Golden Gate: A nose is all the difference

It’s unlikely that any stakes at the current Golden Gate meet will prove more exciting than Saturday’s Golden Gate Fields Debutante, won by a nose by Lady of Fifty over Power of Nine.

Even winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said, “That was a lucky bob there.”

Power of Nine and Lady of Fifty dueled from the quarter pole. Power of Nine, making her first start since finishing sixth in the Generous Portion at Del Mar on Aug. 31, seemed to slacken inside the sixteenth pole, then dug back in. Her head seemed just to start to rise at the finish line while Lady of Fifty’s head was stretched out to its fullest position.

“I think the other horse had her nose ahead a jump before the wire and a jump after the wire, but my horse had her nose down on the wire,” said Hollendorfer.

“She still runs greenly. She’s got a lot of size, and it’s taken a while for her to get coordinated.”

Hollendorfer said he will likely run Lady of Fifty in the one-mile Corte Madera on Dec. 3, just as he did with Cathy’s Crunches, who won both races last year.

Power of Nine’s trainer, Lloyd Mason, says his filly will likely run in the Corte Madera, although he will look at sprint possibilities.

“I’m pleased, but I’m disappointed at the same time,” he said of Power of Nine’s close-but-no-cigar effort. “She’s about half the size of the winner.”

Power of Nine was the only Debutante entrant with a stakes win to her credit, having won the Wine Country Debutante at Santa Rosa.

“When she won it, she impressed me a lot,” said Mason. “She’s ill-made. You wouldn’t buy her out of conformation. She has a sway back, but I’ve found horses with sway backs seem to run well.”

Dunmore East a go for All American

Mason says that Dunmore East, who defeated the Hollendorfer duo of Our Nautique and Skipshot in a Friday allowance prep, will definitely run on Nov. 25 in the Grade 3 All American at 1 1/8-miles.

A 4-year-old Honour and Glory homebred for Ann Marie Farm, Dunmore East has been getting better and better. He has won two straight and ran fourth against Our Nautique and Bold Chieftain in the Joseph Grace on the turf at Santa Rosa. The Friday victory came on the main track, the surface on which the All American will be run.

“He’s going to be very tough right back,” said Mason.

Golden Nugget on tap

The Golden Nugget, a six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds, will be run Saturday. The race is a prep for the Gold Rush on Dec. 10.

Slated to run are Blue Collar Boy, the stakes winner Chips All In, Marshal Marini, Passing Game and Russian Greek. Hollendorfer said he will likely run Johnny Be Mine in addition to Russian Greek. Jeff Mullins, who has taken over training of Chips All In, may also send Coach Sickie north for the race.