The Adrie Factor has experience edge in Pike Place Dancer

As the only horse in the field to have won on grass, The Adrie Factor has an advantage over her five rivals in the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer for 2-year-old fillies going a mile on turf Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

The Adrie Factor also is the only entrant to have won going longer than 5 1/2 furlongs. Her last-out maiden win at a mile on turf on Sept. 28 at Golden Gate checks both the distance and surface boxes.

After running fourth and fifth in main-track sprints to start her career, The Adrie Factor improved on the stretch-out to a mile, finishing second against males in a maiden special weight on the dirt at Santa Rosa in August. She rated nicely and pulled away late to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Sept. 28 maiden special weight for fillies.

“We always figured we wanted to get her on the turf,” trainer Jonathan Wong said.

“We were always planning to stretch her out, and after seeing her break her maiden, we knows she loves the distance.”

Wong also is excited about the chances of his other entrant in the Pike Place Dancer, the undefeated No Cover Charge.

No Cover Charge has won both her starts in front-running fashion, holding on by a nose in a $25,000 maiden claimer at Santa Rosa in her debut and then cruising home by six over a next-out winner in a starter race at Golden Gate. Both races were at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Wong is hopeful No Cover Charge can handle the surface and longer distance.

“She’s handled everything we’ve asked her,” he said.

Trainer Quinn Howey bid on Wise Rachel based solely on how she looked in the sales ring at a yearling auction last fall. He was a little surprised to have made the winning bid – $7,000 – but when he got a chance to inspect her close up, he thought he might have gotten a steal.

A daughter of English Channel, she won a sprint at Pleasanton in her debut and then ran third and fourth in $100,000 sprint stakes for California-breds at Del Mar.

“I’ve been very happy with her,” he said. “Based on her breeding, I never expected her to win sprinting on dirt as a 2-year-old.”

$75,000 Pike Place Dancer

KEY CONTENDERS

The Adrie Factor, by The Factor

Last 3 Beyers: 64-48-35

◗ Has a pair of strong works since her maiden win.

No Cover Charge, by Kafwain

Beyers: 64-40

◗ Barn shows profit with first-time turf runners.

◗ Solid work pattern for first start in seven weeks.

Wise Rachel, by English Channel

Beyers: 59-60-48

◗ Her sire won the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

◗ Has perhaps met best rivals of any of these.