Versatile Hudson Landing, upset winner of last year's San Francisco Mile (gr. IT), is back to defend his title in the $100,000 event against nine opponents April 27 on the turf at Golden Gate Fields.
The 6-year-old Maria's Mon gelding, a stakes winner on dirt and synthetic tracks as well as grass, will be making his third start of the year in the San Francisco Mile for trainer Blaine Wright and Chappell Alpine Farms. He is coming off a third-place finish behind Mile rival Control Seeker in an allowance/optional claiming race at one mile on yielding ground at Golden Gate April 6.
The San Francisco Mile is the sixth race on the Golden Gate card Saturday with a scheduled post time of 3:15 p.m.
SAN FRANCISCO MILE
63rd RUNNING
MOST WINS BY A HORSE: Battle Dance 2, Native Diver 2.
MOST WINS BY A JOCKEY: Ralph Neves 3.
MOST WINS BY A TRAINER: Julio Canani 5.
FASTEST TIME: Don Alberto (1980) 1:33 2/5. Past 20 years – Charmo (FR) (2006) 1:34.28.
FACTOIDS: Citation equaled the American record for 1 Mile in winning the 1950 race in 1:33 3/5.
Compiled by Gary Dougherty
Hudson Landing won five of 12 starts last year. In addition to the San Francisco Mile, his campaign was highlighted by victories in the Mt. Rainier Stakes at Emerald Downs on dirt and in the All American Stakes (gr. III) on Golden Gate's Tapeta main track. In last year's SF Mile, the stalking Hudson Landing took the lead from Gallant Son in the stretch and held on gamely to deny the fast-closing Jeranimo by half a length at odds of 8-1.
Juan Hernandez, aboard Hudson Landing in last year's race, regains the mount. Under equal weights of 122 pounds, they leave from gate 3.
Popular at the claiming box earlier in his career, Hudson Landing has 12 wins and 12 placings from 38 lifetime starts and earnings of $487,648.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has a sharp prospect in Summer Hit. The 4-year-old son of Bertrando has won his past two starts for owners John Carver and Hollendorfer and six of his past nine races over the past two years. The gelding sped to a front-running 3 1/4-length win over allowance rivals at Santa Anita Park in his most recent start March 31, running the mile in 1:33.98.
Summer Hit has a victory over the Golden Gate grass, taking the Silky Sullivan at the mile distance last June. Russell Baze, who rode him in that race, has the call.
John Sadler ships English-bred Tigah north off a third-place finish in the one-mile Thunder Road Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita April 6. The 5-year-old son of Dalakhani rallied after being squeezed at the start of the Thunder Road and lost by one length to Battle Force and Fed Biz in a strong effort. Tigah, to be ridden from the rail by Alonzo Quinonez, has won once in six U.S. outings since commencing his 2012 campaign in Southern California.
Gallant Son returns for this year's San Francisco Mile after a good try last year. The Franck Lucarelli-trained 7-year-old son of Malabar Gold switches back to the turf after winning the Albany Stakes over the Tapeta track in February and finishing second by a head in an allowance heat March 15. Dennis Carr is aboard.
Control Seeker appears to be sharp for this, coming off a 1 1/4-length allowance in the allowance race in which Hudson Landing finished third. The 10-time winner from 38 starts lost by a nose to Hudson Landing in last fall's All American. Keith Nations trains the 7-year-old, and Francisco Duran rides.
$100,000 San Francisco Mile (gr. IIIT, Race 6, 3:15 p.m.), 3 & Up (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey Trainer
1. Tigah (GB), A Quinonez, J W Sadler
2. Grand Berry (ARG), A Gomez, R E Mandella
3. Hudson Landing (KY), J J Hernandez, B D Wright
4. Tribal Tribute (CA), F T Alvarado, T McCanna
5. Barney Rebel (IRE), S Arias, D Blacker
6. Summer Hit (CA), R A Baze, J Hollendorfer
7. Gallant Son (KY), D Carr, F Lucarelli
8. Coach Bob (CA), W Antongeorgi III, R E Gonzalez
9. Control Seeker (CA), F Duran, K Nations
10. Charlemagne Wood (IRE), A Cedillo, N D Drysdale
All carry 122 pounds.
Blinkers Off: Grand Berry; Blinkers On: Charlemagne Wood
