Frequent flyer The Black Album lands at Golden Gate for Rolling Green Handicap

The well-traveled The Black Album will test Northern California’s top turf runners in Monday’s $50,000-added Rolling Green Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. The Rolling Green is for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles.

The Black Album, now 4, came to America as a 2-year-old to run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after winning the Group 3 Prix la Rochette in his native France. Since then, he’s made nine starts at eight North American tracks, winning two stakes and placing in two others, including a Grade 3 race.

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The Black Album won his only start this year, the Jonathan B. Schuster at Indiana Grand, when returning from an eight-month layoff July 8. Since then he’s been purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables with former co-owner Gary Barber retaining a share. He was sent from trainer Rodolphe Brisset to Peter Miller’s Southern California barn and also has been gelded since his last start.

“I’ve only had him a month and a half and am not completely familiar with him,” Miller said.

Miller considered running The Black Album in the Del Mar Mile on Aug. 23 before deciding to look for an easier spot. He wound up winning the Del Mar Mile anyway with Mo Forza.

“We thought it was better to wait,” Miller said. “I think he’s got to improve to be competitive in Grade 2’s or Grade 1’s.”

Although this is an easier spot than the Del Mar Mile, it is still a competitive race.

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Among the eight runners is Sloane Garden, queen of the Northern California turf with three straight turf victories on the Golden Gate grass, including the Golden Poppy and Luther Burbank. Since coming to the United States late last year from her native England, Sloane Garden has gone 4 for 6.

The timing of the race, coming five weeks since her win in the Luther Burbank, prompted trainer Manny Badilla to run her in the Rolling Green.

Kiwi’s Dream lost photos in three straight stakes in spring and summer, including the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on this course, then ran eighth in the Del Mar Mile in his last start.

Camino Del Paraiso, third in both the All American and San Francisco Mile behind Kiwi’s Dream, ran second to Force in the 2016 edition of this race.

Builder was runner-up in last year’s Rolling Green.