Eight stakes races, led by the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile, highlight the second annual Gold Rush Weekend this Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, at Golden Gate Fields. Both race cards have a first post of 12:45 PM PT.
A lengthy list of Southern California trainers sends horses to compete in stakes races throughout the weekend. Those names include Jeff Bonde, Val Brinkerhoff, Simon Callaghan, Neil Drysdale, Paddy Gallagher, Andrew Lerner, Richard Mandella, Michael McCarthy, Doug O'Neill, Peter Miller, Leonard Powell, and John Sadler. Jockeys who travel from Santa Anita to ride: Tyler Baze, Geovanni Franco, Ricky Gonzalez, and Edwin Maldonado.
“We're showcasing the deep and talented group of both horses and riders that play their trade in Northern California year-round, as well as a very strong contingent shipping up from Southern California,” said Vice President of Racing and Racing Secretary Patrick Mackey. “We appreciate and thank the connections for their support at the entry box. Our stakes coordinator Lisa Jones and the entire racing office put together great cards. Gold Rush Weekend will give horseplayers a bevy of wagering opportunities while showcasing our two tremendous racing surfaces.”
The main event of the weekend, the one-mile, $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf for 3-year-olds and upward, runs as Race 9 this Saturday. Eight horses entered, including Grade 1 winners Ohio and Keeper Ofthe Stars, Grade 2 placed Whisper Not, 2020 All American Stakes winner Restrainedvengence, and Border Town, who ran third behind Grade 1 winner Hit the Road in February. Kiwi's Dream, who finished as the runner up in the San Francisco Mile last year, makes his second start off the year in the 2021 edition, and Brown Storm is one of six entrants on the Saturday program for Southern California conditioner Michael McCarthy. Likely pacesetter Diamond Blitz rounds out the group.
The San Francisco Mile is also the first leg of the Late Pick 4 sequence. The Late Pick 4, a 50-cent minimum wager featuring the last four races on each day's racecard, will have a guaranteed pool of $200,000 on both Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday's stakes action kicks off with Race 7, the Golden Poppy for filly and mare turf routers. 2020 Grade I Del Mar Oaks winner Red Lark searches for her first winners circle appearance since the aforementioned victory last summer. The most appealing local contenders, stake winners Northwest Factor and Sloane Garden, finished behind Keeper ofthe Stars on April 3 and return to stakes company.
Race 8, the $100,000 California Derby, is for 3-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth on Tapeta. The headliner in the field of eight is Parnelli, exiting the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. On the local front, maiden winners Jimmy Irish and Tesoro have always been well regarded and face stakes competition, while California-bred Stalking Shadow goes against open company after scoring a victory in a local prep for the California Derby.
The $75,000 California Oaks, which goes as Race 10, drew a large field of eleven 3-year-old fillies. Irish import Styledome has won three consecutive races over an all-weather surface overseas and makes her United States debut for trainer Paddy Gallagher. Pizzazz ships north for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella and figures as a legit contender, too, and impressive maiden victors Ida Claire and Miss Peaky Blinder try winners for the first time.
The penultimate race on Saturday, the $75,000 Camilla Urso for filly and mare turf sprinters, was flooded with entries. Local contender Dynasty of Her Own has beaten the best female sprinters in Northern California and will surely get a class test from the Southern California invaders. Among them: Grade 2 placed Bohemian Bourbon and multiple allowance winner Storming Lady.
Saturday's racing action ends with Race 12, the $75,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes for main-track sprinters. Local contender Baja Sur seeks his third career Golden Gate Fields stakes win. Bettor Trip Nick, a multiple stakes winner himself, beat Baja Sur in an April 2 Golden Gate allowance and is also slated to run in the Saturday nightcap.
On Sunday's 11-race card, the co-featured Silky Sullivan and Campanile Stakes shine light on California-bred or sired 3-year-olds. Both races, run at one mile on turf, have a $75,000 purse. The Silky Sullivan is for colts and geldings and the Campanile is for fillies. Entries for the Sunday program will be drawn on Thursday afternoon.
Currently, Golden Gate Fields offers fans the chance to watch races on-site at a limited capacity. Those who wish to attend Gold Rush Weekend, or any live race day, can visit Goldengatefields.com and purchase tickets through the website. General Admission and walk-ups are not permitted at this time.
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