G. G. Ryder kicks clear in All American

G. G. Ryder ($7.80) won his second straight Grade 3 race at Golden Gate Fields on Monday, as he got a perfect stalking trip and pulled clear in the stretch to win the $100,315 All American Stakes.

G. G. Ryder, who defeated stablemate Summer Hit to win the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf in his last start April 25, held off stablemate Outside Nashville to win the All American by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:36.14. Pepper Crown, who chased the two stablemates into the lane, finished third, another half-length back.

The favored Summer Hit, seeking his third straight All American win, faded under the pressure of Eagle Screams, who put his head in front in the lane but was quickly passed by G. G. Ryder. Eagle Screams was fourth, a neck behind Pepper Crown, with Summer Hit tiring to fifth, another 2 1/4 lengths back.

While Summer Hit cut out honest fractions of 23.96 seconds, 47.84, and 1:11.72 from the rail, Eagle Screams kept the pressure on him while sitting just outside of him.

G. G. Ryder sat in a perfect spot, fourth in the field of eight, just outside of Blues Blaster and three lengths behind Summer Hit.

Ricardo Gonzalez began to ask G. G. Ryder on the second turn and then eased him out for room as the field turned for home. He had both Eagle Screams and Summer Hit measured and quickly assumed control as Outside Nashville, last early, picked off rivals through the stretch, with Pepper Crown rallying with him without making up any ground.

“We had a really good trip,” said Gonzalez. “I just got behind the leaders and tried to save some ground before I worked my way out. When I got him out, he came through for me like he always does. He’s very tactical, so you can put him where you want, and it doesn’t matter what [surface] you run him on. He just runs his best every time. He’s just a really nice horse.”

The victory was G. G. Ryder’s first stakes win on the main track. He had won the Alcatraz and the San Francisco Mile on turf. He also finished second to Pepper Crown in the Grade 3 Berkeley last November.

The 4-year-old Chhaya Dance colt, owned by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and longtime partner George Todaro, earned $60,000 to lift his career earnings to $375,114. He has won six of 10 starts on Golden Gate’s Tapeta surface, with three seconds and a third.

“He’s obviously a horse that runs well, so we’re happy to have him,” said Hollendorfer. “He’s a good stalker, and he doesn’t mind being in between horses. I thought if Summer Hit could have gotten an easier lead, he would have been tough. He had a bad post, so Russell [Baze] had to use him, and then Eagle Screams ran with him. The pace was a little fast for him.

“Outside Nashville, I thought if he could get clear in early stretch, that he could win, and with a little more distance, he might have won. I’m pleased with all my horses.”

The 5-year-old mare Living The Life, who had been sent north for the race, was scratched Sunday.