Dakota Phone pours it on late in Forty Niner

ALBANY, Calif. - Three-year-olds dominated the scratch-marred $73,500 Forty Niner Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Friday with Dakota Phone ($6.20), last to the quarter pole, roaring past pacesetting Gallon in the lane to win.

Dakota Phone did not get away well as he had his head turned as the gate opened for the 1 1/16-mile race. Three scratches left a field of four, and Dakota Phone ran fourth and last early. He was always in a good stalking position as jockey Frank Alvarado was content to sit back until the field turned for home before unleashing a strong kick.

Gallon, another 3-year-old, set a comfortable pace. He was challenged by odds-on favorite Pass the Heat, ridden by Russell Baze, who tried to rally along the rail and got within a head of the leader turning for home. Gallon quickly put the favorite away but was no match for Dakota Phone, coming off a Hollywood Park allowance victory on Nov. 8 and making his first start at Golden Gate Fields for leading trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

"I knew we were walking, but I just wanted to stay close to Pass the Heat," Alvarado said. "Russell moved earlier than I wanted to so I just waited a little bit. I wanted to be patient. I got a little worried he was going to hang [in the stretch] but he kept digging and got there."

Dakota Phone, who won for the fourth time in his past six starts, won by a half-length in 1:44.37. Gallon was three in front of Pass the Heat, who was nine in front of Holy Thunder, who stopped badly in the lane.

Dakota Phone is a gelded son of Zavala, owned by Halo Farms and Hollendorfer. He earned $45,000, lifting his career earnings to $195,280 with 4 wins in 12 starts.