I'mgonnabesomebody looks to repeat in Sam Spear Memorial
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Of the runners not trained by Phil D’Amato in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes on July 30 at Del Mar, I’mgonnabesomebody finished second. The problem is D’Amato-trained runners swept the first four positions.
“He didn’t have to be that greedy,” trainer Bill McLean cracked Friday.
I’mgonnabesomebody was beaten 4 3/4 lengths by multiple graded stakes winner Gold Phoenix in the Eddie Read. For I’mgonnabesomebody, the Read was his only start of the Del Mar summer meeting.
Last Tuesday, I’mgonnabesomebody was transferred to McLean’s base at Golden Gate Fields in advance of Monday’s $50,000 Sam Spear Memorial Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
A winner of 7 of 19 starts for a partnership, I’mgonnabesomebody won his first stakes in the 2022 Sam Spear and has since won two additional stakes in Northern California. Last year, I’mgonnabesomebody led throughout the Spear, winning by three-quarters of a length over Jimmy Blue Jeans, who is part of Monday’s field of seven.
Setting the pace in Monday’s race may be difficult for I’mgonnabesomebody, who will be ridden by Alexander Chavez. Runners such as Jimmy Blue Jeans, a gray gelding trained by Andy Mathis, and Lammas, who is winless in four starts on turf, often race near the front.
McLean insists that I’mgonnabesomebody can be effective as a stalker. I’mgonnabesomebody won the All-American Stakes at a mile on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields on May 29 by stalking the early pace.
“He doesn’t have to be on the lead, and Andy’s gray horse is fast,” McLean said. “We’ll have to play the break and try to get lucky on the first turn.
“He’ll lay close. I don’t know if he’ll be on the lead.”
Jimmy Blue Jeans led throughout an allowance race at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields in April in his most recent win. He set the pace in the California Dreamin’ Stakes for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 5 at Del Mar before fading to finish fifth.
Assael Espinoza, who recently relocated to Golden Gate Fields from Del Mar, has the mount Monday. Espinoza was previously among the leading riders at Golden Gate Fields before moving to Southern California for part of the summer.
Any sort of quick pace could help Druidic, who was second in the Robert Dupret Derby for 3-year-olds on turf on Aug. 12 at Santa Rosa, or Royal ’n Rando, who drew the outside post.
Trained by Steve Specht, Royal ’n Rando was a six-time winner in 2022, but is winless in three starts in stakes throughout California this year.
Royal ’n Rando was fourth in the California Dreamin’ Stakes after a wide trip.
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