Wild Jewels stretches out in Gold Rush Stakes

Wild Jewels has finished first or second in four of his five starts in California this year, with the exception a fifth-place finish in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar in August.

That loss offers a clue as to how Wild Jewels may fare in his one-mile debut in Saturday’s $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes for 2-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields.

“In the stakes at Del Mar, he got packed way out in the middle of the track and closed some ground in the lane,” trainer Steve Specht recalled Thursday.

Wild Jewels has won two starts at six furlongs since the loss in the Graduation – an allowance race on Sept. 11 and the Golden Nugget Stakes on Nov. 11. In the Golden Nugget Stakes, Wild Jewels was a close third early before winning by three-quarters of a length as the 7-10 favorite.

Owned by breeders Larry and Marianne Williams, Wild Jewels figures to be a strong favorite in a field of six in the Gold Rush Stakes, the fifth race on a nine-race program.

“He’ll be tough in there,” Specht said. “I don’t think a mile will be an issue.”

Wild Jewels is the only stakes winner in the Gold Rush field. The longshot Drum Bunny was last of seven in the Golden Nugget, while Sushi Sticks was a troubled ninth in the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita last month. Sushi Sticks is the only filly in the Gold Rush field.

Aside from Wild Jewels, who has won three races, the only multiple winners are It Aint Over and Classy City.

:: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets.

It Aint Over, who runs from off the pace, won a $25,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs in his third start Sept. 24 and a starter allowance at six furlongs on Nov. 10.

Classy City is experienced at a mile, with wins at the distance in a $16,000 claimer for maidens on Oct. 30 and a starter allowance on Nov. 24 despite traffic issues on the turn.

Classy City, supplemented to the Gold Rush Stakes for $1,250, will have a fast turnaround after emerging from last week’s race in good condition.

“It was a last-minute decision to run,” trainer O.J. Jauregui said. “The other day he got into a little bit of trouble and won comfortably. He acted like he never ran.

“All the little signs were there to run back in a week, which was not the plan. I thought it may be worth a chance for $75,000.”

Jauregui knows the key to a win is to be in front of Wild Jewels late.

“He’s the horse to beat,” Jauregui said. “He’s run in better races than I have.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.