Return to sprinting in Golden Gate Debutante suits Brahms Command

Friday’s $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante at Golden Gate Fields is a bettor’s delight. A case can be made for most of the 10 2-year-old fillies in the six-furlong race.

The field includes Brahms Command and Tomlin, sprint winners who ran second and third in the Pike Place Dancer at one mile on the turf last time, as well as La Aguililla, who won her only start by two lengths.

Brahms Command rallied from well off the pace to win a maiden sprint at Golden Gate, then set the pace in the Oct. 27 Pike Place Dancer, which was won by the Southern California invader Lakerball.

“I would rather have gone in a first-level allowance, but the owner wanted to try her going long on the turf,” said Greg James, who trains Brahms Command.

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Though pleased by Brahms Command’s effort in the Pike Place Dancer, James said, “I like her as a sprinter.”

Tomlin rallied for third in the Pike Place Dancer after leading most of the way in two straight sprint wins.

“It proved she’ll go long,” trainer Steve Specht said.

Poor air quality from the fires in Northern California prompted track officials to cancel workouts last Saturday. Specht had planned to work Tomlin five furlongs that day, but instead he worked her four furlongs in 49.80 on Sunday.

La Aguililla rallied from a couple lengths off the pace going six furlongs Nov. 3 at Golden Gate. Trainer Rhoda March said La Aguililla “showed some greenness” in the race.

“Now comes the tough part,” March said.

March’s barn foreman Jesus Ramos owns La Aguililla with Candelario Barragan.

Stealthediamonds, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, won a pair of main-track sprints at Golden Gate before finishing sixth in the Pike Place Dancer.

Swing Thoughts ran third behind Stealthediamonds in an optional claimer in September and has won both her starts since – a starter-allowance sprint and an optional-claiming sprint.

KEY CONTENDERS

Brahms Command, by Forest Command

Beyers: 69-52-0

◗ She was beaten five lengths in the Pike Place Dancer by Lakerball, who was winning her second straight stakes.

Tomlin, by Distorted Humor

Last 3 Beyers: 61-63-70

◗ Drew the outside post and will be ridden by Frank Alvarado, who has been aboard in all four of her starts.

La Aguililla, by Point Encounter

Beyer: 62

◗ She worked a half-mile in 48.80 last Friday.