Turf sprint just what she wants
SAN MATEO, Calif. - There were lots of reasons why trainer Art Sherman and client Robert Bone liked Ugotadowhatugotado when they claimed her for $25,000 on Sept. 10.
One was that they knew there would be a race for her like Thursday's Bay Meadows feature, a $32,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares at five furlongs on the turf.
"I thought she came out of a very productive race," Sherman said. "She'll be sitting just off the pace here."
With her speed and closing kick, Ugotadowhatugotado seems to be the one her eight rivals will have to beat. She should get a good stalking trip as Fannie Jo and Sweet Kendall Jo figure to create legitimate splits up front.
has run first and second in her two starts in turf sprints at Hollywood Park. She's 1 for 4 this year since returning from a year's layoff. Her lone win was a sensational turf victory as she just held off a filly who came back to win her next start.
Bone, who also has horses with trainers Jeff Mullins and John Martin, teamed up with Sherman last fall. The two have had their best success with Desert Boom, who ran third in the $750,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup last Saturday.
"I think he ran his race," Sherman said. "It's just too bad the race wasn't a mile and an eighth," instead of 1 1/4 miles.
Ugotadowhatugotado will not have an easy task on Thursday. Turf specialist can always be counted on to turn in a big effort. She has six victories and has hit the board 18 times in 41 turf starts. She won at this distance at Golden Gate Fields in her last start on June 2 and is stepping up a notch for her comeback.
won a Santa Rosa turf sprint for this tag two back but faded badly in the lane on the main track last time out. A red line can be drawn through that effort.
, who is meeting older here, is another runner of interest. She flashed speed before fading in a one-mile race in her turf debut. Her early speed makes her a legitimate contender as she returns to the claiming ranks in her lowest spot ever.
* HorseRacing TV will be at Bay Meadows on Saturday to cover undefeated Lost in the Fog's start in the $100,000 Bay Meadows Speed Handicap.