Isa Firecracker, Zensational Dancer look for first stakes win in Golden Gate Debutante

Trainers Jamey Thomas and Efrain Miranda don’t find themselves in the spotlight much, but they will be on Friday when each sends out a 2-year-old filly in the $50,000-added Golden Gate Debutante at Golden Gate Fields.

Isa Firecracker, trained by Thomas, won her debut at Golden Gate in August, and Zensational Dancer, trained by Miranda, won her debut at Golden Gate in September. They are among a field of eight in the six-furlong Tapeta race, which includes three trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. The Golden Gate Debutante is race 7 on a nine-race card and has a post time of 6:45 p.m. Pacific.

Isa Firecracker went downstate after her Aug. 19 victory and finished second in a California-bred allowance race and third in a California-bred stakes.

“Her first race, she did everything very professionally,” Thomas said. “We went down south because there was nothing here. She’s not big but has a huge heart. She’s a trier.

“In that stakes, she got in trouble down the lane and looked like she was backing out of it, but she came back on. That’s her heart – how well she wants to compete.”

Zensational Dancer will make her second start on Friday following a series of steady works since her debut victory.

“She showed speed in her debut but got passed in the lane,” said Miranda. “She dug in and was pulling away. That was pretty impressive how she fought back.”

Hollendorfer saddles the stakes-placed Doowop Shedoo, Nightengale Miss, and the speedy Americana, who is still a maiden but has hooked some decent runners down south.

Sweet Rafaela won a maiden race at Pleasanton, then finished third going a mile in the Pike Place Dancer at Golden Gate. Tiz Delightful was second to Isa Firecracker in her debut and graduated in her next start.

Grand Prix lost her first three races, all down south, then won a maiden race at Golden Gate by five lengths.

Golden Gate Debutante

Key Contenders

Isa Firecracker, by Heatseeker

Beyers: 59-65-56

◗ She may appreciate the shorter distance of this race after going seven furlongs in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. Her best Beyer Speed Figure came at this six-furlong distance.

Zensational Dancer, by Zensational

Beyer: 59

◗ The least-experienced runner in the field, she earned a higher debut Beyer than any of her opponents did.

◗ She has worked steadily over the last month.

Grand Prix, by Tale of the Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 69-61-52

◗ She earned the field’s highest Beyer in her maiden win.

◗ In August, she finished fifth in a maiden race at Del Mar behind American Gal, who went on to win a stakes and finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.