Espinoza, Wong Top Recently Concluded Golden Gate Winter/Spring Meet

Jockey Assael Espinoza and trainer Jonathan Wong were leaders in their respective divisions at the recently concluded 2023 Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate Fields.

Assael Espinoza won the most races out of any rider with 93 trips to the winner's circle from 419 starts, equating to a 22%-win rate while his mounts finished in-the-money 56% of the time.

“I'm very thankful for all the owners and trainers who have given me an opportunity to ride their horses,” said Espinoza. “Ever since I got to Golden Gate, people have been really good to me. There are a lot of great people supporting me.”

Trainer Jonathan Wong successfully defended his 2022 Winter/Spring meet training title with the most wins out of any trainer at the 2023 meeting, winning 56 races from 231 starters. Wong posted a 19%-win clip and earned total purse prizes of $1,063,272.

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Avenue De France Gets Second Stakes Win In Miss America At Golden Gate

5-year-old mare Avenue de France saved ground the whole way around the racetrack and shot by the early pace players to win the $50,000 Miss America Stakes on Sunday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, Calif. The Miss America, originally scheduled for the turf, was transferred to the Tapeta main track after a steady rainfall hit the Bay Area throughout the day on Sunday.

Avenue de France, who won the Luther Burbank Stakes on turf in August, sat in fourth position early on in the race and hugged the rail for the entire one-mile journey. Down the stretch, a seam opened up for Avenue de France, who darted forward, pushed past runner-up finisher and 7-5 favorite Brooke in the final stages, and won the mile and a sixteenth contest by a length. Avenue de France stopped the clock for the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.19 seconds. Early pacesetter Sloane Garden finished third, followed by Reiwa, Tapwater, and Blue Diva.

Avenue de France paid $17.00 to win, $5.40 to place, and $3.60 to show. Brooke paid $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show while Sloane Garden returned $4.20 to show.

Avenue De France, guided to victory by Assael Espinoza, is trained by Southern California condition Leonard Powell. She is owned in partnership by the Benowitz Family Trust, Convergence Stables, Madaket Stables LLC, Wonder Stables, and Mathilde Powell. With the stakes victory, Avenue de France improved her lifetime record to five wins and four third-place finishes from 14 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $157,612. Avenue de France was bred in France by SARL Jedburgh Stud and Theirry de Heronniere.

Sunday concludes the 2021 Fall Meet at Golden Gate Fields. Live racing resumes the day after Christmas, Sunday, December 26, commencing the upcoming Winter/Spring meet which runs from late December to mid-June. First post is 12:45 PM PT.

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Freeport Joe Springs Upset In Berkeley Handicap

With an eighth of a mile to go, favored Camino Del Paraiso had the lead, looking every bit like he would hold on to win the Berkeley Handicap, but a rallying Freeport Joe caught the favorite in the race's final strides to take the Grade 3 stakes by a length.

On the all-weather course at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, Calif., Sash took the lead out of the gate in the 1 1/16-mile stakes, with Extra Hope and Camino Del Paraiso, fresh off a win in the Joseph T. Grace Stakes on Nov. 6, stalking. Down the backstretch, Sash maintained a one-length lead, the field bunched up behind him through early fractions of :23.98 and :48.53. Around the far turn, Camino Del Paraiso pulled even with Sash and then took over front runner status as the field entered the stretch.

Moving to the outside, Freeport Joe improved from last on the backstretch to third on the first turn, hitting the stretch in third as Camino Del Paraiso took over the lead. Freeport Joe rallied on the leader's outside, making up ground quickly as they approached the wire and catching Camino Del Paraiso in the last sixteenth of a mile. At the wire, Freeport Joe was a length in front, with Camino Del Paraiso, Sash, Big Fish, Jungle Cry, Extra Hope, and Wine and Whisky rounding out the order of finish.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.70. Find this race's chart here.

Freeport Joe paid $22.20, $7.80, and $4.40. Camino Del Paraiso paid $3.40 and $2.40. Sash paid $3.60.

Bred in California by Richard Barton Enterprises, Freeport Joe is by English Channel out of the Sadler's Wells mare Winds of March (IRE). He is owned by Larry Odbert and trained by Gloria Haley. Consigned by Barton Thoroughbreds, the 4-year-old gelding was purchased by his owner for $2,000 at the 2018 California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Sales Northern California Yearling Sale. With his win in the G3 Berkeley, Freeport Joe has four wins in 12 starts and career earnings of $141,056.

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