Golden Gate: Lost in the Fog attracts inexperienced group of juveniles

ALBANY, Calif. – Only two winners – Go Papi Go and Native Treasure – will be part of Saturday’s field of nine 2-year-olds in the $50,000-added Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Native Treasure ran the best race of the year by a 2-year-old in Northern California when he scored a three-length victory over Saint Prado at 4 1/2 furlongs on June 1. He will have to go an extra half-furlong in the five-furlong Lost in the Fog.

Go Papi Go lost in his debut to the undefeated Case Cracker, who set a Golden Gate record for two furlongs in the race and won at Delaware Park on Monday. Go Papi Go then won his next start by 4 1/2 lengths over Uncle Enroy in a four-furlong race on May 11.

Saint Prado, Uncle Enroy, Coastal Blessing, and Our Worthyendeavor – second, third, fourth, and eighth behind Native Treasure – return in the Lost in the Fog. Tahoe Flash, Pearl Seeker, and Anytime Magic will be making their debuts.

Native Treasure proved a bargain in his debut, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 59. Trainer Ed Moger Jr. bought Native Treasure for $2,200 as a weanling from the Wygod dispersal at Barretts in October 2010.

“I don’t usually buy weanlings, but I needed a colt to run with a colt I bred,” he said.

Whatever the reason, Moger is pleased to have the California-bred son of Tribal Rule in his barn.

“He’s always done everything well, and he does everything right,” said Moger.

Moger was concerned about running Native Treasure back so quickly but said, “He’s going real good. Actually, he’s doing great.”

Trainer O.J. Jauregui said he bought the Officer colt Go Papi Go for $4,200 at last October’s Barretts sale in hopes of getting a quick return. Those hopes were fulfilled when Go Papi Go won his second start, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 52.

“He ran well in his first race, but at four furlongs he was even more impressive,” Jauregui said. “Every step he took in the stretch, he lengthened his lead.”

Jauregui believes Go Papi Go could benefit Saturday because “he has a little more experience” than everyone. He and Uncle Enroy are the only horses in the field to have run more than once.

Trainer Jeff Bonde sends out Saint Prado and Tahoe Flash. He said Saint Prado should enjoy the extra distance while Tahoe Flash had been training well.

Another first-timer is the Bob Hess Sr.-trained Anytime Magic, who is running, in part, so that he can make his first start without shipping. He wound up preparations with a three-furlong bullet from the gate Wednesday, and Hess said, “I don’t know how much horse he is, but he’s fit and looks like a real nice colt.”