Golden Poppy no easy pickings for invaders
Four Southern Californians invade Golden Gate Fields for Saturday’s $50,000-added Golden Poppy for fillies and mares, and each is looking for her first stakes win. But the invaders will find a host of sharp local runners awaiting them, including Central Heat and Handfull, who are a combined 6 for 6 this year; turf stakes winner Sing and Tell, who is making her 2015 debut; and Our Little Hen, who has won two straight, both here.
Theatre Star, Hijra, Humoristica, and Aguafria come north for the 1 1/16-mile turf test, which was won by Luscious Lonna the past two years.
There’s plenty of speed in the race, so tactics could play a major role. Both Theatre Star and Hijra have run well up front. Aguafria is a confirmed closer.
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Handfull is coming off four straight scores, three here and a 1 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile March Madness on the turf at Santa Anita in her last start. She went wire to wire in her three wins here and sat second behind a brisk pace before pulling away late in the March Madness.
Central Heat likes to sit within a couple of lengths of the lead. She has won five of her last six starts, with a second to Luscious Lonna in the Miss America last October her only loss in that span.
GOLDEN POPPY (RACE 7)
KEY CONTENDERS
CENTRAL HEAT (Last 3 Beyers: 77-78-81)
◗ She was running at the bottom claiming level early last year but has really turned things around.
◗ Central Heat has won starter allowances on the Tapeta here in her last two starts. Six of her 11 wins have come on turf.
HANDFULL (Last 3 Beyers: 80-75-68)
◗ She’s been part of the exacta in her past four starts at this distance and over this course, but the races were for a tag.
◗ She has good speed, which she can use to her advantage with her rail draw.
THEATRE STAR (Last 3 Beyers 82-80-89)
◗ Three of her four wins have come on turf, although she has yet to finish better than fourth in a stakes on the surface. She has been fourth in two graded turf stakes.
◗ There’s plenty of speed in this race, and although she has won on the front end, she also has shown a willingness to rate.