Friday, December 05 2008

TUTTA BELLA AMONG EIGHT ENTERED IN PACIFIC HEIGHTS

ALBANY -- Tutta Bella, who earlier this year captured the $150,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes at Hollywood Park, is among the eight California-bred fillies and mares entered in Saturday's $75,000 Pacific Heights Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

The Pacific Heights will be run at 1 1/16-miles on the synthetic Tapeta racing surface. Tutta Bella will break from post position two and be ridden by Julio Garcia.

Tutta Bella is a 5-year-old mare trained by John Sadler, the leading conditioner at the current Hollywood Park meeting. Tutta Bella has won four of her 15 career starts and sports $279,144 in earnings.

Thursday, December 04 2008

POINT OF REFERENCE IS WINNER’S CIRCLE

ALBANY -- Point of Reference recorded her second straight win at Golden Gate Fields when she ran away to a three-length victory in Wednesday's $19,300 feature.

A Washington-bred daughter of Benchmark, Point of Reference captured the six-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies in 1:10.95. Merry Marino took second by a length over Starship Countess.

Dixie Hawks, the 6-to-5 favorite ridden by Russell Baze, stumbled at the start and never threatened while checking in last in the field of six.

Wednesday, December 03 2008

SPECHT’S DEAD-HEATERS TO RUN IN PACIFIC HEIGHTS STAKES AT GGF

ALBANY -- Lady Railrider and Shes a Lucky Wager, two fillies that couldn't be separated in their last start, will represent trainer Steve Specht in the $75,000 Pacific Heights Stakes at Golden Gate Fields Saturday.

"I'm not only running, I'm going to dead-heat," said Specht with a laugh when asked about the Pacific Heights, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares bred in California.

Saturday, November 29 2008

DAKOTA PHONE WINS FORTY NINER

ALBANY -- Dakota Phone surged by pacesetter Gallon in the final yards to win the $75,000 Forty Niner Stakes by a half-length Friday at Golden Gate Fields.

Receiving a strong ride from jockey Frank Alvarado, Dakota Phone rallied from last in a scratch-plagued field of four. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Dakota Phone captured the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up in 1:44.37 on the synthetic Tapeta racing surface.

Gallon, ridden by Kyle Kaenel, took second by three lengths over 4-to-5 favorite Pass the Heat, who was ridden by Russell Baze.

Friday, November 28 2008

PASS THE HEAT EXPECTED TO BRING THE HEAT

ALBANY---Pass the Heat is expected to bring the heat in the $75,000 Forty Niner Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Friday.

The Forty Niner, the featured eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m., is a 1 1/16 mile contest for three year olds and up. Pass the Heat is an 8 to 5 morning line favorite in a field of six.

Pass the Heat is a five year old gelding who has won half of his 18 career starts and three of his last four races. Trained by William J. Morey, Jr., and owned by the Joseph P. Morey, Jr. Revocable Trust, Pass the Heat has earned $321,499.

Thursday, November 27 2008

EARLY POST TIME AT GGF FOR THANKSGIVING DAY PROGRAM

ALBANY -- Golden Gate Fields is opening all admission gates at 9:30 a.m. Thursday for its special Thanksgiving Day racing program.

Post time for the eight-race card is 11:15 a.m. The early starting time will allow the program to be completed by approximately 2:50 p.m., giving fans plenty of time to get home for their Thanksgiving feast.

Golden Gate Fields will present nine races Friday. Post time is 12:45 p.m. and the main event is the Forty Niner Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile contest for 3-year-olds and up. Post time for the Forty Niner, the eighth race on the card, is 4:15 p.m.

Wednesday, November 26 2008

EARLY POST TIME THANKSGIVING DAY, FORTY NINER STAKES FRIDAY

ALBANY -- A holiday week of racing at Golden Gate Fields features Pick Six carryovers on Wednesday, an early post time on Thanksgiving Day, the $75,000 Forty Niner Stakes on Friday, and $1 specials on Sunday.

Post time Wednesday is 12:45 p.m. and there is a carryover of $14,823 in the Golden Gate Fields Pick Six, which will be held on races three through eight. Fans can also play, via simulcast wagering, the Pick Six at Hollywood Park, where there is a carryover $128,073. Hollywood Park's Pick Six will also be held on races three through eight.

Monday, November 24 2008

BAZE FINISHES WEEK WITH HAT TRICK

ALBANY -- Leading jockey Russell Baze, capitalizing on some live mounts, rode three winners Sunday at Golden Gate Fields.

Baze, who tops the jockey standings with 76 victories at the fall meeting, scored his hat trick with three favorites. The Hall of Famer won the first race with Bold Reward ($4.60), the third with Luck Be a Lily ($6.40) and the fourth with Out of Seattle ($4.80).

Sunday, November 23 2008

SIREN LURE ENDS VICTORY DROUGHT WITH TRIUMPH IN SAUSALITO STAKES

ALBANY -- Siren Lure snapped a 12-race losing streak Saturday when he charged powerfully down the stretch to score a 1 1/4-length victory over 2-to-5 favorite Indyanne in the $75,000 Sausalito Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

The victory was Siren Lure's first since Aug. 20, 2006, when he captured the Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap at Del Mar.

Saturday, November 22 2008

YACHT SPOTTER, IN MY GLORY SCORE FRONT-RUNNING UPSETS

ALBANY -- Yacht Spotter and In My Glory both used front-running tactics to score upsets in the co-feature races at Golden Gate Fields Friday.

Yacht Spotter defeated Grade 1 stakes-winners Artiste Royal and Matto Mondo in the third race, a 1 1/16-mile allowance test on the turf for 3-year-olds and up. Ridden by Alex Bisono, Yacht Spotter held off 3-to-5 favorite Artiste Royal down the stretch to score by 1 1/4 lengths while Matto Mondo checked in another length back in third.

Friday, November 21 2008

CLASSY STAKES RUNNERS FEATURED FRIDAY AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS

ALBANY -- Looking over the Golden Gate Fields races in Friday's Daily Racing Form would lead one to think they had mistakenly picked up a Saturday edition of the horse racing newspaper. That's because Friday's third and seventh races are stakes-caliber events worthy of spots on a weekend card.

The third race features Artiste Royal, a multiple Grade 1 stakes-winner from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale. Idle since winning the $300,000 Charlie Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 7, Artiste Royal will face six opponents in a $39,000 allowance race that will be run at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Thursday, November 20 2008

BAZE RIDES THREE WINNERS, LEDEZMA HAS TRAINING DOUBLE

ALBANY -- Leading jockey Russell Baze won three races and trainer Sergio Ledezma saddled two winners Wednesday at Golden Gate Fields.

Baze, who tops the jockey standings with 69 victories at the fall meeting, guided the Ledezma-trained La Misteriosa ($5.40) to a two-length score in the first race. Baze came right back to take the second race with Tip Toe Topper ($5.60) and then completed his hat trick with a win aboard Go With Gusto ($11.80) in the fifth.