Too few horses to run stakes
ALBANY, Calif. - The $50,000-added Golden Bear Stakes, scheduled as the Saturday feature at Golden Gate Fields, was canceled when only three 2-year-old colts were entered.
Racing secretary Sean Greely is not optimistic about rescheduling the race.
All three scheduled stakes at the meet have failed to fill. The Star Ball, scheduled for opening day, was brought back and run last Sunday.
"This is a product of 20 years of racing getting worse and worse," Greely said. "Field size has decreased as has handle. We need purse money to go out and recruit the horses of the caliber we need to fill this kind of race."
Trainer Brian Koriner, who wanted to run multiple stakes winner Wind Water in the Golden Bear, said: "It kind of leaves you up in the air. It's kind of disappointing if you want to stay here."
Two horses who might have run in the Golden Bear were instead entered in an allowance race Thursday: Danny Dingle and Longer Walk. Danny Dingle was second to Wind Water in the San Mateo Stakes. Longer Walk defeated Wind Water in the Harvest Futurity at the Big Fresno Fair.
Neither Danny Dingle nor Longer Walk was among the seven nominated for the Golden Bear, and only seven were nominated for Sunday's Piedmont for 2-year-old fillies, a race that also appears in jeopardy.
A total of 84 horses were entered on a nine-race card now headed by a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on the turf with a field of 10.
The consistent Mazurka Dancer could be the key to the race with five straight efforts that have netted Beyer Speed Figures in the 80's. A half-brother of Kentucky Derby runner-up Cavonnier, Mazurka Dancer was taken off the pace in a $32,000 starter allowance last time and rallied strongly to win.
Trainers fined
Trainers Steve Miyadi and Angelo Tekos Jr. were both fined by stewards for minor medication violations.
Miyadi was fined $300 when Warewolveoflondon, who won the third race at the Fresno Fair Oct. 16, showed an excess in the permitted level for Butazolidin and $500 when Brite Lassie showed an excess in the permitted level for Butazolidin after winning the ninth race at Bay Meadows on Oct. 16.
Tekos was fined $300 when Alpine Creek, winner in the fifth race at Bay Meadows on Sept. 18, tested positive for the prohibited substance dexamethasone.