Golden Gate adds three Cal-bred stakes
Golden Gate Fields has added three $75,000 stakes for California-breds to the calendar of its current meeting, which runs through June 11.
The Moscow Burning Stakes for fillies and mares will be run at a mile on the synthetic track on Jan. 28. The McCann’s Mojave Stakes for 4-year-olds and older at 1 1/8 miles is scheduled for March 18, while the Dream of Summer Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older, will be run on June 11.
All three races are being offered for the first time this year.
The Moscow Burning Stakes fills a void for early season two-turn races for the division, while the McCann’s Mojave will be run almost four weeks after the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for statebred milers at Santa Anita on Feb. 20.
Aside from the Dream of Summer Stakes, the only other turf sprint for statebred fillies and mares in the spring in California is the $100,000 Irish’ O’Brien Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on March 17.
Steve Martinelli, racing secretary at Golden Gate Fields, said he expects the Dream of Summer to be the most popular of the new races.
“I expect 10 horses in there,” he said.