Golden Gate notes: She's a Tiger's Breeders' Cup DQ hard pill to swallow

Excitement in Northern California was high when She’s a Tiger crossed the finish line a nose in front of Ria Antonia in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. She’s a Tiger, who trained early in her career and won her debut at Pleasanton, gave Golden Gate Fields simulcast bettors and her connections a thrill – until the inquiry sign began flashing.

The longer the sign flashed, the more her trainer, Jeff Bonde, and part-owner Allen Aldrich felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.

When Santa Anita track announcer Trevor Denman boomed out, “Ladies and gentlemen . . .” they knew She’s a Tiger was coming down for interfering with Ria Antonia in the stretch.

“As soon as he said, ‘Ladies,’ I knew we were coming down,” Aldrich said. “I felt sorry for Jeff more than me for all he’s done with the filly.

“Isn’t it strange? If that filly went by her to win, we would have been pleased with our filly’s effort.”

The long review showed how tough the decision was, and the verdict left Bonde distraught.

“It wasn’t meant to be,” he said in a call to the Golden Gate Fields press box. “I felt it was right at the wire. It wasn’t going to change the outcome, but [the stewards] thought otherwise.

“In this game, there’s little middle ground. There are ups and downs, and I’m sure I’ve felt heartbroken many times before, but I’m definitely heartbroken today.”

Bonde was still sick Sunday, even with a strong fourth-place finish by Majestic Stride in the Sprint to reflect on as well. He said going from the penthouse to the outhouse was an apt analogy for his feelings.

He was proud of She’s a Tiger’s performance, but said “I still think she shouldn’t have been taken down.”

Majestic Stride, who fell a nose short of nipping Gentlemen’s Bet for third in the Sprint, “kind of got trapped,” said Bonde, who thought the horse might have otherwise finished third.

Bonde said he’s looking forward to running both next year.

Aldrich said he talked with the Santa Anita stewards Sunday and let them know that while She’s a Tiger’s connections were obviously disappointed they respected the decision.

Aldrich said She’s a Tiger would go to a farm for a couple months to unwind a bit, and, like Bonde, he was already looking forward to an exciting 3-year-old campaign.

There’s one last campaign for She’s a Tiger this year: for the Eclipse Award. Aside from her second-place Breeders’ Cup finish, She’s a Tiger won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and was second in the Grade 1 Chandelier. She earned $725,650 on the year, second to Ria Antonia among juvenile fillies.

“She ran lights out every time,” Bonde said.

Others with connections to Northern California who ran in the Breeders’ Cup include:

◗ The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Bluskiesnrainbows, who went from a fifth-place finish in the Bull Dog at the Big Fresno Fair to a second in the $500,000 BC Marathon, finishing a length behind London Bridge.

◗ So Big Is Better, a winner at Ferndale who won a $150,000 Arabian stakes on the Breeders’ Cup Friday card.

At least five for Golden Nugget

Early in the week, five runners were set to go Saturday at Golden Gate in the six-furlong Golden Nugget for 2-year-olds: Southern California challengers Hobbits Hero and I See Back, and locally based Olympic Jumble, Pete’s Slew, and Time Jumper. They may be joined by the filly Miss Success and another Southern California invader, Brother Soldier.

◗ Three weeks into the Golden Gate Fields meet, three are tied for the lead in the jockey standings with 14 wins apiece. Russell Baze returned from a five-day suspension Friday and won four races on the card, and he shares the lead with William Antongeorgi III and Dennis Carr.

◗ Golden Gate Fields will race on Monday, Veteran’s Day. The Pleasanton simulcast facility is offering free admission to all veterans and actively serving members of the military.