Thursday, March 29 2012
TRAINER KLOKSTAD DEAD AT 79; BAZE HOPES TO CONTINUE WINNING STREAK; DUBAI WORLD CUP BETTING FRIDAY
Bud Klokstad, one of the all-time leading trainers in the state of Washington and a member of the Northern California horse racing community, died early Wednesday morning at his home in Richmond. Klokstad, who had been in poor health for several months, was 79.
Klokstad, a member of the Washington Racing Hall of Fame, ranks second in stakes wins at both Longacres (54) and Emerald Downs (43). Klokstad trained many of the fastest horses in Washington history, including multiple stakes-winner Chinook Pass, who was voted the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding sprinter of 1983.
Monday, March 26 2012
Gulfstream Today 3-25-2012
Aubby K put on a show in the featured ninth race, drawing away to a 9 ¾-length victory under a hand ride in her 2012 debut.
The 3-year-old daughter of Street Sense broke alertly from the starting gate under jockey Edgar Prado to set the pace along the backstretch, stalked by Latin Rocks into the far turn. The even-money favorite in the nine-horse entry-level allowance withstood the challenge and drew off to an easy victory.
Aubby K, who had finished fourth in the Pocahontas (G2) at Churchill Downs in her last trip to post on Oct. 30, collected her second victory in three lifetime starts. The James Spence homebred ran 6 ½ lengths in 1:15.51 after setting fractions of :22.15 :44.15, 1:09.01.
BAZE GOES BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
ALBANY -- Leading jockey Russell Baze posted back-to-back-to-back-to-back victories at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.
Baze, a 53-year-old Hall of Famer, looked like a young, hungry rider as he powered his mounts in the fifth and sixth races to hard-fought victories and then enjoyed relatively easy wins in the seventh and eighth races.
Sunday, March 25 2012
DIAMOND OF BLUE IMPROVES TO 3-FOR-4 AT GGF
ALBANY -- The promising 3-year-old Diamond of Blue recorded his third victory in four starts when he defeated Downtown C. T. by three-quarters of a length in the $31,980 allowance feature at Golden Gate Fields Saturday.
Diamond of Blue, ridden by Juan Hernandez, easily took the lead from pacesetter Sherman Bartlebort entering the stretch and then dug in gamely to hold off Downtown C. T. in the six-furlong sprint. Reconstruction finished third.
Friday, March 23 2012
GOLDEN GATE FIELDS ANNOUNCES CHANGES REGARDING TWO STAKES
ALBANY -- Golden Gate Fields racing secretary David Jerkens announced Friday a pair of changes regarding upcoming stakes.
The $75,000 Golden Poppy, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies scheduled for Saturday, May 5, will be run one day later, Sunday, May 6. The Grade 3 $100,000 Berkeley, a 1 1/16-mile race for 4-year-olds and up that will be run Monday, May 28, will be run as a handicap race. The last time the Berkeley was run as a handicap was on Sept. 4, 2006, when Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss’ Spellbinder carried 118 pounds to victory under jockey Roberto Gonzalez.
Monday, March 19 2012
LIVE SUNDAYS WIRES RIVALS IN MILE FEATURE AT GGF
ALBANY -- Live Sundays played “catch me if you can” in the one-mile allowance feature at Golden Gate Fields Sunday and won the game decisively.
Live Sundays was sent to the lead by jockey Russell Baze and the 6-year-old gelding established command over his four rivals while racing the opening half-mile in 24.35 and the half in 48.39.
Sunday, March 18 2012
OH MOLLY BRANNIGAN, NATURALLY, WINS ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY AT GGF
ALBANY -- Golden Gate Fields presented a nine-race St. Patrick’s Day program Saturday and the first winner of the day was, naturally, Oh Molly Brannigan.
A clear hunch play for Irish punters, Oh Molly Brannigan captured the one-mile first race in front-running fashion and paid $13.40 after fighting off Carolina Grande for a nose victory. Vindi Princess finished third.
Friday, March 16 2012
BAZE’S STREAK OF CONSECUTIVE WINNERS REACHES SIX BEFORE RUNNER-UP FINISH
ALBANY -- Jockey Russell Baze rode six consecutive winners at Golden Gate Fields before having his streak snapped when he finished second in the sixth race Friday.
Baze scored with his final three mounts Thursday – Apply ($8.20) in the fifth race, Excelling ($4.00) in the sixth, and Vulcan ($26.20) in the seventh.
INTRIGUING VISION WINS AGAIN, IS CLAIMED AGAIN BY HOLLENDORFER
ALBANY -- The 4-year-old filly Intriguing Vision won her fourth straight race Thursday at Golden Gate Fields and was claimed for the third consecutive race.
Intriguing Vision kicked off her winning streak on Dec. 30 when she captured a $10,000 claiming race for trainer Andy Mathis. Mathis entered Intriguing Vision back in a $16,000 claiming race on Jan. 29 and she won again while being claimed by leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Thursday, March 15 2012
A RINGER WILL BE WORTH $100,000 AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS SATURDAY
ALBANY -- Fans that plan to attend the races at Golden Gate Fields Saturday should not only handicap the horses, but also work on their horseshoe pitch.
Golden Gate Fields will host a St. Patrick’s Day Horseshoe Pitch and the first person to throw a ringer will win $100,000. Ten lucky fans will be chosen by raffle to participate in the contest.
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.
LIGHT UP THE SKY MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW AT GGF
ALBANY -- Light Up the Sky recorded her second straight victory at Golden Gate Fields Thursday when she upset her heavily-favored stablemate, Sweet Nothings, in the $35,340 allowance feature.
Light Up the Sky defeated front-running Sweet Nothings by a half-length as trainer Jerry Hollendorfer saddled the exacta in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. Ms Pianist finished third.
