Steve Andersen's Fresno analysis for Monday, Oct. 9, 2023
A glance at the leading contenders for Monday’s seven-race program at the Big Fresno Fair. First post time is 1:45 p.m. Pacific.
FIRST RACE
1-ONE CORONA FIRE, 2-SALOMON, 3-MY CALIENTE CORONA
In a weak field of five, ONE CORONA FIRE can win for the second time in four starts if he can repeat his first career win in an allowance race at 300 yards at Sacramento in July. SALOMON was sixth of seven in his debut at Los Al on July 22, losing all chance when he swerved to the inside at the start of a 300-yard maiden race. Trained by Adan Farias, Salomon deserves another chance in his first start as a gelding. MY CALIENTE CORONA finished first in a maiden race in Oregon but was later disqualified from the purse money because of a medication violation. A runner with 15 races of experience, My Caliente Corona can easily finish in the first three from an inside post.
SECOND RACE
1-ZEE CARROT EAGLE, 2-WEE BEASTIE, 3-GALLO DEL CIELO
ZEE CARROT EAGLE finished fifth of nine in a $25,000 claimer for maidens at Golden Gate Fields on Sept. 17 in his first start in more than 10 months, and has every right to improve in this $12,500 claimer for maidens at 5 ½ furlongs. Evin Roman was aboard Zee Carrot Eagle last month, and retains the mount, an encouraging sign. WEE BEASTIE drew the rail and is quick enough to lead. Winless in eight starts, Wee Beastie was beaten a nose in an $8,000 claimer for maidens at Pleasanton on June 23 in his last start on dirt, and later was third and fifth in maiden claimers at five furlongs on turf in August and September. Wee Beastie may be tough to catch. GALLO DEL CIELO starts from the outside post in his sixth start, and first at this lower claiming price. He was eighth in the same race as Zee Carrot Eagle on Sept. 17 from an inside post and has a chance to improve from a wide draw.
THIRD RACE
1-BANDEENA, 2-SHE’S SO SHINY, 3-BEACHGRASS
BANDEENA had an outstanding 2022 season, winning 7 of 17 starts. This year has been a different story. The 5-year-old mare is winless in 10 starts, and was a well-beaten second in an $8,000 claimer at Los Al on Sept. 23, the day she was claimed by current trainer Isidro Tamayo. Now entered in a $12,500 claimer at a mile, Bandeena should have a pace to follow from SHE’S SO SHINY and can end a 12-race losing streak since last October, her most recent start at Fresno. She’s So Shiny may extend Bandeena’s losing streak if she gets comfortable on the front. There is no reason she cannot lead throughout as she did at Golden Gate Fields in May. She’s So Shiny has finished second or third in her last three starts. BEACHGRASS, who starts from the rail, was claimed by Tamayo for $8,000 from a win in a one-mile race at Golden Gate Fields on Sept. 10, her second victory in her last four starts. Beachgrass runs from off the pace and has every chance to be a factor in the final furlong.
FOURTH RACE
1-REFI NOW, 2-BIG CHEDDAR, 3-AUTISM BLUE
REFI NOW has not finished first in six starts since February, although he was promoted from second to first after a rival was disqualified for a medication violation at Santa Rosa in August. Refi Now is well-suited to this $8,000 claimer at five furlongs even though he has been racing at slightly longer distances in many of his recent starts. Refi Now is most effective as a stalker. BIG CHEDDAR has alternated between 1,000-yard races at the evening meeting at Los Al and sprints at afternoon meetings at Los Al this year, winning three of his last 12 starts. Big Cheddar won a $6,250 claimer at 5 ½ furlongs at Los Al on Sept. 17 and poses a serious threat in this field from the front. AUTISM BLUE is winless in 11 starts since January 2022 and has been second six times through the losing streak. Autism Blue starts for his lowest claiming price since last November in this race and should appreciate the class relief. He is quick enough to lead, but has raced well from slightly off the pace at times in the last year.
FIFTH RACE
1-FEISTY ELLA, 2-FLY SOUTH, 3-HARBOR DEAREST
The 3-year-old first-time starter FEISTY ELLA has a few things in her favor in this $16,000 claimer for maiden fillies and mares at five furlongs. She faces a very weak field and has a decent series of recent works for trainer Isidro Tamayo, who does fairly well with debut runners. Feisty Ella worked a half-mile from the gate three times in September and again last week and is drawn well in post 5 in this field of six. FLY SOUTH will have a key class drop from a maiden race to a maiden claimer for the first time after showing little when fourth and sixth at Golden Gate Fields in September. Ruby Thomas trains Fly South, who will be ridden by Evin Roman. HARBOR DEAREST was sixth of eight in a $25,000 claimer for maidens at a mile on turf in her debut on Sept. 16, a big ask for a debut run. She returns in this more sensible sprint after a solid half-mile workout in 48.40 at Golden Gate Fields last Monday.
SIXTH RACE
1-LORD OF LIGHT, 2-JERSEY BABE, 3-MUCHO MACHISMO
LORD OF LIGHT, winless in his last six starts, will race for his lowest level in this $6,250 claimer for non-winners of two at a mile. The class relief may help a 3-year-old gelding who has shown little in his last two starts. Lord of Light won a $20,000 claimer for maidens from off the pace at Golden Gate Fields in April and is part of a field of seven here that lacks a standout. JERSEY BABE, who has yet to race at a mile, will be part of the pace in his first start since a third in a six-furlong race at this level at Golden Gate Fields on Aug. 28. Jersey Babe was scratched from a race at Golden Gate Fields on Sept. 11 because of unsoundness, and worked a solid five furlongs there in 1:01.40 on Sept. 27. MUCHO MACHISMO will also race near the front, and has something to prove in this field. He has yet to pass a horse. If Jersey Babe repeats his recent starts, Mucho Machismo is unlikely to have his nose in front early and that will test a 5-year-old gelding who is winless in five starts since September 2022.
SEVENTH RACE
1-MY DOMINATOR, 2-LESSONS OF AUTISM, 3-R M C HOOK’EM
MY DOMINATOR has won two of his last three starts since mid-June and should get a favorable trip from a stalking position in this conditional $6,250 claimer at six furlongs. My Dominator will not be too far from the front and has repeatedly shown a strong stretch kick, even when third at Sacramento in late July. LESSONS OF AUTISM drew the outside post and will start in a $6,250 claimer for the first time in his 20th start. Lessons of Autism won a conditional $12,500 claimer at Sacramento in July and was seventh of eighth in a $16,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields on Sep. 25, which may have been a level too high for his ability. Similar to My Dominator, Lessons of Autism runs from slightly off the pace. R M C HOOK’EM was fourth of five in a starter allowance on Sept. 23 when he started from the rail. In this field, R M C Hook’em breaks from post 5 in a field of eight and that may be a better starting post for a come-from-behind contender who won on dirt at Sacramento in July.
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