TINY WOODS IS 9-TO-5 FAVORITE IN GOLDEN NUGGET STAKES AT GGF
Tiny Woods was favored in his first two races and he’s expected to be the betting choice again Saturday when he competes in the $50,000 Golden Nugget Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.
The Golden Nugget is a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds that attracted a field of eight. Tiny Woods, a colt who hails from the powerful barn of Bob Baffert, is the 9-to-5 favorite on the morning line.
Tiny Woods went off as an 8-to-5 favorite in his debut at Del Mar on July 25 and lived up to expectations, winning a 5 1/2-furlong maiden allowance dash by a head in a game effort.
Tiny Woods was shipped across the country for his next race, the Grade 2 Saratoga Special at Saratoga Race Course in New York on Aug. 20. Sent to the starting gate as a lukewarm 5-to-2 favorite, Tiny Woods set the pace in the 6 1/2-furlong feature before tiring in the stretch to finish seventh, beaten 21 1/4 lengths by winner D’Funnybone.
Tiny Woods has had plenty of time to rebound from the Saratoga Special and a recent workout – six furlongs from the gate in 1:12 2/5 handily – indicates he is entering the Golden Nugget sharp.
Tiny Woods is a Florida-bred son of Roman Ruler who was purchased as a yearling for $180,000. Owned by Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable, Tiny Woods will be ridden in the Golden Nugget by Southern California-based jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr.
The 5-to-2 second choice on the Golden Nugget morning line is Sourdough Sam, who has won both of his starts in impressive fashion. Sourdough Sam overcame tons of trouble to win his debut by six lengths and then proved the victory was no fluke when he won an allowance sprint with an explosive late kick.
Dean Pederson trains Sourdough Sam, a California-bred son of Decarchy who races for owner-breeder John Nicoletti. Sourdough Sam will be ridden by Inoel Beato.
The field for the Golden Nugget, in post position order with riders and morning-line odds, is as follows: Our Minesweeper, William Antongeorgi III, 5-to-1; Shudacudawudya, Francisco Duran, 4-to-1; R El Jefe, Leslie Mawing, 15-to-1; Sourdough Sam, Beato, 5-to-2; Tango Tango, Russell Baze, 10-to-1; Seven Torrents, Mario Gutierrez, 20-to-1; Very Fair, Frank Alvarado, 12-to-1; and Tiny Woods, Valdivia, 9-to-5. All of the starters carry 119 pounds.
CANNED FOOD DRIVE -- Golden Gate Fields is hosting a canned food drive Saturday. Fans that participate will receive a club house pass for each canned food item donated, with the maximum being 10 passes per patron. Gates open at 10 a.m. and post time for the first race is 12:45 p.m.