Googles McCoy newest rising star

The first local star of the next generation will be crowned in Saturday's Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. But fans attending Golden Gate on Belmont Day also got to see a star in the making, as the 3-year-old Googles McCoy improved his record to 2 for 2 with a 5 1/2-length allowance victory that made his 2-5 odds look like an overlay.

"The horse has done nothing wrong," said trainer Steve Sherman. "He still has more in the tank."

A California homebred owned by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shapiro, Googles McCoy won his debut at six furlongs by 6 1/2 lengths while earning an 87 Beyer Figure for his wire-to-wire win. In Saturday's 5 1/2-furlong race, Russell Baze never really asked him for anything early. He went wire to wire in both races, but Sherman said he rates fine.

"Russell has just sat on him," said Sherman, who noted the gelding's long stride.

Sherman admits Googles McCoy's first two starts have him excited about the possibilities, but he's not about to go overboard when it comes to future plans.

"We've got one long-range goal, the seven-furlong Real Good Deal for Cal-breds at Del Mar on Aug. 11," he said.

What is not on the dance card is the $50,000 Sam J. Whiting July 11 at Pleasanton.

"We definitely are not going to run in the Sam Whiting," Sherman said. "I don't want to run against older yet. I don't want to knock heads with horses like Tribesman."

Sherman said that there might be a "couple options" at Pleasanton for Googles McCoy, who as a California-bred is still eligible to run in an open first-level allowance race.

Sherman said he would like to see Googles McCoy settle down a little, calling him a bit "high strung."

"We know he has physical tools, but will he have the mental tools to stay with the physical?" Sherman said. "The main thing is the mental part."

Googles McCoy did not want to be saddled in the paddock on Saturday, but he calmed down after being saddled.

With Googles McCoy being a son of In Excess, Sherman says he's "definitely thinking turf" down the line. Del Mar does offer the one-mile Oceanside on the turf on its July 21 opening day, but Sherman says he wants to take advantage of Googles McCoy's Cal-bred status as much as possible, adding, "Every time you run down south you have to have your running shoes."