Tomlin turns back La Aguililla to win Golden Gate Debutante
Everything clicked perfectly for favored Tomlin, as she won the $57,625 Golden Gate Debutante for 2-year-old fillies by 2 ½ lengths on Friday at Golden Gate Fields.
Tomlin broke sharply from the outside post 10 for jockey Frank Alvarado, but was relaxed as Boomchicaboom rushed to the lead through a 22.10 opening quarter in the six-furlong Tapeta race. Tomlin sat patiently and seemed to have that rival measured as she crept within a head at the quarter pole.
“She shot out of there in her usual way,” said trainer Steve Specht. “The outside post made it a lot easier for Frank to either whoa or go. She's fast but doesn't need the lead.”
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Specht admitted he “got a little nervous” as La Aguililla rallied wide and may have put her nose in front turning into the stretch, but Tomlin pulled away at the eighth pole.
Tomlin ran the six furlongs in 1:09.88.
The Debutante victory, worth $30,500, increased her career earnings to $71,820 with three wins and a third in five starts.
“She's a pretty nice little filly,” said Specht.
Tomlin, a $200,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Fairview LLC, ran fifth in her debut, but then added blinkers and won two straight, both sprints. She was third in the one-mile Pike Place Dancer over a soft turf course in her last start.
“She wasn't liking that surface last time and never showed her usual speed, but she managed to come on for third so I don't think distance will be a problem,” Specht said.
