Good-sized fields, mandatory payouts on final day of meet

The final day of the Golden State Racing meeting at Pleasanton on Wednesday includes full fields in a majority of the nine races, an intriguing allowance race at a mile and 70 yards, and mandatory payouts in the 20-cent pick six and 20-cent super high five.

Wednesday’s program is a make-up day for a canceled card last weekend because of inclement weather. It is also the last day of racing in Northern California for the foreseeable future.

On Monday, the California Authority of Racing Fairs – organizers of the Golden State Racing meeting along with a group of owners, breeders and trainers – announced they will not pursue racing dates at Pleasanton this winter because of lower than expected business results at the current meeting, which began in October.

Instead, daytime Thoroughbred racing will be consolidated at Santa Anita in Southern California. Santa Anita announced in a statement on Monday that it will provide racing opportunities for Northern-based stables at its upcoming winter-spring meeting, which begins on Dec. 26.

The California Horse Racing Board is scheduled to address 2025 racing dates in Northern California at its monthly meeting in Sacramento on Thursday. Racing is scheduled to be held on the five-stop fair circuit next summer and fall, which begins in June at Pleasanton.

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Wednesday’s program at Pleasanton begins at 12:15 p.m. Pacific. Through the first 24 days of the Golden State Racing meeting, fields have averaged 6.64 runners per race.

On Wednesday, there are six entrants in the first race and eight or more entrants in the final eight races, including three races with also-eligible lists.

The 20-cent pick six covers the fourth through ninth races. The 20-cent super high five is held on the last race.

The leading race on the program is the eighth race, an allowance at a mile and 70 yards which drew a competitive field of nine.

Pass the Baton and Shot of Courage, second and third in a similar race at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 24, have leading chances from off the pace. There will be support for Beauty N the Bolt, a filly who won a $16,000 claimer by eight lengths on Nov. 23 in her Northern California debut. Beauty N the Bolt is expected to set the pace.

There is a tight contest for leading rider. Through Sunday, Luis Jimenez had 24 wins, a slight advantage over Alexander Chavez (23) and apprentice jockey Manuel Americano (22).

Both Chavez and Jimenez have seven mounts on Wednesday. Americano relocated to Turf Paradise in Phoenix earlier this week.

Among trainers, Tim McCanna and Sam Calvario were tied with 15 wins through Sunday. Both have runners in multiple races on Wednesday.

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