Juveniles will get early test for Derby potential in Gold Rush Stakes

Derby dreams could come into clearer focus for seven 2-year-olds in Saturday’s $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes at one mile at Golden Gate Fields.

Some runners will begin to set their sights on bigger stakes, while some will find their dreams shattered when reality sets in.

As is often the case for these early Derby preps, the field is an interesting mixture of largely untested runners.

It includes an undefeated Southern California sprinter, Great Lou, who has won both of his starts, including a $54.80 surprise in his debut in a maiden claimer; and a runner, Broughton Kitten, shipping in from Kentucky to make his first start on the main track.

Unblunted, coming off an impressive Santa Anita maiden victory at seven furlongs, ventures north for his stakes debut, and his regular rider, Joe Talamo, comes with him.

Three runners – Rye Patch, Stand and Salute, and Sandor the Hound – are coming off maiden wins at the same one-mile distance here. Lucky Forty Niner, who won his maiden here in late August, is the shoot-for-the-moon special.

KEY CONTENDERS

Stand and Salute (Last 3 Beyers: 66-54-55)

◗ Company lines and a career-best effort in his first start here and at this distance make him interesting. Despite the Jerry Hollendorfer-Russell Baze combination, he may even offer a bit of value.

◗ He was favored in his debut in the Cavonnier Juvenile at Santa Rosa losing to Truely Quick, who was undefeated at the time but has done little since. He gave a similar effort in his second start despite finishing fifth when he faced Ocho Ocho Ocho in that one’s debut. Ocho Ocho Ocho has won two stakes since, including the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot.

◗ This strong finisher has worked nicely in the six weeks since his win, but he’ll have to improve.

Broughton Kitten (Beyers: 77-63)

◗ Campaigned by the nation’s leading owners, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, he is coming here from Kentucky and making his main-track debut.

◗ He rallied wide and finished strong in his debut against winners and should be a factor in the lane under Juan Hernandez, who guided Pepper Crown to his off-the-pace victory in last weekend’s Grade 3 Berkeley.

◗ The Ramseys are trying to figure out where he fits, and he looks like he’ll fit perfectly here.

Unblunted (Beyers: 77-53)

◗ He’ll make his synthetic surface debut after running second at Los Alamitos and then scoring a big win at seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

◗ Distance should present no problem for him.

◗ The Mike McCarthy barn does well with 2-year-olds and also following similar fresheners.

◗ His works have been steady in the seven weeks since his solid maiden victory.

◗ Consider it a plus that Talamo comes north to ride the horse again.