Notable Guest eyes first U.S. win
ALBANY, Calif. - Notable Guest has not run a bad race since his U.S. debut in January, but he has yet to win in four starts in this country.
He hasn't won since beating future Group 1 winner David Junior in the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster on Aug. 6, 2005, but he has a good chance to win Monday's Grade 3, $200,000 Golden Gate Fields Breeders' Cup at 1 3/8 miles over the turf.
A Bobby Frankel-trained 6-year-old horse, Notable Guest was second in in his U.S. debut, the San Marcos in January at Santa Anita, followed by a fifth there in the San Luis Obispo, a second there in the San Luis Rey, and a third in the Jim Murray at Hollywood Park. All four races were Grade 2 events on turf. The San Marcos was at 1 1/4 miles and the other three at 1 1/2.
Jockey Jorge Chavez will make his Golden Gate Fields debut aboard Notable Guest.
The pace in the Golden Gate BC should be supplied by Railroad, a winner in his lone start here and a turf stakes winner at 5 1/2 furlongs and one mile. He has master speed rider Roberto Gonzalez aboard.
Another with speed is Bravo Maestro, who opened up by an incredible 18 lengths after six furlongs before fading to last in the San Luis Obispo. Now Victory, making his first start in seven months, led by 12 lengths after six furlongs in last year's Walnut Creek Stakes here at this distance.
Notable Guest will have three Neil Drysdale-trained runners, Fantastic Spain, Macduff and Corey County, vying for a good stalking position with him. Boule d'Or will likely sit back early.
Fantastic Spain was fourth in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at 1 1/4 miles last September on the turf at Oak Tree. In his two starts this year he was seventh and fifth in a pair of allowance races. Macduff won a one-mile optional claimer at Santa Anita in February after a layoff of longer than 10 months. He comes off a second in a Hollywood allowance. Corey County comes off a win and a second in a pair of Southern California allowance races, one at 1 1/4 miles and the other at 1 1/8 miles.