SOURDOUGH SAM AMONG EIGHT ENTERED IN GOLDEN NUGGET STAKES
Sourdough Sam, who has been visually impressive in winning both of his starts, is among the eight 2-year-olds entered in Saturday’s $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.
The Golden Nugget, a six-furlong sprint, is the featured eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. Golden Gate Fields is holding a canned food drive Saturday and fans participating in the event will receive a club house pass for each canned food item donated (maximum 10 passes per person).
Sourdough Sam opened a lot of eyes in his career debut when he overcame trouble to win a 5 1/2-furlong maiden allowance race by six lengths on Sept. 19. Leaving from post position one, Sourdough Sam broke last in a field of 12 and then ran into some traffic approaching the stretch. Undaunted by the obstacles, Sourdough Sam rolled home once he found clear sailing in the stretch.
Sourdough Sam made his second start in a six-furlong allowance race on Oct. 31 and rallied from last in a field of seven to defeat Shudacudawudya by three-quarters of a length in 1:09.48. Shudacudawudya is also in the Golden Nugget lineup.
Sourdough Sam, a dark bay son of Decarchy, was bred in California by his owner, John Nicoletti. Dean Pederson trains Sourdough Sam and Inoel Beato is the gelding’s jockey.
The field for the Golden Nugget, in post position order, is as follows: Our Minesweeper, William Antongeorgi III rides; Shudacudawudya, Francisco Duran; R El Jefe, Leslie Mawing; Sourdough Sam, Beato; Tango Tango, Russell Baze; Seven Torrents, Mario Gutierrez; Very Fair, Frank Alvarado; and Tiny Woods, Jose Valdivia, Jr. All of the starters carry 119 pounds.
Our Minesweeper has three wins in four career starts, including two stakes victories. Trained by Michael Lenzini, Our Minesweeper has posted wins at three different distances: four furlongs, six furlongs and one mile.
Tiny Woods hails from the Bob Baffert barn and is shipping in from Santa Anita for the Golden Nugget. A $180,000 yearling purchase, Tiny Woods made a winning debut at Del Mar on July 25 but has been idle since finishing seventh as the favorite in the
Grade 2 Saratoga Special at Saratoga on Aug. 20.