Unbroken Code, Only You Babe rematched in Juan Gonzalez Memorial
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLEThe $50,000-added Juan Gonzalez Memorial on Saturday at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meeting has a strong local slant. Five of the six entrants in the 5 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies are based in Northern California, with Lemonaideen the lone Southern California runner.
With Recoiling, perhaps the best filly seen in Northern California this year, sitting out the race, the Juan Gonzalez could come down to a rematch between Unbroken Code and Only You Babe.
Unbroken Code and Only You Babe dueled for the entire 4 1/2 furlongs of a maiden special weight race at Golden Gate Fields on May 21. Unbroken Code put her head in front in the lane and won by a neck, earning a field-high Beyer Speed Figure of 63. The race was the first for Unbroken Code and the second for Only You Babe, who had finished second to Recoiling in her debut.
Trainer Ed Moger Jr. said he was expecting a strong race from Unbroken Code.
“Going in, I thought she’d run really good,” said Moger, who trains Unbroken Code for longtime clients Curt and Lila Lanning. “She’d done everything right from Day 1. I think she’s a nice filly, and I think she can run better.”
Unbroken Code has had four works since her debut win.
Only You Babe, trained by Steve Specht, returned June 11 at Golden Gate and overcame trouble to win a five-furlong maiden race by 1 3/4 lengths.
Pleasanton also has carded a pair of Arabian stakes on Saturday – the H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup.
JUAN GONZALEZ MEMORIAL (Race 9)
KEY CONTENDERS
Unbroken Code, by Wilburn
Beyer: 63
◗ Juan Hernandez, aboard for her maiden win, rides Unforgivable U for trainer Jeff Bonde in the Juan Gonzalez. Alejandro Gomez picks up the mount.
◗ Barn has weak numbers with its starters off a 31- to 60-day layoff and in stakes.
Only You Babe, by Thorn Song
Last 3 Beyers: 52-62-60
◗ Lost to perhaps Northern California’s best 2-year-old fillies.
◗ Won her last start with the lowest Beyer of her career.
Lemonaideen, by Square Eddie
Beyer: 55
◗ Beat California-bred fillies by 1 1/2 lengths in her only start May 5 at Santa Anita.
◗ Barn has weak numbers with its starters off a 31- to 60-day layoff.
◗ Full sister to a runner who was 3 for 3 and earned $138,000.