Code Warrior back with fillies in Golden Gate Debutante
The tests generally get tougher at this time of year for 2-year-olds, but Saturday’s $50,000-added Golden Gate Debutante might not be as tough a test for the undefeated filly Code Warrior as her last one.
After winning her debut by seven lengths Aug. 28, Code Warrior couldn’t find an allowance race to run in as a prep for Saturday’s stakes, which is for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs. She wound up running against males in the Golden Nugget Stakes and won the Nov. 7 race by 2 1/2 lengths as the favorite.
Five rivals have signed up to meet her Saturday, with three of them coming off a win.
Code Warrior, the only stakes winner in the field, worked an easy half-mile in 50.80 seconds last Sunday, which trainer Manny Badilla said was just the kind of work he wanted.
The Jeff Bonde-trained My Dynamo ran very impressively in her last start, winning a Nov. 12 allowance race at Del Mar. Saturday rival Find Joy finished third, one start after also finishing third in the Anoakia at Santa Anita.
Coniah and Cousin Claire meet for the third time in the Golden Gate Debutante. Cousin Claire beat Coniah in a maiden race, but Coniah reversed that decision when the pair ran one-two in a Nov. 13 optional claimer here.
Andean rounds out the field. She was second to Kiss N Scat in her debut, then won a maiden race.
GOLDEN GATE DEBUTANTE (Race 6)
Key contenders
Code Warrior (Beyers: 80-71)
◗ Badilla said she does everything easily and has outworked every horse she’s been teamed with in the morning.
◗ Badilla said she reminds him of Look Quickly, the winner of this race in 2013 who also beat colts in her prep.
◗ She doesn’t rush early and seems to find another gear in the lane.
My Dynamo (Beyers: 78-37-65)
◗ She has won two of her three starts, and her only loss was a ninth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, won by subsequent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Songbird.
Find Joy (Last 3 Beyers: 68-59-34)
◗ She won at Pimlico in her debut but has not won in her three subsequent starts, all in California.
◗ A $185,000 purchase, she could wind up with the lead here after showing improved speed last time.
◗ She sports a work over the track.