3/7/22 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Preview

"Bad decisions make good stories." - Ellis Vidler

It's a non-Holiday Monday in the USA; but despite that there is a full day of horse racing scheduled in California, with both Santa Anita and Golden Gate running full cards.  Adding to the enjoyment, Golden Gate has decided to force out a payout of its Jackpot Pick Six.  So, while it's not the weekend, I felt it only proper that I take my shot at getting a share.  So with that let's get to it, as I take a run at The Golden Pick Six at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 4 - Clm $8k N2X - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 3 Dark Prince (Morning Line 1-1)

B’s

# 1 Bernalinho (ML 5-2)

C's

# 2 Gentleman's Secret (ML 15-1)

# 4 Canyon Crest (ML 20-1)
# 5 Kaline (ML 9-2)

# 6 Big City Bane (ML 6-1)

Dark Prince is being priced to sell here, and Dark Prince should do well with class drop.  Bernalinho is going first off the claim for Trainer Jonathan Wong, who tends to do well with such.  The rest of the field are the backup "C" Selections.

RACE 5 - (F) MSW - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 6 According to Judy (ML 5-2)

B's

# 1 Connie's Promise (ML 9-2)

# 3 Alqwani (ML 7-2)

C's

# 2 Governor Special (ML 20-1)

# 4 City Glitter (ML 5-1)

# 5 Miner's Melody (ML 8-1)

# 7 Afterdinnerdrink (ML3-1)

According to Judy took the Show at this class level last time out.  Connie's Promise cold improve with the return to one turn racing.

Alqwani is a first time starter with a consistent work tab who looks well meant here.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 6 - Clm $6.25k B - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 6 Satanta (ML 3-1)

B's

# 5 Continental Union (ML 10-1)

C's

# 1 Emerald Magic (ML 4-1)
# 2 Elusive Love (ML 12-1)
# 3 Hong Kong Cowboy (ML 50-1)

# 4 Gobsmack (ML 10-1)

# 7 Bigfoot City (ML 7-2)
# 8 Pappy Boyington (ML 2-1)

This contest is restricted to runners who have either:

1) Not won a race since December 1, 2021; OR

2) Which have never won four races.

So as long as a runner has fewer than four career Wins, then he's eligible to run in this race.  If a horse has four career Wins or more, then none of those Wins could have come since the end of November.   Note that for purposes of eligibility, Claiming and Starter Races for $5k or less don't count, which is why Satanta, who picked up his eighth career win in January, is eligible to run here.  For the record Elusive Love and Pappy Boyington are the two runners in this field with fewer than four career Wins.

Satanta, winner of a Starter Allowance last time out, looks classiest here by far, and probably should be a big ticket single.  But I'm also going to use Continental Union (thus doubling the cost of my main ticket) because I'm intrigued by Trainer Isidro Tamayo re-claiming this runner, and because I like the tactical speed that Continental Union has shown in the past.  So it's those two on the big ticket, with all others being used as backup "C" Selections.

RACE 7 - Alw 50000s N2L - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 6 Heaven Shines (ML 3-1)

B’s

# 1 Cowboy Charlie (ML 6-1)

C's

# 3 Affectionto Autism (ML 9-2)
# 4 Double the Gold (ML 8-1)
# 5 Rhodium Runner (ML 5-1)

Scratch # 2 Artemus Gordon (ML 7-5)

Note for future reference that this contest is for runners which have not won two races in their career; excepting that entrants are given a bye for having one (and just one) victory for $20k or less not counted toward their lifetime total.  However, note that all entrants in this field have just one career Win, which is why I designated this contest as an N2L rather than as an N2X.

Heaven Shines took the Place at this class level last time out, and Heaven Shines could improve going second off the layoff.  Cowboy Charlie took the Place against classier competition two starts back.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 8 - OC 62.5k/N2X - Eight and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 6 Jimmy Blue Jeans (ML 5-1)

B’s

# 1 Wine and Whisky (ML 8-1)

# 3 Shadrack (ML 8-1)

# 4 Tom's Surprise (ML 9-5)

# 5 Tesoro (ML 2-1)

# 7 Ready Say Go (ML 15-1)

C's

None

Scratch # 2 Dulas (Ire) (ML 6-1)

For those who note such things, Wine and Whiskey and Shadrack are the two runners in this field that will be competing with the $62.5k price tag on their head.

This is a class level where the runners seemingly take turns defeating each other.  For example, Wine and Whisky, Shadrack, and Tom's Surprise all show victories at this class level in their three most recent starts; while Tesoro and Ready Say Go both show Place finishes at this class level in that same time frame.  So you can either roll the dice and hope to pick the runner whose turn it is to win today, or you can do what I'm doing and just punch the "ALL" button and move on.

RACE 9 - Md $12.5k - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 4 The Calabrese Kid (ML 4-1)

B's

# 3 North Sea (ML 5-2)

# 5 Word of Warning (ML 9-2)

C's

# 2 Tam's Time (ML 10-1)

# 6 Into Bourbon (ML 5-1)

# 7 Uncle Danny (ML 20-1)
# 8 Fantastic Dream (ML 15-1)

# 9 Thechiefhastricks (ML 15-1)

# 10 Whisper and Wink (ML 12-1)
# 11 Tribute to Art (ML 50-1)

Scratch # 1 Morphy (ML 6-1)

The Calabrese Kid has taken the Place at this class level in each of his last two starts.  North Sea is dropping in for the cheapest tag of his career.

Word of Warning is trained by Jonathan Wong, who tends to do well when sending out debut runners in Maiden Claiming contests.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

OK, that's the analysis.  Playing my tickets in modified Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 3 with 6 with 6 with 6 with 6 with 4 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 1,3 with 1,3,6 with 5,6 with 1,6 with ALL with 3,4,5 $86.40

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 2,4,5,6 with 6 with 6 with 6 with 6 with 4 $0.80

$0.20 P6: 3 with 2,4,5,7 with 6 with 6 with 6 with 4 $0.80

$0.20 P6: 3 with 6 with 1,2,3,4,7,8 with 6 with 6 with 4 $1.20

$0.20 P6: 3 with 6 with 6 with 3,4,5 with 6 with 4 $0.60

$0.20 P6: 3 with 6 with 6 with 6 with 6 with 2,6,7,8,9,10,11 $1.40

Total: $92.20

Post Time for Race 4 is 4:50 EST / 1:50 PST.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo