Wright hoping both his runners get into San Francisco Mile

Ideally, both Clovisconnection and Prince Abu Dhabi would represent trainer Blaine Wright’s stable in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields, the final stakes before the track’s scheduled closure on June 9.

Wright, it appears, is not alone among people seeking to support the $175,000 turf race. The San Francisco Mile will be limited to 12 starters, and is likely to draw an oversubscribed field when entries are compiled on Wednesday.

“I hope I get to run both,” Wright said on Sunday. “I think Clovis [Clovisconnection] will get in. We want to run both out of our own stalls for our signature race.”

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The number of Southern California-based candidates is a developing cast. As of Monday, the list of probable starters included Air Force Red, Astronomer, Balnikhov, Cathkin Peak, and Goliad. Plans have not been finalized for Coalinga Road or I’m A Gambler.

Aside from Wright’s runners, local horses such as Freeport Joe, I’mgonnabesomebody, Il Bellator, Lammas, and Rimprotector are under consideration.

Balnikhov won the 2023 San Francisco Mile, with Il Bellator third. Balnikhov, trained by Phil D’Amato, is winless in seven subsequent starts, including a fifth in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in February in his only start this year.

Il Bellator, trained by Jose Bautista, has not raced since finishing fifth of seven in the Grade 3 Golden Gate Handicap on the synthetic main track last November.

Astronomer, trained by Simon Callaghan, was second in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita last September and 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile there on Nov. 4. In his most recent start, Astronomer finished fifth in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 25.

In the San Francisco Mile, Astronomer will be ridden by Evin Roman, a former leading rider at Golden Gate Fields who has ridden in Indiana and Kentucky in recent months.

Roman was aboard Astronomer when the gelding won a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields as a 2-year-old in October 2021.

Astronomer has been effective when allowed to lead and as a stalker. In the San Francisco Mile, Astronomer is likely to race from slight off the pace since Air Force Red and Goliad have consistently shown speed.

Clovisconnection, a 4-year-old gelding who races for owners and breeders William and Judy Hedrick, is a five-time stakes winner and has been pointed to the San Francisco Mile for months.

In his lone start this year, Clovisconnection set the pace in the Sensational Star Stakes for California-bred sprinters on turf at Santa Anita March 24 before fading to finish third behind Johnny Podres. On Sunday, Johnny Podres returned to win the Siren Lure Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita.

“I knew he’d be fresh and up on the engine,” Wright said of Clovisconnection. “He had a nice strong gallop-out.”

Prince Abu Dhabi has won 6 of 8 starts, including two stakes, for owners Steve and Lance Kinross. Prince Abu Dhabi, who won his 2024 debut in a six-furlong allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on March 24, was third in the Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf last May, his only start on the surface.

“I wasn’t disappointed with the way our horse ran,” Wright said of the Alcatraz. “He’s got to have the right setup.”

There is a back-up race for Prince Abu Dhabi in Saturday’s $100,000 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita.

“We may be coming that way,” Wright said. “We’re prepared to run up here the best we can. I’ve got my van lined up.”

Wright is hoping to cancel the reservation.

Big pool possible Saturday

There will be a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Golden pick six at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday for the San Francisco Mile program.

After Sunday, the bet had a carryover of $82,785. If there is not a single winning ticket on Friday, the next day of racing at Golden Gate Fields, the carryover for Saturday’s program is likely to be close to $90,000.

The pool of new money could reach $600,000 on Saturday.

This is the first mandatory payout since Feb. 18, when the bet paid $5,463 on a day that began with a carryover of $81,216. Bettors added $514,502 that afternoon.

After Saturday, the track is not expected to have another mandatory payout for the Golden pick six until closing day on June 9.

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