Runfasterelse among possibles for Golden Poppy

Twenty-six fillies and mares were nominated to Saturday’s $50,000-added Golden Poppy at 1 1/16 miles on the Golden Gate Fields turf. Fourteen 3-year-old males were nominated for Sunday’s $75,000 Alcatraz, which was recently added to the stakes schedule.

Golden Gate also is offering an optional $80,000 claimer at one mile on turf for fillies and mares Thursday, and six nominees to the Golden Poppy were entered in that race: Happybirthdaybaby, Vincenza, Sing and Tell, Rathmoon, Butterfly Soul, and Rathbaun.

The optional claimer came up so tough that trainer Aggie Ordonez said she’s glad she held Runfasterelse out of that race for a possible start in the Golden Poppy.

“I’m glad I didn’t enter that optional claimer,” Ordonez said. “I don’t know how much tougher the stakes can be than that race.”

Runfasterelse comes off a victory in an optional claimer on the Tapeta main track here March 16. But she is just as effective on turf, having won an optional claimer on grass here last November.

Runfasterelse can be a handful in the paddock. But with seven wins and 14 top-three finishes in her 19 starts, she has been worth the trouble.

Listed as definite for the Golden Poppy are defending champion Luscious Lonna, Floral Romance, Koby Jo, Moulin de Mougin, and Spring Bloom.

Definites for the Alcatraz are Blackford, G.G. Ryder, and Pazmeifucan.