Weekend Stakes Rundown: Golden Gate's Big Day
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Photo: Vassar Photography
Golden Gate Fields
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week, we have a pair of graded stakes at Laurel Park, a Triple Crown prep at Golden Gate Fields, and more. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern) and full previews are available through the links below.
Saturday, February 18
2 p.m.—$200,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park
Breaking through at the end of 2016 to earn her first graded stakes victory, StarLadies Racing and Lisa Troutt's Eskenformoney will aim to duplicate that form when she makes her seasonal debut. The 5-year-old daughter of Eskendereya was graded stakes-placed on five occasions before taking a the one-mile Rampart Stakes (G3) by three-quarters of a length over fellow Royal Delta entrant Curlin's Approval Dec. 17.
Royal Delta S. (G2)
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, February 18, 2017, Race 4
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 1:30 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Verve's Tale (KY) | Paco Lopez | 123 | Barclay Tagg | 7/2 |
| 2 | 2Curlin's Approval (KY) | Luis Saez | 121 | Martin D. Wolfson | 7/5 |
| 3 | 3Mo' Green (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 117 | Joseph F. Orseno | 6/1 |
| 4 | 4Venom Girl (KY) | Raul Mena | 117 | Angel Quiroz | 50/1 |
| 5 | 5Eskenformoney (KY) | Javier Castellano | 123 | Todd A. Pletcher | 8/5 |
| 6 | 6Caboclo do Rio (CHI) | Emisael Jaramillo | 119 | Angel Quiroz | 30/1 |
4:30 p.m.—$300,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G2) at Laurel Park
A year after shipping two of his distaffers from New York to sweep the top spots in the Barbara Fritchie, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is again going with strength in numbers as he sends out Takrees and Clothes Fall Off in this year's edition of the seven-furlong test.
Barbara Fritchie S. (G2)
Laurel Park, Saturday, February 18, 2017, Race 9
- 7f
- Dirt
- $300,000
- 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 4:30 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1High Ridge Road (KY) | Horacio Karamanos | 118 | Linda Rice | 5/2 |
| 2 | 2Rowd E Allie (PA) | Feargal Lynch | 118 | Kelly J. Breen | 20/1 |
| 3 | 3By the Moon (KY) | Victor R. Carrasco | 120 | Michelle Nevin | 2/1 |
| 4 | 4Regia Marina (KY) | Trevor McCarthy | 118 | Eoin G. Harty | 12/1 |
| 5 | 5Sweet On Smokey (KY) | Jevian Toledo | 118 | Claudio A. Gonzalez | 12/1 |
| 6 | 6Takrees (KY) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 118 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 6/1 |
| 7 | 7Clothes Fall Off (KY) | Rajiv Maragh | 120 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 8/1 |
| 8 | 8Wonder Gal (NY) | Kendrick Carmouche | 118 | Leah Gyarmati | 9/2 |
5 p.m.—$250,000 General George Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park
Fan favorite Page McKenney will run Feb. 18 at Laurel Park. His specific target? Trainer Mary Eppler cross-entered Adam Stable and Jalin Stables' grade 3 winner in the General George, which he won in 2016, and the John B. Campbell, which he took the year before. A claimer turned millionaire, Page McKenney ended a nine-month gap between races with a 1 3/4-length victory Jan. 21 in Laurel's Native Dancer Stakes.
General George S. (G3)
Laurel Park, Saturday, February 18, 2017, Race 10
- 7f
- Dirt
- $250,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 5:00 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Never Gone South (KY) | Trevor McCarthy | 118 | Cathal A. Lynch | 20/1 |
| 2 | 2Afleet Willy (KY) | Victor R. Carrasco | 118 | Claudio A. Gonzalez | 12/1 |
| 3 | 3Page McKenney (PA) | Horacio Karamanos | 122 | Mary E. Eppler | 7/2 |
| 4 | 4Classy Class (KY) | Rajiv Maragh | 118 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 15/1 |
| 5 | 5Imperial Hint (FL) | Julian Pimentel | 118 | Luis Carvajal, Jr. | 3/1 |
| 6 | 6Stallwalkin' Dude (FL) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 122 | David Jacobson | 5/2 |
| 7 | 7Voluntario (KY) | Ruben Silvera | 118 | Rudy R. Rodriguez | 15/1 |
| 8 | 8Grasshoppin (PA) | Hector Caballero | 118 | Mario Serey, Jr. | 30/1 |
| 9 | 9Heaven's Runway (KY) | Kendrick Carmouche | 122 | Rudy R. Rodriguez | 6/1 |
| 10 | 10Ocean Knight (KY) | Feargal Lynch | 118 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 10/1 |
6:09 p.m.—$150,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park
The first three across the line in Oaklawn's Pippin Stakes for older fillies and mares Jan. 14 are back with more on the line in the Bayakoa. The Pippin winner figures to be tough to catch again. Stonestreet Stables' homebred Terra Promessa took the field wire to wire in her 2017 debut and the daughter of Curlin is unbeaten in four starts at Oaklawn.
Bayakoa S. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, February 18, 2017, Race 9
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $150,000
- 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 5:09 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Steel Cut (OK) | Channing Hill | 119 | Wesley E. Hawley | 8/1 |
| 2 | 2Terra Promessa (KY) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 119 | Steven M. Asmussen | 6/5 |
| 3 | 3Hailstorm Slew (OK) | Luis S. Quinonez | 117 | C. R. Trout | 12/1 |
| 4 | 4Power of Snunner (PA) | Christopher A. Emigh | 115 | Joe Sharp | 8/1 |
| 5 | 5Streamline (IL) | Chris Landeros | 119 | Brian Williamson | 4/1 |
| 6 | 6Impasse (KY) | Ramon A. Vazquez | 119 | D. Wayne Lukas | 20/1 |
| 7 | 7Ready to Confess (KY) | Joseph Rocco, Jr. | 119 | Donnie K. Von Hemel | 9/2 |
| 8 | 8Super Saks (KY) | Alex Birzer | 115 | D. Wayne Lukas | 10/1 |
6:48 p.m.—$200,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden Gate Fields
Trainer Doug O'Neill and Reddam Racing will look to sweep the two 2017 winter derbies at Golden Gate and repeat in the El Camino Real. Four weeks after So Conflated took the California Derby at Golden Gate for Reddam and O'Neill, Ann Arbor Eddie will take over for the connections to run in the only Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) points race in Northern California. Frank Conversation won for the same connections in 2016.
El Camino Real Derby (G3)
Golden Gate Fields, Saturday, February 18, 2017, Race 7
- 1 1/8m
- All Weather Track
- $200,000
- 3 yo
- 3:48 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Zakaroff (KY) | Kyle Frey | 122 | Steven Specht | 20/1 |
| 2 | 2More Power to Him (CA) | Alejandro Gomez | 122 | Faith Taylor | 6/1 |
| 3 | 3Ann Arbor Eddie (CA) | Mario Gutierrez | 122 | Doug F. O'Neill | 2/1 |
| 4 | 4Tribal Storm (CA) | Abel Cedillo | 122 | Ed Moger, Jr. | 8/1 |
| 5 | 5Sheer Flattery (KY) | Frank T. Alvarado | 122 | Jerry Hollendorfer | 7/5 |
| 6 | 6Colonel Samsen (KY) | Ricardo Gonzalez | 122 | Eoin G. Harty | 10/1 |
| 7 | 7Kona Dreams (KY) | Israel Ocampo | 122 | George Papaprodromou | 8/1 |
7:03 p.m.—$200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park
Prize Exhibit has three graded victories during her 31-race career, including her last start in the Megahertz Stakes (G3T) Jan. 16 at Santa Anita, but the complicated 5-year-old Showcasing mare often has, well, complications. Prize Exhibit is the only multiple graded winner in the Buena Vista field, but two other entrants have won at the graded level once, most notably Illuminant, who took the Gamely (G1T) in her last start back in May.
Buena Vista S. (G2T)
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, February 18, 2017, Race 8
- 1m
- Turf
- $200,000
- 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 4:03 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Illuminant (PA) | Victor Espinoza | 122 | Michael W. McCarthy | 3/1 |
| 2 | 2Lily Pod (KY) | Martin Garcia | 120 | Philip D'Amato | 20/1 |
| 3 | 3Mokat (KY) | Kent J. Desormeaux | 124 | Richard Baltas | 6/1 |
| 4 | 4Do the Dance (KY) | Tyler Baze | 120 | Gary Sherlock | 12/1 |
| 5 | 5Prize Exhibit (GB) | Mike E. Smith | 122 | James M. Cassidy | 7/2 |
| 6 | 6Hillhouse High (KY) | Santiago Gonzalez | 120 | Richard Baltas | 6/1 |
| 7 | 7Evo Campo (IRE) | Brice Blanc | 120 | Patrick Gallagher | 12/1 |
| 8 | 8Jeremy's Legacy (IRE) | Norberto Arroyo, Jr. | 120 | Doug F. O'Neill | 12/1 |
| 9 | 9Juno (BRZ) | Luis Contreras | 120 | Neil D. Drysdale | 12/1 |
| 10 | 10Pretty Girl (ARG) | Corey S. Nakatani | 120 | Paulo H. Lobo | 6/1 |
| 11 | 11Wild At Heart (KY) | Flavien Prat | 120 | Richard E. Mandella | 12/1 |
Sunday, February 19
4:50 p.m.—$100,000 Franklin Square Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Two impressive last-out maiden winners are the top two morning-line choices in the six-furlong test for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies. Bluegrass Flag scored in her second start Jan. 14 at Aqueduct by three lengths and Maple Mo graduated in her second start Feb. 4 by four lengths.
Franklin Square S.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Sunday, February 19, 2017, Race 9
- STK
- 6f
- Inner track
- $100,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 4:50 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Bertranda (NY) | Silvestre Gonzalez | 116 | James F. Noble | 20/1 |
| 2 | 2Bluegrass Flag (NY) | Kendrick Carmouche | 116 | Thomas Morley | 3/1 |
| 3 | 3Out of Trouble (NY) | Cornelio H. Velasquez | 116 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 10/1 |
| 4 | 4Toni Tools (NY) | Manuel Franco | 122 | Todd A. Pletcher | 6/1 |
| 5 | 5Luna Rising (NY) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 116 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 12/1 |
| 6 | 6Treatherlikestar (NY) | Eric Cancel | 116 | Gustavo Delgado | 30/1 |
| 7 | 7Overnegotiate (NY) | Rajiv Maragh | 116 | Todd A. Pletcher | 5/1 |
| 8 | 8Passporttovictory (NY) | Dylan Davis | 116 | Thomas Morley | 15/1 |
| 9 | 9Maple Mo (NY) | Antonio A. Gallardo | 116 | Linda Rice | 2/1 |
| 10 | 10Wilburnmoney (NY) | Angel S. Arroyo | 116 | Gary P. Gullo | 12/1 |
Monday, February 20
5:09 p.m.—$500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park
If his most recent workout is any indicator, Gun Runner is over being sidelined. Bucking trainer Steve Asmussen's hallmark maintenance routine in a final pre-race move, Gun Runner ripped through five furlongs in a bullet :59 4/5 at Oaklawn Feb. 13 in his last serious work before his anticipated season debut.
Razorback H. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Monday, February 20, 2017, Race 7
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $500,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 4:09 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Gun Runner (KY) | Florent Geroux | 122 | Steven M. Asmussen | 4/5 |
| 2 | 2Domain's Rap (IL) | Ramon A. Vazquez | 117 | Federico Villafranco | 6/1 |
| 3 | 3Blue Tone (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | 116 | Robert B. Hess, Jr. | 9/2 |
| 4 | 4Smack Smack (KY) | Shane Laviolette | 115 | Don Von Hemel | 10/1 |
| 5 | 5Hawaakom (KY) | Miguel Mena | 115 | Wesley E. Hawley | 10/1 |
| 6 | 6Chief of Staff (CA) | Walter De La Cruz | 111 | Jack C. Van Berg | 20/1 |
| 7 | 7Dazzling Gem (KY) | Robby Albarado | 115 | Brad H. Cox | 8/1 |
| 8 | 8Goats Town (KY) | Chris Landeros | 110 | D. Wayne Lukas | 20/1 |
6:09 p.m.—$500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park
Robert LaPenta and Harry Rosenblum's Uncontested will look to score an Oaklawn Triple Crown prep double in the Southwest. The Tiz Wonderful colt trained by Wayne Catalano could not have been more impressive in the Jan. 16 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn's first 3-year-old prep race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), when he set the pace and pulled away late to win by 5 1/4 lengths.
Southwest S. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Monday, February 20, 2017, Race 9
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $500,000
- 3 yo
- 5:09 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Cool Arrow (KY) | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. | 119 | Joe Sharp | 12/1 |
| 2 | 2Silver Dust (KY) | Corey J. Lanerie | 115 | Randy L. Morse | 10/1 |
| 3 | 3Uncontested (KY) | Channing Hill | 122 | Wayne M. Catalano | 5/2 |
| 4 | 4Lookin At Lee (KY) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 117 | Steven M. Asmussen | 8/1 |
| 5 | 5Rowdy the Warrior (OK) | Luis S. Quinonez | 115 | Donnie K. Von Hemel | 20/1 |
| 6 | 6Cu Rahy (MD) | Glenn W. Corbett | 115 | Danele Durham | 50/1 |
| 7 | 7Warrior's Club (KY) | Chris Landeros | 117 | D. Wayne Lukas | 12/1 |
| 8 | 8Petrov (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | 115 | Ron Moquett | 5/1 |
| 9 | 9Dilettante (FL) | Florent Geroux | 115 | D. Wayne Lukas | 15/1 |
| 10 | 10Hence (KY) | Ramon A. Vazquez | 115 | Steven M. Asmussen | 20/1 |
| 11 | 11One Liner (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 115 | Todd A. Pletcher | 7/2 |
| 12 | 12P C Cowboy (KY) | Carlos H. Marquez, Jr. | 115 | John Alexander Ortiz | 30/1 |
| 13 | 13Chief Know It All (KY) | Joseph Rocco, Jr. | 117 | Brad H. Cox | 12/1 |