Wednesday, April 11 2012

9-YEAR-OLD AWESOME GEM MAKES 2012 DEBUT THURSDAY AT GGF

ALBANY -- The 9-year-old gelding Awesome Gem, a multiple graded stakes-winner of $2,738,270, will make his 2012 debut Thursday at Golden Gate Fields in a one-mile turf race.

The $38,500 allowance event for 3-year-olds and up is a prep for the $150,000 San Francisco Mile, which will be run Saturday, April 28. The Grade 3 SF Mile is Northern California’s top grass race.

Monday, April 09 2012

SISTER KATE SCORES AGAIN AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS; ALVARADO HAS EASTER SUNDAY RIDING TRIPLE

ALBANY -- Sister Kate improved her record to 3-for-5 with a front-running victory in the $36,920 allowance feature at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.

Sister Kate, a 4-year-old filly by Benchmark, won her debut by seven lengths on Jan. 12 and also posted a seven-length score on March 18. Sandwiched between the two blow-out victories were fourth- and third-place finishes.

Saturday, April 07 2012

HALO DOLLY WINS TURF FEATURE; 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY SETS TRACK RECORD

ALBANY -- The 4-year-old filly Halo Dolly and the 2-year-old filly Case Cracker shared the spotlight at Golden Gate Fields Friday with impressive victories.

The classy Halo Dolly, a multiple stakes-winner from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, posted a wire-to-wire win in the $47,663 allowance feature. Ridden by Russell Baze, Halo Dolly held off Antares World to take the one-mile turf test by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:37.26.

Thursday, April 05 2012

ANTARES WORLD, HALO DOLLY IN ACTION FRIDAY AT GGF

ALBANY -- Antares World and Halo Dolly, who ran one-two in the Pacific Heights Stakes in December, meet again Friday at Golden Gate Fields in a $38,500 allowance contest on the Lakeside Turf Course.

The stakes-caliber race is the first contest on an eight-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. Joining Antares World and Halo Dolly in the one-mile test for fillies and mares are Bleach Blonde, Two Thirds Victory and Rico’s Posse.

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.