FEATURE RACE WIN COMPLETES
HAT TRICK FOR APPRENTICE GARCIA
An easy victory aboard Anziyan’s Song in the $20,000 feature completed a riding hat trick for apprentice Martin Garcia at Golden Gate Fields Thursday.
Garcia and Anziyan’s Song romped home by 5 1/2 lengths in the one-mile starter allowance race for 4-year-olds and up. Trained by Steve Miyadi, Anziyan’s Song stopped the timer in 1:37.26 and paid $6.00 as the 2-to-1 favorite in a field of seven.
Garcia also won the first race with Anenchantedmoment ($4.00) and the third with Stephanitely ($6.40). Garcia trails Russell Baze, who rode two winners Thursday, 5-4 in the jockey standings after two days of action at the spring meeting.
CALIFORNIA BREEDERS’ CUP OAKS -- Sierra Sweetie, who scored a three-length victory in the $125,000 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes on Dec. 28, will head a strong field of nine in Saturday’s $100,000 California Breeders’ Cup Oaks.
The Oaks is a 1 1/16 miles race for 3-year-old fillies and Sierra Sweetie goes into the contest seeking her fourth career stakes victory. Trained by Jeff Bonde, Sierra Sweetie won the Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar, the Carmel Stakes at Bay Meadows and the Cal Breeders’ Champion Stakes at Santa Anita last year.
Sierra Sweetie will be ridden in the Oaks by Garcia, who notched his first career stakes victory last Saturday with Somethinaboutlaura in the $75,000 Foster City Handicap at Bay Meadows.
The Oaks is first of eight stakes worth $100,000 or more that Golden Gate Fields will present during its spring meet.