Repeat looks difficult for Yoorock Gal

More than half the field has better Beyer Speed Figures than Yoorock Gal going into Sunday's Golden Gate Fields feature, an optional $50,000 claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs. But the 4-year-old Yoorock Gal can claim something none of her rivals can - a pair of victories at this same level, including a nose victory in her last start.

She paid $27 for the win and could approach those odds again Sunday, as she'll have her work cut out for her as she bids to repeat.

Among her rivals Sunday are Reba Is Tops, odds-on when she was caught in the final stride by Yoorock Gal last time, and Beaming Babe, who guns for a hat trick after winning a starter allowance and a first-level allowance in wire-to-wire style.

Yoorock Gal's trainer, Robert Gilker, says Beaming Babe will be tough to beat, but he noted that his filly showed a new dimension in her last race. Yoorock Gal came from off the pace in that Dec. 30 race, her first victory not to come in wire-to-wire style.

"It was nice to see her come off the pace to win," Gilker said.

Yoorock Gal trailed down the backstretch after breaking slowly. She seemed a bit rank back there, but Gilker said that was because she has a "super sensitive mouth."

Frank Alvarado took her through a small opening along the rail, and they went on to win.

"Alvarado gave her a terrific ride," Gilker said. "He put her through this tiny little hole along the rail when a lot of guys wouldn't try.

"I wasn't surprised she did it. She's been pretty consistent for us. The only time she didn't fire was her first race here on the turf. But we discovered a lot of mucus and she popped a temperature the day after the race."

Butters, who closed for third behind Yoorock Gal and Reba Is Tops, also returns. Wood Art and Soft Lite face each other again. Soft Lite snapped Wood Art's two-race win streak two races back. Wavy Lass, making her first start since running third in the Sun Devil Stakes at Turf Paradise exactly one year ago, rounds out the field.