Gold Rush Weekend at Golden Gate

PHOTOS BY SHANE MICHELI//VASSAR PHOTOGRAPHY

KMN Racing’s I’m So Anna scored a popular victory in the Campanile Stakes at Golden Gate

SUCCESS OFF THE TURF

CAL-BREDS SHINE ON GOLDEN GATE’S TAPETA

BY JACK SHINAR

Long overdue storms hit Golden Gate Fields April 25, drenching the fnal day of the annual Gold Rush Weekend—the biggest stakes bonanza of the year at the San Francisco Bay Area track.

With less than half of its normal rainfall this year, the parched region surely needed the precipitation. But the rain had its drawbacks, keeping all but the hardiest fans away from the recently reopened grandstand and washing six scheduled races of the slick turf. Golden Gate, with its reliably consistent Tapeta main track, kept its mostly large felds intact. Tere was only one scratch on the program due to the surface switch.

Of the turf came a pair of one-mile black-type stakes events for 3-year-old California-bred and California-sired horses, the Campanile for fllies and the Silky Sullivan for colts and geldings.

Kevin and Kimberly Nish’s KMN Racing had the strong 6-5 favorite I’m So Anna in the $76,800 Campanile. Te imposing dark bay daughter of Fast Anna defnitely looked the part leading the feld of nine fllies to the starting gate.

Departing from the rail, leading Golden Gate jockey Kyle Frey surprised some when he gunned I’m So Anna to the early lead over expected pacesetter and second choice Squared Shady. I’m So Anna held her position along the inside while maintaining at least a length’s advantage over Squared Shady through solid quarter-mile fractions of :22.84, :46.75, and 1:11.11.

Squared Shady mounted a challenge leaving the far turn, but I’m So Anna was up to the task under slight urging from Frey and drew clear for a 2 1⁄2-length triumph, her third in 10 lifetime starts and second stakes victory. She also won the Pike Place Dancer Stakes as a 2-year-old on the Golden Gate turf last Halloween.

Amazen Grazen rallied for second in the Campanile, while Squared Shady tired to third. Te fnal time was 1:36.93.

“We were really concerned when they reached the stretch considering the (fast) fractions,” said Kevin Nish, who said the couple watched the race on TVG from Florida, where they now make their home. “But when we saw no one coming from behind, we felt better. When your horse wins, you’re always excited.”

Te Nishes bred I’m So Anna from the winning Jet West mare So So Fast, a Calbred who is part of a broodmare band they have assembled in Kentucky, Kevin Nish said. Her sire, 10-year-old Fast Anna, stood at Tree Chimneys Farm in Kentucky but died in February as the result of laminitis.

I’m So Anna was foaled at Pete and Evelyn Parrella’s Legacy Ranch, located in the San Joaquin Valley near Clements, making her eligible for state-bred races under California breeding rules. Te Nishes are part of a syndicate standing the stallion Straight Fire, runner-up in the 2016 Del Mar Futurity (G1), at Legacy.

Te Nishes began their breeding operation about a decade ago after experiencing early success in the racing business in owner partnerships with the 2012-13 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner Mizdirection, as well as 2013 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile champion Shared Belief.

Trained by Steve Sherman, I’m So Anna had made her past three starts at Santa Anita, most recently getting up for third

None Above the Law takes the Silky Sullivan Stakes for J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s newly formed Downstream Racing

Northern Afeet, for $30,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. Te Robisons race None Above the Law under the name of Downstream Racing, a recently formed LLC, according to winning trainer Peter Miller. None Above the Law picked up his third victory from nine lifetime starts while making his frst attempt over a synthetic track. “He can pretty much run on anything—he tries so hard. He’s very durable,” said Miller while noting that he would like to give None Above the Law another turf start soon. Te Southern California-based Miller had a good weekend at Golden Gate, also taking the April 24 nightcap, the $75,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes, with the Roman-piloted Anyportinastorm. Earlier that day Roman also was a winner aboard Tommy Town Toroughbreds’ late-running homebred Stalking Shadow for trainer Jonathan Wong in the $101,350 California Derby. Te Cal-bred son of Ministers Wildcat—Silent Stalk, by Petionville, captured the 11⁄16-mile open event for 3-year-olds in the fnal strides by a half-length over Jimmy Irish, also trained by Wong. It was the third behind the well-regarded Becca Taylor and So when she’s on the lead she actually is consecutive win for Stalking Shadow. Fi Fi Pharoah in the 6 1⁄2-furlong Evening more relaxed. Tat’s just her.” “My horse is just super sharp,” said Jewel Stakes on the main track April 3. Un- Te $77,700 Silky Sullivan Stakes also Wong. “I’m just super happy for Tom and like most of her main competition in the went to the favorite, None Above the Law, Debi Stull and Tommy Town ToroughCampanile, the robust flly had consider- a slight 3-1 choice in the feld of 11. Ninth breds. I mean, they bred him, they raised able routing experience, midway through, the him, and now he’s a stakes winner. Tat which Sherman felt was gray gelded son of was awesome.” a big edge. My horse the Japanese-bred sire

“We had to ship her (Stalking Shadow) is Karakontie shifted quite a few times be- widest of all rounding cause they didn’t really just super sharp. I’m the fnal bend under have a race for her, so just super happy for confdent handling by it was nice to give her Tom and Debi Stull... Evin Roman and blew a race here,” Sherman past his rivals with an said. they bred him, they eye-catching closing

“It was a little bit of raised him, and now kick. a tougher race. She had he’s a stakes winner.” None Above the to deal with the rail; we Law won by 23⁄4 had to kind of show — Trainer Jonathan Wong lengths in a time of her hand early because 1:36.75. Seattle Bold you can’t be stuck behind or you’re going overcame trafc to get up for second by a to get the bad trip, so we went for it,” he head over Top Harbor. added. “Kyle rode a great race on her. I J. Kirk and Judy Robison bred None think she relaxes more when she’s on the Above the Law from the stakes-winning lead than when she’s behind because she Legally Blanca. Tey purchased Legalwants to pull harder to get up to the lead. ly Blanca, a Kentucky-bred daughter of

Cal-bred Stalking Shadow, outside, wins the listed California Derby