Luckarack heads probables for Angel Island

Saturday’s $50,000 Angel Island could make up for the disappointment of the cancellation of Monday’s $50,000 Rosie the Riveter at Golden Gate Fields.

The Angel Island is a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds. The unbeaten Luckarack is the probable favorite after capturing the Everett Nevin at Pleasanton and Cavonnier at Santa Rosa. Also expected to run are King Cola and Kingsford Drive, who were second and third in the Cavonnier; Bluegrass Reward, who won a one-mile maiden race at Santa Rosa; and El Gaucho.

The Angel Island is the first chance for Northern California 2-year-olds to stretch out to a route distance in a stakes.

Unfortunately, a similar plan didn’t work for fillies, with only two signing up for the 1 1/16-mile Rosie the Riveter. Northern California stakes star Perfect Curls ran instead in the Generous Portion Sept. 1 at Del Mar, where she finished fifth as the favorite. Trainer Cliff Delima said he went there for a bigger purse, $100,000, and because he sensed the stakes here wouldn’t go.

Steve Specht had a similar choice with Luckarack. He passed on Monday’s six-furlong, $100,000 I’m Smokin at Del Mar, and his confidence the Angel Island would go was rewarded.

Luckarack will race around two turns for the first time. How will he run? Specht said he isn’t sure but is glad to get the opportunity to send him long.

“By this time getting into the fall, you want to run two turns,” he said.

Trainer Steve Miyadi says the fact Bluegrass Reward has a route race under his belt might be an advantage.

Restless Youth tops high-quality sprint

It’s not listed as a stakes race, but Friday’s feature is certainly stakes quality.

The six-furlong sprint features Restless Youth, who won the Sam J. Whiting at Pleasanton in his last sprint and then ran third after setting the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Joseph Grace on the turf at Santa Rosa.

Restless Youth will face Live Sundays, who was second in both the Grace and Alamedan Handicap at Pleasanton, and was a sprint winner here during the spring meet.

Autism Awareness is a multiple graded stakes winner. Carbonite, who won the first two starts of his career here and will be making his first start of the year, is another stakes winner.

Speedy Frumious led in the stretch in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity two years ago. He’s unbeaten in three Golden Gate Fields starts. Silent Salute, who won his debut here, is the final horse in the field.

One-win day a rarity for Martinez

Jockey Michael Martinez had an off day Sunday – for him – winning only one race as veterans Russell Baze and Chad Schvaneveldt combined for five wins. Schvaneveldt captured the early double and Baze added three wins later in the day.

Martinez has scored with multiple winners for six straight days before Sunday’s solo win.

Steve Sherman picked up one victory on Saturday and another on Sunday for an 11-9 lead in the trainer standings over Billy Morey, who had two wins Saturday.

On Sunday, brothers David and Jamey Thomas each saddled a winner.

◗ After running Wednesday, Golden Gate will be dark Thursday before resuming Friday for the weekend. Post is 12:45 p.m. Pacific each day.