Good With People one to catch in Golden State Juvenile

California-bred 2-year-olds who swung and missed in Breeders’ Cup preliminaries face easier company Saturday at Del Mar, where they will attempt to pick up where they left off in September.

Good With People and Touchdown Brown went separate ways after running one-two in the I’m Smokin Stakes. Good With People finished fourth at Keeneland in a tryout for the Juvenile Turf Sprint; Touchdown Brown finished sixth at Santa Anita in a Juvenile prep. Neither made the cut for the Breeders’ Cup, but the competition softens Saturday.

The $150,000 Golden State Juvenile, restricted to statebreds, also includes a comeback colt who already defeated Good With People and Touchdown Brown. Positivity won his first two starts, including the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar in early August, then sold privately. He will make his first start for new connections Saturday.

The field for the seven-furlong stakes race also includes impressive debut winner Ascot Storm, another who changed hands since raced, in addition to Me Likey, Finding Silver, Tacoflavoredkisses, Play Chicken, and Doc Adams.

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Peter Miller trains Good With People, who won his debut at Del Mar in July, finished second in the Graduation, and won the six-furlong I’m Smokin prior to finishing fourth on turf at Keeneland.

The challenge for Good With People and jockey Ricardo Gonzalez is to carry his speed seven furlongs. Win or lose, he is the one to catch.

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Touchdown Brown, runner-up in the I’m Smokin, won his debut in May at Santa Anita from off the pace, misfired with trouble in the Graduation, then finished second by a half-length in the I’m Smokin. He adds blinkers after finishing sixth in the two-turn, Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita. Rafael Becerra trains Touchdown Brown, whose rider is Tiago Pereira.

Positivity lacks the recency of his main rivals, but his new trainer, Paddy Gallagher, believes he is fit for his first start in three months, and first beyond 5 1/2 furlongs. Can he get seven furlongs first start back?

“It sounds a bit testing, but the horse has a good foundation in him and he gallops out good after his works,” Gallagher said. “He gives the impression he can get it.”

Positivity won his first two starts for trainer Luis Mendez and Chad Calvert’s CTR Stables, then was purchased privately by Chuck Winner following the Graduation.

“Chuck liked his looks and liked a lot about him,” Gallagher said. “He decided to make an offer, and it was accepted.”

The purchase price was not disclosed. Drayden Van Dyke rides Positivity.

Ascot Storm won his career debut by more than four lengths Oct. 4 after which he was purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds and transferred from trainer Hector Palma to John Sadler.