Golden Gate: Zeewat stands out in Lost in the Fog Stakes

By virtually every measure, Zeewat looks like a winner on paper in Monday’s $50,000-added Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

The race, however, will be run on the track’s Tapeta surface instead of paper. And while there are only six runners signed up for the six-furlong sprint, Zeewat did get the worst possible draw – post 1.

The race, named for the Eclipse Award-winning sprinter, is being run for older horses for the first time.

Zeewat, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, is a multiple stakes winner, including the Gold Rush and California Derby at Golden Gate Fields. But he’s also won stakes sprinting, the Cavonnier at six furlongs as a 2-year-old at Santa Rosa and the $100,000 Damascus at seven furlongs at Santa Anita last fall.

Ourwestcoastghost is the only other stakes winner in the field, and he has not hit the board since starting his 2013 campaign with three straight wins, including the Casual Lies at Pleasanton.

Administer was second sprinting in last fall’s Oakland and also ran third in the Grade 3 All American here last year.

No Silent, second in the Hollywood Turf Express in December, has a pair of sizzling bullet works for this since being eased in a one-mile turf race at Santa Anita last month. He’s hit the board in 12 of 16 starts while earning $234,136, and his consistent sprint form makes him Zeewat’s biggest threat.

Tizaplayer, who won his debut here by 4 1/2 lengths two weeks ago, and Mah Gellin, who is a quarter-length from four straight victories after losing three photos in his past four starts, are making their stakes debuts.

Stakes wins and past success here aside, Zeewat also is the lone runner with a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure. He earned a 103 Beyer when rallying for third in the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. He then ran evenly in the Grade 2 Strub at 1 1/16 miles in his last start one month ago.

Russell Baze, who was Lost in the Fog’s regular rider and rode Zeewat to victory in his two stakes wins here, said the 4-year-old Harlan’s Holiday colt “felt good” in his Feb. 8 work here before last Thursday’s easy half-mile blowout.

Zeewat’s lack of early speed and rail draw could work against him, but there should be a legitimate pace with Tizaplayer and No Silent likely hooking up early. The small field size should help Baze avoid trouble as he begins his rally.