G. G. Ryder tries to rebound in Rolling Green
Five stakes winners plus a contender who has been the runner-up in his past two stakes starts make Monday’s $50,000 Rolling Green Stakes an intriguing race on closing day at Golden Gate Fields.
G. G. Ryder, who has won the first two graded stakes of 2015 at Golden Gate, and defending race winner Pepper Crown, a winner of two graded stakes last year at Golden Gate, renew their rivalry in the 1 1/16-mile turf test.
Both are coming off a pair of disappointing efforts but will be looking to turn things around with a return to their favorite turf course. Pepper Crown has been part of the exacta in six of seven starts here. G. G. Ryder has four wins in five starts over the Lakeside Turf Course.
But it is far from a two-horse race.
G. G. Ryder’s stablemate Outside Nashville is making his debut over the course, but he comes in off a win in the Joseph T. Grace Handicap on turf at Santa Rosa.
The 3-year-old Solomon Bay won the Robert Dupret Derby on turf in his stakes debut at Santa Rosa but will be meeting tougher and older runners Monday.
Alert Bay put together five straight stakes wins last fall and winter, including the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile on turf at Santa Anita. He’s coming off a third in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile.
Eagle Screams is looking for his first stakes victory, but he’s been running well, with a close fourth in the Grade 3 All America here in May and runner-up finishes in the Oak Tree Handicap and the Joseph T. Grace on turf.
ROLLING GREEN (Race 6)
KEY CONTENDERS
Alert Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 96-85-87)
◗ He proved his gameness by winning five straight stakes, three graded and two with $200,000 purses, last fall and winter. Hasn’t run that badly of late, all things considered, with a turf sprint here, a race on the tricky Los Alamitos track, and a better-than-it-looks try against Stryker Phd, who has won seven straight stakes at Emerald Downs, in the Longacres Mile.
G. G. Ryder (Last 3 Beyers: 87-92-98)
◗ Toss out the past two starts at Pleasanton and down south, where he has never won. He loves Golden Gate Fields and is as steady as they come. He’ll be sitting in the garden spot and does like to win.
Pepper Crown (Last 3 Beyers: 85-87-95)
◗ He was overlooked when winning three stakes here last year, two on the turf. Has not had the best racing luck and gets a solid rider. He’s plenty fit, with three one-mile works since failing to threaten in the Joseph T. Grace.