JOCKEY HENRY WINS FIRST RACE BACK FROM HIATUS
Jockey Wesley Henry made his first trip to the winner’s circle in his debut ride as a Golden Gate Fields jockey. On Monday afternoon, Henry guided Omache Kid to a victory in Race 1, a five and a half furlong claiming sprint. Henry also rode Jump the Tracks to a second place finish in Race 6. Isidro Tamayo trains both horses.
Henry, now in his early 40’s, has ridden in races for over two decades. He was one of the top jockeys in Jamaica for a number of years and won numerous marquee races there before making a transition to America in the early and mid 2000’s. He took a break from riding in the United States from late 2015 to 2018.
Henry has ridden at major tracks in California, Florida and New York.
GOLDEN GATE FIELDS ENTRANTS IN MANY RACES/STAKES ON SATURDAY SANTA ANITA CARD
Santa Anita carded 11 races scheduled for their Saturday card, with a large amount of entrants coming from Golden Gate Fields. 4 of the 11 races are stakes events for California bred or California sired horses, part of the “Golden State” Stakes Series run throughout the year at all California tracks. First post is 11:30 AM PT.
Race 1 is a maiden 50k claimer and features 4-year-old gelding Outlaw, who most recently finished second in a pair of maiden special weight races on the Golden Gate Tapeta. Geovanni Franco has the mount for trainer Steve Miyadi.
Race 2 attracts a field of six sprinters. The Miyadi trained Just Hit Play figures to get betting support with hot-riding apprentice Heriberto Figuroa in the irons. Just Hit Play won a starter allowance race at Golden Gate in November.
Race 3 goes as the $100,000 California Cup Turf Sprint Stakes, for 3-year-olds and upward set to travel *about* six and a half furlongs on the downhill turf course. Tivan, a Jerry Hollendorfer trainee who won the Golden Nugget Stakes as a 2-year-old, drew post position number six in the field of seven and will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux.
Race 6 is a second level allowance group of fillies and mares set to contest the one mile distance on turf. The outside-drawn runner is Gratzie, trained by Manny Badilla. The 7-year-old mare has run in a number of allowance events at Golden Gate and will be making her third start off a 9-month layoff in this spot. Shehastheritestuff, who most recently finished off the board in the Miss America Stakes for trainer Paddy Gallagher, is one of seven other runners set to take on Gratzie.
Race 9 is the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, for fillies and mares set to tussle down the hillside turf course. Bella Luma, winner of the Golden Poppy Stakes in May, draws the rail post position for trainer Ed Moger Jr. The daughter of Ministers Wild Cat makes her 5-year-old debut in this spot. Also slated to compete is Pulpit Rider, winner of the Campanile Stakes last spring, and Fiery Lady, claimed back in November by trainer Anna Meah. Fiery Lady won a number of races at Golden Gate Fields before the recent purchase and makes her second start off the claim for Team Meah. In her first start off the claim, Fiery Lady finished second in the Miss America Stakes. Coincidentally, both Pulpit Rider and Fiery Lady are out of the same dam, making them half siblings.
Race 11 marks the feature on the card: the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for four-year-olds and upward going one mile and an eighth on grass. Recent allowance winner Unusually Green drew post position number two for GGF leading trainer Jonathan Wong while stakes performer Camino Del Paraiso drew post seven of 11 for conditioner O.J Jauregui. Locally based jockeys Luis Ocasio and Ricky Gonzalez ride in the race, with Ocasio aboard Unusual Green and Gonzalez set to ride Camino Del Paraiso. Also in the field is the William E. Morey trained Rye, who won this race last year and most recently ran third in an allowance Tapeta sprint at Golden Gate. Kent Desormeuax takes the reins.
FINISH LINES: Fan favorite Sir Vronski won a first level allowance race on Friday. Trained by Quinn Howey, Sir Vronski has now earned 22 wins from 39 lifetime starts…Also on Friday, Mr. Twinery won the second race and improved his Golden Gate Fields record to eight wins from nine starts. The son of Sidney’s Candy moved up to the Bay Area for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in early April and has thrived since then…The Steve Sherman trained Hollywood Hills increased her win streak to four with another hard-knocking victory in the feature race on Saturday, an allowance 6-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Owned and bred by George Krikorian, the daughter of Hoorayforhollywood is now 5 for 7 lifetime…Mugaritz has improved with age; the 4-year-old won an allowance race in his second start off a 9 and a half month break on Monday. Last year, he finished second in the California Derby and was fourth in the El Camino Real Derby…Happy birthday to Jockeys Room boss and former rider Ross Allardyce, jockey agent “Oakland Ron” Freitas, trainer Steve Sherman and racing official Steve Martinelli, all whom celebrate birthday’s in the next 7 days…A reminder that Pegasus World Cup Day is this Saturday, January 26th. Fans on track can watch and wager on the Pegasus World Cup card at Gulfstream Park and are also eligible to sign up and compete in the “Win A Bet” contest. To sign up for the contest (a sweepstakes in which the winning player will get to cash a $100 win bet on the Pegasus World Cup), visit Customer Service Level 2 “B-Deck”…Race 5 on Friday is Leg E (the last leg) of the Stronach 5 wager this week. The race, a maiden special weight for 3-year-olds going one mile, attracted 10 entrants.