Three stand out in Albany Stakes
The $50,000-added Albany Stakes on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields drew a field of nine, but three stand out because of their accomplishments at the race’s five-furlong distance on turf.
Chips All In, who will be ridden by leading jockey Russell Baze, won here at the distance on turf April 16. He has sprinted four times at five furlongs on turf, with two wins, one second and one third.
Holdthismiss has won both of his starts at this distance on turf, with both coming at Golden Gate Fields.
Moonshine Bay, supplemented to the race by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, won the 2014 Albany and has two thirds at the distance on turf, including in the 2014 Jess Jackson at Santa Rosa.
None of the three is a speedball.
Moonshine Bay set the pace in his last race, a second-place finish in a six-furlong sprint for $40,000 claimers on the Tapeta here, but rallied from fifth in his Albany victory, which was his only start over this turf course.
Holdthismiss also rallied from off the pace in his two turf-sprint wins here.
Chips All In, who has won a pair of graded turf sprints at Santa Anita, was second until taking over in the stretch in his April 16 win here.
The Albany is the seventh race on the card. The race attracted 11 3-year-olds and up, relegating two to the also-eligible list.
Albany Stakes
Key Contenders
Chips All In, by North Light
Last 3 Beyers: 72-91-59
◗ He has multiple graded stakes victories down the hill at Santa Anita.
◗ Closed for fourth, beaten a half-length, going five furlongs for a $50,000 tag on the main track here last time.
Holdthismiss, by Hold Me Back
Last 3 Beyers :73-74-80
◗ He has the outside post, which could lead to a wide trip, but he should be able to avoid trouble.
◗ Rallied to miss by a head at this distance on the main track for a $50,000 tag in his last start, also from the outside post.
◗ He has a three-furlong bullet work since his last race.
Moonshine Bay, by Mela
Last 3 Beyers: 81-75-81
◗ Eight-year-old is not as good as he was when he won this race in 2014.