Friday could belong to jockeys Antongeorgi and Martinez

Jockey Juan Hernandez has been so dominant at the Golden Gate Fields meeting that his 86 wins since the start of the meet on Dec. 26 are more than the combined total of the two riders closest to him in the standings.

Through Sunday, Catalino Martinez was second with 36 wins, one more than William Antongeorgi III.

On Friday’s eight-race card at Golden Gate Fields, which begins at 1:15 p.m., Antongeorgi and Martinez have a chance to close the gap, even if they have no realistic chance of catching Hernandez. Antongeorgi has six mounts, one more than Martinez. Hernandez is named to ride the third, fourth, and eighth races.

For Antongeorgi, the key to a successful day are two Southern California shippers starting on Golden Gate’s synthetic track for the first time – Salsa Verde in the first race and Tiger the Man in the fourth race.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Salsa Verde, trained by Paul Aguirre, is winless in four starts around two turns, and runs in a $12,500 claimer for maiden 3-year-old fillies at a mile. She was fifth in a $20,000 claimer for maidens at Santa Anita on March 8. Salsa Verde’s main rival is Autism Quest, who was second in $8,000 claimers for maidens on Feb. 15 and March 7.

Tiger the Man, trained by Brian Koriner, will race as a gelding for the first time in a $25,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs. Winless in three starts, Tiger the Man finished sixth in a $50,000 claimer for maidens at Santa Anita on Feb. 8, racing near the front for the first half-mile from an inside position. For Friday’s race, Tiger the Man has drawn post 6 of 11, the largest field on the program.

Hernandez rides a Southern California shipper in the eighth race in Playa Chica, a 5-year-old mare who was last of seven in a $25,000 claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 17. She was claimed that day, but the purchase was voided because she bled, according to California Horse Racing Board records.

Playa Chica, trained by Koriner, starts in a $12,500 claimer for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Hernandez’s lowest-priced runner on Friday is likely to be El Centenario in the fourth race, a $25,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs. Trained by Jonathan Wong, El Centenario starts for a claiming price after four losses in maiden special weight races, the latest of which was a fourth at 1 1/16 miles on March 7.