Allowance race might produce starters for California Derby
Derby dreams, on a regional basis, will be the focus of an allowance race on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields on Friday.
The one-mile race is a prep for the $100,000 California Derby at 1 1/16 miles on April 29, one of six stakes on the track’s leading annual day.
Friday’s race will be the two-turn debut of Prince Abu Dhabi, an $8,000 yearling purchase who won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs in September and an allowance race at six furlongs on Feb. 11.
In both races, Prince Abu Dhabi closed from off the pace to take the lead in the final furlong, giving trainer Blaine Wright hope that a mile is within the gelding’s ability.
“Our hope is that he’ll relax early and finish well,” Wright said.
“He doesn’t pull early in his races and I think he’ll be relaxed. It will be interesting to see how close he is to the pace going a route.”
Prince Abu Dhabi, who races for Lance and Steve Kinross, will be ridden for the first time by Kevin Radke, a replacement for a suspended Alexander Chavez. Wright said that Chavez will regain the mount if Prince Abu Dhabi starts in the California Derby.
Chavez is serving the fifth and final day of a suspension on Friday for a riding infraction earlier this month.
Prince Abu Dhabi is the only unbeaten runner in a field of six that includes the stakes-placed filly Rousing Jewel, the stakes-placed colt Harcyn, and the four-time winner Mother’s Prayer.
Harcyn was beaten for the first time when third in the El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 11 in his first start around two turns. Harcyn stalked the pace, led briefly in the stretch, and finished 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Chase the Chaos.
Harcyn, trained by Steve Sherman, is likely to be favored on Friday and may set the pace. Mother’s Prayer and Rousing Jewel, who both won an allowance race at a mile in their last start, will not be far from the front.
Rousing Jewel is the only filly in Friday’s allowance race. She might be using the race as a prep for the $75,000 California Oaks at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies on April 29.
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