Nashoba's Gold wins the 2014 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita, © Benoit Photo
RETURN OF NASHOBA’S GOLD HAS GAINES EXCITED
In the spring of 2014, Nashoba’s Gold had established credentials as one of the top 3-year-old fillies on the West Coast.
But when the now 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Smart Strike runs in Saturday’s featured $75,000 Kathryn Crosby Stakes, it will be her first start in nearly nine months and she’ll be seeking her first victory in a year and a half.
The past, however, isn’t as much concern to trainer Carla Gaines, who’s hopeful her filly can return to the form that produced three wins and a second place finish in the first four career starts.
Nashoba’s Gold had scored back-to-back victories in the Grade III Providencia Stakes and Grade II Honeymoon in April and May of last year at Santa Anita and was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in the Grade I American Oaks on Memorial Day.
She finished fifth, beaten 5 ¼ lengths by Room Service, and came out of the race with a chip in an ankle.
Away seven months after surgery, Nashoba’s Gold beat only one of 14 combined rivals early this year in the Megahertz and Grade II Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita. She was found to have a breathing problem which was addressed via throat surgery.
“I was so excited to get her here to Del Mar for the summer meet and we had plans to run her in the first (few weeks),” Gaines said. “Then she got very sick and spiked a high temperature.
“So, fingers crossed, if she stays well we’ll take another swing at it tomorrow,” Gaines said. “We’ll see when she races if the throat surgery worked. But as far as her breezes up to the race, they’ve been very strong.”
The three victories for Nashoba’s Gold in seven career starts, generating earnings of $266,880 for owner Warren B. Williamson, have all come at 1 1/8 miles, 110 yards longer than the Kathryn Crosby.
Nashoba’s Gold drew the No. 1 post position in a field of eight.
“It’s OK,” Gaines said of the inside post. “She’s a horse that comes from off the pace, so she’ll be able to save ground around the first turn and then hopefully get out and make a run for home.
“This might not be the perfect distance for her, but the race is up so away we go. We’re very excited to have her back,” Gaines said.
The field for the Kathryn Crosby from the rail: Nashoba’s Gold (Mike Smith, 5-1), Three Hearts (Joe Talamo, 7-2), Sweet as a Rose (Drayden Van Dyke, 12-1), Cast in Silver (Martin Garcia, 6-1), Beat of the Drum (Kent Desormeaux, 4-1), Energia Fribby (Mario Gutierrez, 5-1), Chaulk O Lattey (Rafael Bejarano, 3-1) and Full Ransom (Santiago Gonzalez, 12-1).
MY MONET FAVORED OF EIGHT IN SUNDAY’S BETTY GRABLE
K M Racing Enterprise Incorporated’s My Monet was established as the 3-1 choice on oddsmaker Russ Hudak’s morning line in a field of eight for Sunday’s featured $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for older California bred or sired fillies and mares.
My Monet, a 4-year-old daughter of Decarchy trained by Ricky Agarie, was second in both the Osunitas and Tranquility Lake Stakes here during the summer meeting but, like all others, proved no match for Beholder in the Clement L. Hirsch.
My Monet has been freshened since finishing fourth to Beholder in the Grade I Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on September 26.
The field for the Betty Grable from the rail: Kiss At Midnight (Rafael Bejarano, 4-1), Wonderful Lie (James Graham, 8-1), Our Pure Creation (Fernando Perez, 4-1), Wild in the Saddle (Mario Gutierrez, 7-2), My Monet (Santiago Gonzalez, 3-1), Yana (Tyler Baze, 8-1), Harlington’s Rose (Joe Talamo, 8-1) and Ashley’s Sassy (Alonso Quinonez, 12-1).
APPRENTICES LOOK TO FOLLOW UP ON INITIAL DEL MAR STRIKES
If it weren’t for fear of legal action for copyright infringement by presidential candidate Donald Trump, Del Mar could have labelled Friday’s sixth race “The Apprentice.”
Aligned side-by-side in starting gate stalls three through six are apprentices Bruno Panicucci (Rio Valley, 20-1), David Lopez (Lucky Reality, 2-1) and Ty Kennedy (Extra Lucky, 3-1). The three-abreast configuration was broken up by the late scratch of Rio Valley.
Panicucci and Kennedy both notched their first Del Mar victories on Thursday. Panicucci, a 20-year-old native of Marseille, France, won the second race aboard I’ll Play My Hand ($3.80) for trainer Phil D’Amato and Kennedy, a 21-year-old native of Kansas, won the third with Pica ($12.20) for trainer Eddie Truman. The victories were the sixth of Paniccuci’s career and 24th for Kennedy. Both are accorded seven-pound weight allowances.
Lopez, 26, makes his Del Mar debut after moving his tack from Golden Gate Fields, where he was the leading rider with 14 wins after a triple on Sunday. He went winless with three mounts at Golden Gate on Thursday.
HOLLENDORFER, PALMA ON MILESTONE APPROACH
Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer enters Friday’s racing with 6,990 career wins. He has six scheduled starters at Golden Gate Fields and two here.
Trainer Hector Palma, whose next victory will be the 1,100th of his career, has two scheduled starters here on Friday.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BING
For the second Bing Crosby Season at Del Mar, we offer a daily note, quote or anecdote about the track’s founding father for whom the fall meeting is named.
In 1946, Bing purchased a stake in the Pittsburgh Pirates who went on to win the 1960 World Series in a tight game-seven matchup with the Yankees that Crosby was famously too nervous to watch. It was decided by Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run.
CLOSERS – Trainers Phil D’Amato and Richard Baltas have put forth the possibility that recent Breeders’ Cup participants Obviously, Big John B and Big Macher could run here during the meeting. Big Macher could be targeted for the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes on November 22 while Big John B is a candidate for the $250,000 Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup on Thanksgiving Day, November 26.
Contact: Dan Smith 858-792-4226/Hank Wesch 858-755-1141 ext. 3793