After tough losses, Boise and Highland Ghost try to break out in Alcatraz Stakes

On consecutive days earlier this spring, Boise and Highland Ghost were narrow losers in stakes at Golden Gate Fields, only a head bob or so away from winning at that level for the first time this year.

One of them could easily achieve that goal in Sunday’s $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields.

Boise finished second by a head to Il Bellator in the California Derby at 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic track April 30, part of a three-horse photo. A day later, Highland Ghost was beaten a nose by Royal ’n Rando in the Silky Sullivan Stakes for statebred 3-year-old milers on turf after leading to deep stretch.

While they have comparable recent results, Boise and Highland Ghost have slightly different running styles. Highland Ghost, trained by O.J. Jauregui, tends to run as a stalker, while Boise, trained by Jonathan Wong, is more of a closer. They could easily be side by side in the final furlong of the Alcatraz, which drew a field of seven.

Wong, the leading trainer at the Golden Gate Fields winter-spring meeting, expects Boise to have a target in stablemate Will Is Chill, who will have his stakes debut in the Alcatraz, and Meetmeattheclub, who has recently raced in sprints for trainer Daniel Franko.

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Boise’s lone stakes win was the Gold Rush Stakes at a mile on the synthetic track last November. He was a fast-closing fourth in the Qatar Golden Mile on turf at Del Mar earlier that month.

“He’s really versatile,” Wong said of Boise. “He’s run good sprinting, run good on turf, and run on synthetic. I think it’s more of what kind of trip he gets.”

Highland Ghost, who starts from the rail, has won 3 of 11 starts, with all the victories in sprints. Jauregui says he is not sure what distance is best for Highland Ghost. The narrow loss in the Silky Sullivan was Highland Ghost’s best result in starts at a mile or farther.

“I figure this would be the best spot to run him,” Jauregui said. “I don’t think he’s really a miler, but he ran okay last time. I think he’s more of a late-running sprinter. We’ll take a shot.”

The Alcatraz is the stakes debut for the intriguing gelding St Anthony, who was a troubled fourth in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on May 6 for trainer Neil Drysdale.