Good fields for first Golden Hour Double bet

ARCADIA, Calif. – The new Golden Hour Double that links the final races at Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields in a $5 daily double starts on Saturday with two competitive fields.

The bet, which will be held each racing day, has a reduced takeout of 15 percent, down from 20 percent for a typical daily double, and a pool guaranteed to reach $50,000 by The Stronach Group, the parent company of both tracks.

On most racing days, the Santa Anita race will be the first part of the bet. Saturday, Santa Anita’s ninth race, an allowance with a $62,500 claiming option at 1 1/8 miles on turf, has a scheduled post time of 4:30 p.m. Pacific.

Trainer Jeff Mullins has two attractive prospects in Moody Jim and Originaire.

Moody Jim was a winner on turf at Santa Anita in October, but had a troubled trip when 11th in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 30. This will be Moody Jim’s first start of the year.

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Originaire, second in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile on Dec. 28, was a troubled second in an optional claimer on turf here on Jan. 20.

They will be in pursuit of Wound Tight, who won the California Cup Unusual Heat Turf Classic for statebreds at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 18 in his stakes debut.

The final race at Golden Gate Fields, with an expected post time of 4:45 p.m., is a maiden special weight race for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs with a field of eight.

Trouble N Paradise and Sheza Girly Girl were third in maiden special weight races in their last starts. This will be the fifth start for Trouble N Paradise, but her first against statebred opposition.

The first-time starters Sweet Regards and Surely a Smile are likely to draw support, along with the Southern California shipper Jemsek, who has worked quickly at the San Luis Rey Training Center in recent weeks.