Golden Gate Fields slates 11 stakes for winter-spring meet

The 2014 Golden Gate Fields stakes schedule for the winter-spring meet resembles last year’s. There is one notable exception among the 11 stakes scheduled for the meet, which begins Dec. 26 and runs through June 15, 2014.

The $50,000 Lost in the Fog, formerly a sprint for 2-year-olds that closed the meeting, is now a sprint for older horses on Feb. 17. The Lost in the Fog takes the place of the $50,000 Albany Stakes, which will be run at five furlongs on turf on the last Saturday of the meet, June 14.

“We looked at the past history of the Lost in the Fog, and we’ve had trouble filling it and had maidens running in it,” racing secretary David Jerkens said.

Jerkens said the turf sprint would probably be a popular addition since it will be the last grass race for Northern California horses until the Santa Rosa fair meet starts in midsummer.

The Grade 3 All American will be run at one mile rather than the 1 1/16 miles it was run at this year. The All American will be run May 26, and Jerkens said he may schedule a 1 1/8-mile stakes around that time as well.

“We think this will appeal to horsemen because they can have a choice between a mile and a mile and an eighth,” Jerkens said.

The other minor change was pushing the California Derby back one week to Jan. 18. Part of the reason for that is to avoid conflicting with Santa Anita’s Sham Stakes.

Jerkens was able to add the Albany – now the Lost in the Fog – two years ago, and he hopes to be able to add additional stakes this year.

“If we can carry the momentum of our current meet, we may be able to add a stakes,” he said.

He said two stakes that would be considered would be a race for 2-year-olds and a main-track route for fillies and mares. The current stakes schedule has only a main-track sprint, the Camilla Urso, and turf route, the Golden Poppy, for fillies and mares.

Look Quickly changes up

Look Quickly remained unbeaten in four starts with Saturday’s victory in the $58,700 Golden Gate Debutante for 2-year-old fillies. That she won the six-furlong race was no surprise, but what particularly pleased trainer Bill Morey Jr. was that Look Quickly didn’t get her usual trip but still prevailed.

Look Quickly had raced in midpack before making a strong stretch move in her first three races. In the Debutante, Look Quickly and Russell Baze found themselves in front after the speedy Sergeant O’Rourke did not break alertly.

“When [Sergeant O’Rourke] didn’t break, it messed with everyone’s plans,” said Russell Baze, who was riding Look Quickly for the first time.

Baze found himself dueling head-and-head with Rever de Vous, whom he had ridden to victory in her debut. Look Quickly put away Rever de Vous turning for home and won by 1 3/4 lengths without being seriously challenged by runner-up Miss Success, who ran her final eighth in 11.31 seconds.

Morey, who bred and owns Look Quickly, a Run Away and Hide filly, said, “That’s not her style, running that close, but it all turned out good.”

Morey considers the filly more of a sprinter than a route prospect, and said he would consider running her in the $200,000 Soviet Problem, a seven-furlong race for California-bred fillies on Dec. 21 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

“I’m not saying we’re going, but we’re looking that way,” he said. “Running down south and going seven-eighths would be a good test. If we don’t go there, she’ll probably get some time off, not going to the farm but backing off a little.”

Gold Rush on Saturday

Golden Gate’s final stakes of the year, the $75,000 Gold Rush, will be run Saturday. The one-mile race for 2-year-olds is a prep for the Jan. 18 California Derby.

Four last-out winners and a runner whose two-race win streak was snapped in his last start are among those confirmed for the race.

Exit Stage Left, who won the Golden Nugget on Nov. 9 in his debut, is scheduled to run, as is Pete’s Slew, who suffered his first defeat in the Golden Nugget when he finished fourth, beaten only one length.

Recent Golden Gate maiden winners Rockford and Argyle Cat are also expected. The European import Morally Bankrupt will make his U.S. debut in the Gold Rush.