5/23/21 Golden Gate Fields Late Pick Four - Preview

"Preparation can only take you so far. After that, you have to take a few leaps of faith." - Michael Scofield (Prison Break)

The Alcatraz, a one mile turf contest for three year olds, is Sunday's featured race at Golden Gate Fields.  Interestingly enough, the Alcatraz is the only race of the Final Four on the card that is not being run at a distance of five and a half furlongs.  With that as background let's get to it, as I take another run at The Late Pick Four at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 6 - Clm $5k N2X - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 3 Hot Socks (Morning Line 9-5)

B’s

# 5 Silver Claim (ML 3-1)

C's

# 2 Gentleman's Secret (ML 15-1)
# 4 Wise River Ray (ML 6-1)

# 6 Leadville (ML 15-1)
# 7 Jungle Boy (ML 5-2)

Scratch # 1 Jedi Knight (ML 8-1)

Hot Socks missed victory by a neck last time out at this class level while disappointing as the Post Time Favorite.  It's been over two years since Silver Claim has competed in a race involving a turn, but Trainer Steve Myadi tends to do well with runners coming off an extended layoff, and if Silver Claim runs as he did in his debut then he'll be the one getting his picture taken when this race is over.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 7 - [S] MSW - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 8 Mr. Stang (ML 9-5)

B's

# 1 Lessons of Autism (ML 5-2)

# 2 Riversky (ML 20-1)

C's

# 3 Ommaney Bay (ML 20-1)

# 4 Elusive Virtue (ML 6-1)

# 5 Talisker Bay (ML 6-1)
# 6 Big Evo (ML 20-1)
# 7 Nickel Nickel Nine (ML 4-1)

Mr. Stang took the Place in his debut at this class level last time out.  Lessons of Autism took the Place against open company non-Claiming Maidens two starts back.  Riversky looks best among the first time starters in a field where none of the experienced runners has ever left the gate as the Post Time Favorite.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 8 - The Alcatraz $75k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 9 Stalking Shadow (ML 9-2)

B's

# 1 Seattle Bold (ML 6-1)

# 8 None Above the Law (ML 5-2)

C's

# 2 J T's Watch (ML 15-1)
# 3 Chief Jackson (ML 15-1)

# 4 Que Sera Sir Ralph (ML 20-1)
# 5 Top Executive (ML 12-1)
# 6 Jungle Cry (ML 7-2)
# 7 Ida Claire (ML 10-1)

# 10 Top Harbor (ML 8-1)

Stalking Shadow, winner of the $100k California Derby over the main track here last time, appears to have sufficient turf breeding to repeat that effort here on the grass.  Seattle Bold took the Place behind Stalking Shadow two starts back, and Seattle Bold was also the Place finisher behind None Above the Law last time out.  Perhaps the change of surface will allow Seattle Bold to turn the tables on those two foes today.

None Above the Law, trained by Peter Miller, won the state bred restricted $75k Silky Sullivan Stakes last time out; a contest which had been scheduled for the turf but which was moved to the main track.  Anyway, it's hard to leave a horse named None Above the Law off your tickets in a race named the Alcatraz.  The rest of the field comprises the backup "C" Selections.

RACE 9 - ALW N1X - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A's

# 9 Sunrise Journey (ML 6-1)

B's

# 1 Papapifas (ML 10-1)

# 2 Let's Rejoyce (ML 3-1)

# 3 Italiano (ML 6-1)

# 4 Clem Labine (ML 4-1)

C's

# 5 Appreciated (ML 6-1)

# 8 Lord Brancusi (ML 5-1)

Scratch # 6 Terry's Boy (ML 12-1) and # 7 War Games (ML 12-1)

Sunrise Journey and Clem Labine, both now trained by Isidro Tamayo, filled out the Exacta against $16k Claimers over this main track last time out, and both appear capable of winning at this class level.  Papapifas has finished in the Trifecta at this class level in each of his last two starts.

Let's Rejoyce, a winner at this class level last time out, runs for Trainer Jonathan Wong, who tends to do well when placing his last out winners.  Italiano goes first off the claim for Trainer Victor Trujillo, who tends to do well with such.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

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

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 3 with 8 with 9 with 9 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 3,5 with 1,2,8 with 1,8,9 with 1,2,3,4,9 $45.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 2,4,6,7 with 8 with 9 with 9 $2.00

$0.50 P4: 3 with 3,4,5,6,7 with 9 with 9 $2.50

$0.50 P4: 3 with 8 with 2,3,4,5,6,7,10 with 9 $3.50

$0.50 P4: 3 with 8 with 9 with 5,8 $1.00

Total: $55.00

Post Time for Race 6 is 7:04 EDT / 4:04 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo