Trend to stalk in Rolling Green Stakes

Golden Gate Fields holds its lone stakes race of the brief summer meet Monday, the $50,000 Rolling Green at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

The field of nine is a surprisingly good one, with three Southern California invaders and five runners from the Joseph T. Grace Handicap, including the winner, Trend, who made his Northern California debut that day for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

The pace should be legitimate and contested, with no true front-running types but six runners who all like to sit close and have shown similar turf fractions. This should be an interesting betting heat and a top-notch tactical contest for the jockeys.

Rolling Green Stakes, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Trend (Last 3 Beyers: 94-76-77)

◗ The well-traveled 7-year-old gelding arrived in Mandella’s barn this year and had a pair of preps at Santa Anita before coming to Santa Rosa for the Joseph T. Grace. Though he was last until the quarter pole on a course that plays to speed, Trend was never far from the lead. He made a strong move in the lane when Dennis Carr, who rides him again Monday, swung him out for room. He ran down the favored Black Spirit and was inching away late.

He should get a similar trip Monday with a similar pace scenario. With 13 runner-up finishes to go with his four career victories, he’ll need some racing luck and a good trip like he got at Santa Rosa.

Black Spirit (Last 3 Beyers: 93-44-89)

◗ Another 7-year-old gelding, he came to the United States this year. He ran all right without distinguishing himself down south and did the same in his Golden Gate debut on the main track March 22. Veteran trainer Bill Morey Jr. decided to give him a wake-up call and dropped him into a $20,000 claimer, which he won.

He scored two more victories here, including a win over Pepper Crown, the winner of the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile. He went south but did nothing in the 1 3/4-mile, Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano, but it was the distance that got to him. He bounced right back in the Joseph T. Grace, missing by only a half-length. With his rail draw, jockey Russell Baze could well dictate the pace here.

Pepper Crown (Last 3 Beyers: 84-87-86)

◗ Like Salah Champ (8-4-3-0) and Beast of Bourbon (7-4-1-1), he loves this course, with three exacta finishes in three starts and five exacta finishes in six starts on turf in his career. Didn’t show his usual finish when fourth in the Joseph T. Grace.