Six months ago, Julio’s Gold entered a $12,500 claiming sprint, non-winners of two races lifetime. That is the bottom of the barrel in Southern California. Boy, did the light bulb go on. Julio’s Gold won that race and went on a roll.
The California Gold Rush took place at Santa Anita for the first time Saturday. Based on level of participation, it was a dud. Average field size for the five statebred stakes was 6.2 runners per race, a sad reflection on the California-bred racing program.
A crowd of 24,431 fans filled Churchill Downs Saturday, inspired by night racing, traditional Derby week excitement, and the publicity of the launch of the track’s massive “Big Board” high-definition television.
After sweeping three starts on the inner dirt with last-to-first runs, including the Kingston Stakes, Zivo (race 8, $6.10) made it four straight wins for Chad Brown in Saturday’s optional-claiming feature for New York-breds.
After six long months, this is the final day of racing at Aqueduct until Halloween. For whatever reason, management saw fit to card 10 races, so the getaway event is a treacherous-looking $16,000 maiden claimer for New York-breds in which 7-year-old Centripital owns the top last-out Beyer Speed Figure.
Chantal Sutherland-Kruse made the most of pick-up ride Purely Hot in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes, winning the six-furlong tilt decisively after coming from off a brisk pace.
The reigning Canadian champion sprinter Phil’s Dream launches his campaign in the eighth, but the most intriguing race on the card is the fifth, an optional claimer that contains five shippers and four locals.
DRF Plus handicapping analysis for Santa Anita on Sunday, April 27.
DRF Plus handicapping analysis for Aqueduct on Sunday, April 27.
DRF Plus closer looks for Santa Anita on Sunday, April 27.
