 outsider Swift Winds. One other local horse, Trato, owned by John Cavalli, the Owners Stable and trainer Armando Lage lost a heartbreaker in the $50,000 Starter Handicap at a grueling 1 1/2 miles over the turf. Trato battled gallantly from between horses in the lane but was overtaken by Guts in the final strides.

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