Indian Peak can lock up first stakes win in Alcatraz

More than likely, Indian Peak will start in Saturday’s $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields, which gives him an excellent chance for a first stakes win.

“I think we’re the horse to beat,” trainer Quinn Howey said Thursday.

Howey said there is a remote possibility Indian Peak could be withdrawn in favor of the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf on June 20 at Santa Anita.

The Alcatraz might be a better spot for Indian Peak, who has won 3 of 9 starts, all for owners and breeders William and Jill Gray. Indian Peak was third in the El Camino Real Derby on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields in February and won an allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option on that surface at 1 1/16 miles on March 28.

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Indian Peak was second by three-quarters of a length in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at a mile on turf on May 23 at Santa Anita.

“He’s been a late-maturing colt,” Howey said. “He’s a big, awkward colt. It’s taken him a while to figure it out.”

Indian Peak tends to race from off the pace, and that could be an advantageous strategy on Saturday. Alcatraz runners Bettor Trip Nick and Darnquick have shown ample speed.

Bettor Trip Nick, who will have his turf debut in the Alcatraz in his eighth start, won two stakes on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields last fall – the Golden Nugget at six furlongs and the Gold Rush stakes at a mile. Bettor Trip Nick set a quick pace and finished fourth in the Echo Eddie Stakes for California-breds at six furlongs on the main track on May 16 at Santa Anita.

While Indian Peak and Bettor Trip Nick have started at Santa Anita, they are based at Golden Gate. There are three Southern California-based runners in the field – Governance, Kanderel, and Zimba Warrior.

Governance, part of trainer Jonathan Wong’s stable at San Luis Rey Downs, won an allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option at a mile on turf on May 30 at Golden Gate Fields. Governance, who was eligible to be claimed for $50,000, set a slow pace and held on by a neck.

In the Alcatraz, Governance starts from the outside in a field of eight, which should give jockey William Antongeorgi options as to where his place him in the first half-mile. Wong has divisions of his stables throughout California, with the largest group at Golden Gate Fields.

Kanderel, trained by Richard Mandella, was fourth and sixth in optional claimers on turf at Santa Anita in March and May in his first two starts of 2020. Similar to Indian Peak, Kanderel is a threat from off the pace.

The Alcatraz Stakes will be the turf debut and fifth stakes appearance for Zimba Warrior, who was second in an allowance race with an $80,000 claimer option at six furlongs on May 25 at Santa Anita. He is trained by Keith Desormeaux.