CLASSY SPRING HOUSE TRIUMPHS IN
$100,000 GOLDEN GATE FIELDS TURF
The classy 7-year-old gelding Spring House notched his sixth career stakes victory Saturday when he ran down pacesetter Yacht Spotter in the stretch and held off Sir Dave for a 1 1/4-length triumph in the $100,000 Golden Gate Fields Turf.
Spring House, the 3-to-5 favorite ridden by Russell Baze, captured the 1 3/8-miles grass race for older horses in 2:19.62 and paid $3.20. Sir Dave took second by a length over Yacht Spotter, who led to deep stretch under jockey Alex Bisono.
The victory was worth $60,000, a payday that increased Spring House’s career earnings to $941,284. Spring House is owned by R. D. Hubbard and trained by Julio Canani.
“I thought there’d be more pace pressure on Yacht Spotter,” said Baze. “I was a little bit concerned turning for home when Yacht Spotter opened up on us but once I got my horse running I was confident we’d run him down.”
Baze began his winning move with Spring House on the final turn when he found room inside of 31-to-1 longshot Shem.
“Going into the far turn the last time I had nowhere to go except for a small hole on the rail,” said Baze. “I goosed him and he went right in there. He knows his business. He knows to relax early. It (his run) is right there on tap anytime you need it.”
Yacht Spotter, who loves the lawn at Golden Gate Fields, ran another big race on the Lakeside Turf Course Saturday.
“He gives 110 percent every single time,” said Bisono of Yacht Spotter, who has five wins, three seconds in a third in nine tries on the Lakeside Course. “I’m really happy with him. He did everything perfect. He picked it up on the turn just like he always does. The distance was just a little too far.”
The distance was no problem for Spring House, who has two wins and two thirds in four tries racing 1 3/8-miles. Spring House came into the Golden Gate Fields Turf off a second-place finish in the 1 3/4-miles San Juan Capistrano Handicap on the turf at Santa Anita.
Spring House, a Kentucky-bred son of Chester House, has nine victories, six seconds and 11 thirds in 41 career starts.
BAZE FEATURED ON KTEH-PBS PROGRAM -- Baze will be among the people profiled on this Sunday’s edition of “This Is Us,” a KTEH-PBS program that airs at 6 p.m. on KTEH-Channel 54.
JOURNEY UNAUTHORIZED ON STAGE -- Journey Unauthorized will perform on the trackside stage Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. as the Spring Concert Series continues at Golden Gate Fields. General admission, general parking, racing programs, hot dogs, beers and sodas are all just $1 Sunday. Post time is 12:45 p.m.