Golden Nugget first step on road to El Camino Real Derby

A competitive field of six in the $50,000 Golden Nugget for 2-year-olds on Saturday highlights a card at Golden Gate Fields that includes five races for juveniles.

The Golden Nugget, run at six furlongs on Tapeta, serves as a prep for the Dec. 7 Gold Rush at a mile and is part of the Golden Gate series leading up to next year’s El Camino Real Derby.

Fore Left figures to be a heavy favorite after scoring a neck win in the 6 1/2-furlong Sunny Slope on Oct. 28 at Santa Anita. It was the second stakes victory for the Twirling Candy colt, trained by Doug O’Neill. Fore Left won the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park in June and ran third at odds-on in the Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar in August. Considering Fore Left’s speedy nature and his seventh-place finish, beaten 31 lengths by winner Eight Rings, in the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita in September – his lone route try – Fore Left may not necessarily be pointing for longer races.

But the Steve Specht-trained Blaisin’ Eamon is. Blaisin’ Eamon won a six-furlong maiden race at Golden Gate by five lengths in his second start and came back to run third after dueling for the early lead in a 5 1/2-furlong optional claimer on Sept. 29.

Specht said he wanted to run Blaisin’ Eamon in a two-turn race at Golden Gate, but it didn’t fill and he needs to keep the gelding on his race schedule.

“We can’t pass a race again,” he said.

“He’s no superstar, but he’s doing good and he tries hard.”

Doc Tommy comes up from Santa Anita for the Golden Nugget, but is familiar with the surroundings, having won a statebred maiden sprint at Golden Gate by four lengths on Aug. 18 in his last start. He was trained at the time by Felix Rondan and makes his first start for John Sadler in the Golden Nugget.

No Longer Silent has been third or better in all four career starts and comes off a seven-length victory over the Tapeta in a first-level allowance race with an optional $40,000 claiming tag. Trainer Jonathan Wong said he likes No Longer Silent’s competitive nature and sees this as a natural step up.

Bettor Trip Nick, trained by Bill Delia, comes off a victory against starter competition at Golden Gate and has been part of the exacta in all three career starts. He meets the toughest rivals of his career in the Golden Nugget.

KEY CONTENDERS

Fore Left, by Twirling Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 83-38-43

◗ He makes his first start on synthetic for a barn that is winning at a 32 percent rate on such a surface.

Blaisin’ Eamon, by U S Ranger

Last 3 Beyers: 65-62-43

◗ He has improved his Beyer Speed Figure in each race.

No Longer Silent, by Ministers Wild Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 71-68-61

◗ His Beyer Speed Figures also have risen with each start.